This year’s inductees were announced at Addington Raceway on Friday 14 October 2016.
For his six decades of service to the industry, Christchurch based photographer Colin Berry was honoured. The first female millionaire pacer in New Zealand (fifth overall) and among first ten in Australasia, Blossom Lady is the latest horse to be honoured by the Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
Colin Berry
With 60 years of experience behind the photography lens, Colin Berry is one of the 2016 inductees to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
Christchurch born and bred, Colin lives with his wife Margaret in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby, close to Riccarton Park racecourse and the former Wigram Air Force base, once venue of the Plumpton Park racecourse in earlier days. There is a family link to racing in that his grandfather raced a few good gallopers.
Colin’s photography CV would include :
- beginning his career during a three month period of compulsory military training at the Ohakea Air Force base (near Palmerston North) as photography class entrant
- commenced his photographic career at Addington in 1956 as assistant to Gerry Matthews the photo finish operator and in 1958 progressed to the photo finishes
- worked in a colour lab printing photos for other Christchurch photographers
- for three years, provided race strip finishes for Wilson and Horton publications, Best Bets and Sporting Life
- 1964 sent to Melbourne by non racing Auckland publication The Weekly News to photograph Polo Prince’s successful Melbourne Cup victory
- 1965 Colin attended the Photokina Expo in Germany accompanying 40 other photographers to an exhibition of photographic equipment
- in mid 1960’s, established Colin Berry Photography concentrating on racehorse photography assisted by his late father Laurie who took home turn photos that were popular in earlier racing publications and made frames for Colin’s photos
- 1970’s, Colin’s business consisted almost entirely of racehorse photography and other equine subjects
- son Ajay commenced his photographic career with Colin during the 1991/1992 season
- joint partners in Race Images Christchurch Limited with son Ajay, established as photographers of choice at all South Island standard bred/thoroughbred meetings north of Dunedin (including the West Coast), images regularly provided for HARNESSED/HRNZ website, photographing stallions/yearlings (promotional and sales entrants) and studs, HRNZ Awards etc
- visited Sydney’s Harold Park on the evening of Christian Cullen’s 1998 Miracle Mile win
- worksite/office moved as a result of the 2010/2011 Christchurch Earthquakes from ground floor of the now demolished Public Stand complex at Addington Raceway, to a building to the right of the Green Shed in the old stabling area. Race night location is in the foyer of the Metropolitan Stand
Among many changes seen in the business by Colin over the years would be :
- technology changes since the box brownie including from the days of developing films in a dark room through to the modern digital age – digital revolution of early 2000’s – digital cameras, desk top computers and laptops of the 21st century
- local Christchurch meetings (Addington/Riccarton), uploading the latest race finishes to the website gallery between races
- immediate e-mailing of images to newspapers and publications with print versions available following day
- digital technology makes meeting deadlines much easier, the quality of the product has been enhanced (sharper and cleaner images) together with improvements in efficiency and productivity
- digital technology comes at considerable capital cost – camera, lenses, printers
- development and progressive increase in the number of syndicates owning and racing horses has had a profound effect on the Berry‘s photography business. Smaller syndicates (4 – 6 members), all members want a photo, larger syndicates not always the case
- built up an extensive gallery of photos going back over 30 years .
Among Colin’s harness racing favourites are :
- tracks : Addington, his home track/base for the people and closeness to the action etc with a special fondness for the annual one day meeting at Kaikoura
- best harness horses seen : Christian Cullen rates very highly with Colin being a fan of the champion racehorse and stallion’s impressive physique, his “posing” aspect and overall presence. Fortunate to have seen several champion pacers during his career such as Cardigan Bay, Young Quinn, Christian Cullen and trotters the likes of No Response and Scotch Tar
- memorable days : 1961 NZFFA at Addington on Show Day when Cardigan Bay led all the way whilst the Public Stand at the Raceway was engulfed in flames; the 1965 Interdominion Pacing Final at Forbury Park that produced the only ever dead heat between Jay Ar and Robin Dundee – the two horses were wide apart on the track and Colin is proud of his resulting finish photo. Any NZ Cup Day despite the heavy workloads involved
- photo : “pocket rocket“, Courage Under Fire taken at Nevele R Stud where the young stallion is running directly at him in his stallion paddock
Colin’s interests include involvement in harness racing syndicates, reading science fiction and regular overseas trips with his wife.
As will be attested to by all of Colin’s many clients over a considerable number of years, he is always a pleasant and obliging gentleman to deal with. Do retirement plans beckon for Colin?? After sixty years in the photography business, one suspects not just yet although an easing back in duties seems likely.
It seems logical that the name of Berry will remain at the forefront of racehorse photography for many years to come particularly at Addington Raceway and many other South Island tracks. Colin Berry will no doubt continue in some capacity with his son Ajay to uphold a proud family photography tradition. Colin Berry, a well deserved new entrant to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame for his service to the harness racing industry.
