Rasmussen sisters Kylie and Vicki taking Brisbane harness racing by storm

GAI Waterhouse may be the queen of Australian racing but if it's factory floor commitment you're after, what about the Rasmussens?

Harness racing sisterhood: Kylie Rasmussen (in racing silks) and sister Vicki at Albion Race track.

GAI Waterhouse may be the queen of Australian racing but if it's factory floor commitment you're after, what about the Rasmussens?

When the scene-stealing Natalie Rasmussen, trainer of the legendary pacer Blacks A Fake, headed to New Zealand following the breakup of her marriage it was thought the Rasmussen name could fade from the forefront of the local trots scene.

But the void she left has been spectacularly filled by her younger sister Vicki and older sister Kylie, who are the leading trainer and drivers in the Albion Park premierships entering tonight's $200,000 Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship where Kylie will drive outsider Ace Light.

Kylie is doing the stable driving for her sister while Vicki's partner Shane Graham recovers from a wrist injury.

Daughters of veteran harness racing identity Vic, the three sisters were raised to the sound of hoofbeats and there is barely an equine skill they don't practice.

Kylie and her partner Darren Weeks break in, pre-train, shoe, feed, train and drive.

Vicki doesn't drive ("I just wasn't aggressive enough," she says) but her shortcomings as a driver may be her greatest strength as a trainer because horses respond to her light touch.

"Growing up we did not really have any other interests," Kylie said.

"We had Shetland ponies and our riding horses. Everything we did was with the horses.

"I remember we were not supposed to ride our horses around the track but we would sneak down there and have races when I was 10 years old. We would handicap each other whoever had the best horse.

"I still enjoy driving but it can be pretty rough. If I have another bad fall that will probably be the end for me.

"You just don't bounce the way you do when you are young. I had a fall a month ago at the Gold Coast. We started at 5am and if they return home by 7pm they have done well. It is a pretty big day.

"Dad used to sit us on his lap and take us around on the horses. I only remember that because I must have dangled my foot down and got it caught in the wheel and hurt my foot. I will never forget that. We did a lot of riding, probably more riding than driving."

Kylie is harness racing's version of local star jockey Chris Munce. She weighs just 53kg and horses just seem to find an extra gear for her.

The sisters are greatly admired in the harness racing world with rival trainer Stuart Hunter saying, "They are great workers and great horsewomen who deserve all the success they get".

Vicki is proud that there is a growing appreciation of females in all forms of racing.

"You see it in greyhounds and the gallops as well. I think horses respond to the female touch," she said.