Tributes have flown in for Rod Pollock, who has been remembered as a great administrator and friend of many in harness racing.
The Victorian Harness Racing Club has shared it was saddened by Mr Pollock's passing.
In addition to long being a member of the club, Len Baker said Mr Pollock "was a most popular President for a number of years and devoted a great amount of time for the benefit of the club and its members, especially during the Moonee Valley era".
The VHRC extended its sincere sympathy to his wife Anne and the Pollock family.
Harness Breeders Victoria also shared the "sad news" or Mr Pollock's passing, who was a former secretary of the organisation as well as a "dedicated trotting breeder and administrator".
They were thoughts echoed by Harness Racing Australia. In a statement on harness.org.au, the body said it was "deeply saddened" to learn of his passing.
It also recorded that Mr Pollock was a determined and loyal servant of the industry, including 11 years of distinguished service as Chief Executive Officer between 1997 and 2008.
Among many other achievements, he was largely responsible for a number of advances within the industry including formulation of TCO2 thresholds, which remain relevant today, and he oversaw the introduction of the national Rules Book in 1999, DNA Parentage verification for the standardbred herd and the change from the industry’s prime database to the current operating system in 2002/2003.
He was also Chief Executive of the Inter Dominion Harness Racing Council (IDHRC) from 1997-2008 and presided at the 1999 World Trotting Conference in Sydney. He was awarded Life Membership of the International Trotting Association for his contribution and dedication to its aims.
Highlighting Mr Pollock’s impact on the industry was his receiving the Distinguished National Service Award in 2008 for important achievement, substantive effort, enterprise, creativity and professional excellence
More than that, Mr Pollock was a gentle person who also cared deeply for his family, friends, staff and horses, particularly those of the trotting gait he bred, owned and raced. Over the years he bred more than 100 trotters either individually or in partnership with other breeders, with Riegle Anne winning the 1999 NSW Trotters Oaks and later going on to be a dam of successful trotters.
He was a familiar face at trotting meetings and attended many Inter Dominion Series – both in Australia and in New Zealand.
Harness Racing Victoria extends its condolences to Mr Pollock's family and friends.