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FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2010 PAUL & PAULINE RENWICK NZ TROTTING DERBY

She is one of the most exciting trotting fillies seen in years, and she is still yet to taste defeat after another sparkling performance at Addington last Friday night.

Shezoneoftheboyz has been a real 'find' this season, and last week she showed just how good she is when she won the $80,000 Paul & Pauline Renwick NZ Trotting Derby. The Group 1 event went against the run of play as it unfolded, and those who backed Shezoneoftheboyz into a $1.50 favourite wouldn't have liked seeing her three-deep when the field started the last lap. She improved one position when the trailling Kahdon edged into the running line nearing the home bend though, and once straightened at the top of the straight she burst through along the passing lane to win going away.

It was an emphatic way to register win number five from as many outings, and the icing on the cake for the daughter of Brylin Boyz was her time for the 2600m event - 3.17.7, which smashed the existing NZ Record for a 3-year-old trotting filly by nearly two and a half seconds!

It was also an occasion that Mark Jones will never forget either, because Shezoneoftheboyz gave him his first Group 1 victory as a trainer on the very same day that he turned 31. "I probably drove her a bit negatively if anything," Jones said afterwards, talking about his decision to take a trail behind Kahdon after 500 metres. "I knew the 2600m would find a few out though. But if I didn't train her myself I probably would not have handed up, because she's good enough to lead all the way."

Although appearing cool, calm and collected on the outside, Jones admitted to feeling a fair amount of stress that most would not have known about. "I had quite a few nerves leading up to this event," he said. "But you take pride in training your horses, and it is a bit different when you've got the hot favourite heading into a Group 1. The staff know I've been on edge lately."

Jones's association with Shezonoftheboyz has been fairytale stuff right from the word go. Formerly trained by Neil Munro, Jones first drove the filly at the trials last August when she had her first run back, and within a fortnight they had won two qualifying heats together - one by 47 lengths, the other by 17, and she earned her 'ticket' with the latter performance. "She won it really easily, going a tick over 3.11 on a cold day at Ashburton and home in twenty-eight. Not many do that," he said.

Australian horseman Craig Demmler was negotiating the filly's sale at that stage, having flown across the Tasman to drive her himself, and bigger slices of Shezonoftheboyz became available as time went by. "The initial owners were originally selling only a half share, and I had a syndicate jacked up to buy it. But it fell through; they will be regretting it now. Then about six weeks later she was for sale outright, and Craig got Peter to take her."

Peter is Peter Chambers, a Victorian who Jones has had dealings with before through Alexis which was sold to him out of his stable. Chambers is also the owner of the now 4-year-old trotter Jumanji Franco, and Shezoneoftheboyz will soon try to achieve what the former couldn't when running fourth to Pocaro at Ashburton at the end of May last year. "He just wants to win the Jewels," Jones says. "I have only met him twice - when Shezoneoftheboyz won at Ashburton in February, and again tonight; he flew over from Jakarta especially." The Harness Jewels are at Cambridge this year, and Chambers will have two right royal chances of winning a Ruby now that the Joanne Burrows-trained Jumanji Franco has found her best form again and won her last three on end.

It's Shezoneoftheboyz that will be one of the star attractions at this year's carnival though, and Jones can't speak highly enough of the filly, although you would be hard-pressed picking that it is the same horse if you saw her in training. "She wouldn't beat a maiden at home," he said. "She's a terrible trackworker. Take her off the place though, and she'll run a quarter in twenty-seven no trouble - round home, she never breaks thirty-four. But she's just the perfect racehorse. She's got high speed, and is very tough. And she's got this unbelievable attitude - she puts her head down and just doesn't want to get beat. To look at her she's got this amazing way of going, an effortless gait. Potentially she could be a very good open class trotter, and that's what I've said to Peter all along. So we're going to look after her."

Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 31Mar10

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2010 VERO THREE-YEAR-OLD FLYING STAKES

The Mark Purdon and Grant Payne-trained Kotare Mach won his fifth race this season in the Vero 3YO Flying Stakes. The Mach Three colt has had a topsy-turvy season where he has either confidently won, or over-raced for a non-placing. However with two consecutive wins, the latest being a Group 2, Kotare Mach looks to be back on track.

Race favourite, Kotare Mach, quickly left the gates with Purdon at the reins to move toward the lead, before Sir Lincoln crossed him to take control out front. The pace was slow before the pressure came and Sir Lincoln quickened, whilst Purdon sat quietly in the trail.

Heading for home, Purdon sped Kotare Mach up as they charged through on the passing lane. Sir Lincoln looked to have a hold over the favourite before a surge from Kotare Mach saw him nudge out in front and take over the lead. Kotare Mach crossed the line with one-and-a-quarter lengths to spare over Sir Lincoln, making it a Mach Three quinella. Five Star Anvil finished half-a-head back in third.

Friday’s win was Kotare Mach’s second Group victory, with his first being the Group 1 2009 NZ Welcome Stakes. In his two seasons of racing, the three-year-old colt has won eight of his 16 starts and $151,460 in stakes for Kotare Downs Ltd. Next on the cards for Kotare Mach will no doubt be the Christian Cullen NZ Derby, which Purdon and Payne have won the last two years.


