CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

TOM BRANKIN

The recent death of Tom Brankin will illicit memories for many of an earlier era in harness racing. President of the Hororata Trotting Club from 1981-87 and later its patron, Brankin was a pragmatic and respected leader.

He wrote 'Trotting Beneath the Nor'West Arch', reflecting the slub's first 40 years. Although representing a one-day club at annual conferences, he was given responsibilities chairing discussion groups and was respected for his sound judgement.

Brankin spent his early days in Little River, later farming in Darfield. He and his late wife Rosalie raised a family of six children. A capable rugby player for Darfield and the Ellesmere sub-union, he later became a fine administrator.

In partnership with the late Leo May, he raced several horses, the most successful being the talented mare, Alice In Wonderland. A true gentleman, Tom's presence, particularly at country race meetings in Cantebury, will be missed.

Credit: HRWeekly 10Apr2013

JACK SMOLENSKI - HORSEMAN

Today (Friday February 8) the harness racing community mourn the loss of one of the industries greats. John Joseph (Jack) Warren Smolenski sadly passed away last night (Thursday February 7) at Diana Isaac Retirement Home aged 78 after a series of strokes.

Smolenski, who was born on January 17 1935, will go down as one of the legends of the sport not only for his remarkable record on the racetrack but also his all-round mannerisms.

He will never be forgotten, after all, how can he be when he has his named stamped over basically every big race in the country?

The member of the 1000 win club (1056), has two driving premierships next to his name, and is the only person ever recorded (records dating back to the early 60's) to win the Trainers and Drivers premiership in the same season. Smolenski achieved this great feat in the 1971/1972 season.

As well as winning numerous Derbies and countless Oaks, Smolenski was successful in the 1973 New Zealand Cup with Arapaho, a horse he both trained and drove.

J W Smolenski's is also a member of the 500 training wins club, having trained 742 winners in his illustrious career spanning back to 1949 where he got his introduction to the game by Tom Gunning in Temuka. Gunning was married to Smolenski's auntie Nellie who used to take him to the races as a kid, and raced some good horses herself. This was followed by two spells with Cecil Devine during the 1950's, the era of three-time New Zealand Cup winning Champion False Step, before training on his own account from Reg Curtin's place and then eventually branching out from his own property in Templeton.

Smolenski who was known as a horsepersons horseman, also played a part in the career of late 1970's/1980's rogue champion pacer Lord Module, and won the Allan Manson FFA on him in 1981.

He won his last group one on Pompallier in the Fred & Gary Thompson NZ Trotting Championship in 2007, at the ripe old age of 73, and was rewarded with harness racing's most prestigious honour on October 11 2012 when he was inducted into the Addington Hall Of Fame joining trainer/drivers Derek Jones, Jack Charmichael, Maurice Holmes and former boss Cecil Devine.

Another great feat of Smolenski's is the major role he played in setting up the Harness Racing Canterbury Cadets Scheme, and educating the young reinsman.

The Jack Smolenski legacy will now live on through his family; his son Mark is an established trainer, while grandson Sam is already a group one winning driver.

Jack was the loving husband of Marie, loving father and father-in-law of Mark & Carolyn, Joanne & Peter Ryder and Jill Smolenski, and loving grandfather and great-grandfather of Sam and Maree, Kelly and Phil, Grace and Jack Ryder, Alex and Siobhan Fauth, Larissa Mitchell, Melissa, and Frazer Austin, Lachlan and Jonty.

Jack Smolenski's funeral will be a private one, but a public memorial service will be held in the Addington Raceway members stand on Wednesday at 3pm.

RIP Jack.

A list of group and feature races Jack Smolenski won and the horses he won them with.

