Boort Trotting....125 Years ! March 15th

Boort Trotting Club, ancestral home to Bill McKay, The Butterworths, Handos, Robertsons and other trotting greats....is celebrating 125 years of harness racing.

"On the 31st March 1934, Walla Walla, driven by Bill McKay won the
first match of the International Series at Addington by sensationally
holding off Harold Logan in 2:04.2. However in subsequent races at
Addington, Dunedin, Oamaru and Wellington, Walla Walla was well
beaten by Harold Logan.}

The first Boort Pacing Cup. in 1921, long after trotting commenced was won by Hall of Fame trotter Grand Voyage from 240 yards behind !!

The 125th Anniversary meeting will feature the annual Boort Pacing Cup and Boort Trotting Cup fixtures, as part of an 8 race program with record total stake money of $74.000.

There will be plenty of entertainment for all, including live music, fashions on the field and historical trotting memorabilia displays, together with activities for the kids.

- See more at: http://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Lists/E....8joz0y3I.dpuf

Noel, I am pretty sure I have never been to Boort - I am thinking that pic must have been taken in Spring after a good rainfall year (Mind you on looking it up, I notice the town has 2 lakes)
It is not much further than going to Charlton for me but I have to be in Melbourne from the 11-14th so this year may not be my year to break the drought.

There is one lake, Little Lake Boort that is kept full....the others are as in this googleimage dry...depending on the season.
If you look to the left of the present track, you'll see the salt-pan where the original racecourse was set up.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/place...79a430a08910?h

We were members of the Strathdale Syndicate and we scored our first win with Chorister trained by Bill Whelan and driven by Kelvin ( Skeeta) Whelan, way back in the late 60's.

The Boort Pacing Cup features quite an honour roll...Flaming Flutter, won the latest (2014) edition, and champion trotter Grand Voyage the first in 1921.
Legendary drivers Bill McKenzie and George Gath won Boort Cups.

Spent many a happy day there as a boy / teenager.


Uncle and cousin with their stables a couple of doors down from the entrance and Charlie Robertson another couple of houses down on the other side of the road and grandma a couple of house down from Mr. Rob.

Dont forget a horse called Namara won the Boort cup cant remember what year

Namara was in 1984

I guess the Salathiels just up the block in Boort from Charlie Robertson ( of New Derby fame) would be Keith and his son Peter...now into another generation with Katrina driving.