Former Kilmore harness trainer Bruce Kennedy died on June 11, aged 86.
Born and bred in New South Wales, NSW, Mr Kennedy spent most of his life in Moss Vale after moving from Cooma in the Snowy Mountains, before relocating to Temora in the Riverina.
Travelling around a fair bit, Mr Kennedy’s next venture was to shift operation to Kilmore where he enjoyed almost instant success before moving back to Moss Vale to retire at the place he loved.
He became ill in November last year.
His winners over the years included Chipland, 15 NSW wins between 2002 and 2008; Art Prevails, 12 wins with the last being at Bendigo in 2015 with Darby McGuigan in the sulky; and Funny Car, 11 wins between 2011 and 2015, with the last at Ballarat in 2014 when driven by Chris Alford.
Kybean Vic scored 13 wins and raced exclusively in NSW apart from a stint in Queensland winning at Albion Park in May 2000 for John McCarthy.
Sweet Home Alabama chalked up 13 wins in NSW and Victoria before being sold to Western Australia, where he won two races at Gloucester Park – the last in November 2008 when driven by Gary Hall Junior.
Without doubt Mr Kennedy’s best performer was Enthral – a winner of 26 races in Victoria and Queensland – the most significant being the $27,000 Vicbred Sires Stakes at Moonee Valley in 2009, when driven by Jodi Quinlan.
In all he trained 162 winners with 337 placings from 1700 starts totalling $711,00 in stakes.
Mr Kennedy was a popular resident of Kilmore during his time in Victoria and enjoyed talking to the media on numerous occasions.
His funeral was at the Catholic Church at Sutton Forest, near Moss Vale, on June 22. He is survived by wife Janelle and daughter Lesley.
– Len Baker
