Following recent five and six winning drives in a day, speculation mounted as to who held the records for most winning drives or training successes on a single day at New Zealand meetings.
Darrin Williams, HRNZ’s Racing Manager, used the InfoHorse database to extract all those drivers and trainers who had had five or more victories at a meeting. This listing is complete from the 1965/66 season up to the present day, the period for which computerised records are available. Undertaking an extensive search for those horseperson’s to attain five or more victories in the period from 1890/91 – 1964/65 seasons, I believe whatfollowsis as comprehensive a record of those achievements as exists (subject to amendment). Many names arefamiliar but there are exceptions especially from earlier days.
It quickly became obvious for the purposes of reporting that a cut-off of six wins would be more manageable than five. What follows is a description of drivers and trainers to have recorded six or more winners on one race programme :
DRIVERS :
Three drivers have recorded seven winners on the same day, the earliest being Doug Watts in 1954 together with current master reinsmen Tony Herlihy (2001) and 2015 World Drivers Champion Dexter Dunn (2015). Watts’s effort therefore takes the prize for the most outstanding effort.
Seven –
DOUG WATTS :
at Reefton TC’s annual meeting, Monday 8 February 1954 (postponed from Waitangi Day 6 February), driving the winners of the first seven races on an eight race programme. Race winners were :
Jacinta (a trotter) and Air Raider both twice, owner/trainer Frank Watson, Murchison
Proximity (twice), owner NL Watson, trainer Frank Watson, Murchison
Bourbon Lass, owner A Tucker, trainer Oliver Oakley, Yaldhurst, winner of Reefton Cup
The final race on the card was at a sprint distance and contested by Cup winner Bourbon Lass driven by Doug Watts. She was unable to assist Watts to the perfect day’s record finishing up in fifth place.
Note : Frank Watson trained six of Watt’s seven winners, all three raced and won twice on the same day.
TONY HERLIHY :
Friday 5 October 2001 at Alexandra Park, Auckland TC meeting, driving seven winners from nine drives (other placings second and fourth)/eleven races,the last four in consecutive races and his final winner in a dead heat with Brent Mangos. Race winners were :
Lord Vicolo, owner Barry Purdon, Kevin Riseley, trainer Barry Purdon, Clevedon
Last Sunset, owners Charlie Blackwell, John Dickie, trainer Tony Herlihy, Papakura
Murray Bruce, owners Owen and Gaylene Purdon, trainer Tony Herlihy, Papakura
Cautious Spirit, owners Brenda Sigalove, Douglas Donaldson, trainer Tony Herlihy. Papakura
Falcons Blue Jean, owners John Seaton, Suzanne Herlihy, trainer Tony Herlihy, Papakura
Soky Stallone, owner Ben Calder, trainer Barry Purdon, Clevedon
Swift Mirage (dead heater), owners GPK Syndicate, trainer Barry Purdon, Clevedon
Herlihy trained four winners with brother in law Barry Purdon training the other three.
DEXTER DUNN :
Friday 8 May 2015 at Forbury Park, Dexter Dunn completed the elite trio of seven race winners in a day with his ten drives/eleven races containing seven wins and a third, dual winners for trainers Andrew Faulks/Michael House. Race winners were :
Ultimate Desire, owners Brent Weaver, Kristine Weaver, Stuart and Hayden Corps, trainer Brent Weaver, Waterlea Raceway
Ask Me Art/Ask Me Mach, owner John Rennie, trainer, Michael House, West Melton
Regal Ideal, owners Gordon McKenzie, Rose Dixon, Winsome Dormer, Karen Calder, George and Maryanne Simon,trainer Tony Barron, Makarewa
Aveross Rustler, owners Ross and Averil Pettitt, trainer Andrew Faulks, Burnham
Bono Hest, owners Ray Hanson, Colin Campbell, Kenneth Campbell, Margaret (known as Joan) Paul, trainer Andrew Faulks, Burnham
Mach Time, owners Stonewall Stud Ltd, trainers Steve Telfer/Chris Garlick
Dexter’s latest five win effort came as recently as Friday 2 February’s NZMTC’s meeting at Addington including a win with Bonnie Joan in the Premier Mares Championship. He leads those with five or more wins with thirty followed by Tony Herlihy (fifteen) andRicky May (nine).
