Breeder, owner, administrator, enthusiast, a man with a passion for racing that knows few boundaries, even extending to thoroughbreds, that’s Christchurch based Dean Illingworth. He has recently enjoyed the feats of outstanding mare Fight For Glory in which he has a quarter share. More of her and other standardbreds owned by Dean in part two of this article.
Background –
Born and bred in Geraldine, South Canterbury, no more than 4km down a back shingle road along the river from the Orari Racecourse(Geraldine), the Illingworth’s
always had a family connection with the race course and the sport of kings. His father George was on the Geraldine Trotting Club committee, his grandfather Arthur was on the Galloping Club committee and a steward at the trots, while his great grandfather (Phil Johnstone) was on the trotting committee in the 1950’s. The Illingworth motto when attending the races was “wear your best clothes and be a
good loser”, a sound common sense approach.
Attending school till the seventh form (year 13 in 2016 speak), he managed to pass muster each year without being overly taxed. Illingworth spent two years at Canterbury University, starting a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, before opting out to undertake his big OE. This was in 1981 with time spent in England and Europe, including compulsory attendance at a few race meetings. His parents wanted him to see a bit of life before coming home to join the family orchards operation.
Dean Illingworth is a fifth generation NZ orchardist, being part of the famous Papanui fruit growing family the Sissons. They all loved the races, being dual coded with one member in the 20th century (early 1900’s) famous for breaking the tote at Riccarton. In Dean’s own words “it was always going to be apples and races”. Following his return from overseas, his “curriculum vitae” reads as follows :
1982/83 managed families Peel View Orchards in Geraldine
In October 1983, the Illingworth family moved to Christchurch due to a brother’s health issues. Dean‘s father George was the Operations Manager for Canterbury Orchard Services Ltd and then General Manager of Applefields, a public listed orchard company established by Tom and Charles Kain together with his father as orchard developer
1983/87 Dean worked for his father as Orchard Developer
1987/96 Orchard Manager until closure of the Applefields orchard business
1997/2011 part of the Front Office team at the Hotel Grand Chancellor until its closure and subsequent demolition as a result of the February 22, 2011 Christchurch earthquake
2013 to present day Dean is working for Hydroponically Grown Ltd
Geraldine Racing Experiences –
Illingworth’s first experience of a race meeting would have been as a primary school child at Geraldine trots and gallops. Once he reached high school age, this expanded to trips further afield including Timaru, Ashburton and Methven. When he passed his School Certificate (fifth form/year 11), his father who was on the Board of Governors acknowledged his performance not embarrassing the family, by giving him a new watch and a trip to “exotic” Dunedin and the Forbury Park trots!!
At school, a class mate of Illingworth’s was Colin South, whose father Peter bred and owned the “Washdyke Wonder“, the brilliant grey galloper of the 1970’s in Grey Way. The winner of 51 races (50 NZ/1 Aus), NZ record number of wins, $248k, his 50th win came in Derrick Gould Hcp at Orari in spring 1980. His major wins included Easter Hcp, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay Challenge Stakes both twice, Levin Cup (2), White Robe Lodge Stakes (3), Awapuni Gold Cup, CJC Stewards Hcp, George Adams Hcp.
The Orari Bridge South family were great friends of the Illingworth’s who raced and stood Creighton (NZ Derby, dam sire of Swartz Pete) across the paddock from their Geraldine property. Also a few miles up the road Mr Connelly stood Stormyway (2:01.2US, sire of Flaming Way, French Pass, Stormont, Torrent; dam sire of Amaze, Golden Oriole, Stormy Morn in NZ, leading broodmare sire in Australia).
The family orchard shared a boundary with Miss Joyce Edgar-Jones of Sailing Home fame (16 wins, AK Cup, Trentham Stakes, International Invitation Stakes at Te Rapa when ridden by Lester Piggott, Horse of Year).
Miss Edgar-Jones was aged 73 when leading owner and Racing Writers Personality of Year in 1971/2 season. She died exactly thirteen years later to the day that Sailing Home won International Invitation Stakes (aged 86, February 1985). From five foals, Sailing Home only produced one to the races for a winner of a single race.
Local Orari trainer Lionel Pratt (famous for training the Skelton brothers), was a local stable to watch. One of trotting trainer Sam Henderson’s (Minstra/dam of Risk and Reward, WA Trotters Cup; Young Trouble, Hutchinson FFA) daughters was in Illingworth’s class. Obviously with all this local horse talent, the racing achievements in the farming village were followed closely.
Racing Club involvement –
Dean Illingworth has been a member of numerous Canterbury racing clubs, some for many years. On the thoroughbred scene, these have included South Canterbury Racing Club (was Geraldine RC until amalgamation) and the Canterbury Jockey Club which he joined in 1983. He gained Lifetime Membership in 1990, which is very useful for reciprocal rights at overseas meetings especially Flemington. On the trotting front, he joined New Zealand Metropolitan (NZMTC), Canterbury Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs in 1981. Whilst there was still a waiting list for NZMTC in those days, if you joined all three clubs you got straight in. Whilst he is not sure what years he joined the following trotting clubs – Rangiora, Amberley, Methven, Ashburton, Geraldine, Banks Peninsula and Timaru – with fewer meetings it was useful being a member to assist with obtaining a start for your horse.
In the case of the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club (BPTC) situated at Waihora Domain, Motukarara, while unable to recall exactly when he joined the club, he was asked by
Ken Spicer and Paul Davies to join the committee in 2011. The first race meeting with his name in the book as a committee member was 29 December 2011. Illingworth was quickly elevated to Senior Vice President status in 2012 becoming President at the commencement of the 2015/6 season (3 year terms).
