Mark Dux says thank you to Marburg

By Jordan Gerrans

Mark Dux recalls fond memories of driving for the late Graham Harriott, so the trainer was thrilled to finally win the race named in his honour on Sunday afternoon.

The Marburg Harness Racing Association ran the first-ever all trotters meeting in the Sunshine State on Sunday with eight events hosted at the track.

The Marburg club had long held the Graham Harriott Memorial Handicap as a feature day but for the first time in 2025 they incorporated it into the all trotters program.

Dux’s Gracias was able to score in the 2550 metre contest for the square gaiters with Angus Garrard steering him to victory.

A front row draw was key for Dux and reinsman Garrard as Gracias led in the early exchanges and was not headed again.

The five-year-old gelding eventually scored by a touch over five metres in the feature event. 

Gracias had not run in the money on six straight occasions before landing the major prize on Sunday, but the Woongoolba-based conditioner thought his trotter was going much better than what the form guide suggested.

“He has been coming off big handicaps and it made a big difference to get a front row draw,” the trainer said.

“His runs have been a bit better than what they look on paper.

“The numbers do not say how good he has been going.

“He has only had a couple of runs back from a break, as well.

“It was nice to win the race when you had an association with the person it was named after.”

The 64-year-old Dux is focusing on preparing his dozen or so in work these days and has not driven in a race since the 2022 season. 

In his driving days, he remembers often being booked to partner with Harriott-prepared horses before the respected trainer passed away in 2012.

Gracias was the first runner Dux had put in the race since it was installed into the racing calendar several years ago. 

The respected Harriott was a former Marburg Harness Racing Association president before he died suddenly in 2012 when he had a strong team of horses in work.

Harriott trained for over 30 years and had a few different stints as president at Marburg.

Current Marburg Harness Racing Association president Shaun Gillespie was chuffed to deliver an all trotters meeting for the first time in Queensland which boasted eight events.

“We want to build on it over the years,” the club boss said.

“We have had the support from the industry; it has been pretty good.”

Gracias is owned by Glenn Jones who was at Marburg on Sunday to share in the celebrations after his gelding claimed the $11,999 event. 

“The owner was there and everything, he was all excited about it,” Dux said.

“It is nice to win a nice race like that; it is great to win them.

“A friend of the owners had the horse in Melbourne and he is a long-time friend and always got a lot of horses from him.

“He purchased the horse and he has been up here for about 18 months now.

“The horse is no superstar but he is a nice little money spinner.”

A big crowd turned out to Marburg on Sunday to showcase the maiden all trotters program in the state.

The Marburg club are keen to make ‘Harriott Day’ an annual fixture like the Redwood race day in Victoria.

The annual Redwood Classic program in Victoria is hosted by Maryborough Harness Racing Club and is one of the more popular events on the calendar and brings together a feature meeting for trotters. 

Dux says the 2025 edition of the ‘Harriott Day’ is a great starting point for the Marburg club.

“The way it was supported, it turned out to be pretty good,” Dux said.

“It went well and the club has something to build on now from it.

“Obviously the club put in a lot of work to get it going and they need to get the credit for getting there.

“They have something to build on from it.”

The voice of Queensland harness racing Chris Barsby backed the Marburg all trotters concept.

"It was a really good crowd," Barsby said.

"They have got something to work on and they have plans to make it bigger and better in 2026.

"All in all, it was a good day and most that were there enjoyed the festivities."

Dux heads to Albion Park on Tuesday with two starters – Captain Nemo and Lulu Mae – and he thinks both will be highly competitive.