By Duane Ranger
Popular Taranaki and Franklin trainer, Joe Fleming, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Waitara home last Thursday (September 17).
The best horse he owned and trained in New Zealand was the eight-win ($47,676) Farm Timer gelding, Fasta La Vista, who won the Taranaki Cup (2001) and Otaki Cup (2002).
But the best horse he actually owned, trained and bred never raced in New Zealand.
“Thunder Road was sent to Darren Hancock in Australia in June 2010 and since then has won 14 of his 32 starts and more than $100,000 in stakes. Included in those wins were a couple of Group Two and a Group Three,” (Tony) Fleming said.
In fact the Bettor’s Delight – All The Way Home gelding won the Group Two $30,000 Winter Trotters Final at Tabcorp Park Melton on June 19.
Three weeks earlier the 5-year-old, known as On Thunder Road in Australia, also won the Group Three $26,000 Bulli Trotters Cup at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Thunder Road is the second of three foals out of the 13-year-old Fleming owned and Bryan Macey bred Holmes Hanover mare, All The Way Home – who is full sister to the 1999 New Zealand Cup winner Homin Hosed.
Fleming also has a Bettor’s Delight yearling colt out of the same mare. The first foal, which is by American Ideal, was exported to Australia in March 2013.
He won two races here and has now won 16 of his 60 starts and $170,178 across the Tasman and in the USA. He has returned a 1:52.9 mile.
Mr Fleming was born in New Plymouth and educated at St Patrick’s College Silverstream in Wellington.
He went dairy farming in Rahotu when he left school and at the age of 22 he worked on The New Plymouth Wharf for three months before he went and drove trucks for two years before returning to the farm.
“Dad’s father (Richard) always had Clydesdales and Dad’s brother John trained horses. That’s how he got into it.
“When he married Joan in 1968 they went dairy farming at Rahotu right up until his retirement in 1999. They then moved to Waitara but Dad did have three years from 2010 to 2013 training standardbreds in Pukekohe.
The 1974 Caliburn mare, Karimu was the first horse he owned. She provided Mr Fleming with his first winner when Tommy Knowles drove her to victory at Hutt Park on September 11, 1979.
“His racing numbers grew and that’s why he relocated north to Pukekohe,” son Tony said.
Mr Fleming trained 21 horses during his stint in Pukekohe and won 45 races while based there. He still has horses and yearlings based in Franklin. Fleming Junior said he breed all of his own horses but did buy Angel Gabrielle at the 2007 Yearling Sales.
That now 9-year-old Holmes Hanover mare won four of her 26 starts in New Zealand before being exported to Australia in September 2009. All-up she’s now won 11 of her 55 starts and $106,715. She has gone a sub 1:52 mile rate.
Fleming’s best training season was in 2002-2003 when he trained four winners from just 11 starters. That season he boasted a very healthy 0.4141 UDR strike-rate.
“Joe was my mate and I loved him to bits. He was a good bloke who never ever missed Sunday Mass. He was a very genuine man who loved the trots and the people involved.
“He had an awesome personality and will be dearly missed. He did suffer heart problems but thankfully he passed away peacefully in his sleep,” family members said.
Mr Fleming was buried at the Opunake Cemetery following a Requiem Mass at ‘Our Lady Star of Sea’ Catholic Church on Tuesday (September 22). Richard Joseph (Joe) Fleming was 72.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joan, and their six children and spouses. They are Tracey and John Hickman (Winton); Richard and Anna (Te Puke); Tony and Carla (Taupo); Rhonda and Stephen Lucas (New Plymouth); Mary-Ellen and Shane O’Connor (Wellington); and Emma and Hamish Day (Invercargill).
He was ‘Poppa-Joe’ to his 15 grand-children.
All messages to PO Box 4016, New Plymouth or online at www.heavenaddress.com.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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