Another year has come and gone, so it’s time to look back at some of the highs and lows of Western District racing in 2025.
• Hillary Lafferty is following in the footsteps of her late grandfather, top Warrnambool trainer Kevin Lafferty, as a committee member at the Woodford Racing Club. She said the club, which celebrated its 125th year at its meeting on Wednesday, was close to Kevin’s heart.
• Hobby trainer Mark Greig couldn’t wipe the smile off his face after November’s Jericho Cup meeting at Warrnambool.
The local saddled up Sabre Athena to win the $60,000 Jericho Cup consolation, guaranteeing the mare a start in the 2026 Jericho Cup. The win also snared Greig the $25,000 small trainers’ bonus — for the winning trainer on the day with the fewest horses on their books.
• Popular trainer Quinton Scott, 78, started to wind up his training operation at Crossley, preparing to open a small Benalla stable in 2026.
• Terang Racing Club was happy to abandon tradition by moving its long-time New Year’s Day race date to Friday, January 2. “We see the move as a positive,” manager Karen Van Kempen said. 
• Warrnambool’s Joanne Mugavin trained her first jumps winner when Topspin won a maiden hurdle at Coleraine in August, ridden by Mugavin’s partner, Jordan Hart.
• Also in August, strong winds caused havoc at the Warrnambool racecourse, bringing down running rails and trees, forcing the racing club to cancel a trackwork session.
• Brendan Kelly was rewarded for years of hard work as secretary of the Penshurst Racing Club with life membership at the club’s annual race meeting in November. Kelly, born and bred in Penshurst, has held the role since 2013. “The club is a very important part of the town,” he said. 
• Warrnambool will kick off its 2026 jumps season on Thursday March 26. The jumps season will comprise 53 jumps races (33 hurdles and 20 steeplechases) over 16 meetings at seven venues, concluding Grand National Steeplechase day at Ballarat on Sunday August 16.
• Two-time Group 1-winning Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell went back to the grass roots in September and came home a winner. Purcell made the eight hour float trip to Pooncarie (NSW) with two horses for the annual cup meeting, run on a dirt track. Lightning Express won the Pooncarie Cup while Francine ran second in a restricted race.
• Two men who played significant roles in the history of Warrnambool’s famous May racing carnival died in 2025. Robbie Laing and Dennis Beriman etched their names in carnival history for their training deeds. Laing won the 1991 Warrnambool Cup with Mantlepiece and the 1992 Wangoom with Minyama but most famously the win of Sir Pentire in the 2009 Grand Annual was one of Laing’s greatest training achievements. Sir Pentire had two years on the sidelines before Laing produced the jumper to score a thrilling first-up victory. Beriman, father of talented jockeys Nikita and Jackie, trained Bundoor’s Best to win the 1992 Warrnambool Cup. Four years ago Beriman moved to Queensland to live with Nikita, having trained numerous winners from his on-course stables at Warrnambool.