Latest news with #ValeGregSugarsFree-For-All
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The late Greg Sugars honoured on emotional night at Melton
Brilliant young trotting mare Keayang Zahara stretched her unbeaten record to 15 starts on Saturday when carrying the silks of the late Greg Sugars on one of the one emotion-charged nights Australian harness racing has seen. The four-year-old, first-up since December 6 last year, did all of the work outside multiple Group 1 winner Im Ready Jet and lifted when it mattered to win by a head at Melton. Keayang Zahara has made a strong return to the track, winning the Hertz Melton Trotters Free For All with Glen Craven in the sulky. A touching moment, with Craven wearing the colours of Greg Sugars on a night remembering the champion reinsman at Melton Entertainment Park. — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 3, 2025 As her driver Glen Craven returned to the winner's circle, it signalled the start of a beautiful and deeply emotional on-course tribute to Sugars. A video capturing just a small snapshot of his Sugars' stellar career played as all drivers competing last night gathered on the track in front of the winning post. A podium with a set of Sugars' driving colours, some trophies and other personal items became the centrepiece of a guard of honour from drivers. Emotions overflowed when Sugars' wife, Jess Tubbs, joined the drivers on the track for a minute's silence. After the tribute, the Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All was run and Tubbs had three of the eight runners for the Larajay stables she built into such a huge success with Sugars. Hopes of a fairytale win sat with the Tubbs-trained favourite Rocknroll Hammer, driven by one of Sugars' closest friends, James Herbertson, who had jetted back from a working holiday in the US to be at the tribute meeting. But the fairytale wasn't to be. Rocknroll Hammer led, but the Kate Gath-driven Tango Tara came off Rocknroll Hammer's back to run him down late and win. Tango Tara wins the Vale Greg Sugars Free For All for Kate and Andy Gath on a special night of remembrance at Melton Entertainment Park. — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 3, 2025 'I'm a really competitive person, but that's one race I really struggled with going past the leader,' Gath said. Earlier in the night, Gath spoke beautifully about Sugars after winning on Pinnie in race one. 'I think we're all still numb and in shock. I just can't stop thinking about Jess and Greg's family,' she said. Fighting back tears, Gath added: 'It's such a privilege tonight to come here and pay tribute to Greg, the talent and legend that he was. He was so gifted.' Gath praised Melton officials and HRV for making red, green and white ribbons to put in the manes of all horses racing on the night. 'What a beautiful touch,' she said. Tubbs spoke of how hard it was being trackside just a week after Sugars' passing in his sleep. 'We didn't get a winner tonight, but we showed up. We showed up when we didn't want to, when it would have been easier to stay home,' she wrote on Instagram. 'We showed up all week, every morning, every race meeting. We showed up for Greg. 'Greg and I often spoke about Team Larajay and our Larajay Family and I can say I've never been more proud of our team than I am right now. Love you guys.' Sugars, just 40, boasted a Hall of Fame record with over 4000 wins and 71 at Group 1 level.