•Amaze/Sovereign (NZ Derby), Times Up (NZ Oaks), Times Up/Gina Rosa/Harvest Gold/Gina Marie (GN Oaks), Gina Rosa/Blue Water (Nevele R Fillies), Arapaho (NZ/AK Cup/Stars Travel Mile), Vanadium (Ash Flying Stakes/ID Hts (2)), Rocky Star/Torrent (ID Pacers Consol),Gina Rosa (Premier Mares), Vanadium/Torrent (Easter Cup), Gina Rosa/Royal Belmer (NZ Breeders Stakes), Lord Module/Giovanetto (Alan Matson), Jennys Rocket/Zebec/Harvey Wilson (NZ Trot Derby), Harvey Wilson (GN Trot Derby), Philemon (Dom Hcp), Pompalier (Trot C/S), Melvander (Trot FFA), Waipounamu (CPTC Cup), Nardinski (Flying Stakes - 3), Ostrava (NZ C/S -3), Mels Boy/Nardinski (GN Derby), Nardinski (NZ C/S - 2), Mels Boy (Welcome/Kindergarten Stakes), OK Royal (Messenger). Colonel Grace (Rising Stars - 3), Giovanetto (Superstars - 4), Seaswift Franco (Caduceus Club Classic - 2), Champagne Princess (Sthld Oaks) ; also Melvander/Jenner/Al Mundy (Ordeal Cup), Vanadium (NB Cup (2)/Laing Hcp), Philemon (Worthy Queen Hcp); Lord Lynbar/Seaswift Franco/Starwin Boy/King Aurea (Add Winter Cup) etc.



Credit: Mitchell Robertson - HarnessLink

LES HOPE

Omn Friday, February 17, 2012 when the family and friends of Les Hope were gathering after his funeral, his filly, Gayless Delight was running at Motukarara. Ricky May wore a black armband and the Trackside team spoke about Les's passing. Gaylees Delight ran courageously for a second.

Hope who was 72, was a Marlborough man, the youngest boy of 11 children. As a youngster, he represented Marlborough at rugby and cricket. At 15 years, he left school and became a butcher's boy. He then went shearing with his brother 'Bluey' and followed the seasons from Marlborough through to Southland.

He would winter over working in the meatworks in Gore. It was there he met his wife Gaynor. He took her back to Marlborough and into their own very successful butchery and other businesses. Hope was a publican, a property developer, a farmer and latterly he and Maurice McQuillan operated a Super Liquor outlet. Regrettably, Gaynor died some 24 years ago.

In his early life, Hope's father was a teamster with horses and dray carting gravel and goods throughout Marlborough. This love of horses took the family into racing with 'Bluey' racing the talented free-legged pacer Robalan during the 1970's. Les had many horses including some good ones, and his interest flourished particularly in later years when he had them trained by his nephew Greg Hope.

Hope was one of the many on whose support harness racing relies. They hope one day to make some money but they do not expect to, they love the horses and the convivial company and they dream that one day they will have a champion.

Credit: HRWeekly 29Feb2012

KEVIN RYDER

Kevin Ryder, who died in Christchurch recently aged 88, was a remarkably versatile horseman. He crossed many paths successfully, as a breeder, owner, trainer, driver and notably as a trader. He was never shy at voicing his opinion, an irregular contributor to the 'Weekly's' Letter columns, an author, and latterly an advisor of sorts to the Meadowlands video streaming.
He performed with distinction on the international stage, training and trading in the US when he was based at Yonkers in the 1970s.

Ryder was born in Blackball, one of five children raised on the family farm at Inchbonnie. In 1937, when he had just left school to work on the farm, he bought his first horse, a 2-year-old by Grattan Loyal. "I had no idea how to train a horse, but I pressed on regardless," he said. Six years later he put down a track, and 10 years after that he won his first race, at Westport in 1953 with Helen Patch, a mare he'd leased from Iris Litten. Not only did she win on the first day, but on the second day as well, by two lengths off 36 yards. Other winner for him during this time were First Dieman, Bay Prince, Private Lady (4 wins), Conquistador and Chiefly.

Ryder moved into thoroughbreds in the late 50s, standing at stud the stallions Red Jester and Prince Mahal, and they were joined by Allegiance, an unraced son of Light Brigade and Princess Medoro. In 1963, Ryder moved to Canterbury with his wife Bev and their six children - Patricia, Gavan, Francis, Melvin, Chris and Peter - living first at Clarkville then at Kaiapoi. He worked at this time for Jack Litten and Clarrie Rhodes, where Leicester Tatterson was Clarrie's private trainer. Ryder recalled: "It always amazed me how fast Leicester could harness and unharness a horse. He seemed to pick up a set of harness, hopples, bridle and boots, and in a flash the horse was all harnessed up."

