great champion dies
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:38 pmGammalite Passes On
Gammalite, the toughest standardbred Australasian harness racing has ever seen, passed away this morning in his hometown of Terang at the age of 30.
One of only three horses to win consecutive Inter Dominions (1983-84), Gammalite raced a remarkable 179 times for an astonishing 94 wins and 52 placings.
His tally of wins places him third on the all-time Australasian winners list behind North Queensland icon Cane Smoke (120) and cult hero Paleface Adios (108).
Career earnings of $1,386,480 have the son of Thor Hanover 16th on the all time list of Australasian stake earners despite the fact he last raced more than 20 years ago.
Trained by Leo O'Connor and driven throughout the majority of his career by Bruce Clarke, the dual Australian Horse of the Year (1982 & 84) gained notoriety as the bravest of the brave in an era littered with champions.
He won his first Inter Dominion in Auckland defeating arch-rival Popular Alm for only the second time in their illustrious careers, before claiming his second title 12 months later in Adelaide.
He then returned to Moonee Valley for the 1985 Inter Dominion, but just failed to take the honours finishing a close-up fourth behind Preux Chevalier in the final. That race brought down the curtain on his remarkable career.
Along with Westburn Grant, Gammalite is the only pacer to claim the mantle of Grand Circuit Champion on three consecutive occasions, a feat he achieved in 1982-84.
Perhaps one of Gammalite's greatest achievements, on the way to nine Grand Circuit victories, was a record four consecutive South Australian Cups from 1982-85.
Gammalite passed away at the property of O'Connor's son Frank just three kilometres from Terang's Dalvui Raceway where he will be buried later this afternoon.
Gammalite, the toughest standardbred Australasian harness racing has ever seen, passed away this morning in his hometown of Terang at the age of 30.
One of only three horses to win consecutive Inter Dominions (1983-84), Gammalite raced a remarkable 179 times for an astonishing 94 wins and 52 placings.
His tally of wins places him third on the all-time Australasian winners list behind North Queensland icon Cane Smoke (120) and cult hero Paleface Adios (108).
Career earnings of $1,386,480 have the son of Thor Hanover 16th on the all time list of Australasian stake earners despite the fact he last raced more than 20 years ago.
Trained by Leo O'Connor and driven throughout the majority of his career by Bruce Clarke, the dual Australian Horse of the Year (1982 & 84) gained notoriety as the bravest of the brave in an era littered with champions.
He won his first Inter Dominion in Auckland defeating arch-rival Popular Alm for only the second time in their illustrious careers, before claiming his second title 12 months later in Adelaide.
He then returned to Moonee Valley for the 1985 Inter Dominion, but just failed to take the honours finishing a close-up fourth behind Preux Chevalier in the final. That race brought down the curtain on his remarkable career.
Along with Westburn Grant, Gammalite is the only pacer to claim the mantle of Grand Circuit Champion on three consecutive occasions, a feat he achieved in 1982-84.
Perhaps one of Gammalite's greatest achievements, on the way to nine Grand Circuit victories, was a record four consecutive South Australian Cups from 1982-85.
Gammalite passed away at the property of O'Connor's son Frank just three kilometres from Terang's Dalvui Raceway where he will be buried later this afternoon.
it must be before my time 