In making the announcement, Bathurst Harness Racing Club president Mark Collins said: It was a unanimous decision by his board to name the Hando family as the 2012 honourees following their significant support of the rich juvenile series since its inception 26 years ago.”

Eric Hando, who recently turned 92, will be joined by his wife Dorothy (90), son Graeme and daughter in law Lyn and daughter Denise Boehm as guests of the Bathurst Club during the carnival which is shaping as being another huge success.

Eric’s father William originated from Victoria and established Rosewood Stud in the early 1900s.

Graeme and Lyn continue to operate the stud as a Semen Transport Station and while they do not currently have a stallion standing, Rosewood is recognised as the oldest standardbred stud still in operation in Australia.

The Hando family have owned, raced and bred many top horses, too numerous to mention but their significant involvement with the Bathurst Gold Crown has been as breeders, selling many yearlings through the Gold Crown Sale and producing the 2001 Gold Crown final winner Dream Mover.

They have also bred a number of youngsters which have been placed in the feature event.

This year’s Gold Crown Carnival kicks off on Wednesday night, March 21 and almost $700,000 in prizemoney and trophies will be distributed over six race meetings during the series which culminates with grand final night on Saturday March 31.