He had three stints working for Litten, when he trained the speedy Peerswick, and he was with Litten when he bought Westland King as a weanling. By Goodland, Westland King set a mile trotting record from a standing start as a 2-year-old in 1966 of 2:12 2-5 which still stands today. He ran a mile record against time at the same age of 2:08 2-5, and won two at the Kaikoura meeting as a 3-year-old. "He was probably my favourite horse but sadly had bad legs." He raced just nine times in four seasons and won five races, later siring the grand trotter, Stormy Morn.

In 1967 he bought land and moved Westland King to Yaldhurst where he started a short career as a public trainer. Two of his best horses there were Apollo King - "the fastest beginner In ever saw" - and Tullamore Dew, another by Goodland - he said was "a heartbreak." Tullamore Dew could pace and trot, and in fact set records at both gaits. Ryder had thoughts he could be a Cup or Dominion Handicap horse. Philipino, yet another by Goodland, had ability at both gaits and was a good horse later for Denis Nyhan.

Another acquistion to the stable at this time was Robert Dunn, sent from Wellington by his parents because he was "horse mad." They told Ryder: "Work the hell out of him; see that he gets sick of it so he'll come back to Wellington and get on with his studies."

Soon after, in 1972, Ryder was off to America, as an attendant on air shipment of horses. He returned home and went back in 1974, taking Banksey Butler, a horse he had bought in Australia for $4000. "The business-like manner of racing in the United States always impressed me," he said later.

Horses he bought and sold while in the States included Highland Champ, Brown Brazil, Logan Lady, Urbinoro, Le True and Sogo, and those he sold while back later in NZ were Whispering Campaign, Hal Tempa, Timely Hostess, Via Vista, Tempo Cavalla, Tebaldi, Smooth Dave, Doctor Inglis, Countess Gina, Tac Warrior, Nautilus, Lumber Leon, Jester Boy, Lady's Rule, Matt Flinders, Bound To Be, Big Bucks and Matai Bret.

In 1977, and considering that he'd become a grandfather, Ryder decided to settle down and bought land at West Melton. He did what he was good at - buying and selling. He soon had three smart ones - By The Way, Ambleside and Tempest Tiger. By The Way was a smart trotting mare who won six races in one season. Tempest Tiger raced for only one season, becoming the first mare to win the Messenger Stakes when Jack Smolenski drove her and she shared the NZ mile record for a mare, at 1:58.5, with Westburn Vue.

Tempest Tiger left Franco Tiger, who won the Miracle Mile and was considered by Ryder as the best he had. "I started him three times at trials and he won them all. Then two starts at the races, one at Forbury and one at Addington, both of which he won quite easily. Keeping to my policy, I sold him to Australia where he earned over one million dollars. He did not pull an he was a flawless pacer. He had an impeccable nature and a 100% racing attitude, had a wonderful head and a nice homest-looking eye."

Ryder used his own theories for training. "I've always held the view that if a horse is really good, it doesn't matter much who trains it. The key is to get to know what suits the horse best. Some take a lot of work and others take very little, and it's just a matter of working this out. I have read various books on training horses but while you may pick up the odd handy hint from them, I don't hold much store with training by the book. I preferred to learn from experts like the legendary Jack Litten. Jack would take his horses out and trot two rounds of the track (2400m) and then gallop five (6000m). He galloped reasonably fast but not off the bit. He would not let any horse pace free-legged. He used no bandages or liniments and had no lame horses, except for his NZ Derby winner Doctor Barry, who was a bad horse to crossfire. However, one bit of advice I can give to young trainers is this: that young horse you are fairly much in love with is only half as good as you think it is."

His son Chris said his father wasn't shy of voicing a good an lengthy story, whether it was a West Coast happening, or a rather hair-raising touch and go horse trading experience. "He loved to watch my horses racing live on the computer and he took well to the internet, so much so that he would proudly tell me how he was emailing his racetrack management skills to the No. 1 track in the US.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 7Mar2012

ROB GEDDES

Rod Geddes was 56 when he died suddenly at his Greenpark home recently. A dairy farmer, Geddes was a passionate and successful breeder, trainer and driver, most of his horses named with the 'Dryden' attachment.

His best horse was Dryden Amanda, trained by his father Jim for eight wins and one when they trained in partnership at the end of her career. That was when she won the Ashburton Cup from Ansett and Mytop Sweetie. Rob handled her in nearly all of her 62 starts and in all of her nine wins, including a memorable Show day performance at Addington when she came from last on the corner in a C6-8 free-for-all to beat Mighty Me and Win A Bottle. He trained the good Game Pride - Secret Sign mare Game Dryden to win seven races, and he won six with Honky Tonk Dryden. His last drive was at Addington with Coolit G T Dryden on March 30.