Blossom Lady
The “Bloss” as she was known, is one of sixteen mares (Reta Peter, Haughty twice) to have won the NZ Cup (to 2015). The 1984 bay Farm Timer mare from Lumber Dream mare Lumber Lady, was bred by Ashburton mates Bob Davison and Bill Cook and raced by the twelve strong Polly Syndicate headed by former HRNZ Chairman Ralph Kermode. The syndicate consisted of six couples, four from Palmerston North and one each from Auckland and Wellington.
Blossom Lady was the leading performer produced by Farm Timer retiring as the fifth NZ millionaire (Luxury Liner, Christopher Vance, Master Musician, Chokin) and first mare as well as being among first ten millionaires in Australasia.. At Addington Raceway she won 17 races from 66 starts (placed 21 occasions) placing her among other leading performers such as Hands Down (23 wins), Take A Moment/Lordship (21), Christen Me (20), Monkey King (19), Caduceus (18) and False Step/Tussle (17).
Racing from three years old (ten starts, three wins, first at Manawatu Raceway on 9 February 1988) until her retirement aged eleven following her sixth placing in the 1996 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes held on New Years Day, her 131 starts in NZ produced 36 victories, sixteen second placings and thirteen thirds for earnings of $879,605. She campaigned on six occasions in Australia for seven victories and nine placings from 24 starts. Her full career stats were : 155 : 43 – 20 – 18, $1,334,808. Best mile rate was 1:56.0 recorded over 1 mile in her first NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes win at the Canterbury Park meeting on 3 January 1991. Established the following national records for a mare all at Addington unless otherwise specified – 1 mile mobile 1:56.0 (1:56.5 AUS), 2000m stand 2:33.5, 2400m mobile (Ashburton) 2:57.0, 2600m stand 3:15.8/3:14.9 (also overall national records), 3200m stand 4:03.3.
Blossom Lady’s six NZ Group One’s were all at Addington (NZ Cup/FFA, Easter Cup, 3 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes) with a further two at Moonee Valley (2 Hunter Cups). Eleven of her twenty two Group race wins were at Addington (above plus 3 Premier Mares C/S, Interdominion heat, Alan Matson (Monsanto) FFA). Her remaining group race wins being Hannon Memorial (2), Ashburton Flying Stakes, Interdominion Consolation (Alexandra Park), Interdominion heats (2 Moonee Valley/Harold Park, 1 Alexandra Park).
Blossom Lady’s staying ability is borne out with her seven victories at the extreme distance of 3200m (3 at Addington including NZ Cup, Easter Cup, DB Draught Hcp) plus Ashburton Cup/DB Draught Hcp (Ashburton) and two Hunter Cups. A sixth of her wins coming from standing starts over two miles distance.
Other major wins included 3 Easter Invitational FFA’s – all at Addington; Manawatu/Ashburton Cups, Invercargill Cup (2), Palmerstonian Classic, Forbury FFA’s (2), recording placings in the following major races :
- seconds at Addington in Honda/Peugeot Cars 2000 (2), New Brighton Cup (Avon City Ford), Premier Mares C/S, Easter Cup, ID heat and Hannon Memorial, ID heats (Harold Park, Albion Park), Victoria/Hunter Cups
- thirds at Addington in Monsanto FFA (2), NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes, Easter Cup, New Brighton Cup (Avon City Ford) and Ashburton Flying Stakes, ID Ht/Final (Albion Park), ID Final (Moonee Valley), Victoria/Cranbourne Cups
Blossom Lady initially trained by Stephen Doody from his Palmerston North headquarters (25 starts for 6 wins) before moving in February 1990 to the Templeton stable of the legendary Derek Jones from where her major successes were engineered. Grand son Anthony Butt handled her for twenty seven victories in NZ plus seven in Australia with others to record wins with her being Stephen Doody (5), Derek Jones and son Peter two each.
After retirement from the racetrack, Blossom Lady’s career as a broodmare saw her leave only three live foals, all of whom won races. Her first foal, son Mister DG (Camtastic), won 20 races (14 NZ/6 AUS), $795,749, 1:55.9 (Cambridge Classic, SBS/Heller FFA, Popular Arm FFA, Hunter/Cranbourne Cups, Hannon Memorial, Nobilio, Casey Classic, ID’s [2 heats, Consolation], Waikato Flying Mile). Her two filly foals, In Bloom and Bloss’s Flame. both won two races.
Blossom Lady died on 18 May 2004.
Already an inductee into the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame, Blossom Lady with a Lounge named after her at Addington, rightfully takes her place amongst the elite Standardbreds to have graced Addington Raceway as a 2016 inductee to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
Peter Craig
17 October 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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