Scoring Up

Tasmania has long punched above its weight in harness racing, and nowhere is that more evident than in the sport’s greatest championship – the Inter Dominion.

The Apple Isle has produced an incredible eight Inter Dominion champions, a record that highlights the quality of Tasmania’s standardbred breeding over the past century.

The honour roll of Tasmanian-bred champions includes:

• Logan Derby – 1936 Inter Dominion Grand Final winner
• Evicus – Official 1936 Inter Dominion Grand Champion
• Springfield Globe – 1939
• Bandbox – 1947
• Chamfer Star – 1966
• Stanley Rio – 1977
• Thorate – 1990
• Beautide – 2014 & 2015

One of the most remarkable chapters in Inter Dominion history belongs to Evicus. Although she finished runner-up in every round, including the Grand Final, the points system used in the inaugural 1936 championship saw her crowned the official Inter Dominion Grand Champion. It remains one of the most unique results in the event’s history and continues to spark discussion among harness racing historians.

The 1936 championship also showcased the strength of Tasmanian breeding, with both Logan Derby and Evicus bred on the Apple Isle and both sired by the legendary Globe Derby, a stallion whose influence helped shape Australian harness racing.

Several of Tasmania’s finest breeders have played a significant role in building this proud record. The legendary Edgar Tatlow bred both Logan Derby and Springfield Globe, while A. Eley bred Bandbox, A.S. Cox bred Chamfer Star, Fred and Stan Baker bred Stanley Rio, David Rawlings and Ken Gillard bred Thorate, and the Rattray Family Trust bred dual champion Beautide.

This year’s Inter Dominion once again gives Tasmania plenty to cheer about, with three Tasmanian-bred pacers chasing harness racing’s ultimate prize.

They are:

• Triedtotellya (Well Said – Ballroom Belle)
• Nyack (Sweet Lou – Benediction)
• Fighter Command (Always B Miki – Spitfire Rose)

Adding further local interest is Max Delight, who is proudly owned in Tasmania by Michael Maxfield.

Should one of the Tasmanian-bred trio capture the title, they would add another chapter to one of Australian harness racing’s proudest breeding traditions and further cement Tasmania’s reputation as a producer of Inter Dominion champions.