Credit: HRNZ

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

2010 PAUL RENWICK KITCHEN & JOINERY CENTRE FREE-FOR-ALL

Baileys Dream was back in the winners circle on Friday night, for the first time since October 2008. The Brendon Hill-trained eight-year-old has had a steady return to racing since an injury put him out for a year. Since returning in February he had not won a race, however he had placed second twice behind Monkey King. Without his multiple Group 1 winning stablemate present, Baileys Dream stepped up for victory in the Group 3 Paul Renwick Kitchen & Joinery FFA at Addington.

Starting from barrier three, Hill sent Baileys Dream straight to the lead and this is where he stayed until the very end of the 2600 metre pace. Bettor’s Strike moved to sit outside of him with a lap to run with Second Wind sitting in the one-one. Baileys Dream continued to cruise out in front with sluggish sectionals, until they turned for home.

Charging toward the line, Hill sent Baileys Dream into top gear. The challengers began chasing and although they got close, they could not reach ‘Big Bad Bailey’. Second Wind got the closest as he finished only half-a-head back in second with Bettor’s Strike a neck back in third.

Eight-year-old Baileys Dream is into his seventh season of racing. Over his lifetime he has earned over $1.2million for Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd from his 67 starts. This includes 23 wins and 25 placings across NZ and Australia. The Dream Away gelding has an impressive Group race record with eight wins and 17 placings and looks set to be another dominant force for the remainder of this season’s Group racing.

Credit: HRNZ

BUILDINGS & FACILITIES

NEW STABLE BLOCK OPENING 15 MAY 09

The new stabling complex at Addington Raceway, nestled in front and to the side of the Twiggers Stand, was opened to wide acclaim last Friday night.

The occasion was attended by senior administrators, club officials, horsemen and in the absence of the Minister of Racing, John Carter, who was detained in Wellington, the opening was performed by Pat O'Brien, the Chairman of Harness Racing New Zealand. From there on and throughout the night, there was heavy traffic through the building, all with favourable comment on the facility that is bright, roomy, quiet and convenient.

David Rankin, Chairman of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, said the $7m state of the art complex "is without peer in the Southern Hemisphere. For decades our horsemen and women have operated from open facilities at the far end of the track in all kinds of weather, and have dreamed of the day they would get fully enclosed stables. As from today, all this changes. With the stables being so close to the Stewards' Stand, we will have a significantly enhanced team environment for owners, trainers, drivers, stipendiary stewards, vets, Addington staff, Board and Committee."

He said Addington is the most utilised track in New Zealand, with 57 racemeetings, 24 trials and workout meetings programmed for the next 12 months, in addition to about 73 greyhound meetings. Rankin said there may be some who question the financial wisdom of building them at all. "My answer to any critics is this: the location of the stables here has not only brought our stakeholders closer together, but left the old stabling area available for further development." He said there was over two hectares that can be redeveloped for club use and into income producing assets in a similar manner to the two-thirds share the club has in the joint venture along the back straight.

Rankin said there has been no detrimental affect on racing stakes as a result of increased costs for the stables. "The building of the new facility has not been without its share of challenges. The tight timeframe - between starting after the 2007 NZ Cup and having the roof deck finished in time for use a year later - meant that additional costs had to be incurred in meeting the conditions of Council which were not known at the start of construction. Then, in January 2009, the main building contractor experienced financial problems, ceased work, and was subsequently placed in liquidation."

The finished product is a high-quality complex of 156 stalls. The club is seeking sponsorship of each stall, which will be recognised by a plaque. They cost $500 for three years, or $3,000 for life. Already, one third have been sold.

Rankin said there are more plans ahead, including artificial grass on the stables deck, an upgrade of the ground floor of the Members stand, an upgrade of the area in front of the Public stand, modernising and landscaping the carparking and drive areas, and redevelopment of the Twiggers and Public stands.

Rankin acknowledged the work and efforts of numerous people and companies, including project managers, contractors, horsemen, staff and in particular the club's late Chairman John Penney who was a key instigator in the project.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly 20May09

SECRETARIES & EXECUTIVE STAFF

SHANE GLOURY

There is plenty to like about Addington raceway as it is, but if new chief executive Shane Gloury has his way things will be a lot better.

New initiatives and better services for the average race goer are at the top of the former Victorian's list, and plans can be expected to be put in motion in the near future.

Gloury, while not coming from an immediate racing background, has always had a strong interest in the industry, especially the harness side of affairs.

"I got the bug pretty quick," Gloury said. "My uncle used to train a few horses and I used to go along with him, and the interest sort of grew from there really."

So with a passion for harness racing coupled with a qualification as a chartered accountant, a job opportunity at Harness Racing Victoria as an accountant was the perfect job.

From there Gloury moved his way up the ladder working in various roles before landing the position in charge of the strategic planning side of business.

"I was pretty much two-I-C to John Anderson there. The job covered a wide range of different things involving looking after the smaller country clubs around Victoria."

