Birthday treat for a ‘Living Legend’ of harness racing

Albion Park will be decked in white with black stars on Saturday 28 January as the local harness racing industry celebrates a ‘Living Legend’, Vic Frost, who turns 82 a couple of days later.

On the night, all races will be dedicated to the master trainer/driver, with some named after his past champions like Westburn Grant, Lucky Creed, Chandon, Area Code, Misty Maiden and Sailors Corner. 

There’s also a Happy Birthday Vic Frost Pace for the quietly spoken octogenarian.

Albion Park Harness Racing Club Chairman Brad Steele said Vic Frost has prepared over 1,000 winners since data was collated, with half of those registered during his time racing on Queensland tracks.

“Lucky Creed, who is already inducted to the Qld Hall of Fame, was regularly driven by Vic Frost including his Miracle Mile triumph back in 1970,” Mr Steele recalled.

“Vic Frost won the Australian Derby with Area Code at Albion Park in 1984 and eight years later did it again with Misty Maiden.

“He also won the 1994 Australian Pacing Championship at the Gold Coast and the Queensland Pacing Championship at The Creek with Chandon and both of those races were Grand Circuit events.”

But Vic’s superstar was Westburn Grant who raced six times at Albion Park, winning twice, including the 1990 Queensland Pacing Championship (Grand Circuit event), while his final start was in the 1993 Inter Dominion Grand Final when finishing sixth behind Jack Morris.

One of the all-time harness racing greats, Westburn Grant won the 1992 Inter Dominion Grand Final, plus back-to-back Miracle Miles in 1989 and 1990.

He finished with 38 wins and 18 placings from 67 starts.

Incredibly, three decades ago, this remarkable standardbred banked over $2m in prize money under Frost’s care.

Before his death at the age of 34 in 2020, Westburn Grant was a successful sire, standing the bulk of his active duty in Queensland (including Egmont Park Stud) and producing many winners.

As a reinsman, Vic Frost enjoyed great success with Aquagold winning all bar one of his eight drives, including the 2000 QBRED Triad 3YO Final, plus the 2000 Gold Coast Derby.

His only defeat on Aquagold was in the Queensland Derby where the duo finished second behind D B Bopper.

Most would agree the best horse Vic Frost has prepared since being based at Sleepy Hollow, halfway between Byron Bay and Tweed Heads, is Sailors Corner.

The freakishly talented son of Totally Ruthless was a winner of 18 of his 37 starts as well as 14 placings before his untimely demise.

Since being based at his current location a mere stone’s throw from the Tweed border, Vic Frost has prepared the likes of Sly Flyin, Gotta Go Cullen, Patchwood Star and Amrik Overdrive, while other standout performers include Sly Grin, Detroit Dan, Tooveys Gold, Orleans, Anvil Gale, Bollinger, Russells Choice, Kildary Manager, Dads The Best, Overlite, Ex Are Six, Frostiness, Likeness, Sevenfortyseven, Back Page News, Frostfire, Explosiveness, Fire And Ice, Zed Code and Scotch En Ice.

A true ‘patriarch of pacing’, Vic Frost has played a huge role in developing many young drivers including the likes of Luke McCarthy, Shane Graham, Chris Petroff, Trent Dawson, Matt Elkins and Hayden Barnes.

He was also a key mentor for John Cremin and Scott Kunde.

“Vic Frost is universally respected across the industry and his outstanding achievements over six decades speak for themselves,” Mr Steele said.

“Vic is still a much-revered figure at any racetrack he attends, and we look forward to seeing him at Albion Park when his family and close friends join others in the industry to celebrate a Living Legend of our sport.”