"He was into the horses from the day he was born," recalled his brother Jim. "From the time he was five, he was out there helping Dad, and he was driving work when he was ten. And when the kids were young it was non-stop pony club and watching them play rugby, and Rob went right through the grades playing for Waihora."

He is survived by his wife Barbara, sons Brent, who is licenced, and Ryan who was, and daughter, Nikki. Both Brent and Ryan are riders for the iconic Crusader horsemen before home Super 15 matches in Christchurch.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 25Apr2012

FRANK BEBBINGTON

Frank Bebbington spent a lifetime involved in all aspects of harness racing - as a breeder, owner, trainer and driver with his latest administrative position being a recent appointment as an Ashburton Racecourse Trustee. He died recently, aged 80, before attending a meeting.

Bebbington began his work as a volunteer when he joined the Mid-Canterbury OTB. He became a member of the Ashburton Trotting Club and a steward in 1982 before joining the committee in 1985 and serving as president from 1998 until 2001. His involvement in club activities included the construction of the barn and Davidson stand, track improvements, the centennial fund, the introduction of the Hambletonian, and membership on the joint management committee. On his retirement he was made a life member of the club in 2004.

The first good horse Bebbington handled was Robert Medoro - "handy but underrated"- said recently retired club general manager Trevor Robinson, and trained by his father, Reg. He stood at stud Mercedes and Avalon Globe, and had great success with the trotters, Globe Tour and Royal Armour, who both won nine. Globe Tour was by Avalon Globe, by Lordship, and Royal Armour was by Protector and had enormous ability but raced intermittently over four seasons. He won seven races in his 4-year-old season and two from five starts as a 6-year-old, winning a double at the old National meeting, betting Break Through and Tony Bear on the first night and Johnny Gee and Break Through on the second.

Robertson said he would br missed for his smile, humour and levelheadedness.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 25Apr2012

DAVID McCARTHY INTERVIEWS BOBBY NYHAN

Q. How did you get the drive behind Cardy?
A. Actually I really don't know. I knew Wolfie from Wellington a bit but we were not friends or anything. He rang out of the blue and asked if I would take a horse over to Addington to keep Cardy company and then drive him in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton.

Q. And?
A. Merv Deans (husband of owner Audrey) was the only stable rep there. He insisted I go to the front. I was off 36 yards and it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. When I went Jack Litten called out to the others and they all took off. I was annoyed because I looked bad but I had no option.

Q. You kept the drive?
A. At Forbury Park I told them I was going to do it my way. As it happened Robin Dundee who was on the way up then, beat us. Peter came down for the Hannon Memorial. I drove Gildirect who was past his best then but we were fifth and beat Cardy home. Peter said to me either the horse wasn't right or he needed a lot more work and we didn't have much time to find out. His work was stepped up dramatically. He thrived on it. Went through the Cup meeting unbeaten.

Q. You started with your father, Tom?
A. For a while but his team was never big. My first winner (1955) was Bypass at Omoto, trained by Johnny Crofts who lived next door. He predicted he would give me my first winner. It rained all day and the mist was so low you could hardly see where you were going. Dad then loaned me to Jack Litten for a few days to help out and I was there for four years.

Q. What made him special as a trainer?
A. He was just a great horseman, the best I worked with. I can't say enough about the man. They were the happiest days of my life really. When Mum said I looked tired soon after I started I said "When Jack says run, I run" and he rather liked that when he heard it. You didn't just learn about horses. You killed and dressed chickens, raised turkeys and lambs, tended pigs, handled stallions, the whole bit. Jack loved animals of all sorts. He was years ahead of most with young horses and the best of that was he didn't just pressure cook them like some. We each had a group to educate and when I paraded mine one year I pointed to one as clearly ahead of the rest. Jack looked at what seemed a potential 2-year-old star to me and said he thought he would put him aside until later. That was Happy Ending, a cup class stayer. Not many trainers would have done that. He did almost cost me the drive on Lookaway in the Cup though.

