Racing Queensland and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club have been recognised as a part of Harness Racing Australia’s Joseph Coulter Media Awards.
Both RQ and the Club were bestowed with the Award of Merit for Demonstrated Excellence in Promotion through the inaugural Ultimate Driver Championship.
The unique concept attracted 10 of the world’s best drivers to Albion Park to compete across 20 races for a share of $250,000, with each driver selected by a slot holder, before a draft was held to choose the horses to be partnered with a driver in each race.
The series garnered widespread attention both locally and internationally, with a number of world-class drivers accepting the invitation to bring their talents to Australia.
Five-time USA Driver of the Year Dexter Dunn headlined the contingent of internationals, alongside Hall of Fame reinsman Yannick Gingras and Swedish megastar Bjorn Goop.
A quartet of Australasia’s premier drivers – Gary Hall Jnr, Kate Gath, Brad Hewitt and Carter Dalgety – joined local stars Nathan Dawson, Peter McMullen and Angus Garrard in the running for the Ultimate Driver title.
It was the Sunshine State’s young gun Garrard who was crowned the inaugural champion, with his four wins and six placings ensuring a comfortable series victory.
RQ Executive General Manager Marketing and Communications Mitch Jones said the award is an acknowledgement of the collaboration and innovation from the industry as a whole.
“In recent years, Queensland has been at the cutting edge of harness innovation, and the Ultimate Driver Championship is another example of bringing a new dimension to the sport,” Mr Jones said.
“The series brought people from across the globe to Albion Park, leading to a packed crowd at The Creek across the two evenings, alongside significant wagering interest in the series.
“We could not have achieved that success without the collaboration of both the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and major sponsor Ladbrokes.
“Our thanks must also go out to the slot holders, drivers and everyone involved in delivering a never-before-seen marquee event for the sport.”
The series was live-streamed across the world, underlined by strong viewership in Sweden, North America and New Zealand, with coverage hosted by international broadcasters Greg O’Connor and Jessica Otten.
The Ultimate Driver Draft also added another exciting element to the series, with slot holders and drivers strategically selecting their horses in each of the 20 races via a snake draft.
The second iteration of the Championship was hosted in February of this year at Albion Park, with local and international stars including James MacDonald and eventual winner James Herbertson featuring.
Elsewhere, renowned Queensland harness racing photographer Dan Costello was acknowledged as part of the Joseph Coulter Best News Story of the Year award.
Adam Hamilton’s story All I can ask for is hope published on Racenet in July covers Costello’s public battle with cancer and the generosity of Kevin Seymour as he undertook the fight of his life.
Click here to see a full list of winners from the 2025 Joseph Coulter Media Awards.