Now after nearly four weeks in his role at Addington Raceway, Gloury is looking forward to putting a few plans in motion to add further kudos to an already successful venue.

"Addington is regarded as the premier racing centre in both New Zealand and Australia, but as is the case with most things there is still plenty of potential for improvements."

Gloury spoke passionately about his desire to make the already very successful New Zealand Trotting Cup Day an even bigger event.

That would mean trying to ensure that the best horses in Australasia were at Addington on the second Tuesday of November.

"That's my plan ultimately. New Zealand Cup day is a great day, but I want to be able to take it to the next level and have the best of New Zealand's horses racing against the best of Australia's, and get a bit of rivalry back into the game between the two."

Using his contacts from his time in Australia, Gloury has already tossed the idea around with a few of the Australian trainers, and there appeared to be some keen interest.

"It could mean that we may have to look at some alternative options in the travel side of it, especially the long float ride from Auckland to Christchurch. It's nothing serious yet but it's definitely something that I want to develop."

Ad Feedback And despite only having been in the job a short time, Gloury said he had been warmly welcomed by the industry.

"Everyone has been pretty helpful and supportive, I am trying to be as open as I possibly can about changes and opportunities as well which I think has helped."



Credit: Matt Markham writing in THE PRESS 20Apr09

PEOPLE

PERCY CHEW LEE

Percy Chew Lee has the distinction of being New Zealand's first licensed Chinese trainer.

Born in Top Gon village, Canton, China in 1911, Percy's family emigrated to NZ shortly after. Percy began market gardening as a young man, armed with a shovel, rake and three horses for ploughing, harrowing and grubbing.

Within a couple of years, he was suppyling as far as Invercargill with fresh vegetables, and his farm was producing 4-5000 bales of hay, as well as farming pigs and cattle. He also supplied tons of tomatoes for sauce making to supply soldiers overseas during World War II.

Percy's interest in racehorses was kindled by Free Holmes who suggested that, with his small stature, he would make a good jockey. However it was to Harness Racing he turned after working horses for Jimmy Bryce.

Percy's first horse was Chinese Gold, a rogue horse who went on to win races after responding to Percy's regime of putting it in harness and pulling the weight of a clod crusher over his fields.

He bought Marino Maid for £300, quite a sum for those days. Colin McDonald drove her to win her first two starts at Westport. Marino Maid won two Westport Cups in a row with Percy's son Paul doing the driving, and won 7 races all told. Her daughter Amerino also won seven races before being sold to the USA.

Other horses to have won for Percy are Zager, Boy Logan, Astron, Astrodome and Gay Return, who won several races after being bought from a dispersal sale. He continues his involvement, at the age of 97, with harness racing by having an interest in the rising three-year-old Cullen's Party.

A successful wrestler, and champion cyclist, Percy won the South Island 50 mile Road Race by a distance of 2 miles, and rode his bike from Christchurch to Auckland (and return) to propose marriage to Alice, to whom he is still married. Their large family consists of 6 boys, 3 girls, 21 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and includes 15 university graduates. His family own more than 100 hectares of land within 5km of Christchurch city in the Cashmere Valley.

In 2007, Percy was awarded the Queens Service Medal for his services to the community, and his contribution to NZ's Chinese community.

Credit: M Gallagher

PEOPLE

Smiling Shard is Dexter's drive to achieve the 200th season win.

DEXTER DUNN 200 WINS FOR SEASON

By now, it's old news. Everyone in harness racing knows that Dexter Dunn created history last Friday night at Addington when he drove his 200th winner for the season.

Television channels, radio stations, newspapers and magazines the length and breadth of the country have dedicated airtime and space to record the fact that it is the first time any driver or jockey has amassed such a total - and as it arrives in your mailbox five days later, the 'Weekly' can't tell you anything that you haven't already read, heard, spoken about over the dinner table or raised a glass to at your local pub.

That's all thanks to the media coverage in little ol' New Zealand, and imagine how far and wide the news would have spread to other parts of the world...definitely Australia, America too most probably, and perhaps even Europe.

Forget the bigger picture for a minute though, and let's concentrate on a slightly smaller but more important one closer to home: thanks to the deeds of a gifted teenager who possesses an unrelenting desire to succeed, the biggest winner out of all this will be harness racing itself.

Long gone are the days when sports were just sport, they are businesses now. And to continue to function and hold their market share, not only do they have to maintain their existing clietele and all-important sponsors - they have to keep attracting new blood in both areas as well. Golf's status symbol is Tiger Woods, tennis is blessed with an almost unbeatable Roger Frederer; it's not out of place to mention one Dexter Dunn in the same breath.

And that is why a guy like Dex is one of the best advertisements that harness racing in New Zealand could ever wish for, because the spin-offs from the hype and publicity he generates is immeasurable. There are the young children who think Dex is cool and want to grow up like him...the teenagers coming through our cadet scheme who have something to aspire to...the $1 each-way folks who will open the purse simply because 'D Dunn' is listed as the driver...and the large punters who aren't afraid to unload because they know he is one of the best reinsmen out there.

