The 89-year-old, who in 1956 became the youngest reinsman to win the Inter Dominion with Gentleman John, died on October 13.

He leaves behind a devoted family and a considerable imprint on the harness racing landscape.

Long-time Bendigo Harness Racing Club committee member and life member Peter Svanosio said Rothacker would be remembered as a ‘high-class competitor and thorough gentleman’.

“He was an extremely competent horseman,” he said.

“Eric and his brothers Des and Stuart followed their father Vic into harness racing, so the tradition goes back three or four generations.

“Eric’s son Peter is still competing in harness racing events today.”

Svanosio, who competed against Rothacker for many years, said the Inter Dominion winner had been one of the inspirations for him to pursue a career in the sport.

“I was only about nine-years-old when it happened, but to win an Inter Dominion with a Bendigo horse really meant something … it was an achievement of some note and didn’t come lightly,” he said.

“They didn’t have discs on the wheels, Harold Park was a little cauldron track with people on both sides of the fence all the way around it, and there would have been 14 or 15 (horses) in the race.

“You had to be a very confident horseman to go out there and win, or even compete at that level. Eric winning is testament to his ability.”

Rothacker continued to train until 2015-16 and drive until 2009-10 after an extensive career of participation, most recently with 1996 Bendigo Trotters Cup winner Larry Do, 1990 Horsham Pacing Cup winner Eck’s Shadow and Fiery Gent (2002).

His last training win was with Watch My Sox at St Arnaud on July 2, 2015, when he was aged 86, while it was at age 76 that he piloted his last win - Hanging Loose at Bendigo in November 2005).

He was a prominent member of Victorian harness racing royalty, being the son of Vic Rothacker, nephew of Bill Rothacker and cousin of Gordon Rothacker.

He formed a terrific and successful bond with Gentleman John in the 1950s, a gelding who he owned, trained and drove after the yearling was gifted to him by his father.

Gentleman John would win the 1955 A. G. Hunter Cup, three Vic Globe Derby Championships, three Melbourne Showgrounds Free For Alls and the Horsham Easter Cup.

But it’s his victory in the 1956 Inter Dominion at Sydney’s Harold Park for Eric Rothacker that would provide a career highlight, with the 26-year-old being at the time the youngest reinsman to win the race.

Gentleman John beat local pacer Mineral Spring by a head with New Zealand’s Caduceus a gallant third in front of a crowd of 34,020. It was Gentleman John’s 24th win and took his earnings to £19,000.

“The big crowd gave 26-year-old Eric Rothacker a great ovation as the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman P. D. Hills, presented him with several trophies and garlands,” reported the book ‘Inter Dominions: saga of champions’.

Long-time Bendigo reinswoman and a winner of the Pearl Kelly Award for outstanding achievement within harness racing, Roma Pocock said she was proud to call Rothacker a friend.

“We would see him at the races all the time and we got our chaff off (the family) for years and years, which is now run by his son Peter,” she said.

“He was a lovely fellow and a farmer for years - the horses were a bit of a hobby.

“He was lucky to have one that won an Inter Dominion.

“There isn’t many bigger names than Rothacker in harness racing. He will be a big loss.”

He is survived by wife Anne and cherished as the ‘devoted Pa’ to 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Harness Racing Victoria has extended its condolences to the Rothacker family and friends.

- With Harness Racing Victoria