Greg Sugars memorial service: Melton, Monday May 12, 2025
Champion harness racing horseman Greg Sugars will today be farewelled at a memorial service at Melton, a track where he scored so many of his biggest wins.
A large crowd is expected at the 12pm service, which is open to the public and will feature heartfelt tributes from Sugars' family and closest friends in the Legends Room at Melton Entertainment Park.
For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed via thetrots.com.au.
Sugars, 40, died in his sleep on April 25 at the height of his powers.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The South Australian-bred horseman boasted a Hall of Fame record. He won 71 Group 1 races and drove more than 4000 winners, including wins all around Australia, NZ and even in the US.
In recent years, Sugars' success with his wife and training partner, Jess Tubbs, and their champion trotter Just Believe had propelled the pair to international stardom.
Just Believe won a legion of Scandinavian fans during his three-race Swedish trip in 2023.
Last year, the mighty trotter raced six times in NZ for five wins and a second, including wins in the country's three biggest trotting races, the TAB Trot, Rowe Cup and Dominion Trot.
Just recently, Sugars partnered the unbeaten Always Hot to win the Group 1 NSW Derby and said he was one of the most exciting pacers he had ever driven.
Sugars is remembered by his wife Jess, father Ross, mother Kerry, sister Kylie and many close friends.
• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
Originally published as Champion harness racing identity Greg Sugars to be farewelled at memorial service at Melton today
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
4 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer Parchment Party
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne Cup-qualified American stayer Parchment Party has boosted potential Flemington claims with a second stakes win in New York. The Pin Oak Stud-owned four-year-old son of Constitution, trained by Bill Mott, on Thursday (AEST) won the Listed Birdstone Stakes (2800m) at Saratoga. Parchment Party won a Melbourne Cup golden ticket in June with a victory in the Group 3 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational (2800m). Pro Tips View All Clinton Payne - Last 28 Days Profit Profit 0 * ROI 0 Strike Rate 0 Units Tipped 0 Avg. Winner Odds 0 • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet IQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Owner Dana Bernhard, of Pin Oak Stud, told the Saratoga Live broadcast 'it's our plan' when asked about possible Melbourne spring carnival participation. Pin Oak Stud-owned World Beater, trained by Mott's son Riley, coincidently won the Cox Plate-qualifying Group 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational last week. The interest in two horses qualified for Australia's biggest races could sweeten the cost and logistics to travel from the US to Melbourne via quarantine at Newmarket, UK. 'We're leaning in that (Melbourne) direction,' Bill Mott told Saratoga Live. 'We're trying to make all the early plans that we need to make.' Parchment Party could become the first US-trained horse to start in the Melbourne Cup. Five US-bred horses have won a Melbourne Cup with French-trained Australian-owned Americain the most recent in 2010. Victoria Racing Club chief racing officer Leigh Jordon welcomed Parchment Party's progress. 'It was great to see Parchment Party win the Birdstone Stakes and the excitement from the ownership group following the race,' Jordon said. 'They are currently looking at travel options for the horse and the prospect of Parchment Party becoming the first American-trained horse to run in the Lexus Melbourne Cup has created an incredible buzz. 'We're proud to have strengthened our relationship with the New York Racing Association by making the Belmont Gold Cup a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. It is part of the (VRC's) ongoing commitment to growing the international reach of the race and build meaningful relationships across the world.' Originally published as Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer Parchment Party
Mercury
6 hours ago
- Mercury
Top sports doctor reveals concerning concussion timeline for Aussie codes
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. One of Australia's leading sports doctors suspects combating the full extent of concussion remains 'years and years' away. Dr Peter Harcourt was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Thursday after 40 years of medical service. He oversaw seven Olympic Games and spent time in the AFL and at Basketball Australia tackling the biggest medical hurdles. Harcourt says concussion remains one of the top challenges in world sport and while Australia's football codes have made progress, 'there's still a long way to go'. 'Concussion is the big one at the moment and I think sport is making some pretty big progress,' Harcourt said. 'Certainly, you can see that in the way the game is being played in AFL and in NRL and other competitions like that. 'I think understanding exactly the full depth of it and the mechanisms of it, prevention, the treatment, there's still a long way to go. 'This is going to take years and years to pull it apart and understand what the risks are and how you actually combat that.' Dr Peter Harcourt AM was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Thursday at the MCG. Picture: Hamish Blair Several AFL players, including premiership stars Jeremy McGovern and Angus Brayshaw, have been medically retired due to concussion in recent seasons. Cronulla Sharks co-captain Dane Finucane also last year retired following advice from medical professionals. Harcourt said the awareness of long-term damage had prompted players and sporting clubs to change the narrative around head knocks. 'There's no holding back organisations these days in terms of tackling something that is really critical for the welfare of their athletes,' he said. 'The way we managed it 40 years ago was it was a self-limiting condition that would fully resolve – that's the way you thought about it. 'These days obviously you don't because you're worried about the long-term risks associated with that sort of trauma. 'I think the culture in the player groups has changed in that they will come forward and tell you when they're not well. 'There's been a lot of awareness. I'm not saying that it wouldn't happen (hiding concussions), but I think it's much less than what might've happened 10-15 years ago.' Originally published as One of Australia's most experienced doctors believes combating concussion is 'years and years' away
Herald Sun
7 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer Parchment Party
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne Cup-qualified American stayer Parchment Party has boosted potential Flemington claims with a second stakes win in New York. The Pin Oak Stud-owned four-year-old son of Constitution, trained by Bill Mott, on Thursday (AEST) won the Listed Birdstone Stakes (2800m) at Saratoga. Parchment Party won a Melbourne Cup golden ticket in June with a victory in the Group 3 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational (2800m). • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet IQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Owner Dana Bernhard, of Pin Oak Stud, told the Saratoga Live broadcast 'it's our plan' when asked about possible Melbourne spring carnival participation. Pin Oak Stud-owned World Beater, trained by Mott's son Riley, coincidently won the Cox Plate-qualifying Group 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational last week. The interest in two horses qualified for Australia's biggest races could sweeten the cost and logistics to travel from the US to Melbourne via quarantine at Newmarket, UK. 'We're leaning in that (Melbourne) direction,' Bill Mott told Saratoga Live. 'We're trying to make all the early plans that we need to make.' Parchment Party could become the first US-trained horse to start in the Melbourne Cup. Five US-bred horses have won a Melbourne Cup with French-trained Australian-owned Americain the most recent in 2010. Victoria Racing Club chief racing officer Leigh Jordon welcomed Parchment Party's progress. 'It was great to see Parchment Party win the Birdstone Stakes and the excitement from the ownership group following the race,' Jordon said. 'They are currently looking at travel options for the horse and the prospect of Parchment Party becoming the first American-trained horse to run in the Lexus Melbourne Cup has created an incredible buzz. 'We're proud to have strengthened our relationship with the New York Racing Association by making the Belmont Gold Cup a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. It is part of the (VRC's) ongoing commitment to growing the international reach of the race and build meaningful relationships across the world.' Originally published as Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer Parchment Party
