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PATRICK O'REILLY

Patrick O'Reilly sen (73), a well liked and respected horseman in harness racing for 50 years, died at his Rakaia home. He had been in good health but suddenly collapsed and died after jogging a horse on his property. Resuscitation attempts were made by sons Kerry and Gerard without success.

O'Reilly was a most successful trainer and driver. He prepared a total of 341 winners and drove 190 winners. His first driving win was recorded behind Water Ranger at Hawera in 1945. The same horse gave Pat his first training success at Methven a year earlier when driven by Mawson Scoon. Water Ranger, by Sandydale from Gentle Oro, was leased as a 2-year-old from George Smart who was a Water Ranger from Chertsey.

O'Reilly trained many winners for his next door neighbour and good friend Bill Thomas including Black Diamond, Local Lie, Field Chief, Beverley Dawn and Mercury Light. Owners Laurie Broom and Harry Harrison were also held in high regard by O'Reilly.

Pat reliquished his reinsman's licence at the age of 65, along with Jim Ferguson and Owen Quinlan. That year the New Brighton club arranged for Pat and his four sons to drive in the Kevin Blair Pace at Addington on July 15. His best season was in the 1981-82 term when he prepared 22 winners. During 40 years on the track Pat was never suspended or fined for a race offence. He was regarded as a hard worker and any credit was attributed to a team effort by his wife Pauline and their helpers over the years.

Pat was born in Rakaia and one of 16 children raised by Maurice and Margaret O'Reilly. Other interests besides horses were rugby (most sports), his family and his trade as a farrier. He played for Mid-Canterbury as a first five for 15 years. O'Reilly learned his blacksmith skills from Methven trainer Clarrie May. Pat is survived by his wife Pauline and 10 children - sons Patrick jun, Kerry, Leo, Gerard and Denis, plus daughters Aileen, Maree, Janine, Kathryn and Irene.

O'Reilly's biggest wins include a NZ Cup with Spry (1969), two NZ Oaks with Swallow (1952) and Local Lie (1968), Wellinton Cup with Tehana (1958), Geraldine Cup with Just A Glow (1974), Rangiora Cup with Spry (1969), Nelson Cup with Prince Forbes (1971), Kurow Cup with Local Lie (1970), Hutchinson FFA with Local Lie (1971), Oamaru Juvenile Stakes with Direct Return (1969), Queens Birthday Stakes with Just A Glow (1974), Inter-Dominion Heat with Aqua Lady (1951), T S Harrison Stakes with Field Chief (1962), Waikouaiti 3yo Stakes with Adios Bachelor (1973). He also trained Elrana (1982) to win the Blenheim Cup, Signor Gabrielli to win the NZ Trotting Stakes (1984) and Norton to win the New Brighton Juvenile (1981), Celebrity Stakes (1981), Easter Cup (1984) and Pan Am Mile (1984).


Credit: NZ HRWeekly 20Apr94

PHIL WILLIAMS

Weedons trainer Phil Williams died at the weekend, aged 74.

He held a licence for nearly 50 years, and during that time had "enjoyed the challenge" of training the trotter. For more than 20 years, Williams was private trainer for electrician Horry Alston.

His most important win was the 1962 NZ Trotting Stakes at Addington with Spark Gap, who won by eight lengths from Grand Charge and Dreaming. By Thunder On from Transmitter, Spark Gap also won the Canterbury Park Trotting Stakes in 3:16 from Flaming Way and Snow Globe.

Another good trotter was Resistor which he took to open class. Resistor's wins included a handicap at Westport over two miles off 108 yards. "I used to love going to race on the Coast circuit," he said.

Other notable training feats were winning a double the same day at Hutt Park with Queen's Jewel; finishing first and second in the Cheviot Cup with Mountain Tarn and Green Valley, and running 1,2,3 in a trot at Greymouth with Copper Wire, Wire Wound and Resistor's Sister.

Other useful horses he trained were Component, Avon Spark, Blue Adios, Blue Spark, Tranmitter Sound - later to give Maurice Holmes his last winning drive - and Astro Blue, who dead-heated for first with Noodlum in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Waimate.

The last horse Williams had been involved with was Alias Charm, who he passed on to be trained by his son, Austin.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 30Mar94

JACK HEWITT

John William (Jack) Hewitt, who died in Invercargill on Monday, aged 76, became a household name in harness racing as the owner of champion racemare Robin Dundee in the 1960s.

Robin Dundee, who was trained by the late Jack Walsh of Gore, was actually bred by owner Hewitt's late Gore relations by marriage, Myra and Bob Ritchie, who virtually gifted the Hal Tryax-Cherry Blossom filly to him. The favour was extended to Mr Hewitt in return for his generosity in grazing Cherry Blossom free of charge for the Ritchie's on his Mataura Island farm.

