Rarely, perhaps one or twice in each generation, athletes emerge that transcend their chosen craft.
In Aussie Rules there was EJ and Barass, boxing had Ali, while soccer has lived through the deeds of Ronaldo and Messi for more years than many would care to remember.
In harness racing's halcyon days, four monikers maintained sovereignty over all others; Ted Demmler, Gavin Lang, Vinnie Knight, and Brian Gath.
And on Sunday night, the final of those champions, the man known universally and affectionately as "The Little Master", was rewarded for his legendary achievements with Victorian harness racing's highest accolade, the Gordon Rothacker Medal.
In many ways, it's something of a shock that Gath, the dominant driver of his generation and a man that's career has spanned three Victorian metropolitan venues, wasn't elevated earlier than this.
From a statistical perspective alone, "Little B" sits comfortably among Australasia's all-time greats.
Still active at 77 years of age, Gath has piloted over 3600 winners and peaked in an era with far fewer races than is currently the case.
He has multiple metropolitan driver's titles to his name, has driven 100 winners in a season 11 times and supplemented those deeds with a metro and statewide trainer's title.
More than that however, Gath glorified harness racing for several decades.
His association with 1978 Inter Dominion winner Markovina and 1992 Miracle Mile king Franco Tiger added to that glorification, but there's always been something greater about Gath himself.
Ask anyone that followed harness racing in the 1970s and 80s to name their favourite driver and many will tell you it was Gath.
Footy fans knew him, gallops fans knew him, and the game itself owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for that fact alone.
A debt it finally repaid with Sunday night's award.
Other major winners on a star-studded 'Night of Nights' at Crown Palladium were Anthony Butt, inducted as our latest living legend, and Anne-Maree Conroy, awarded the Pearl Kelly, Victoria's highest female-only harness racing accolade.
They were joined as stars on the glittering night by Emma Stewart, who landed another Graeme Lang Medal for Victoria's leading Group 1 trainer and Chris Alford, who secured the Gavin Lang Medal - in honour of his great mate and long-time rival - as the state's pre-eminent Group 1 driver.
Distinguished Service medals also went to John Campbell, Barry Delaney, Helen head, John Peck, Colin Holloway and Neil Richmond.
Watch out Majestuoso and Im Ready Jet.
On Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton, two emerging stars signalled their intentions to join the conversation among Australia's finest current-day trotters.
Some will suggest the hype around One Over All is premature, given he won a rating-race only, but his last couple of triumphs have been ominous to say the least.
Few, however will be putting the brakes on Mufasa Metro.
That fellow's all-the-way success at open class level Saturday night was undeniable on every level.
He, it seems, has already made it; yet there's so much more to come.
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.