On one hand Dexter has to be generating much-needed turnover, and on the other he's giving tomorrow's participants the incentive to get involved - that is two very crucial bases covered. So we should be proud of what he has achieved, and salute him as a true champion amidst his much older peers.

It was somewhat fitting that Dexter achieved his milestone on home soil at Addington last Friday, and not at Cambridge the night before, because it meant he was able to share the occasion with friends and family at the same time as he humbly accepted a special presentation from the NZMTC.

"None of it would have ever been possible without the support of Mum and Dad, Cran and Chrissie, the staff at Kentuckiana Lodge, and not to mention all the trainers and owners that put me on their horses during the season," the 19-year-old said, adding that there were just too many people to thank. "And it was great to get the two hundred on Shard, because he is my favourite horse."

-o0o-

STATISTICS

1263 starts, 204 wins, 139 seconds, 120 thirds.
$1,951,274 in stakes.

Dexter set new New Zealand records for both the highest number of starts and the greatest number of wins. The previous harness racing record: 161 wins, Maurice McKendry, 1988/89 season. Thoroughbred racing record: 197 wins, Lisa Cropp, 2004/5 season.

Dunn's most successful track was Addington, with over a quarter of his wins coming there. 371 drives, 56 wins, 45 seconds, 32 thirds. Oamaru's grass track provided him with his best UDR of 0.4861, with three wins from one meeting. For more than one meeting at a track, Cambridge was his best with a UDR of 0.3987.

The most winning drives Dunn had for a trainer were for his employer, Cran Dalgety: 281 starts together, 62 wins, 45 seconds, 32 thirds and UDR 0.3476. With 20 or more starts for a trainer, Dunn's best record was for his father, Robert. 29 starts, 5 wins, 4 seconds, 6 thirds, UDR 0.3947.

Following the Dalgety and Dunn success, it comes as no surprise that Dunn's most successful horse partnerships were with Dalgety runners. Six wins - Smiling Shard, Band On The Run, Diomedes.

Six times this season Dunn won four or more races at one meeting. His best day, however, came in Dunedin in mid-July as the coundown to 200 was on: Forbury Park, July 14, 2009: 8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second. Five of those wins came in consecutive races.

Dunn won two Group One races during the season, both with Smiling Shard. The stakes from those two races, the Garrard's Sires Stakes 2yo Final and the 2yo Emerald Jewels Final, helped push Dunn's overall stakes for the season to $1,951,274l.

There is only one record that eluded Dexter by only 24 hours this season - the fastest to 100 wins, set by McKendry on February 14, 1989. Dunn reached 100 wins this season on 15 February.

Credit: John Robinson writing in NZHR Weekly 29July 2009

PEOPLE

PETER YEATMAN

I suppose as your father was a trainer you were always going to go into the game?
The old man worked as a foreman for old Free Holmes for many years and took his stars like Trix Pointer when they went to Auckland. He was later a trainer and he also rode in saddle races. In fact, he fell off the famous saddle pacer Mankind when he was winning one day and I got sick of hearing about that. But no, I wasn't really interested in the horses and I went to the races one day when I was about 19 and I got hooked into it.

What was your next step?
My first job was with Cecil Devine, and I was there quite a while. We had our moments and at one stage parted on bad terms but it was the best thing which ever happened to me. I learned so much there. He was a master trainer.

Which era were you there?
False Step, Thunder and Teryman were there then. They were all good horses to handle. It was a bit of a breeze when you look back on it from the horses to handle viewpoint but it wasn't so good when the Van Diemans came into work.

The problem?
Cecil stood Van Dieman (with which he won the 1951 New Zealand Cup) at stud on the property - we did the stud work as well - but they weren't nice horses. They were spooky and nervous and jumped out of their gear with any excuse. I remember I was working up a horse called Van Rush. He was a four-year-old before we got him to pace right. I used to drive him around behind in the hoppled work. One day Cecil told me I could pull him out and try him at the end. Well, he just ran past all of them. I never got to drive him again. I think he won his first four or five races.

Stablehands worked long hours in those days?
We worked 6½ days. We fed up at lunchtime on Sunday and had the rest of the day off. But I was living in a whare on the place and virtually had to stay round to keep an eye on the horses. We used to do the oats too. We'd get up at five and have the horses finished by nine and then we would spend all day harvesting and often go back after tea. Jack Smolenski was there then. I told him I'd worked out that the contractors were getting five bob an hour and knocking off at five and we went on and were getting a shilling an hour. But we really didn't mind that much. I didn't do much outside the horses anyway.

What about the work schedule with the horses?
You had to have your own stopwatch. Everything Cecil did was based on the watch. You would be told to run your first half in maybe 1:15, and given all the other sectionals to do in great detail, and there was a problem if you didn't get it right. It was down to a fine art.

Cecil had a reputation for being a bit of a character to work for?
He was very thorough down to the last detail and he was down on any of us drinking. In fact, we parted ways later on when he was told I had been drinking at the races. I hadn't been and I resented that. Cecil used to go to town every Friday and we had to do our usual full brushing down twice a day. He put double covers on his horses and we had to take both off and do it properly. Just in case we were tempted to cheat a bit when he was away he would put some straw between the covers. If they weren't disturbed when he checked after coming home, which meant you had only done half the job, you were in bother.