Robin Dundee (1:59) won $229,272 in NZ, Australia and USA. She was the first pacer to better 2:00 in a race in Australia when she won the 1967 Craven Filter Miracle Mile at Harold Park, Sydney. Bob Cameron reined her in that feature win. Maurice Holmes drove the mare in many of her earlier NZ races.

Having her first race start, Robin Dundee served notice of her exceptional ability when she won the Southland Stakes by 16 lengths at Invercargill on October 29, 1960. She was reined by Charlie Franks, then attached to trainer Walsh's operation. They again triumphed in their next outing, the 1961 NZ Oaks at Addington. Robin Dundee won 33 other races outright and shared the major honours with Jay Ar in the 1965 Inter-Dominion Pacing Grand Final at Forbury Park with 'Doody' Townley at the reins. The NZ Free-For-All and Auckland Cup were feature wins for her that year.

Robin Dundee was three times runner-up in the NZ Cup - to Cardigan Bay (1963), Garry Dillon (1965) and Lordship (1966). Blossom Lady, her close relation from the Fashion Queen (by Bellfashion) taproot, won last year's NZ Cup. After her demanding career and when her powers may have been waning, Robin Dundee still won further races in North America for the late Eddie Cob, of Adios Butler fame, who part-owned her there. Easily Robin Dundee's best son was Genghis Khan (1:51.8), a world champion son of Meadow Skipper, subsequently a fine sire who has also stood in Australia.

Born in Palmerston North in 1917 and the second of six children, Mr Hewitt shifted to Winton with his family as a child, being educated there before spending two and a half years at Southland Technical College. Mr Hewitt later settled on and developed a 550-acre farm at Mataura Island and on September 5, 1946, married Joan Ritchie, who died six years ago. In 1975, Mr Hewitt sold his farm and shifted to a 14-acre section on the corner of Mill and Findlay Roads on the outskirts of Invercargill.

Credit: Don Wright writing in HRWeekly 13Oct93

CYRIL AITKEN

Cyril Aitken, a life member of the New Brighton Harness Racing Club, and the Metropolitan and Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs, died recently. Aged 79, Mr Aitken raced horses for 25 years, firstly from the stable of Jim Winter, and then from Mike De Filippi's.

He won races with Winter Son, Whenuanui, Hira Pita who won a Greymouth Cup; Shoreline, Sure Winner (5 wins), In The Pink (4 wins) and Evadyar. His latest interest was in the trotter Rainbow Bay, who is having tendon problems and is spelling for at least a year.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 12May93

'DINNY' MORLAND

The death occurred last Friday of Dennis (Dinny) Morland, aged 75, a former licenceholder and harness racing enthusiast. Morland became prominent through the deeds of Bon Ton, a chestnut horse he bred by sending Noble Reta to Light Brigade in the early 50s.

Bon Ton was a brilliant juvenile, winning his first three starts - the 1956 Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes from Golden Hero, the Timaru Nursery Stakes by seven lengths from Overdrive, and the NZ Welcome Stakes from Overdrive and Finestra.

He won four as a 3-year-old, including the T S Harrison Stakes at Methven off 36 yards from Lookaway, the NZ Derby from Lookaway and Dignus, and the Champion Stakes at Ashburton. He failed to win at four, beat Showdown and Golden Chimes in the Henry Mace Handicap at Addington at five, and paid £15 in winning the Methven Cup from Fourth Edition as a 6-year-old. He was disqualified from that win after returning a positive swab.

Morland also had some success with Bon Deed, also from Noble Reta, and Golden Splendour

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 8Sep93

BILL CUNINGHAM

The death occured on Christchurch on Sunday of Bill Cuningham, a distinguished harness racing administrator.

His abilities and service to the industry were honoured with a special tribute by Peter Andrews, president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at the club's annual meeting on Monday night.

Mr Andrews said Bill had become a member of the Metropolitan club in 1960, Canterbury Park the same year and New Brighton in 1963. He became a steward of Canterbury Park in 1962, joined ths committee in 1965, became vice-president in 1973, president in 1976, treasurer in 1979, a life-member in 1979, and an honorary steward in 1991.

Mr Cuningham was a director of Addington Raceway from 1979 to 1990, and was on the TAB board from 1987 to 1992. "He loved his racing," said Syd Cordner, 81 this month, and a former president of the Canterbury Park club, "and he liked a bet...bet on anything. And of course he was a very able solicitor and administrator," he said.

Bill is survived by his wife Margaret.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 17Jul93

ARTHUR IDIENS

Arthur Idiens, a former committeeman of the New Brighton Harness Racing Club and member of the Canterbury OTB, died in Christchurch last week. Mr Idiens, who had been ill for some time, was aged 62.

He raced, bred and sold many horses, his first good one being Jillinda, who he bought at a dispersal sale after she had won three races as a pacer. Trained by Max Miller, Jillinda won a further seven races, all as a trotter, including the Ordeal Cup.