Q. How?
A. Leicester Roper was training him for Clarrie Rhodes then. Cliff Irvine had got him right but he was always a bit suspect. I had driven Lookaway in a trial and was to drive him in another one at Ashburton otherwise he would never be ready for the Cup. Jack suddenly told Clarrie I was needed at home. In the end Clarrie agreed to pick me up in his new Super Snipe close to the trial and bring me straight back afterward. I had never been so fast in a car. Even the fellows working on the train tracks dropped their tools to stare. I think there was something between Clarrie and Jack which sparked that. Lookaway had a nice run in the Cup but he just ran out of condition in the last 100m (4th from 24yds). He was the most brilliant horse I have ever driven. With one run at them he was unbeatable. But we didn't have a happy ending.

Q. In that?
A. He won the Allan Matson and Clarrie was desperate to start him in the Free-For-All later in the day when they had two races for the best horses. The horse just wasn't going to be able to cope with that in his condition but Clarrie overruled us. He felt awful in his preliminary and I pulled him out of the race.

Q. When you moved to Belfast with Cecil Donald it was quite different?
A. Cecil wasn't so much into young horses but he had a lot of older ones and sometimes it was a challenge just to get them worked especially in the winter. His track was good in the summer but the ground was heavy in winter and the sand track became a quagmire. Cecil was also very patient setting a horse for a race under the handicapping system then. Sometimes you didn't look too good driving to instructions.

Q. There was a heap of open class horses in the stable then. Did one stand out?
A. Probably Indecision even though he didn't have the best record and people knocked him because he was a dissappointment at stud. But he had enormous heart, a great will to win. He hardly had a sound day in his life - ligament problems mostly - and perhaps because of that he was vicious. I was the only one who could handle him at one stage. When he got to the races though, especially over two miles he tried his heart out and beat some top fields in races like the Ashburton Cup, Rangiora Cup, those sort of events. The open horses would always line up in those races then. He was certainly the most underrated.

Q. Rauka Lad was one of the best horses you were associated with?
A. He should have won Globe Bay's Cup (1972). It was the biggest disappointment of my career. I know it is an old story but he was spot on that day (favourite on both totes) and his was the run of the race. There was not much pace on early and he was never at his best when he didn't have room. He got a shove and galloped. Went a huge race afterward.

Q. Where did he come from?
A. We were at Oamaru one day and Cecil (Donald) told me to drive the float to Eddie Forsyth's (Waimate) on the way home because he was going to buy a horse off him. The horse was Dreamy Morn but Eddie wouldn't sell. Finally he pointed to Rauka Lad which had had a few starts and said "Buy him instead. You won races with his half-brother and you will with him." So he came home with us. Jack Hall bought him for £1500. He had won a race but he had fallen twice and was considered a problem. Cecil let his hopples out from 55 inches to 59 and he won nine of his next 11 start. But he was never foolproof and it caught up with him that day.

Q. Chief Command was another?
A. A brother to Indecision but quite different. He had a great nature. He won the NZ Free-For-All in front and they said Holy Hal was unlucky but nothing was going to beat him the way the race went. He was probably Peter Van Der Looy's first good horse and he trained his own later.

Q. Commissioner was a smart one?
A. Commissioner was the most unusual top horse I drove. He had one speed - flat out. I have never known a horse who could pull so hard for so long and still win big staying races like the New Brighton Cup was then. You really wanted to be in front though!

Q. Chaman was another?
A. He was the first horse to pay three figures to win after dollars and cents came in ($112) and I think it might have only been beaten once still. He was by Brahman and hit a knee bad which held him back. The old trainers had their tricks and one used with Chaman saw him just bolt in one day. A tough horse.

Q. Trotter?
A. My favourite was Front Line which the Baxters who had Battle Cry raced and Jack Litten trained. He had a twisted front leg and was often sore. He was very tricky to get going early. I thought he was a wonderful trotter when you considered that. I drove Mighty Chief for Trevor Mounce when he paid $84 at Addington. Never looked like getting beaten. He kept coming back disn't he?

Q. After Cecil's death you seemed to drop out of the limelight. What happened?
A. The estate was complicated. I had a small team at Bill Pearson's Arizona Lodge near the Rangiora track and working on the works. Trio was there for a while and I had Game Way and Joy Boy. Game Way had the smallest testicles you would ever see but he was a really good trotter and he sired good winners. I thought Joy Boy was too good to go to Westport but the owners didn't agree. He won there and I lost him soon afterward. I had an option to buy the property but my wife was not keen. My biggest disappointment was that I was offered a top free-lance driving job in the North Island with a leading stable about that time but for personal reasons I could not take it up. I would have loved to have done that.