Illingworth met the clubs long standing Patron, Miss Jean Anderson (recently deceased) some 38 years ago at Addington Raceway when he was meant to be swotting for Canterbury University exams. The Illingworth‘s had known Jean, through spending a lot of time together at the races over the years. Dean and Jean sponsored a race at BPTC for about 8 years. She also taught Illingworth “you must always have a horse in work” and with being a good loser. They were always part of each others support team when they had horses running.
Jean raced horses from her fathers branch of the Norice bred e.g., Small Game (Game Pride), grand dam of Im Whitney, like her preceding four generations were raced by Miss Anderson. Small Game’s dam Beautiful Bay (Armbro Del) left eight live foals for two winners in Luck and Corsica Bay – two NZ wins/1 in Australia. Beautiful Bay was out of Charteris Bay (Tuft) whose one winner from three live foals was good intermediate performer Brothers Pride (Game Pride), the winner of five when trained by Derek Jones for Miss Anderson. Charteris Bay’s dam Surprise (King Scott) left just one qualifier from five foals while her dam Joselito (Josedale Dictator) had three foals, the last of which was Governors Bay for Jean Anderson. You will notice many horse names relating to the Banks Peninsula area. appropriate for Jean Anderson.
Illingworth is thoroughly enjoying his stint of being President at the “Mot“, considering it a real honour. Bill Denton once told him just go and enjoy the day, so he took his advice, no nerves, and it has worked a charm. He considers Motukarara to be a great club, racing on the grass track six times a year, with great personalities, a huge volunteer work ethic, from which there couldn’t be a better crew or more fun involved.
Interests outside of harness racing –
The gallops mainly although the trots have taken over now. While the family galloping interests have declined, Illingworth takes a keen interest in watching group race days especially the racing from Sydney and Melbourne on a Saturday. He has attended a few Melbourne Cup weeks in his time, believing them to be brilliant days out. Illingworth loves his test cricket and rugby but with the advent of Sky TV, he seldom attends live games anymore. A real one eyed Canterbrian when it comes to sport, Lancaster Park (Jade Stadium) was a favourite.
Illingworth never wanted to be an All Black, rather he just wanted to be in the birdcage on the second Tuesday in November (NZ Trotting Cup Day). As his birthday falls during Cup Week, a great week is made as he is always on holiday. Thanks to Sky, he loves following the Triple Crown of Cycling (Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a Espana and the Tour de France). He is fascinated by the sport, team tactics and individual competitions, with a burning ambition to see one of these tours live.
Thoroughbreds –
Dean Illingworth hasn’t really raced one worth mentioning in his own right, mainly a few also rans, rather he has been travelling on his families’ coat tails. His grandfather Arthur always said when the thoroughbreds were going good the standardbreds would be a bit quiet and visa versa. That has been proved correct time and again for the Illingworth family.
He has been privileged to get trips to Australia and share in some of the glory with horses his parents George and Marion have raced. George Illingworth had an especially good run in the 1990’s with his major successes coming from buying into. the Dennis brothers (Tony, Ray, Martin, Joe) breed from Southland at the sales. He raced the good mare The Penny (One Pound Sterling/The Wink, 9 wins) with GHC and GTC Kain and SJ McArthur. Her 33 starts yielded 7 wins, 10 placings, $196,670 including Wairarapa Breeders Stakes, WH Stocks Gp3 at Moonee Valley. At three, she placed third in Australian Oaks, fifth in 1000 Guineas and NZ Oaks. Her best performance however was running third in the Gp1 Chipping Norton at Warwick Farm.
George Illingworth was a silent partner holding a quarter share in The Phantom (Noble Bijou/The Fantasy gelding, 8 wins) when it was racing together with GHC (Harry) Kain, JL Lawrence, Mrs CVJ and SC Montgomery. The Phantom’s 40 starts produced 10 wins, 13 placings for $2,231 391 in stake earnings, all achieved on two dickey legs. He won his first start at Hastings together with notable wins in Awapuni Gold Cup WFA, Memsie/Underwood/Caulfield/MacKinnon/Trust Bank Central Stakes and Cambridge Stud International. Significant placings came with seconds in Melbourne Cup (also fourth/eighth), South Australian Derby, 1990 DB Draught Classic (first $1m race in NZ – $970,000 – winner being Horlicks), Auckland Classic, Caulfield Stakes; thirds in Caulfield Cup (twice), Underwood Stakes; fourths in Cox Plate, Craiglee/Caufield/Feehan/CF Orr Stakes and fifth in Australian Cup.
The Phantom finished second in Kingston Rule’s 1990 Melbourne Cup (eighth winner
trained by Bart Cummings) run in the fastest ever time over 3200m – 3:16.3. He was ridden by Grant Cooksley for trainer Murray Baker, carried 54.5kg and was 7/1 in the betting. He had earlier finished fourth in Cox Plate the same year.
George Illingworth has scaled back his thoroughbred interests, believing he has had his best days with them and is happy to live with the memories. The costs are horrific with all the action centred round the big studs in the Waikato, making it very hard for a South Island owner to compete. He often raced gallopers with the Kain family (usually Harry) from Orari, later Christchurch, whose grandfather bred and early on raced Nightmarch (1929 Melbourne Cup and later stallion).
Nightmarch was initially owned by GA Kain before being sold as a two year old to Alf Louisson apparently for 1,000 guineas. He went onto be a champion, winning NZ Derby; Epsom Hcp/Cox Plate/Melbourne Cup at four (first NZ bred, owned, trained, ridden horse to win Melbourne Cup); at five NZ Cup (60kg a weight carrying record); Canterbury Gold Cup, Awapuni Gold Cup (twice amongst his 23½ wins. He became a
successful sire.
Part Two : will review Dean Illingworth’s standard bred interests.
Peter Craig
14 April 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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