THE 48th running of the $25,000 Group 3 Bendigo Trotters Cup this Friday at Lord's Raceway is the first under the sponsorship of Aldebaran Park, and their principal, internationally known Duncan McPherson OAM, whose family participation in Harness Racing goes back more than 45 years.
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This first year of sponsorship of the Bendigo Trotters Cup further strengthens Aldebaran Park's commitment to promoting square-gaiters races in Victoria, particularly at Bendigo where it has sponsored the Club's signature race for trotters, the Group 1 $50,000 Aldebaran Park Maori Mile, since its inception in 2010.
The discretionary handicapped race from a standing start, over the infrequently raced distance of 2650 metres, is back on the Bendigo Harness Racing Club's program after a hiatus in 2020 due to the coronavirus restrictions.
The cup was last won in 2019 by the Andy Gath trained and Kate Gath driven McLovin, a winner of some $434,918 in prize money, including this year's Aldebaran Park Maori Mile at the Bendigo track.
The race has been won by some of Australasia's best trotters.
These include the Shepparton-owned dual Inter Dominion winner and USA winner Scotch Notch (1982 and 1983), and the Sebastian champion True Roman, a winner of 73 races, including the 1988 Inter Dominion and the 1986 Bendigo Trotters' Cup.
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Locally owned and trained winners of the Cup since its inception in 1972 include Tenno Dance, Aleppo Sunrise, Kwik Kiwi, Poets Corner, Past Judgement, Larry Do, Trinket and Cons Poem.
The winningest driver of the Bendigo Trotters Cup is the late champion Gavin Lang with four, followed by the world champion female Kerryn Manning with three.
Bendigo district drivers have fared well over the history of the race with Brian Gath, David Semmens and Stuart Rothacker Senior each recording two wins.
The late champion trainer and driver Graeme Lang recorded his final training win when Save Our Pennys won the 2018 Cup driven by his son Gavin.
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