The close-knit Maryborough harness racing community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Geoffrey Colin Clover on Sunday, September 27, aged 87, following a short illness after returning from a trip to Broken Hill with his wife, Cheryl.
Born in Maryborough and known to all as ‘Mick’ (a fanatical Carlton supporter), he started life as a postie at the age of 14. He had always been around horses, being involved with gallopers in the Hamilton district, where he rode trackwork at 17 for trainer Ernie Foster, before moving on to work on dairy farms and then as a rousie at ‘Nireen’, a property owned by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.
He was foreman for Bill Davies and had an association with the Melbourne Showgrounds era, handling outstanding horses such as Future Raider, Future Monarch and Youcrovottie. He was also foreman at one stage for legendary Maryborough horseman J.P. (Jack) Moore, who trained Inter Dominion winner Richmond Lass.
Later shifting with Bev to Queensland, he worked with Rodney Belford, who in those days turned out many winners. He moved on to Deception Bay to train his own team, with the pair having horses such as Clan Chief, Big Chief and Royal Kiwi, while supplementing his income by doing farrier work and taking freelance drives. It was here that daughter Jody (wife of present-day trainer Ashleigh Herbertson) was born in 1970.
He drove Elmo Dawn for Bill McGowan and Keith Addison and shod her on a regular basis.
He was thrilled at one stage to drive Michael Frost to victory for astute NSW trainer Joe Illsley.
In the 1973/74 season, he finished fifth on the Australian Drivers’ Premiership, which led to him being named emergency for the 1975 World Driving Championship, which was won by Keith Addison.
They then moved to the south of Brisbane, establishing a property at Beenleigh, where they trained horses such as Braeside Boy, Phillip Gary and By Johnny.
After moving back to Victoria to settle at Eddington (Maryborough) in 1984, the team consisted of Shadow Star/Volonoff gelding Borough Birch, who recorded 19 wins and 33 placings including the Echuca Cup, Windshield Denbi (Tatlow Stakes) and Sweet Dundas plus many others.
Mick was fortunate to meet Cheryl and a beautiful love story through the decades followed. They originally moved to Carisbrook, where they worked and trained alongside each other and his relationship with the Maryborough Trotting Club commenced and lasted until his passing. He held many positions over the years within the club, being a committeeman, vice-president and track curator, and regularly drove the mobile barrier at the weekly trials. In fact, it’s safe to say that he was an ‘all-rounder’, with nothing being a problem.
Mick’s life membership of the Maryborough Trotting Club was his prized possession. Former club secretary/manager, the late Les Chapman (his best mate), and Mick worked together over the years and retired from their official full-time roles on the same day in late August 2019, although both Mick and Cheryl continued in various voluntary roles until his sudden passing.
His first winner was Verna Margaret at Boort in 1966, while his last was Another Whitehart at Maryborough on Redwood Day in 2002.
Harness Racing Victoria will honour the passing of Mick with race three at Melton on Friday night being the “Vale Mick Clover Pace”, where drivers will wear black armbands.
His much-adored club, Maryborough, will also pay tribute with a race on October 12.
HRV Chairman Bernard Saundry, on behalf of the entire industry, extends sincere sympathy to Mick’s much-loved wife Cheryl, daughter Jody, son Paul and stepsons Michael and Rodney, and grandchildren James, Grace, Hope and Sam.
A celebration of Mick’s life will be held at the Maryborough Harness Racing Club, Chaplins Rd, Carisbrook on Thursday, October 8 at 1.30pm.
Please see Darryl Wagstaff Funerals for further details.
