HARNESS racing, and indeed the world, is all the poorer following the passing of Rex Hocking.
A true gentleman in every sense of the word, Hocking was also a natural horseman who enjoyed success at the highest level.
Born and raised in the South Australian region Avenue Range, Hocking began his equine association in the thoroughbred world while still attending school.
Despite enjoying riding track work, Hocking's meeting with prominent trainer Dick Benger, who had recently purchased a local business, resulted in a switch to the trots.
Quickly associating himself with several handy performers, including topline pacer Para Chief, Hocking made a decision to move to Victoria for professional and personal reasons.
Para Chief's wins include the 1971 Sir Clive Uhr Championship - later known as the Queensland Pacing Championship - at Albion Park.
"The 1967 drought made it hard to make a living off the land in Avenue Range and I had won a couple of handy races in Victoria, so I bought a block of land there," Hocking recalled during a previous interview.
"Plus my wife was sick at that stage and needed treatment at the Ballarat Hospital, so that was the way we headed."
Soon after the move Hocking would unearth one of the best pacers produced in Australia - Reichman.
A homebred, Reichman was the result of a union between the underrated, and poorly patronised Chief Spring, and Remnation, which was then at the advanced age of 15.
Renowned for his speed, Reichman became the first to better two minutes in Victoria with his 1972 Anniversary Cup win at the Ascot Vale Showgrounds.
With Hocking in the cart, Reichman rated 1:58.6 which was a world record for a three-furlong track.
The following year Hocking and Reichman registered their biggest victory by claiming the Miracle Mile at Harold Park.
Runner-up behind Bay Foyle in 1971, Reichman earned redemption with an Australian record 1:58.4.
"I suppose of all the races I won on Rusty, that 1973 Miracle Mile win had to be the biggest thrill I ever had with him," Hocking said. “I know I was canned the previous year, when I couldn't do much about it, but he was trained to the minute that night, and nothing could have beaten him."
Despite being at the height of his training, Hocking stepped away from the industry during the 1980s to return to his Avenue Range roots, where he continued farming sheep.
"It was just time to go home," Hocking said. "We were always more farmers than trainers at heart.
"We'd done a lot of travelling, won a lot of races and really enjoyed it, but the property next to where I grew up came up for sale and it was time to move back."
Outside of harness racing, Hocking was a passionate kelpie breeder and a driving force behind the South East Field Days which raises money for the local area.
National Trotguide extends its most profound sympathy to Hocking's family.
