The memory of trotting legend Knight Pistol will live on at Stawell’s Laidlaw Park, following the unveiling of a memorial plaque on Tuesday.
The plaque, made by Bruce Hemley out of horseshoes from the Peter Manning stables, was unveiled during Stawell Harness Racing Club’s Australia Day meeting.
Known affectionately as Trigger, the memorial plaque recognises Knight’s Pistol’s achievements and his induction into the Victorian Harness Racing Media Association Hall of Fame.
Knight Pistol’s career was at the crossroads before joining the Manning stables in Great Western. After three ordinary efforts in the double blue silks, he had his act together and in February 1997 the nine year old bay took out the $125,000 Group 1 Australasian Trotters Championship at Moonee Valley.
He ended up having 181 career starts for 55 wins. The same year he won the Australasian Trotters Championship, he flew to Norway where he won the Group 1 Harley Davidson Trot.
Knight Pistol still holds the record over 3200 metres (2.04.4) which he set at Moonee Valley in 1998.