Scoring Up

Friday night’s Group 3 Kerry Clarke Fillies and Mares Free‑For‑All at Gloucester Park honours the late Kerry Clarke, former WASBA President and one of Western Australia’s most influential breeding advocates.

Clarke, who passed away in 2019, was a respected educator and long‑serving Head of Biology at Christ Church Grammar School before retiring in 1996. His involvement in harness racing began in the 1970s, with early success alongside his wife Bev through Demon Adios.

In 1995 the Clarke family purchased the mare Shielding, a decision that reshaped their breeding fortunes. After selecting Orange Sovereign as a match, they bred Sovereign Jet and later their standout mare Sovereign Beejay, a winner of 26 races and more than $400,000 including the WA Oaks and multiple mares’ features.

Beyond his own breeding achievements, Clarke was a tireless contributor. He served on committees for WASBA, the Bunbury Trotting Club, the WA Trotting Association and the Busselton Trotting Club. As WASBA President from 2007, he represented breeders at state and national level and was a key voice behind initiatives such as the Westbred Breeders Bonus, a lasting legacy of his advocacy.