Q. You seemed to fade off the scene for a while?
A. I had a few run ins with (stipe) Neil Escott and didn't think I got a good deal (we have settled our differences long since) and I copped a big fine I thought was tough and gave it up. We ran a restaurant in Rangiora for a while and I helped (son) Mark get started with gallopers. David Butt got me back to help him out when he started at Woodend quite a few years later. His mother Jackie (daughter of Jack Litten) and I had been friends for a long time and she playrd a part in getting me back.

Q. Your most rewarding time since?
A. Helping establish the inside track at Rangiora and winning the first totalisator race on it with Hard Cash was a highlight. A team worked at improving the training track and then (stipe) Les Purvis inspected it and said it was good enough for qualifying trials so we started workouts there and it just kept improving. Brian Ritchie played a big role and Russell De Gana was another key player. When we started workouts we would take the noms over the phone, Brian would print them on a Gestetner and I'd go home and we would ring every trainer with a horse in. In some ways that old enthusiasm has gone now.

Q. You drove Cardy but what other horses stick in your mind?
A. The day Johnny Globe won the Cup (1954) will always be with me. I was just a kid but people were jumping over fences trying to get a hair of his tail. I have never seen an outpouring of emotion for a horse in my time like that day. I don't think we will ever see that again. Then there was Lordship - and not just because I am a Nyhan! He was a great horse by any measure especially the injuries he survived and still won with.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in HRWeekly 16May & 2June2012

MURRAY GRAY

Russell Morton described the late Murray Gray as direct and uncomplicated, black and white. "There was nothing gray about him," said Morton, who had helped at his stables for the past seven years and led the funeral service for Murray. He died at Ryal Bush on May 27 aged 63. "He had the strength and confidence to do the right thing with horses; he knew when to be patient, to get the right response or when tough love was required," Morton added.

When it came to greatest moments in harness racing, there is no doubt Giovanetto provided them for Gray. Bred in partnership and trained by him throughout his 59 start career, the entire son of Fitch II and Bella Ragazza won 18 times including the 1991 Welcome Stakes, and in 1992 the Southern Supremacy Stakes, 4yo Rising Stars, Hannon Memorial and Monsanto Free-For-All.

The paths of Giovanetto and Chokin crossed regularly and when Giovanetta finished second in the 1991 3yo Rising Stars and 3yo Sires Stakes, Chokin was the victor. The same was the case when Giovanetto ran third in the 1991 2yo Sires Stakes, the 2yo Championship an the 1993 New Zealand Cup. A year earlier he finished second in the Cup, denied then by Blossom Lady

At the time, Giovanetto was the best Gray had bred but that all changed when his half brother Holmes D G, by Holmes Hanover arrived. Gray developed Holmes D G, qualified him at Wyndham as a juvenile in 1997 and took him to Forbury Park for his debut with son Brett in the sulky. "We lost 80 of 90 metres at the start," recalled Brett. "He finished second (beaten three quarters of a length). That run created the real interest in him." Sold before he raced again, Holmes D G went on to win all-but $2 million.

One of six in a family, Gray's parents ran the Makarewa freezing works farm. He attended Makarewa Primary and Southland Tech High, excelling in athletics, cross country and rugby. After leaving school at age 15 and worked as a farm hand for a time, he went shearing. He married Jen at Milton in August, 1970 and after Brett they had two daughters, Joanna and Paula.

While still a shearer, Gray and family moved next door to the property of Ron Barron. That was when his interest in harness racing grew to participation. According to Brett, his father's involvement then was still as an amateur, gradually changing to a professional level about 30 years ago when he moved to Ryal Bush.

Gray was a successful breeder, seller, owner, trainer, driver and administrator, being a driving force and founding member of Southland Caduceus Club, head for a time of the Owners Trainer Breeders (OTB) organisation, prominent in the Standardbred Breeders Association and a Trustee for Kids Kartz. He trained the winners of about 150 races and also drove a few. When Giovanetto was a 3yo he was in the sulky six times for six wins.

