Hygain presents ‘Blast from the past’

A PAIR of harness racing icons will be honoured at Club Menangle on Saturday night.

A father and son combination, the late Joe and Michael Ilsley enjoyed a high rate of success within the industry, with both etching their names on various feature race honour rolls.

Among the leading horsemen at the dawn of night trotting in New South Wales, Joe was renowned for rejuvenating old horses via his training regime in Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Undoubtedly, Joe’s greatest moment was his victory in the 1984 Miracle Mile with veteran gelding Double Agent, which was transferred to Joe as a nine-year-old on the recommendation of fellow trainer Vic Frost.

With Joe in the cart, Double Agent beat Bundanoon and Thor Lobell to capture Australasia’s premier sprint as an evergreen 12-year-old.

Four decades later, the son of Out To Win remains the eldest Miracle Mile winner.

Joe and his wife Isobel moved to a 20-hectare property at Morisset during the early 1990s, where they enjoyed their retirement until their passing.

Like his father, Michael was respected for his training and driving prowess, which saw him secure a host of features during the 1980s and ’90s.

As a reinsman, Michael won 467 races, while also notching 398 wins as a trainer.

MICHAEL ILSLEY driving Michael Frost to beat San Simeon in a 1981 Inter Dominion heat

Associated with talented types such as Palefaces Bubble, Teramby Time, Black Trick, Witch Melody and Warrior Khan, Michael will long remain famous for ending Australasia’s longest winning streak.

Driving Michael Frost in the second round of the 1981 Inter Dominion, Michael rated the stallion to perfection to beat San Simeon, which was undefeated from 29 starts!

Michael was unlucky not to win an Inter Dominion, having finished second with Paleface Bubble at Addington in 1987 and with Palimar at Harold Park the following year.

Forced to scale back his involvement due to ill health, Michael passed away in November 2010 aged 59.