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Country Racing Victoria announced that Victoria's Country Trainer of the Year will be presented with the George Hanlon Trophy to duly recognise their outstanding training achievement.
The award has been struck in honour of one of Australia's most respected trainers who passed away in January of this year after guiding the career some of the nation's finest stayers including Family Of Man, Piping Lane and Arwon.
The George Hanlon Trophy will be awarded for the first time at the conclusion of the 2009-10 racing season and will be presented at the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards at Melbourne's Crown Palladium on Sunday, 8 August.
The winner will also be recognised at the Victorian Country Awards at Betfair Park (Sandown) one week later
With the 2009-10 racing season drawing to a close on 31 July, Ballarat trainer Darren Weir enjoys a healthy lead in the race for the inaugural George Hanlon Trophy with 115 wins, followed by premier trainer Peter Moody with 93 wins.
Few trainers can boast a record like Hanlon's with 37 Group 1s and 100 stakes wins to his name.
His feature wins include three Melbourne Cups (Piping Lane 1972, Arwon 1978 and Black Knight 1984); a Caulfield Cup (Diatribe 2000); Cox Plate (Family Of Man 1977); two Newmarket Handicaps (Correct 1960-61); an AJC Derby (Taras Bulba 1974), Mr Prudent (Sydney Cup 2001); a Doncaster Handicap (Lawman 1981); an Australian Cup (Kip 1982) and four Adelaide Cups (Gnapur 1969, Amarant 1983, Our Pompeii 1993-94).
"We are extremely honoured to have the Country Trainer of the Year Award named in honour of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, George Hanlon,” his son Gary Hanlon said.
“When dad was a young man, through his older brother Freddy, he met Jack Holt the leading trainer. Holt, who wrote the book on training at the time, said to dad, 'You could own Collins St and no one knows who you are, but train a good race horse and the whole world knows you'.”
CRV Chief Executive, Scott Whiteman, was thrilled to make today's announcement which took place at the late trainer's former home track of Geelong.
“George was known throughout Australia as a great trainer and racing person and had unbelievable respect amongst the industry. It was a sad day when George passed away and we are sure that this award, named in his honour, will be one of the most sought after awards for trainers,” Whiteman said.