There is no greater honour in Victorian harness racing than the Gordon Rothacker Medal, a celebration of lifetime achievement and service to the support.
These are the outstanding participants and devotees who have left an extraordinary mark on harness racing in Victoria and had medals hung around their necks.
Nominations are invited from Country Clubs, Kindred Bodies, Industry Participants and/or Individuals who meet some or all of the following criteria:
- Contribution to harness racing in Victoria (past and present)
- Length of industry involvement
- Held (voluntary or paid) key positions within the industry
- Demonstrated excellence within a chosen field
- Significant personal achievement
- Service as a role model/mentor
- Integrity
| Year | Recipient | Year | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Ian McCallum | 2017 | Jim O'Sullivan |
| 2003 | Geoff Hill | 2018 | Dick Lee |
| 2004 | Jim Barker | 2019 | Ginger Gleeson |
| 2005 | Ron Pocock | 2020 | Keith Pratt |
| 2006 | Matt Donaldson | 2020 | Paul James |
| 2007 | Peter Manning | 2021 | Brian Gath |
| 2008 | Bruce & Elizabeth Clarke | 2022 | Chris Alford |
| 2009 | Les Chapman | 2023 | Lance Justice |
| 2010 | Arthur Graham | 2024 | Clinton Welsh |
| 2011 | Ted Demmler | ||
| 2012 | Neville Welsh | ||
| 2013 | Graeme Lang | ||
| 2014 | Kerryn Manning | ||
| 2015 | Bruce Morgan | ||
| 2016 | Carl O'Dwyer |