The Harness Racing industry and some local families were dealt another blow on May 18, with the passing of another legend of the industry, Graeme Lang.

H.R.V. chairman, Dale Monteith, said the industry was deeply saddened to have lost Graeme so soon after losing his son, Gavin, the previous month.

Graeme and Gavin are legen­dary figures in harness racing and their loss is being felt by all in the industry.

Such was Graeme’s standing in the industry, he was five times leading Victorian state trainer, leading Australian driver in 1997/’80 and secured a lot of major awards in the late ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. 

In 2013, he received the Gordon Rothacker Medal for his contribution to the industry he loved.

Another love of his life was Dorothy “Dot” (nee Hose). They were married at the Donald Presbyterian Church in 1956. From then, on the Lang name became synonymous with the harness racing industry.

Early Days

Being born in Watchem on February 6, 1933, Graeme attended the Wilkur South Primary School before going on to the Warracknabeal High School, to intermediate standard.

Graeme’s father, Alex, bred and raced pacers around the local district, and this was where his passion for horses began.

Graeme was known to race his pony against another kid by the name of William “Billy” Pyers. Billy Pyers went on to be one of the best jockeys in the world, winning races in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and overseas in France, England and America. Who would have thought these two kids went on to be both honoured with legend status in both codes of racing?

Comparing wins, Graeme had 1856 wins as a trainer and 1372 as a reinsman; Billy Pyers had over 1,800 winners world-wide — not bad for two country kids.  On one occasion they did catch up in Melbourne, when Bill won the Futurity Stakes. After this race, Bill went overseas to continue on his winning way.

National Service

A little story told by one of his mates: One day they were doing camouflage training and their O.I.C. said, “Go and hide and I will see if I can find you.”

The O.I.C. went around and spotted many trainees. He then looked up into a tree and said, “Lang, get out of the tree.”

Once back on the ground, Graeme said, “How did you spot me?”

The O.I.C. said, “You were having a cigarette, and the smoke was coming out from between the leaves.”

Football Career

Graeme and brother Ron were both recorded as playing for Watchem-Corack Football Club from 1949-1955.

In 1953 they won the premiership under the guidance of Jim Brennan, who won his third Feeny Medal that year. Neither played in the grand final.

Racing Career

Graeme drove his first winner at the age of 21 years, behind a horse called Vindason. His driving ability came from watching some of the best around a lot of the local names — Stephenson, Sutton, Glasheen, Hobbs, Donaldson, Cossar, Evans and Johnson.

A story I read about “G.A.” was that he used to watch Jack Hargreaves from near Wedderburn. In a race one day, Jack was very cunning. With a slow and soft drawl, he made other drivers think he drove like he talked.

“In a race on this occasion I was following Jack, who was behind the leader going very well, yelled at the driver outside him that his horse racing ungenerously and wanting to veer away from the rail — the horse was racing gun-barrel straight. 

“Jumping about in the cart, the driver on the outside moved out, allowing Jack out and yes, he won the race. It was this tactic and a few from other drivers that he put in his mental suitcase for future use.” 

On moving to Tynong, “G.A.” and Dot had with them an unraced pacer bought from Alf Richmonds for the princely sum of £10 ($20). The horse’s name was Watchem Derby, and it won many races.

Generous

“G.A. was also very generous going to Geelong. On one occasion he ran into an old mate from Tynong. His mate was getting married the following Saturday and had no money. “G.A.” said, “The wife will put a pound note ($2) on the horse; it should be at odds of 100 to 1.” The horse won, it was called Vandasilk. A very happy wedding followed. There are many stories like this in his book, written by Max Agnew.

Training

During the last four decades, Graeme trained an endless amount of top class horses, including Crystal Sunset, Dominion Red, Franco Ica, Sheffield Thor, Steal a Sixpence, Tablecard, Wagon Apollo, to name a few. His affinity with mares was unreal, whether they were pacers or trotters, High Millie, Ashputtel, Fur Elise, Rebecca Campbell, Ashleigh Jane and Sheffield Thor.

His list of major wins include several Derbies, Oaks, Sires’ Finals, Australian Trotting Championships, Redwood Classic, Victoria Cup and V.L. Dullard Cup, to name a few.

“G.A.” had many assistants over a long period of time; one of them being Stanley Gretgrix, from Charlton. Over a long period of time, Stanley has told me many stories of his association.

Scotch Notch

“G.A.” rated her as “the best squaregaiter produced in Australasia” and few would argue. This dual inter-dominion champion won 43 races in Australia, four in New Zealand and a further 18 in a much-anticipated United States campaign.

Scotch Notch was born in 1977, of pacing lineage. She became the trotting enigma of her time, with the breeding experts being puzzled over her pedigree for many years.

Not raced as a 2-year-old, but in her 3-year-old year had nine starts for 2 wins and 4 placings, including the Victoria Oaks. Owner Jim Wong was certainly on a winner, having only paid $20,000 for the filly.

In the ensuing years the list of big race wins continued with V.L. Dullard Cup, E.B. Cockram Cup and Inter-Dominion (twice). This mare raced over all distances, from the epic 3300 metres to time-trialling in a world record time of 1.55.6 for trotting mares. This record stood until 2012.

Her season-best performance was in 1984/’85, when she won 16 races and 2 placings and one time trial, amassing $334,856. This gained the attention of the Meadowlands track in New York. Twelve trotters were invited, with horses from USA, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia and Australia. Accepting the invitation, “G.A.”, owner Jim Wong, and their families headed to New York.

Being unsuccessful in the invitation series, the contingent returned to “Oz”, leaving the mare to race.

She raced with very good success on numerous occasions. A leg injury kept her off the track in 1986; they tried to get her in foal, but she failed to conceive. She resumed racing as a 10-year-old and won 8 races. Her last race was in 1987, for a victory. She was put in foal to Speedy Crown, at the time the world’s leading trotting sire, and a colt was born.

Disaster

The mare and foal returned to “Oz”, but disaster struck with the mare succumbing to a virus within a few months. The colt, Speedy Scotch, never raced due to injuries. He had a short stud career, but as destiny often decrees, the maternal line of Scotch Notch was not to be perpetuated, and Speedy Scotch died in 1995.

Many old time judges would agree with “G.A.’s” view, “There’s never been one like her, nor do I think there will be.”

The owner’s name of “G.A.” (Graeme) Lang con­tinues on, with a horse by the name of Arts Dash. Coming from New Zealand, won 3 of its last 4 starts, is trained by Chris Lang so it will be very well looked after.

In an era lasting more than 60 years in the sport, Graeme trained 12,395 starters, had 1856 winners, collecting $10.5 million in stakes. The Wimmera-born son of a farmer and hobby trainer, Graeme Lang was the complete horseman.

Graeme was interred at the Donald Cemetery next to his sons, Gavin and Adrian. The words on the small card handed out at the cemetery at the burial of Graeme Alexander Lang typify the man:

“The words you spoke were few, but their significance great. You gave willingly and asked for nothing but our best. Together we are better.”

My special thanks to the various people who gave me information about “Daddy Lang”.