By Michael Guerin
Harness racing lost not only a popular owner but one of its oldest ever recently.
Northern owner John McIntosh passed away just days after turning 100, reports friend and long-time trainer Derek Balle.
McIntosh was a constant in the Alexandra Park stabling clock for decades, racing horses firstly with another old friend the late Roy Purdon when he was training and ending up with Balle as his main trainer over the last 15 years.
McIntosh went to the yearling sales and spent up big in 2016 when he was a spritely 91, saying at the time he was too old for his other hobbies so wanted to buy a nice horse.
McIntosh was always chirpy and a great supporter of harness racing, owning very good female pacers Credit Line and Bonny Payson with Purdon.
He also raced smart young pacers Crown Derby and King Strike with Irvin Behrns and later had horses with Geoff Small, Michelle Wallis and James Stormont.
After striking up an association with Balle he raced smart pacers Master Charlie (8 wins), My Generation, Bettor Step Aside, Kendrick and Ideal World.
All of them were later sold to Australia, with McIntosh fond of saying “it is a business.”
“He was a great guy. One of his favourite sayings when he got beat on a horse he wanted at the sales was ‘well, I run that bugger up,” smiles Balle.
McIntosh was laid to rest last week, one of the last members of his generation which was such a rich part of New Zealand harness racing history.
