Category: Opinion – De Lore

John Messara: What the Pattern means to me

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The Pattern is the measuring stick by which the quality of performances of all thoroughbreds around the world are assessed, both for international and domestic comparisons and the continuation of the breed. But the introduction of sweepstakes type races has created division and put the Pattern under threat. John Messara AM has thought long and hard about its history, the introduction of races like The Everest and the future of the Pattern. He expresses his thoughts in this paper. – Brian de Lore by John MessaraPublished 18 September 2020 The…

Riccarton’s synthetic track debate heats up as roadshow heads south

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The Wyong Polytrack by Brian de Lore Published 10th September 2020 Leading South Island racing people remain divided on the issue of the building of the Polytrack at Riccarton with detractors of the proposal seemingly outnumbering those in favour by a Winx-like margin. But indications are the building of the track will go ahead despite the opposition. Blood pressures are sure to rise, and the debate is bound to be lively when the NZTR Roadshow arrives at Ascot Park, Wingatui, and Riccarton over Thursday and Friday of this week when…

Gallop South calls for justice through constitutional change

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The popular Easter race meeting at Riverton by Brian de LorePublished 1st September 2020 The growing discontent in the deep south is now echoing through the committee rooms of many New Zealand race clubs residing outside the metropolitan areas. And Gallop South has taken a determined step forward in seeking a significant change in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Constitution. Gallop South Incorporated, last week sent a memorandum to all race clubs and sector members with a proposal attached to amend the NZTR Constitution to give the stakeholders of…

Racing industry demands changes to NZTR structure

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John Costello’s article in Bloodhorse Magazine in December 1996 when he described the changes made by Racing Industry Board Chairman Garry Chittick as watershed in New Zealand racing Racing can’t sit on its hands and wait forever – we have the legislation; it won’t happen on its own! by Brian de LorePublished 9th August 2020 Moves are afoot; the winds of change are airborne. The Racing Bill of 2020 has been passed into law, and the changes in the new legislation have opened the door for positive change, and perhaps…

The grandfathers who controlled the relatives of Phar Lap

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Nick Wigley and Victoria Woodley at Riccarton last Saturday. RIGHT: Phar Lap’s close relative Monte Carlo wins the 1956 Victoria Derby for Nick’s grandfather owner-breeder Ken Austin by Brian de LorePublished 31st July 2020 The grandfathers of both Nick Wigley and Victoria Woodley between them made two purchases between 80 and 90 years ago that determined the destiny of the family of Phar Lap and set the scene for the future success of Inglewood Stud in North Canterbury. Nick Wigley and Victoria Woodley are both long-time members of the Canterbury…

Chris Grace in the footsteps of his great-grandfather G.G. Stead

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Chris and Susanna Grace with the 1884 Wellington Cup. Graphic is a Grace-bred horse to have won the Wellington Cup but dual Flemington Group One winner Shillelagh is the best horse they have bred by Brian de LorePublished 17 July 2020 When you’re a descendant of one of the most successful owner-breeders this country has ever known, pressure may exist to uphold the family tradition, but the truth is Christopher Grace QSM isn’t a man who was ever looking back, and for most of his youth he was blissfully unaware…

Mick Preston was once the stallion handler of Hyperion for Lord Derby in Newmarket

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by Brian de LorePublished 10th July 2020 True Enough’s 87-year-old owner-breeder Mick Preston is the only man remaining on the planet today who can claim he was once the ‘handler’ for the great English Derby-winning sire and worldwide thoroughbred influence in Hyperion. Greatness in the thoroughbred world is often contentiously debated, but on the score of sheer racecourse talent coupled with success in the breeding barn, Hyperion easily ranks in the top dozen horses ever foaled, if not the top six. The year 1933 was pivotal in this story. Brendan…

Breeders’ send strong message to Minister Peters

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by Brian de LorePublished 2nd May 2020 Last week we highlighted protest letters and OIA (Official Information Act) requests to the Minister of Racing and RITA (Racing Industry Transition Authority) from the Trainers’ Association, the Owners’ Federation and the Next Generation of NZ Thoroughbred Racing. The letter not mentioned but also written around the same time on April 22nd, was sent to Minister Peters on behalf of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (NZTBA) and signed by its CEO Justine Sclater. The letter was not a long one but very…

Partnering the TAB is the best way forward

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by Brian de LorePublished 20th June 2020 Here is racing’s biggest ever certainty: That TAB NZ is not a sustainable business for the long-term benefit of New Zealand racing and finding an overseas betting operator with which it can enter into a partnering arrangement is an inevitability more for the immediate future than the long-term. Events of the past three months have underlined the urgent need for New Zealand racing to think globally rather than nationalistically about how it can manage this business sustainably as it enters the third decade…

Racing Bill misses some vital ingredients of the Messara Review

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by Brian de Lore Published 27th June 2020 As of this week, racing has new legislation which the Minister has designated for enforcement from August 1st. That will be the day the Racing Act of 2003 gets consigned to the dustbin and the day the new Racing Bill comes into effect. Few in racing will have read the legislation for its reworded second reading (103 pages), and of those that did read it,  few will be aware of the SOP (Supplementary Order Papers) introduced by the Minister on Tuesday which…