Harness racing’s recently-crowned World Champion reinsman Dexter Dunn will be competing in the time-honoured Noel Smith Memorial Invitation Drivers’ Championship at Horsham on Monday.
Dunn, who was presented with the World Championship trophy at Menangle last Sunday, will be contesting his fourth Noel Smith Series having won in 2012 and 2013.
Defending champion Gavin Lang, one of four Victorian representatives, will be attempting to win a record fifth title.
As it stands, Lang shares the record with Daryl Douglas.
Chris Alford, who along with Lang is the only reinsman to win more than 5000 races in the Southern Hemisphere, is chasing his third victory.
Greg Sugars and Kate Gath complete the Victorian contingent.
This is the eighth time the Noel Smith Memorial has featured representatives from every state, the fourth to also include a Kiwi, and not surprisingly the is recognised as Australasia’s premier driving tournament.
Fresh from last weekend’s Inter Dominion victory with Beautide, James Rattray will make the trip from New South Wales, Colin Brown will cross the Nullarbor from Western Australia, Ryan Hryhorec will jumper the border from South Australia, while Rohan Hillier will journey over Bass Strait from Tasmania.
Queensland's Bart Cockburn, who engineered a major upset with Majestic Mach over Avonnova in Queensland’s Inter Dominion heat last month will complete the line-up.
Incredibly the 10 drivers have cumulative 20,085 wins and more than $151.4million in prizemoney.
They will be competing over four races for a $1500 travel brochure, while fans on course will also have the opportunity to be matched to a driver and win accommodation packages.
First prize is at Deeluxe Riverspa Moama, second is the Melbourne Parkview, third is Elm Tree Warrnambool and there is also one for Victoria’s trotting home, Tabcorp Park Melton.
The Championship recognises the contribution of the late Noel Smith, a Wimmera icon who was dedicated to harness racing at grassroots level.
Along with the popular series, the program includes the Trotters’ Tontine Final and The O’Keeffe.
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JOHN PECK