Team Teal gets timely lift at Bendigo trots

A DELAY to a major lighting project at Bendigo Harness Racing Club (BHRC) has morphed into a blessing in disguise for the industry’s annual Team Teal initiative.

Now in its 17th year, Team Teal is an annual Australian and New Zealand harness racing campaign that raises funds and awareness for gynaecological cancer research.

It was founded by prominent harness racing industry identity Duncan McPherson in 2010, after his wife Lyn died from ovarian cancer.

The campaign, which runs from 1 February to 15 March, features female drivers wearing teal pants to support WomenCan, the fundraising arm of the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG).

Since its inception, Team Teal has raised more than $3.4 million to advance gynaecological cancer research, prevention and education.

Always one of the campaign’s biggest supporters, the BHRC annually hosts a racing night fundraiser, headlined by an all-female drivers race and various money-making initiatives, including race name sponsorship opportunities and raffles.

That meeting was in jeopardy, with the club set to start work on a $1.8 million upgrade to its lighting and technology systems at Lord’s Raceway this month.

But with the start date having been pushed back, the BHRC will now host two meetings during the campaign, the first tonight (6 February) and another a day meeting on 20 February.

Originally without a February meeting, BHRC general manager Erik Hendrix said the club was proud to continue its association with Team Teal.

“Duncan (McPherson) is a great supporter of our club and with his wife having passed away from ovarian cancer, we’re obviously keen to get behind anything he is involved in, as well as other charities and causes,” he said.

“But this is one we like to work hard on … it’s such a worthwhile cause.

“We’ll definitely sell some race names, as we have in the past and ramp up the fundraising at those meetings.”

The BHRC has in the past teamed up with the neighbouring Bendigo Greyhound Racing Association to run a dual code Team Teal meeting, but with recent changes to the management of the BGRA coming into effect and harness racing originally on hold, will this year fly solo.

Hendrix is more than open to that partnership being reignited in 2027.

He said the hotly-contested all-female race, to run on 20 February, was a particularly proud initiative by the club.

Throughout the campaign, Harness Racing Victoria will donate $200 to the cause every time a female driver wins a Victorian race, money that contributes directly to life-saving research and programs.

In 2025, Victoria’s female drivers racked up 67 wins and raised $13,400 for WomenCan to support ovarian and gynaecological cancer research and education.

Eighteen drivers contributed to the tally, with Kerryn Manning leading the charge with 11 wins, closely followed by Kate Gath (10).

Bendigo’s Ellen Tormey was next best on nine, a year after blitzing the field with a state-high 24 wins.

Tormey, who hails from Charlton and finished third in the state’s drivers premiership in 2025 with 127 wins, also topped the leaderboard in 2021.

She is one of six Victorian Team Teal ambassadors, alongside Manning, Gath, Jackie Barker, Jodi Quinlan and Ewa Justice.

HRV chief executive officer Matt Isaacs said the harness racing industry’s support for Team Teal on and off the track offered a valuable reminder of the generosity of the sport’s patrons and the talent of its female participants.

“Harness racing has a profound, positive impact throughout Victoria, including through its partnerships with WomenCan through Team Teal, the McGrath Foundation through Pacing For Pink, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia through The Long Trot, and the Royal Children’s Hospital on Good Friday,” Isaacs said.

“I am again looking forward to the many teal-clad reinswomen registering wins throughout the summer and encourage all in the harness racing community to get behind them and join us for the Night at the Trots celebration.”

The Charlton Pacing Cup meeting on 15 March will officially mark the end of the Team Teal campaign for 2026.