Did you have a better offer when you left?
Well, not really, but Cecil and I had a disagreement one time when I was mowing the lawn for him and he was on about drinking again. I sort of quipped that I had just got the mower out of the shed and there had been a few empty bottles of his in there. I was sacked on the spot. When I walked away Cecil wanted to know where I was going. I said: "Well, you sacked me." And he replied: "Yes, but not until you have finished the lawn." He was a character. I went back there for a while later and we got on alright.

Reg Curtin has always been a great mate of yours. Was it around then you met?
Yes, it was a bit unusual then. There was a lot of feeling between the Devine and Litten stables over False Step, and Reg worked for Jack Litten. Some people took it all pretty seriously but Reg and I didn't let it bother us. He has been a great friend. We have had a lot of fun over the years. Mind you I never resisted sorting him out on the track when it counted.

You then went to Ron Kerr. What was the reason for that?
Ron was a specialist at breaking in horses and curing problem horses, especially gallopers. I had not had that sort of experience. He was a great stockman and had a good pacer then, Mighty Loyal, but mostly he was educating them.

What sort of problems did the gallopers have?
We used to get the ones who were rebels and bad buckers who couldn't be controlled. Ron used to put a pack saddle on them, hook half a bag of chaff on both sides and let them go bucking in the yard. When they got tired of doing that we would get on them and after a while they got the message.

Did you go out on your own them?
No. I had just got married and was working night shifts and started helping Jim Dalgety when he was at Templeton opposite Don Nyhan's. After a year I went fulltime with Jim. We had quite a lot of success. I mean, I was the third driver in the stable but I drove five winners in that first season and I was the equal leading probationary driver. There were only 12 races for probationary drivers all over the South Island in those days.

How long were you there?
Quite a while. Later Jim moved out to West Melton and went into the breeding game. We were finding our way in the early days we didn't tag the mares which was fine if we were both there every day in the breeding season, but if you had been away and others had arrived, things could get tricky. Fortunately, we got it right virtually all the time. But I wanted to work more with racehorses and set up on my own.

Where?
Jack Parsons had a place in Yaldhurst just opposite where Allan Holmes trained. I worked the night shift and trained a horse for Jack for the rent. He had leased a horse called Local Star to Hec Jardin and I got that to train. It was my first winner (1965). I used to pre-train too and Derek Jones was a great supporter of me at that stage.

Any of his top ones?
I broke Leading Light in for Derek and told him I thought it was well above average. Derek said: "All right, send him over." But he lined him up at Methven first up and broke up with the money on. Derek said to me: "Peter, even though he broke I think you overrated that horse." He sent it down south and didn't go to drive it himself. It won by 20 lengths and, of course, ended up winning an Auckland Cup (1969) for Derek and Jack Grant. Great speed horse. Jack Parsons had his sire, Local Light.

In those days three training wins seemed a good season, five a top one and anything else sensational for many trainers. How did you survive?
Local Jen was leased to me by Jack Parsons and she won five good stakes for us. Then I won quite a few races with Morris Pal which Mike and Colin De Filippi's father, Rod, raced with me. Yes, there weren't many racing opportunities then especially for the slower ones unless you went to the Coast and I used to take horses to Hawera to get starts and form for them. Some are back doing that now but it was real bad in the 1980s down here. You had to qualify and then win a trial to have a show of a start at popular meetings.

What sort of money did it cost to train a horse with you?
Five pounds ($10) a week when I started. Some were charging £7 but you had to give a discount to get any horses. Remember there were no driving fees paid then if you trained the horse as well. That is why when I was starting out there were no professional drivers outside Doug Watts. Even Maurice Holmes had to train as well. Most drove their own and if you didn't drive, it was hard to get any horses because of the extra expense for owners.

Kata Hoiho I remember as one of your best horses. Didn't he have thoroughbred blood in him?
Yes, his mother (Our Helen) was by a galloper (Prince Bobby) but I didn't know a lot about his breeding. He came from the Coast (bred by the Moynihan family of Hokitika) and Neil Edge got hold of him. He won what is now the West Coast bonus (Westport Cup, Westport second-day feature and Reefton Cup) as a three-year-old. Unfortunately, they didn't have it then. We had a bit of luck with galloping blood. Neil raced Te Aro Boy, which was out of a mare which Jim Dalgety had bred from a thoroughbred cross, and he went alright.

What happened to Kata Hoiho?
He ran second in the Hororata Cup at three then won the Methven Cup early in his four-year-old season. We sold him in America after that.

Any luck?
Funny thing, I took a flight of horses over to America later with Reg (Curtin) and met the top American men who trained and drove him, Billy O'Donnell and Jerry Silverman. They told me he was the best Kiwi horse they had handled up until then and he qualified in 1:57 with his head on his chest. But he broke down before he could race and never came back.

