Harriott colours shine again at Marburg

By Jordan Gerrans

The Harriott family’s green and white colours were once a regular sight around the Marburg track and they were able to be in the spotlight once again on Sunday as Whirlwind Wilbur trotted to an emotional victory.

The Marburg club has implemented an all-trotters meeting over the last couple of years to honour former club servant Graham Harriott.

Harriott was a respected figure and former Marburg Pacing 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.

The feature race on the program on Sunday was the Graham Harriott Memorial Trotters Handicap, with the Tayla Gillespie-prepared Whirlwind Wilbur scoring a memorable win.

Gillespie’s father Shaun is the current boss of the Marburg club and has been a driving force behind the all-trotters concept.

Whirlwind Wilbur raced in the Harriott clan’s famous green and white colours in the event to make the triumph even sweeter.

“It was exciting,” trainer Tayla said.

“A big group of us went up and got a photo with the Harriott family. Dad was good mates with Graham Harriott, as well.

“Graham and Dad were really good friends, so I know it meant a lot to Dad and I think the Harriott family too. It was really good.

“Dad's pretty chuffed that he won the race because they were good mates and we got to wear the colours as well, so that was even better.”

Following Graham’s death, his widow Ann-Maree has remained heavily involved with the Marburg club and was in the winning picture on Sunday, alongside other family members and friends of the late horseman.

Sunday’s all-trotters meeting was the second time the Marburg club had hosted the event, which features the Graham Harriott Memorial Trotters Handicap.

The Graham Harriott Memorial Trotters Handicap was held in years before the all-trotters meeting was implemented.

This time last year, Mark Dux’s Gracias was able to score in the 2550 metre contest for the square gaiters, with Angus Garrard steering him to victory.

Whirlwind Wilbur started from a 20-metre handicap on Sunday, but top reinsman Matt Elkins was able to guide the gelding to his first victory on his home track.

“It was very exciting,” Tayla said of the winning result.

“He's been going really good. He's just improving every year that we've had him.

“His last few runs have been super, so I was quietly confident that he'd run a good race if he got around safely, but he works here.

“This is his home track for trackwork, so I thought he'd be pretty fine, but it was a good drive by Matt Elkins.

“It was very patient. He just sat and waited at the top of the straight. It was good. There was a bit of speed on.”

As well as training Whirlwind Wilbur, the 31-year-old horsewoman also owns the trotter.

The voice of racing at Marburg, Anthony Collins, recognised the winning connection between the Harriott and Gillespie clans in his broadcast of the event.

“Those colours, amazing, they have done it again,” Collins said.

The trotter has been raced in the Sunshine State by the Gillespie family since July of 2023, with Sunday’s result marking the six-year-old’s 10th career triumph, to go along with 23 minor placings.

Whirlwind Wilbur does not win as often as the stable would like him to, but he is a consistent horse.

“He's been with us since he was a three-year-old,” the local trainer said.

“He used to do a fair bit wrong and had a lot to learn, but he's just getting better and better, so hopefully he's still got a lot left yet.

“He won one at Redcliffe and he's just won the rest at Albion Park except for Sunday.

“And, he's run a fair few placings too.

“He may not win a lot, but he's run a fair few placings, so he's been a good little cheque collector for us.

“He's improved a lot from where he's come from.

“He's just really starting to hit his straps and I think he can go on with it.”

The meeting is known as ‘Harriott Day’. 

Trainer Tayla also had stablemate Head Em Up run in Sunday’s $11,999 feature, with the gelding finishing back in the field.

“There was a decent crowd here. The weather probably kept a few people away,” she said.

“We had a good day. I think everyone that you spoke to had a good day, so there was plenty of entertainment.”