Clinton Welsh has been awarded Victorian harness racing’s highest individual honour, the Gordon Rothacker Medal.
The long-serving trainer-driver was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the sport during an awards ceremony late last month at Melton Entertainment Park, joining a distinguished list of past recipients including Lance Justice (2023), Chris Alford (2022) and Brian Gath (2021).
“To be next to Dad is a wonderful thing. Dad was naturally a huge influence on my life,” a reflective Welsh said.
“Just to be named on the list with the people who have won this, there are probably a lot more worthy winners out there than me, but I can tell you no one will appreciate it more than I do.”
Welsh was born into harness racing, with his grandfather Lew and father Neville both respected horsemen during the Showgrounds era of the 1960s and 70s. Clinton became part of a unique legacy when all three generations drove at the same meeting during the 1978-79 season. His father Neville, a Gordon Rothacker Medallist himself, drove in two Inter Dominion grand finals and won multiple premierships, while grandfather Lew received a Distinguished Service Medal in 1984.
Clinton drove his first winner in 1979 and was soon in demand, becoming one of the state’s top junior drivers in the 1980s. He represented Victoria multiple times, including in the Australian Drivers Championship, which he won in Tasmania.
Welsh has driven or trained numerous Group 1 winners, including standout Tasmanian mare Family Credit, as well as Family Asset, Easy Key and Crusader Bear. His success with horses from Tasmania became a defining part of his career, with winners like Kotare Kiwi, Family Goods, Family Favourite and Red Samurai also among his highlights.
He partnered Inter Dominion winner My Lightning Blue to victory in the Moonee Valley Cup and drove top-level performers like Parading, Tucumcari, Jesses Mate and Helens Pleasure, the latter winning both the 1991 Ladyship Cup Final and the 1992 Australia Cup under his guidance.
Away from the sulky, Welsh has made an enormous contribution to the industry. He is a Life Member of the Victorian Trainers and Drivers Association, which he joined in 1980, and has served as a long-time President of the M&CTA. He was also a Vice Chair of the Bendigo Harness Racing Training Centre and served on the HRV Advisory Council.
Welsh worked as a trainer and driver assessor and educator, helping deliver training through the Melton annex of the Harness Racing Training Centre for over a decade.
He also co-hosted the long-running Harness Review program on Melton Community Radio, which aired for 24 years, and was always generous with his time and facilities. Welsh has also shown great generosity by welcoming interstate trainers to use his stables when campaigning in Victoria, including Grant Dixon with Leap To Fame and Natalie Rasmussen with champion Blacks A Fake.
Clinton Welsh’s lifetime of service, on and off the track, has earned him widespread respect and admiration. His Gordon Rothacker Medal win is a fitting tribute to a man who has given so much to the sport of harness racing.