You seemed to do well in staying races. Any particular reason?
I think we won 11 provincial cups at 3200m on both sides of the Alps. The Methven and Hororata Cups on the grass, all those sort of races. I have never had more than 10 racehorses in work. I used to think the staying races were a bit easier to win than the sprints, especially down in the grades. A lot of the time they weren't run at a lot of speed which helped the lesser horse. In the shorter trips it tested just their speed. I remember taking Flying Home to Hawera and we won a 3200m from a mobile gate in 4:40 on a good track.

What was the secret of success on the West Coast tracks? You seemed to concentrate on that circuit.
Yes, we were always going over there, even to the gallops meetings where they had two trots. At that time you could get a lot of starts with an out-of-form horse because the fields were not usually full. You could end up having two starts on each of the two days at Westport, two more at Reefton and then there were three days at Greymouth to follow. Everything had it's chance to earn some money. You had to back them as well and you knew all the form. All you had to worry about was first starters, they could fool you. You could pinch an advantage at times, especially at the start. I had a horse called Pussy Foot which drew the second line 11 times in 14 starts in the trots at gallop meetings over there and never started from the second line once. You could usually find a space on the front if you timed it right.

And the driving?
That was another thing. The good horses didn't go over there so a lot of the top drivers didn't go either. You were driving against a lot of owner-trainers and amateurs and the professionals had a wee bit more in their favour. The front was still the safest place to be. And mind you, we could come unstuck too.

Example?
I started Colin McLauchlan off in the trotting game. He had had a horse with (Cecil) Devine which I got to work up, and then he started coming out and working the horses and he got into the game in a big way later. I leased Miss Frost for him and she won four races in 10 days. Colin was a fitness fanatic himself and it worked for him. He died just recently in his 80s and none of his immediate family had lived past 60. Anyway, I had a horse of his at Greymouth one day and it was paying about $60s. Colin liked a bet, I liked the horse and he went and put $100 on the nose.

Bad result?
You wouldn't believe it, I miscounted the rounds. I made my usual move at Greymouth which was down the back and I was cruising. Then I realised I had gone a round too soon. If there was a track that could fool you like that it was Victoria Park. Anyway, we ended up finishing fourth. Colin put another hundred on it the second day and it won. But it paid less than $2 and Colin actually lost money on the deal. He took it pretty well.

Did the stipes take any action?
Yes, I copped a fine from Len Butterfield and it had a follow up. A short time later John Bennett did the same thing with David Frost at Timaru but he held on to win. Butterfield told him he had fined a bloke the other day for it and he was going to have to fine him too even though he won. I think he got $150. John always blamed me for him getting a big hit in the pocket.

Reverting to Kata Hoiho, I suppose the export market growth became your main focus?
Yes, it was a great boon. but horses can surprise you sometimes.

Like?
I had a horse once for the connections of Holy Hal. Arthur Idiens was in it too. It could only run 2400m in 3:38 when I got it going, but I thought it had a bit of potential. Anyway, they wanted to finish with it. I said I would train it for a month for nothing and pay all the disposal costs if it didn't get any better. It fell over the next day and hurt itself a bit, but by the end of the month I felt it was worth going on with. However they had had enough. I bought him for $50 and sold him later to America for $5000, which was good money then. I didn't feel all that good about it but I had done all I could for them. I made sure I never sold duds to America.

Montini Royal was a good winner for you. Did Reg Curtin talk you into breeding to Montini Bromac?
Yes, he went on about it. Reg trained Martini Bromac and he always thought the world of him. Anyway, I sent a mare to him and Martini Royal won the Timaru Nursery Stakes and the Stan Andrews Stakes when that was a big two-year-old race at Addington. I handed the reins over to Jimmy Curtin then. He won over 3200m more than once as a three-year-old, including the Hororata Cup and later won the Methven Cup. He could run 4:08 but as a four-year-old he just had trouble being quite up with the ones he could beat at three.

Anything wrong with him?
No. To be honest, that blue magic stuff was around then. A lot of publicity was about the big stables, but there were quite a few smaller trainers using it. You could work out who. I always had a suspicion that was a cause. He worked as good as ever at home.

Pauls Express was another good performer?
A remarkably consistent horse. I remember they used to hold up the record of Rupee who was in the money in 23 of his first 25 starts. Well, Pauls Express did that too but didn't win as many. He wasn't top class but very honest.

Have you raced a horse with Reg Curtin?
No. We raced a dog together trained bu Ray Adcock who started off in trotting and it won ten races. Genuine Ace it was called. And I did Reg and Les Lisle a favour with a mare called Redundant.

How?
It wasn't going much and I think Jimmy (Curtin)thought she was shooting material. Reg and Les had bred her. Anyway, I won a couple of races with her and she has been a gun broodmare. She has left at least seven winners and we have had Muscle Machine and Rosie J out of her ourselves. My son Robert (who races Les Lisle with Roddy Curtin)has been breeding from her.

You had some fun on the road at times?
There was the time Reg reckoned I killed a lady at Addington.

