THEY'VE staged many epic battles between them on the trotting track before, and on Friday a group of legendary drivers will get the opportunity to do it again.
Ten of the best have been assembled for the for the eighth running of the $10,000 Oxley Feed Mill Veteran Driver's Trot at Lord's Raceway.
A crack field of masters includes two previous winners of the event.
They are 2014 winner Graeme Whittle and Longlea's Brian Gath, who won the race in 2016 and '18.
A crack field includes a pair of Rothacker Medal winners in Heathcote's Jim O'Sullivan and 2019 winner Ginger Gleeson, as well as race debutante Debra Wicks-Moss, the first woman to win a race in Australia against men while training and driving in New South Wales.
The veteran drivers trot will likely serve as a farewell for champion reinsman Lance Justice, who is considering calling time on his driving career.
Maryborough-based trainer Brett Shipway has targeted the race heavily with three runners, while Sutton Grange's Ross Graham (Myrtle Vale), Charlton's Greg Norman (Blue Comain) and Huntly hobby trainer Stuart Rothacker (Tiber)all possess strong winning chances.
The popular veterans race won't be the only event stepped in history with the Bourke Fencing Anniversary Cup (race eight) marking 65 years of harness racing at Lord's Raceway.
Bendigo Harness Racing Club general manager said Bourke Fencing had won the naming rights to the special race via a network opportunity run by the club, involving 17 other businesses.
Racing officially started at the Junortoun track on November 17, 1954, with 14,000 people in attendance on opening night.
Drivers from the inaugural meeting expected to attend on Friday are Ted Zimmer, who ended the night with a winner, and Des Rothacker.
The night will kick-off with the induction of six new members of the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame, and elevation of one current member to 'legend' status'.
They include three inductees with central Victorian ties - one a trainer-driver, one a stallion and another a horse owner.
Bendigo harness racing historian and hall of fame selection panelist Noel Ridge said the addition of a 'fan favourite' section had attracted immense interest from the harness racing public.
READ MORE:
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
