Harness racing icon Gavin Lang loses long battle to rare cancer
Legendary harness racing driver Gavin Lang left a remarkable legacy that transcended Australia. Watch Sky Racing’s tribute to the master reinsman who lost his long battle with lymphoma.
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The harness racing community is mourning the loss of champion driver Gavin Lang.
Lang, 61, died after battling a rare form of lymphoma.
The son of former champion Graeme Lang, Lang in 2017 became only the second driver in Australasia to drive 6000 winners.
Lang’s great rival Chris Alford said: “I couldn’t think of any driver you’d rather put on to win a race than Gavin Lang.
“He was as good as anybody.”
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Lang was a slow starter in the sport, driving just eight winners in his first two seasons, notching his first victory behind Pensive Dream at Kilmore in 1975.
Known as The Iceman, Lang partnered more than 100 Group 1 winners.
Raised at Romsey, Lang’s name has been synonymous with a string of great pacers and square-gaiters, including 1988 Inter Dominion trotting champion True Roman.
Sad day for Harness Racing I never met or knew him but always admired him as a driver RIP Group 1 Gavin Lang
— Brad spohr (@kybra) April 24, 2020
Love the words of @JasonBonnington on SEN just now. "Treasure the memories we have of Group 1 (Gavin Lang)... and make them heard on social media. Tonight we're seeing the good in social media with the outpouring of love and respect for the greatest of all time".
— Cody Winnell (@codywinnell) April 24, 2020
My hero when it comes to harness racing. The best I’ve ever seen. The best I will ever see. That drive on innocent eyes will forever be in my memory forever as the best I’ve seen. RIP Gavin Lang#TheIceMan
— Jade Clements (@JadeClem38) April 24, 2020
Here's Gav and Graeme after Pay Rise won at Melton, Feb 2018. What a superb human being. Vale Gavin Lang, thoughts with Meagan and the family. pic.twitter.com/Hz0xhe3xLA
— Stuart McCormick (@stumccormick) April 24, 2020
RIP Gav, He could do freaky things that only he could do. He was such a great person though and would always take a moment to say hi even when having a drive in every race. The word "Legend" is thrown around a lot but for Gavin Lang, thats what he was and always will be. #Tears
— Cam Buchanan (@CamBuchanan1) April 24, 2020
Very saddened to hear of the passing of harness racing legend Gavin Lang today. A great bloke & driver who often carried my money in races. His drive on Robin Hood in the 2006 Ballarat Pacing Cup, 3 or 4 back the fence at the 400 and still getting up to win was poetry in motion.
— Grant McMillan (@grantmac12) April 24, 2020
In my 72 years on this planet and 55 years of following beautiful harness Racing. I’ve witnessed and been privileged to follow 2 driving geniuses Maurice Holmes in my native NZ and Gavin Lang in Australia .. memories I’ll have for as long as I follow this beautiful sport
— Alan Gaskell (@AlanDGaskell) April 24, 2020
When I arrived to work in Australia in 2009 I met Gavin Lang on several occasions in his Melton stable. I loved heading to Moonee Valley on Saturday nights to watch him arrive in the nick of time to win so many races on the line! So sad to hear tonight that he has left us 😔
— Eoin Kelly (@EoinTheVet) April 24, 2020
I didn't have a lot to do with Gavin Lang when I was on the harness racing beat but I remember his 2005 Kilmore Cup win with Robin Hood. Was generous with his time to a cadet reporter and earned his nickname of Group 1 Gav. Vale.
— Matt Nicholls (@mattnicholls29) April 24, 2020
Devastated to hear about the passing of Gavin Lang. There was no one better to watch, he was an idol to myself and so many other. I nervously asked him for some advice one night at Melton in which he responded “the pegs is the shortest way home†#RIPGav #TheIceMan
— Blake Jones (@blakejones351) April 24, 2020
As a kid growing up i followed the trots a fair bit. I don’t think there was anything better than watching Gavin Lang in the sulky. He was simply gifted with a high IQ and the best there was! My thoughts are with his family ðŸ™
— Kennewell Racing (@KennewellRacing) April 24, 2020
Gavin was without peer through so much of his career. A champion and legend. The ultimate tribute was just about every driver who came after him “wanted to be the next Gavin Lang.†Thoughts with wife Meagan, daughters Danielle and Courtney, and family. https://t.co/YkeYqrjtjr
— Adam Hamilton (@AdamTABSports) April 24, 2020
True Roman, who Alford estimates Lang won “somewhere between 60-70 races on”, was one of three inter winners for Lang.
Lang also partnered Game Bid in 2002 and Sumthingaboutmaori in 2004.
Lang fought health issues for several years with customary bravery and class.
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Originally published as Harness racing icon Gavin Lang loses long battle to rare cancer