Surely not?
I was driving Brase for Allan Holmes there one day and it won a good age-group race and paid over $100. A lady in the stand who had backed it got so excited she dropped dead from a heart attack. Reg said it was obviously my fault.

Best horse you have seen?
Close finish between Cardigan Bay and Christian Cullen. They were the best of my era.

How do you view harness racing today?
They have got most things right, especially the handicapping system and the free starts. It is far better. Pat O'Brien (Chairman Harness Racing New Zealand) is a friend of mine but I think he is doing the right things

Credit: David McCarthy writing in The Press 12May2009

PEOPLE

Don Nyhan with Livingston Road

DON NYHAN

The death occurred in Christchurch last Sunday of Don Nyhan. Aged 99, Nyhan gained fame and respect for developing two champions - Johnny Globe and Lordship. After long and successful years on the track, they became premier sires.

Johnny Globe was champion sire four times from 1969/70 to 1972/73, and Lordship headed the list in 1979/80, and followed that by leading the broodmare list on four occasions.

Don bought Johnny Globe as a foal for his late wife Doris for £50 from the horse's Pahiatua breeder, F E Ward. He had trained his dam Sandfast for Ward, and knew she had ability after a time trial over a mile in 2.10 at Hutt Park as a 2-year-old. Johnny Globe became a crowd favourite, winning the 1954 NZ Cup from 48 yards in 4.07 3/5, which was a world record. He retired with 34 wins from 99 starts, 15 of them free-for-alls, and four world records. He was given an official farewell at Addington in December, 1956.

From the stately Globe Derby Lodge, Nyhan produced Lordship to follow in his footsteps. He won 45 races from 137 starts, and his stake earnings of $115,190 were easily a record for a thoroughbred or standardbred. He won two NZ Cups, 16 free-for-alls, and among his stock was the great Lord Module.

Among many other fine performers he trained were Dresden Lady, Gold Flight, Vagas, Au Fait, Lords and Koarakau.

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DAVID McCARTHY writing in The Press 31Oct09

Obituaries of leading horsemen often rely on lists. Lists of races won, top horses trained, trophies on the mantlepiece. After 80 years working with horses however, Don Nyhan, who died in Christchurch last week in his 100th year, was always associated with just two names - Johnny Globe and Lordship.

The two most popular pacers to grace Addington in the last six decades, their reputation was partly a reflection of the values of the of the Nyhan family itself and the esteem they earned from the racing public. Nyhan and Doris, his late wife and best friend of 70 years, were ornaments of the trotting world in its peak years, respectively racing Johnny Globe and Lordship.

Modest winners, gracious losers, their focus unaffected by success, their chief enjoyment was the friends they made in racing. They loved their horses, valued their family and devoted their lives to both. No breath of scandal ever touched the horses housed at the immaculate Globe Lodge in Templeton. The Addington public clutching their precious 10 shillings each way ticket knew they would at least get a run for their money from the horses in the black, pink-crossed sashes and sleeves, black cap.

Don Nyhan was born in Petone, the son of Dan, a successful horse trainer from Ireland, and was raised in surrounding districts. In Wellington he met Doris, the attractive and stylish daughter of family friends who had never been to a race meeting. They were married a few years later. Within a short time Doris was driving the team in fast work while Don rose at 1.30am each day for his milk round before his day's work horse training. Even in recent years few birds were singing when Don Nyhan arrived at the stables and 8pm could count as a late night for the couple. They shifted to Canterbury in 1948, first to West Melton and later Templeton.

Visiting a client returning to England one Sunday in the late 1940s, Nyhan was offered a colt from a mare which he had trained. He later described him as "a mean-looking little coot with a poor coat who had been in swamps too long". When asked about his value he replied "nothing". Doris liked him though, and emptied her fur-coat fund to take him home for £50. The colt, Johnny Globe was to pay for a lot of fur coats, winning 34 races, an unprecedented 15 free-for-alls, and a stakes-earning record of all codes in New Zealand at a time when a Cup win could buy a farm.

His win in the 1954 NZ Cup in world record time was one of the most exciting in the long history of the race. Two years before he had pulled up as a distressed favourite. For a few dramatic minutes he hovered close to death and "you could literally see the life draining from him" an eye-witness related. An emergency high-risk dose of adrenalin restored the blood flow and within 24 hours he was back to normal. As horse stories go, Seabiscuit had nothing on Johnny Globe.

After the 1954 Cup, fans on the inside of the course rushed the track amidst unforgettable scenes of affection for the great horse. Others were cheered after big races, but only Johnny Globe was cheered and applauded before them. Partly because of his head harness, the dapper little champion appeared to nod to the public in appreciation and the natural showman soon learned the ploy for further applause.

"John" as he was known, was only not human in that he could not speak, according to Don Nyhan. Even as an older stallion he allowed children to ride him bareback without complaint, and when Doris spent up to two hours at a time bathing his troublesome feet, he would rest his head on her shoulder while she read her book. When Johnny Globe made his farewell appearance, thousands sang 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' and club president Allan Matson expressed the hope "he will leave one as good as himself".