Outside harness racing Gray was active in the Makarewa Country Club during its early years and president of the Ryal Bush Community Centre.

Credit: HRWeekly 13June2012

JIM WAKEFIELD

Respected harness racing administrator Jim Wakefield has been recognised for his servises to the industry in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Wakefield has been awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

Pat O'Brien, the chairman of Harness Racing New Zealand, said the award was thoroughly deserved. "It recognises Jim's outstanding contribution to the industry in a number of areas over an extended period. As HRNZ's chairman, Jim was a strong and passionate leader with great integrity. Not only has he provided a significant contribution as an administrator, he has been, and continues to be, heavily involved as a breeder and owner. Harness Racing is certainly richer for his involvement and it is great for him to be officially recognised through this award."

Wakefield represented the NZ Trotting Owners Association on HRNZ's Executive from 2000 to 2010, and was Chairman from 2000 to 2003. During this time he played a key role in promoting a number of changes, in particular the development of the Racing Act 2003 on which the current industry is structured.

From 2003-06, he was HRNZ's inaugural appointment to the New Zealand Racing Board, and in partnership with his wife, Dr Susan Wakefield, he has bred and raced a number of top performers, including Sparks A Flyin, London Legend, Bettor's Strike and Texican.

On the international stage, Wakefield was chairman on the organising committee of the 2007 World Trotting Conference in Christchurch, an event considered a great success.



Credit: HR Weekly 7June2012

FRED FLETCHER INTERVIEW

Q. You seemed to come into race training and driving a bit later than some. Where did it all start?

In racing not until I was 28 when I got a job at the old Roydon Lodge in Yaldhurst. We came over from the Coast when I was 12 and I was brought up with horses. Later on, I worked a team in the bush for a while. I played league right through the grades and was still playing when I went to Roydon Lodge after I answered an ad in the paper. I broke my jaw playing football soon after and that was the end of the sport. Captain Adios had just passed on when I started and Thurber Frost was the star stallion then. I worked under Ralph Bonnington who was the stallion manager.

Q. You didn't train there though? How did you find it later on taking on training a good team without the background some have had?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Gal) broke a pelvis. But she had showed plenty as a two year old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.


I spent a lot of time watching George Noble. There weren't many people who were better to learn from. A lot of it was just what you know and common sense.I started training after we set up the new Roydon Lodge at Templeton. That was a big job and it took time to get it organised. Scottish Hanover was our anchor stallion then and he did a great job. When that was up and running I was breaking horses in and thought I might as well be training them.

Q. Talking of Scottish Hanover, Roydon Scott was your first star?

He was a brilliant horse, a great horse really. I don't think people realised how good he was. I firmly believed he would be the first to run two miles in four minutes here and I think he would have done it. He had a big long stride and everything seemed effortless to him. He battled navicular disease for a long time and when Dr Irvine changed the medication rules on what we were treating him with it finished his career really.

Q. He still ran as favourite in the New Zealand Cup?

It was the owner's decision to run and you can understand wanting to win a Cup. I have to say I would probably not run had it been up to me.

Q. He was a different sort from Roydon Glen who ended up with the better record?

Roydon Glen had a lot of ability but he was always "seeing things" which made him a hard horse to drive. Peter Wolfenden drove him up north for us and didn't actually seem to think a lot of him and I had to take over when he won the Derby by lengths up there. But I could understand why Peter thought like he did. You had to be careful what you did with him in the race and where you put him. Sometimes driving him what punters might think was the right way was the wrong way.

Q. His third in the Cup must have been your biggest disappointment?

There wern't any other races to match it. He drew in, actually began too well, got into the trail and when they eased in front we were four and five back on the fence. Then when I was going to work off the fence I got held in. He flew home of course and should have won it but there wasn't a lot else I could have done.

Q. He didn't really succeed as a sire apart from the trotter Lyell Creek, and Roydon Albatross was a bit disappointing too?

Yes, you wouldn't believe Roydon Glen wouldn't have been a great success with his pedigree. Roydon Albatross was by Albatross but his maternal line was not as strong. He had the bad luck to be foaled down here late in one season instead of early in the next. That meant when he won the Nelson Cup in record time he was really a three year old and it showed what a good stayer he was.

