He has driven the New Zealand greats Cardigan Bay and Robin Dundee and in his prime was regarded as one of the best big money drivers in the business.
These days Kevin (K D) Murray spends his time lending a hand at the Avenel stables of David Aiken on most mornings. He’s been doing it for the past 15 years since retiring from race driving.
Mucking out the stalls, gearing up horses for a training session and washing those down who have been worked is a far cry from some heady times in the industry he experienced in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Still a fit 81, Kevin Murray will probably never let go completely of the industry he has been part of for the last 70 years.
But he did confess it wouldn’t have been that way until the death of wife Pamela four years ago.
‘‘We intended to do some travelling overseas and enjoy life a bit. Now I just do this (help out at the Aiken stable) to keep myself occupied,’’ he says.
Kevin Murray came to Australia in the mid 1960s to campaign a trotter called Grand Charge, who had run third to Popette in the Inter Dominion final in 1964 in Dunedin.
That was after he has driven the great Cardigan Bay in track work and had two wins on the mighty pint-sized mare, Robin Dundee, two of the New Zealand’s greatest and best known and loved harness racing horses.
When arriving in Australia Kevin set up stables at Wallan with the help if his good friend from their New Zealand days Noel Evans and immediately made his mark as an accomplished reinsman and trainer.
His driving skills and ability to win when the big money was on in particular were in demand and he drove for notable trainers and owners such as Jack Moore, Bob Knight and Kevin and Patsy Abrahams.
One of the Abrahams breed, Gyro, is one of his favourites.
‘‘He was a real speedster and they said he couldn’t stick but I won the Italian Cup on him over 2700 meters,’’ he reflects with a large smile.
But Murray also made his mark with some of the horses he trained and drove such as the outstanding trotters Silken, Reteps Pride and Skipper Don the pacers Freedom Day and The Warrior, the last horse he trained.
‘‘I actually beat the great Scotch Notch in a race at Moonee Valley one night with Skipper Don which was a big thrill,’’ Kevin reflected proudly.
Murray declares Cardigan Bay as the best pacer he has ever seen and in Australia Popular Alm the best pacer and Maoris Idol the best trotter.
‘‘They were all true champions in every sense of the word.’’
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