Herald Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
‘I've got to be there for Jess': Herbertson returns from US
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia's premier driver James Herbertson is jetting back from a working holiday in the US to honour his idol, Greg Sugars. Herbertson is due back in Melbourne tomorrow (Thursday) and revealed he would drive in the race named in Sugars' honour, the Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All, at Melton on Saturday night. The harness racing world has been in mourning since Sugars, aged just 40, died in his sleep last Friday night. To Herbertson, Sugars was a mate, a mentor, a father-figure and an idol. 'To be honest, I'm not in the right headspace to stay here (the US),' Herbertson said. 'I'm back tomorrow morning and don't know for how long. I'll just see how I feel. 'I've got to be there for Jess (Tubbs, Sugars' wife).' • 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! Tubbs trains three of the nine runners – Triple Eight, Rocknroll Hammer and Better Eclipse – in Saturday's night's Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All. They will be driven by Herbertson, Kerryn Manning and Craig Demmler. Tubbs called Herbertson to tell him about Sugars' death in the early hours of Saturday morning US time. 'I didn't think Jess would be able to function, but she is just so strong … I still thought, this can't be happening,' Herbertson said. 'When I say Greg was like another parent to me, I mean it. He took me under his wing and made me into the driver I am today. 'He was one of the very best as a driver, a trainer and a human being.' • 'Wonderful person': Industry giants pay respect to Greg Sugars The day before Sugars' passing, Herbertson drove his first winner at the iconic Meadowlands track in New Jersey and was wondering why the congratulatory text he most wanted hadn't arrived after the race. 'I was on the way back to the winner's circle and thinking about Greg's winning drive in the States when he was young and wondering whether the photos would be similar,' Herbertson said. 'I just hoped he (Greg) had seen it. 'I was waiting for a message from him after the race, only to find out a few hours later he was gone. 'I swear he pushed it over the line for me as the last thing he could for me before he took his last final breath. 'Greg was my idol. My best mate. The man I went to whenever I needed help with my life, racing and everything in between.' At Melton on Saturday, drivers will wear black armbands in all races. Additionally, a reflection ceremony and minute's silence will be held at 7.05pm. Sugars drove over 4000 winners, including 71 at Group 1 level. No date has yet been set for his memorial service and funeral. • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp. Originally published as 'I've got to be there for Jess': Premier driver James Herbertson returns from US to honour memory of Greg Sugars
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘I've got to be there for Jess': Premier driver James Herbertson returns from US to honour memory of Greg Sugars
Australia's premier driver James Herbertson is jetting back from a working holiday in the US to honour his idol, Greg Sugars. Herbertson is due back in Melbourne tomorrow (Thursday) and revealed he would drive in the race named in Sugars' honour, the Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All, at Melton on Saturday night. The harness racing world has been in mourning since Sugars, aged just 40, died in his sleep last Friday night. To Herbertson, Sugars was a mate, a mentor, a father-figure and an idol. 'To be honest, I'm not in the right headspace to stay here (the US),' Herbertson said. 'I'm back tomorrow morning and don't know for how long. I'll just see how I feel. 'I've got to be there for Jess (Tubbs, Sugars' wife).' • Tubbs trains three of the nine runners – Triple Eight, Rocknroll Hammer and Better Eclipse – in Saturday's night's Vale Greg Sugars Free-For-All. They will be driven by Herbertson, Kerryn Manning and Craig Demmler. Tubbs called Herbertson to tell him about Sugars' death in the early hours of Saturday morning US time. 'I didn't think Jess would be able to function, but she is just so strong … I still thought, this can't be happening,' Herbertson said. 'When I say Greg was like another parent to me, I mean it. He took me under his wing and made me into the driver I am today. 'He was one of the very best as a driver, a trainer and a human being.' • 'Wonderful person': Industry giants pay respect to Greg Sugars The day before Sugars' passing, Herbertson drove his first winner at the iconic Meadowlands track in New Jersey and was wondering why the congratulatory text he most wanted hadn't arrived after the race. 'I was on the way back to the winner's circle and thinking about Greg's winning drive in the States when he was young and wondering whether the photos would be similar,' Herbertson said. 'I just hoped he (Greg) had seen it. 'I was waiting for a message from him after the race, only to find out a few hours later he was gone. 'I swear he pushed it over the line for me as the last thing he could for me before he took his last final breath. 'Greg was my idol. My best mate. The man I went to whenever I needed help with my life, racing and everything in between.' "He was one of the best, as a driver, a trainer and as a human being." In a touching tribute, some of harness racing's biggest names pay respect to the late Greg Sugars. @AdamHSport READ: — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) April 27, 2025 At Melton on Saturday, drivers will wear black armbands in all races. Additionally, a reflection ceremony and minute's silence will be held at 7.05pm. Sugars drove over 4000 winners, including 71 at Group 1 level. No date has yet been set for his memorial service and funeral.
