Few losses have hit Australian harness racing’s terrifically tight knit community quite like those they experienced when legendary father/son duo Graeme and Gavin Lang rattled off this mortal coil in rapid succession almost three years ago.
Fortunately, however, there’s another Hall of Fame member of the Lang dynasty that continues to astound.
For decades, Chris Lang has led the way for squaregaiting zealots as they persistently paved their path toward respect and relevance in this part of the world.
Before those reading these initial phrases seek to start a riot, it’s very well acknowledged that freakish trotter Maori’s Idol is regularly regarded as the greatest equine athlete to emanate from south of the Equator.
Not trotter; equine athlete, right alongside thoroughbred icons like Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town and Winx and arguably superior to our most revered pacing heroes, Popular Alm, Blacks A Fake and Lazarus.
Nor will we forget the deeds of Scotch Notch, Knight Pistol or Lyell Creek among many others.
Nevertheless, C W Lang, with the support of many like-minded lovers of the ‘pure’ gait, was significantly responsible for shifting the conversation around trotters at a time when they were withering on the vine.
Here’s the thing, however.
Much as Lang has been branded a squaregaiting pioneer and training trailblazer, in some ways those titles, complimentary as they are, sell the legendary horseman staggeringly short.
This much was proven on Saturday night at Melton Park.
In all fairness, Christopher’s first display of weekend heroics was very much in the wheelhouse outlined above.
Just as he’s done countless times before, Lang schooled his rivals in the art of preparing, nurturing and steering young trotters via Saturday night’s Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic Final for three-year-old trotting males.
To the naked eye, the megastar’s drive may have seemed relatively fundamental after finding an early lead.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s well worth remembering that the winner, Imhavinagoodtime, was having just his second start and trotters at that early stage of their careers don’t generally relish the pressure he faced from Shaq The Anvil when they hit top gear.
Ever the wise head, Lang simply nursed the favourite when he needed guidance and relied upon the infinite hours of hard work which he’d dedicated to his exciting young trotter well before racing was an issue.
He also landed the Quinella in the Home Grown decider referenced above, just for good measure.
Later in the night, Australia’s most storied trainer of trotters reminded many his talents are anything but niche when enigmatic pacer Giveitatry secured the eighth event at Vic harness headquarters.
Gifted as he is, Giveitatry has always been a fickle talent, and without Lang’s tutelage and timing this latest outing could easily have become another hard luck story.
History tells us, however, Chris Lang sees problems and solves them.
Always has and always will.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.