Harness
2026 WA Racing Hall of Fame Inductee - Tennessee Sky
Tennessee Sky was a horse of toughness, class and historic significance, forged through the toughest company of his era and destined to become a trailblazer for Western Australian harness racing.
Bred in New South Wales in 1946, Tennessee Sky showed exceptional promise early, culminating in victory in the 1950 NSW Derby as a three year old. That win announced him as a genuine star and began a rise through the grades marked by courage, consistency and an appetite for big races.
Late in 1952, Tennessee Sky was brought to Western Australia by prominent owner Eddie Nevard, who entrusted his preparation to master trainer Frank Kersley (pictured below). The move would change history.
In 1953, Tennessee Sky was again among the elite, reaching the Inter Dominion Final in Perth. In the heats he chased home the champion New Zealand mare Blue Mist, with reigning titleholder Avian Derby behind him. A luckless run in the Final denied him further reward, but his resilience was immediately evident. Spelled briefly, he returned to run a fast finishing third in the 1953 August Cup behind Victory Globe and Beaudale, at odds of 8 to 1, ahead of highly rated rivals.
After a short break, he resumed in December with a superb win in the New Year Handicap, overcoming a 24 yard handicap to defeat Miss Dalton and Dainty Patsy. Driven by Alex McLean while Kersley elected to steer a stablemate, the victory sealed his place in the 1954 Inter Dominion in Adelaide.
What followed would define his legacy.
After an unlucky second on the opening night of heats, Tennessee Sky narrowly qualified for the Inter Dominion Final, but his connections never wavered. Before a crowd of approximately 47,000 at Wayville, Frank Kersley produced a masterclass, sending Tennessee Sky forward in the back straight to take control. He strode clear in the run home, defeating Recovered and Andi, with Captain Sandy finishing fourth, and ending the champion's bid for a third consecutive title.
The victory crowned Tennessee Sky as the first Western Australian trained horse to win an Inter Dominion Final, a landmark achievement that elevated him to the sport's highest echelon.
Following the Adelaide triumph, he returned to Perth and was set for the 1955 WA Pacing Cup, renamed that year the J S Stratton Silver Anniversary Cup. Handicapped off 36 yards, Tennessee Sky raced boldly after being sent forward early by catch driver Ron Porter. He matched strides with Dillon Grattan for most of the race, before front marker David's Reward slipped clear late. Tennessee Sky finished a gallant second, beaten four yards, with Dillon Grattan close behind.
Tennessee Sky's career was defined by his willingness to take on all challengers, often under heavy handicaps, and his ability to perform when the stakes were highest. He won major races across multiple states, stood tall against the very best of his generation, and consistently returned from misfortune with renewed strength.
Firm, honest and resolute, Tennessee Sky carried Western Australian harness racing onto the national stage and proved it could stand alongside the sport's most powerful eastern foes.
His legacy is not solely in his victories, but in the path he carved. A champion of resilience, a pioneer for his state, and a horse whose name remains synonymous with grit and greatness.
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