By Tim O'Connor
Next year’s Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship will prove a family affair for the powerhouse harness racing couple of Kate and Andy Gath.
Kate has today been announced as the ninth reinsperson – and only female – for the inaugural running of the series at Albion Park on February 21-22, joining Swedish hero Bjorn Goop, North American-based megastars Yannick Gingras and Dexter Dunn, New Zealand’s Carter Dalgety, WA’s Gary Hall Jr, NSW’s Brad Hewitt and Queensland pair Nathan Dawson and Angus Garrard as confirmed starters.
The unique event was revealed earlier this year and puts a major spin on the slot race concept seen across all racing jurisdictions. Slot holders pay $20,000 to be involved in the series, and are then required to select a driver and the horses they will partner in the two-night, 20-race contest.
Kate will compete for her business Gath Racing, which has proven one of the dominant stables in Victoria for many years.
“As Gath Racing, we’re a bit of a team. Andy trains and I drive, so I thought that he can do the form and pick my drives for the series,” she said.
“It’s something that I thought would be another challenge and something I’m really looking forward to.
“It is an exciting concept, and I take my hat off to Racing Queensland for thinking of it and doing something along these lines.”
Kate is a multiple winner of the Victorian metropolitan drivers’ premiership and boasts more than 2000 career victories, including in excess of 50 Group 1s. Most recently, she has partnered the stable’s star Catch A Wave to eight elite-level wins, headlined by the 2023 Miracle Mile.
The 41-year-old has driven sparingly at Albion Park during her career, but did record a Group 1 win there with Burnaholeinmypocket in the 2015 Nursery Flying Stakes.
“Victoria is critical to the Australasian harness racing landscape, so having someone representing the Big V is a shot in the arm for the championship,” Racing Queensland Senior Racing Manager David Brick said.
“Given Kate has been the leading metro driver in Victoria three of the past five seasons, I don’t think Andy took much convincing to agree on giving Kate the seat.
“Kate’s also a great fit with the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver taking place during February, when the industry raises awareness of ovarian cancer through the Team Teal promotion. No doubt Kate will be wearing the teal pants proudly.”
Click here for more information on the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.