The Maryborough harness racing driver and trainer has literally devoted years worth of time during his 50-year involvement in the sport to volunteering and helping others.

His willingness to support young people starting out in harness racing and his more than 30 years of service to the Maryborough Harness Racing Club has been recognised with an industry distinguished services award.

The award was announced at Harness Racing Victoria's night of nights - its Gordon Rothacker Medal presentation - which due to COVID-19 restrictions was held online late last month.

The humble and affable 64-year-old has been around horses all his life. He says he has never contemplated a career in anything else.

The son of former trainer-driver Reg and Lorraine Hayes grew up in Greensborough in Melbourne's north, but by the time he was in year 11, he was living in Maryborough.

"I used to work horses before and after school and then I started driving in the trials at 14," he said.

"Mum and dad moved because of the horses. Dad always had horses in the backyard, so he came up here. Maryborough was central for harness racing. Before they shut a few down there were a dozen tracks within a two-hour drive. They considered the location essential

"It's pretty much always been my job and if people ask I tell them I love my job. To me, it's not work.

"Some people complain about having to get up and go to work, I don't."

A committee member at Maryborough for 32 years, including 12 as vice-president, Hayes said his volunteering came naturally.

"I see it as an extension of my job - if anyone's in trouble you help them," he said.

"And you do whatever jobs that need to be done."

In a sport bristling with young driving and training talent, the astute horseman is only too willing to lend his expertise and experience to up-and-comers and takes quiet satisfaction in seeing them succeed.

"There's a few young ones coming through like Brent Murphy, who's just started driving, and Celeste Towers; I gladly gave them drives at the trials to get their licence," he said.

"They've both had wins and are off and running.

"It's becoming harder and harder for guys my vintage, the young kids (concession drivers) get a five-point lift, so if anyone has a horse that is just battling along, they will put the young kid on.

"But the young ones are our sport's future."

Hayes said stepping away from his committee duties a couple of years ago had given him a bit more time to concentrate on his own team of horses.

He has 18 horses currently in work, a handful of his own, and the bulk for Emilio and Mary Rosati, for whom he has long broken in and prepared horses for.

A purple patch of sorts finds him with three winners from his last six starters, including two from his last three.

"We are bobbing up here and there, which is good. We got one (last Friday) at Ballarat with Igniting Stride," Hayes said.

"He's been a much-journeyed horse and he's been a bit of a problem horse.

"I don't know whether we are winning, but we are about one-all or even stevens.

"He's been to Sydney twice and they don't want to see him back, but he and I have an understanding. He does what he wants and I put up with him," he added with a laugh.

"He's a bit tricky."

The horse, which kick-started Hayes' winning run, The Night King won at Geelong on May 12, but has since been sold to Queensland interests and has won two races up north.

Hayes revealed he had 22 yearlings and nine two-year-olds on the books for the Rosatis.

"They're not all in work, I took eight to the other side of Shepparton last week and brought back another eight and have started on them," he said.

"They keep me pretty busy.

"I don't take holidays, I just work horses and have fun."

A gracious Hayes said the distinguished services award had come as a complete shock to him, albeit not to everyone.

"My wife and my kids and granddaughter and one of my owners knew, but I didn't - I only knew when I saw it on Trots Vision," he said.

"I was eating a mandarin and nearly choked on it.

"Without Susan, my wife, I wouldn't get an award like this at all - she's the backbone and she's the brains behind the outfit.

"I also need to thank mum and dad for starting me off."

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