Retired to stud at Globe Lodge and with barely 10 mares booked to him in his first year because of a bias against New Zealand-bred stallions, he fulfilled that dream by producing Lordship, bred by Doris Nyhan. Twice winner of the NZ Cup and with 45 wins in all, he was an even greater stud success than Johnny Globe had been.

Don Nyhan trained many other top horses - all with a story - yet the father and son champions dominate memories of his achievements. He worked them hard in the old fashioned way but treated them with great respect.

A noted raconter, his stories of older days in racing never varied in the telling. He had to miss the departure of so many contemporaries in recent years but kept good health until near the end. His older son, Barry, ran the Globe Lodge breeding operation and the younger, Denis, set on the path to success by being given the drive on Lordship as a youth, was to later win his own NZ Cup with Robalan.

Don Nyhan took the one big opportunity life gave him and turned it into a small industry. That he did that without any loss to his reputation or friendships in a tough business was a true measure of his long life.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 29Oct09

PEOPLE

JOHN SHAW

John Shaw, who died at the weekend, was a highly-respected Canterbury veterinarian and a pioneer in equine reproduction medicine. He was 70.

He graduated with a BVSc from Sydney University in 1963, and followed that by gaining an MACVSc in equine medicine and surgery. After his graduation he spent several months with the legendary Dr Percy Sykes, who was associated with Tommy Smith's stable.

In 1964, he joined Dr Bob Mackay, and a mixed practice with an emphasis on horses became Mackay, Shaw and Murfitt when Corin Murfitt joined in 1967. This practice developed one of NZ's first equine hospital surgical facilities and when it moved to Prebbleton, John established a stud and semen station.

He served as one of the official veterinarians at Addington and Riccarton for many years.

According to Murfitt, he was a compulsive worker with a high standard of professional ethics; fearless - he often became injured in the course of his duties - and was a reputable horseman. He held a trainers' licence and was successful with Pumpkin.

He was acknowledged by the equine veterinary profession when awarded the Brian Goulden Medal in 2005 for his contribution to the profession, especially for his developmental work with frozen semen transportation and artificial insemination.

John also specialised in pre-purchase examinations for America and Australia. He stood both thoroughbreds and standardbreds at his stud farm, prepared stock for sale and ran a very successful veterinary practice.

He was president of the Equine Branch of the NZVA for three years in the late 1970s.

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David McCarthy writing in The Press 7Nov09

Prominent and popular Christchurch veterinary surgeon John Shaw had a rare ability to relate with equal ease to animals he treated and the people who cared for them. He died recently aged 70.

Born in Christchurch in 1939, Shaw's early ambition was to emulate the training and driving feats of his father Jack, an industry leader and pioneer in galloping and trotting.

Shaw was tall and rangy, unsuited to driving and riding racehorses. At St Andrew's College he was a noted high jumper. Fellow student and friend Peter Cordner said boys would gather just to watch the long-legged Shaw train for the event. He claimed a Canterbury title and record and second place in a national championship. He also played rugby in the first XV. He was awarded an athletics blue by Sydney University, where he trained and worked as a veterinary surgeon.

Returning home, he helped build the Mackay, Shaw and Murfitt partnership, with which he was associated for 30 years. Much of his work was with horse breeding and care, although he had an equal interest in and skill with smaller animals.

Shaw and wife Heather, whom he married in 1964, later set up their own establishment, first at Yaldhurst, where he trained standardbreds with some success and introduced Canterbury's first dedicated equine operation facility. Later he moved to Prebbleton and established a virtual potpourri of veterinary science, reflecting his widespread equine interests, innovative thinking, and inquiring mind. The project encompassed thoroughbred and warm blood stallions, pre-training, and the first commercial importing of frozen semen for standardbred stallions from the United States, as well as a thrivivg small animals practice.

"Gentleman John" Shaw's devotion to all aspects of his profession, interest in his clientele and long hours made it work. He became nmore interested in thoroughbreds later in life, importing stallions from England (Depot), France (Le Paillard and Sumayr) and Australia (Tuscany Flyer), all of which had success. Another innovation was to breed his own mares to these stallions and syndicate the foals among local enthusiasts, a time-consuming operation he handled with aplomb. Once he had established the viability of any project, his thoughts invariaby turned to a new one, rather than restricting his vision to the commercial potential of previous ones.

To the wider public, he was best known for his "open all hours" approach to animal care. His family remember him working to help distressed cats and dogs in his dressing gown. Christmas Day festivities were frequently interrupted for emergency surgery. His expertise was matched by fearlessness with animals, born of empathy with them. "Where others would take precautions when treating the broodmares, John often didn't have time and had complete faith in the intentions of the animals he was working with," a studmaster said. He was known also for his generosity - his charges often only an approximate assessment of the cost of time and materials.

Shaw was a much loved father of a family of four. They have special memories of forays to West Coast trotting meetings over the holidays with a home-trained horse. He conducted his five-year battle with cancer with quiet resolve and dignity. When unable to leave his bed he gained special pleasure when his most successful homebred racehorse, Oxford Aunt, was brought to his window so he could see she was safely in foal to carry on her line.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 29Oct09