Q. Phillipa Frost was a mighty wee mare too?

A super little mare, tough as they come. Bluey Steel, who worked at Roydon Lodge then had bred her. There was nothing of her but she wore a long hopple for the size she was (59 inch). I liked horses in long hopples. Roydon Scott wore a 64 inch hopple and Roydon Glen a 61 inch. Philippa Frost's length was really massive for her size. She had to battle Delightful Lady in the mare's races and she ran third to Hands Down and Lord Module in the NZ Free-For-All. We got a bit mixed up at the start. Slim Dykman was next to us and told me he was going to do one thing but he did it differently when the gate went. When you look back at her record and what she raced against she was a terrific mare.

Q. We always have to talk about Sundon at Roydon Lodge but Game Pride smoothed the path for him.

He was really the first of the modern trotting sires here, the ones who could leave horses with speed. He did a terrific job year after year once he got established. One thing which surprised me about him is the ability he had. His race record didn't show it but he was a dumpy little guy and we used to have to work him in the cart a bit to get the condition off him. The speed he showed when you chirped him up amazed me. There was a stallion close up in his pegigree called Bill Gallon which the Americans rated highly even though he was not as fashionable as some. He turned up in Sundon's pedigree as well so there was something in it.

Q. Sundons had a mixed reception with many trainers and probably still do. What do you put that down to?

Basically I think they have so much speed that if you let then show too much of it you can have problems. I had Jo Anne early on and she just had phenomenal speed. But Sundon was a lovely relaxed horse. He would spend a lot of time sleeping. One odd thing about him was that he would pee just before the start of every race he had. His sire Arndon was a bit different. I saw him run his world record at the Red Mile. He was sore then and drifted out into the middle of the track but still ran the fastest mile ever. Phenomenal speed. But he wasn't the relaxed horse Sundon was.

Q. There was a bit of a tizz over a positive swab with Sundon at an Inter-Dominions?

A veterinary error. I think vets should be made more responsible for their actions in these sort of cases like they are in some other countries. The owner and trainer have to carry the can.

Q. And you didn't get to drive him when he won the Dominion?

That is a bad memory. I was given three months for not giving him every chance in the Trotting Free-For-All on Cup Day. You wouldn't not try in a $35,000 race then especially a free-for-all. We were the victim of circumstances but the stewards didn't want to know. Peter Jones took the Dominion drive. He had been driving some of my team in the spring and we had talked about Sundon earlier. Then after the Dominion the siren went and they inquired into whether Sundon had checked something early in the race! My charge was quashed on appeal. It left a sour taste.

Q. Morgan James was another good horse I remember?

Just one of those great everyday horses. My friend from Perth, Mick Lombardo, talked me into selling him in a weak moment. He ended up winning $600,000 over there. Just went on and on year after year until he was about 13.

Q. First Jinja Girl and now Royal Aspirations both give you and (grandson) Sam Smolenski Harness Jewels triumphs. How confident were you this year?

Very confident. I told Sam it was his race to lose and drive accordingly and he did. Sam has a great temperament for driving. He does his homework, listens to instructions and is patient. He doesn't worry about things and thatis an asset in big races - to stay cool.

Q. On paper the immediate breed looked sort of just okay. Did you come from another angle?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Lass) broke a pelvis. But she had shown plenty as a two-year-old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.

Q. Royal Aspirations is a horse which can go on?

He's smart as well as fast. He got mixed up at the start of a race at Addington but he still tried to head for the birdcage. He knew where the winners went and wanted to be there. He has a good spell now but he can get better yet.

Q. You are a man of many talents, especially with the manipulation of horses. How did that start?

I suppose it went back to my sporting days in a way, getting over injuries and that. I started to read up on acupuncture and similar treatments and taught myself how to do them watching others and practicing. I started doing it with the race horses to stretch them before a race like an athlete does with hamstrings and other muscles and then started post race treatments. The horses are running around in circles after all and they can develop specialised ailments. A lot of problems happen in the paddock because the circles they are running in are that much smaller. So I don't like to see them turned out after a treatment as some recommend.

Q. You are also a "heartbeat" man with yearlings?

I probably did 100 horses this year at the sales. No special science, I just listen to the heartbeat. You can tell quite a lot from it. Some of them sound like a Mack truck. I think it is a fairly credible thing and more people seem to be asking me to do it. Anything you can find out about a horse someone else might not know is an advantage.

Credit: HRWeekly 25July2012