Gail Geeson and Vic Frost
AFTER 25 years as a trainer, Gail Geeson has never treasured her trips to the races more than she does today.
That’s because Geeson, 54, was given only a 10 percent chance of surviving at the height of her long battle with bowel cancer.
Almost six years after first being diagnosed, Geeson, the wife of Harness Racing Hall of Famer Vic Frost of Westburn Grant fame, is “cancer free and in remission.”
“I can’t believe it, my oncologist can’t believe … things were really grim during the worst of it,” Geeson said.
“It was back in March, 2020 when I started chemo and they told me it worked so well, it actually ‘blew up’ the tumor and perforated my bowel in three spots … they thought for sure that it would have spread the cancer.
“That’s when they only gave me a 10 per chance of getting through it.”
Geeson, one of the most popular and unassuming people in Queensland harness racing, said the strength and support of the harness community played a massive role in her successful fight and recovery.
“It’s often said that during tough times you see the best in people and I can certainly say it’s true,” she said. “Racing in general is a great game for that.
“So many people were so supportive and in so many different ways.”
Leviathan Queensland owners and breeders Kevin and Kay Seymour were in Geeson’s corner from day one.
“And they still are now … always checking in and trying to help in any way they can,” she said. “I can't speak more highly of them.
“They did the same for Dan (Costello) the Albion Park (harness) photographer just recently. They’ve helped him have a second chance when he was told he didn’t have one.”
Geeson trains a team of 10 with Frost at Pottsville in the Northern Rivers of NSW where one of their neighbours and closest friends is former AFL Hall of Fame player with the Sydney Swans and St Kilda, Tony Lockett.
“He’s so modest and unassuming, we just knew him as Tony for a long time and had no idea how famous he was,” Geeson laughed.
“We’ve all become very close and he comes over and helps with the horses sometimes, too.”
Going to the races, seeing people and winning races has been Geeson’s greatest tonic.
“It’s like my energizer. I don’t take my health for granted any more so we’re enjoying every moment and every win,” she said.
Pacers like Zac Daniels, Candykane and others have done their part to give Geeson her second most successful season with 10 wins from just 56 starters in 2025.
But it’s a stable youngster of the human variety who is inspiring Geeson and Frost now.
“Young Ella (Lyons) is a huge help around the stables and she’s only got two more trial drives before she’s off to the races. That will be a thrilling moment for us all,” Geeson said.
PHOTO: Racing Queensland
