26 June 2020 | Chris Barsby
Harness racing is mourning the loss of a true champion.
Westburn Grant.
At the ripe old age of 34, he has entered horse heaven.
In this fast moving world and society in which we live, the word ‘champion’ is often tossed around with reckless abandon, not doing justice to the true meaning of the word.
But in the case of Westburn Grant, he is the epitome of a champion…..and some!
Affectionately known as ‘Spot’, the Vic Frost trained and driven superstar was a game changer, a pacer that revolutionized the sport with blinding speed coupled with such fierce tenacity.
He was poetry in motion.
And he sustained those outstanding qualities for his entire career on the racetrack.
Unbeaten at two, he won all three starts he contested.
Returning the following season, Westburn Grant furnished into of the finest three-year-olds the country has ever produced, victories in both the New South Wales and Victoria Derby classics while finishing third behind Rockleigh Victory and Double Wipe in the Australian Derby.
Frost campaigned his mighty colt in New Zealand; he won all three starts including the New Zealand Derby at Addington by a massive margin.
Naturally, he was crowned the Australian Harness Horse of the Year.
As a four-year-old, Westburn Grant would win the Miracle Mile after engaging Thorate in a titanic speed battle before backing up to win the Treuer Memorial at Bankstown.
Frost and ‘Spot’ then headed west, he would capture the Golden Nugget while unplaced in the WA Pacing Cup before bouncing back in the South Australian Cup and then finished fourth in the Victoria Cup.
During the Inter Dominion Series in Adelaide, he was placed in all three heats but was unplaced in the final.
Returning for his five-year-old season, Westburn Grant won the Queensland Pacing Championship, the Legends at Moonee Valley rating 1.57.0 for 1940 metres and the Italian Cup at Harold Park in track record time for 2700 metres defeating Thorate before being unplaced in the Australian Pacing Championship.
He then won the Miracle Mile again in a track record of 1:55.6 defeating Almeta Boy and Defoe. Heading west again, Westburn Grant won the WA Pacing Cup by 20 metres before suffering a broken pastern in a freak track work accident.
He won 9 of 13 starts for the season and $606,300. Despite missing the final two grand circuit races due to injury he was still crowned Grand Circuit Champion and also awarded the honour of being named Australian Harness Horse of the Year for a second time.
Westburn Grant returned from injury with a track record win at Newcastle. He was second in the QPC at Albion Park when outstayed by Franco Ice in a record 1:55.1 rate for 2100 metres and won the Australian Pacing Championship at Launceston in Tasmania. He was third in the Miracle Mile behind Christopher Vance before an emotional win in the WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park not long after the sudden death of trainer-driver Vic Frost’s son Gary.
At Moonee Valley he won the 1992Inter Dominion Grand Final from Franco Tiger and Blossom Lady and at seasons end, he was crowned as the Grand Circuit champion for the third straight season while also landing the title of Australian Harness Horse of the Year for the third time.
He was retired after an unplaced performance behind Jack Morris in the 1993 Inter Dominion in Brisbane.
And as the record proves, Westburn Grant traveled extensively and rarely missed a feature event but won more than he lost.
Westburn Grant was trained throughout his career by Frost and raced for his breeders, Barney and Collen Breen, he was by the Queensland based Land Grant from the Lumber Dream mare Westburn Vue.
He finished with a record of 38 wins from 67 starts and earnings in excess of $2 million.
A stud career beckoned for the champion performer and he enjoyed good success over many seasons before retiring from active duty and spending the remainder of his life at the property of Vic Frost and Gail Geeson at Mooball in northern New South Wales.
During his retirement, he had full access across the property and clearly loved life to the fullest.
It was pure bliss for a horse that gave so much throughout a truly remarkable career.
‘Spot’ was cared for deeply by Frost and Geeson, after all, he was part of the family and as a result, they always made sure he was in the best possible condition.
Rest in peace ‘Spot’.
A TRUE CHAMPION.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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