Jack Carmichael trained many of his horses, notably Astro Blue who he bought off Phil Williams; Winning Double, the winner of two races before being sold to the US; El Guago, a smart youngster who ran second in the NZ Derby; Alvarez, a lower grade winner later sold to Australia, and Johnny Rondo

His current racing interest was Rhythm Lord, a recent qualifier by Lordship, being trained by Pat O'Reilly jun.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 28Apr93

JOHN OSBORNE

The death occured last week of John Osborne, a former committeeman of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and a prominent South Island breeder and owner.

Mr Osborne was particularly prominent in the 70s, sharing the ownership with the late Maurice Vermeulen and Jack Smolenski in the high-class mare, Royal Belmer. Trained by Smolenski, who was a partner in all his horses, Royal Belmer won 12 races including the 1973 Standardbred Breeders Stakes. Royal Belmer left Sovereign, who won the 1978 NZ Derby. Others he raced were Harvest Gold (9 wins), Imperial Guest (Golden Slipper Stakes), Regal Guest, who won two heats of the DB series, and Regent Guest.

Mr Osborne and Smolenski were partners for more than 25 years. "We never had a cross word. I left the breeding to him, and he left the training to me. He was a very good owner," said Smolenski. "His big disappointment was losing a colt foal this season by Butler B G from New Guest," he said.

Aged 61, Mr Osborne was involved in the fashion business. He had a stroke two weeks ago, and died suddenly in Christchurch last Tuesday. At the time of his death, Mr Osborne was breeding from 10 mares, and had numerous yearlings, 2-year-olds and older horses with Smolenski.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 15Dec93

J X FERGUSON

Few have bred as many winners as J X Ferguson, a prominent Banks Peninsula farmer who continued the Le Lievre family destiny in harness racing. His death recently, at the age of 83, has ended a long association with the sport that began with his grandfather, Etienne Le Lievre. For most of his life Jack lived in Akaroa, but unwilling in his latter years to tackle the hill climb home after a night at Addington, he shifted to a smaller holding at Greenpark.

Mr Ferguson quickly made his mark as a breeder, sending the Man O' War mare Polka Dot to Light Brigade. This mating produced the dual Auckland Cups winner Soangetaha, and to U Scott, Polka Dot left Prince Polka, which won the Auckland Cup in 1955 when trained by Noel Berkett.

An introduction through Soangetaha's trainer Derek Jones to Andy Carmichael forged a friendship that lasted for many years. Mr Carmichael bought many of the horses Jack bred, including Prince Polka, and they were partners in Good Admiral, which won 18 including the 1971 NZ Trotting Stakes, the Reta Peter Handicap and the Challenge Stakes at Alexandra Park.

Jack bought Mischievous, and sent her to U Scott. She left Desiree, the cornerstone of John Butcher's wonderful 'ias' family - notably Abdias, Tobias and Samarias - and Desilu, the dam of the great racemare Delightful Lady. He bred Inter-Dominion Trotting Grand Final winner Precocious from Johnny Globe and Dauphine; Petite Polly, the 1987/88 Victorian Broodmare of the Year; Girl Brigade, which was Southland Broodmare of the Year; and Dels Dream.

A family member recalls that Jack regularly bred from 12 to 15 mares, and was a loyal patron at Roydon Lodge when Sandy Green was studmaster. He sold many he bred through the sales, but in more recent years he raced them, from the stables of Noel Berkett, Jack Smolenski and Peter Robertson.

His favourite was perhaps Jayex, a colt by Nevele Romeo from Eblouir which won the NZ Champion Stakes and a heat of the Sires' Stakes in a short career. With Glamour Chief, he ran second in the NZ Derby, and Melvander, which was the last he raced, won the NZ Trotting Fee-For-All and finished second in the Inter-Dominion Grand Final. "I think the sudden death of Melvander probably knocked him," recalls the spokesperson.

A keen sportsman and a harness racing enthusiast from his earier days, J X Ferguson bred more than 100 winners. He is survived by his wife Maisie, son Peter, and daughters Jill and Lyndsay.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 10Jun92

GORDON McHERRON

Gordon McHerron, a prominent and popular harness racing administrator, died suddenly in Christchurch last Sunday.

Aged 78, Mr McHerron was active in the New Brighton Harness Racing Club. He became a steward in 1965, joined the committee in 1971, was elected vice-president in 1979, and served as president from 1981 to 1984. He was elected a life member and honorary steward after that.

He was part-owner of the pacer Destrier, which won two races last season, but fared better in the early 60s with the pacers Bazax and Royal Brittania. He raced then both with Stan Andrews. Royal Brittania won three races while trained for them by Peter Wolfenden, having done well in Canterbury before going north, and Bazax, after winning from Bill Denton's stable, won three more from Wolfenden's stable.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 4Mar92