Harry Pearce (centre) with Don Clough, Bill Whittaker, Kevin Newman and Tony A.D. Turnbull.
It is with great sadness that harness racing has lost one of its great storytellers with the passing of Harry Pearce OAM this morning, aged 94.
An esteemed journalist, author and one of the industry's true custodians of history,
Harry's career spanned six decades and took him from the pages of National Trotguide to the mainstream press with News Limited and some of the most respected harness racing publications in Australia.
Harry's contribution went far beyond reporting the news. He had an extraordinary ability to capture the characters, champions and stories that made harness racing what it is.
His landmark biography, ‘A Legendary Reinsman – The A.D. Turnbull Story’, was the product of years of painstaking research and remains an important record of one of Australian harness racing's greatest horsemen. The book was recognised as a Coulter Media Award for Best Book in 2001.
Harry's contribution to the sport was recognised with the Joseph Coulter Media Award for Meritorious Service in 1994, his induction as a Bathurst Gold Crown Honouree in 1998, an OAM in 2004 for service to harness racing as a journalist, and his induction as a Harness Racing NSW Living Legend in 2007.
Harry was also an editor of the Harness Racing New South Wales publication The Gazette and continued contributing to historical pieces well into his later years including the ‘Farewell to the Park’ feature commemorating the closure of Harold Park, alongside Andrew Georgiou, Amanda Rando and Bill Ellis among others.
For generations of harness racing participants, Harry was more than a journalist. He was a historian, an author and a trusted voice who understood that the people and stories behind the sport deserved to be remembered.
His words helped preserve a remarkable chapter of Australian harness racing history, and his contribution will be remembered for generations to come.
The HRNSW Board and Management extend their deepest condolences to Harry’s wife, Barbara, and his family at this very sad time.
Vale Harry Pearce OAM. A remarkable career, a lasting legacy.
