Mary Helen Pearce, the owner of Eldarin Park stud, which for many years has been one of Victoria’s most prominent breeding establishments, has decided to retire from commercial breeding.

Trainer Brent Lilley insists his star trotting mare Queen Elida is primed to add to her fantastic Menangle record on Saturday night.

The six-year-old, fresh back from a fruitful two-race raid on NZ, has raced three times - all at Group level - at Sydney's home of harness racing for two wins and a second.

The man who has achieved almost everything possible in Australasian harness racing now has a new target.

Sometimes it’s not the Grand Circuit races or the great predictable events that we remember as our favourite moments throughout the year, but instead it can be the unique, personal and heartwarming outcomes that stick with us for years.

Here are my top five moments of 2023, starting off with one that demonstrates my love for the trotting breed.

The “old marvel” tag is often used loosely in racing circles, thrown out quickly to describe an ageing horse who has been a loyal servant to his or her connections over a prolonged period of time.

But for Victorian harness racing fast class veteran Bulletproof Boy, it’s truly a compliment that hits the mark.