Six –
FJ (FRED) “WIZARD” SMITH :
On Saturday 24 October 1936, first day of Auckland TC’s Labour Weekend two day meeting, Smith based at Takanini drove and trained six winners, a second and a third on an eight race card.Race winners were :
Swordsman, owner Bill Hosking
Nervies Last, ownersTed andFrank Bridgen
Spessiva, owner EH Cucksey
Polly Pan, owner Ted Bridgen
Toligate and Mountain Flight, ownersDr MG (George) Pezaro and Ted Bridgen
CLARK BARRON :on two occasions, first at Invercargill TC 5 October 2001, six from eight drives – trained one himself, one each trained by father Ron and brother Tony; second at Roxburgh TC 22 April 2003, six from ten drives, four trained by brother Tony
DEXTER DUNN :on six occasions, twice at both Forbury Park TC (14/7/2009 junior driver – six of eight races, five consecutive; 22/5/2014 – six of nine) and Ashburton TC (13/7/2012 – four of six plus two non-totes, five for trainer Cran Dalgety; 6/02/2016 six from eleven, four consecutive including Sapling Stakes : Pacing Major); Invercargill (30/4/2011 junior driver – six from nine including Southern Country Cups Final : Flying Diamonds);Winton HRC (7/9/2014, six from ten)
JAY ABERNETHY : Wanganui 14 December 2014, six of eight drives including Wanganui Cup (Mach Cruiser) with brother Sailesh driving one winner; four of his winners trained by Doug Gale
JIM CURTIN : Marlborough HRC winter meeting 16 June 2006, six of eight including training four himself and father Reg Curtin training one
JOHN DUNN : Marlborough Cup day (on grass) Sunday 21 January 2018, six from ten drives including Marlborough Cup (Lovetodream), five trained officially by father Robert but team prepared at Woodend Beach by John
MAURICE MCKENDRY : Auckland TC 14 May 1986, middle night of Rowe Cup carnival, six from nine drives
RICKY MAY :
New Brighton HRC 16 February 1991, six from nine including Honda Cars 2000 (Inky Lord), one of three for Brian Saunders as well as one trained by father Terry May
TIM WILLIAMS : Wairio TC 19 October 2014, six from seven drives, all mobile mile race day
TONY HERLIHY :
Hawera HRC 28 May 1985, six wins including hat trick in the last three races. Herlihy began the day on 97 winners for season with his 103rd recorded in final event of the day taking his seasonal tally to NZ record, two more than Peter Wolfenden’s 101 set in 1974/5. A framedphotograph of Herlihy’s six wins hangs in the Presidents room. Cambridge HRC 14 June 1996, six from seven drivesincluding Cambridge Gold Cup (Bunce), all trained by brothers in law Barry (five) and Mark (one) Purdon. Auckland TC 8 November 1997, six from ten drives, all trained by brothers in law Barry (four) and Mark (two) Purdon
Note : Harry Gaskell : Trotting Calendar (October 1954) and Ron Bisman’s Salute To Trotting comment that Gaskell drove six winners in a day at Greymouth TC meeting. Best I can locate is five on Saturday 2 January 1909including two heats of NZ Futurity Stakes with Diction.
Five –
As at mid of February 2018, those drivers to have had five successes pre computerisation :
GB Murfitt (Greymouth TC 8/10/1902, five from six races); Bill Orange (Otahuhu TC at Alexandra Park 23/11/1907, four outright wins and fifth on protest, original winner “disqualified for jostling”); Maurice Holmes (Forbury Park TC 13/10/1951, five winnersfrom seven drives training three of them; Forbury Park TC 5/2/1955, five winners from six drives training two of them)
Post computerisation (information since 1965/66 can be viewed using InfoHorse at www.hrnz.co.nz):
Twenty three occasions : Dexter Dunn; Eleven : Tony Herlihy; Eight : Ricky May; Seven : David Butcher, Maurice McKendry; Six : Mark Purdon, Peter Ferguson; Five : Peter Wolfenden; Four : John Dunn; Three : Colin De Filippi, Ken Barron; Two : Henry Skinner, John Hay; One : Alan Beck, Anthony Butt, Brent Mangos, Charlie Hunter, Clark Barron, David Butt, Jack Smolenski, Matthew Williamson, Maurice Holmes, Natalie Rasmussen and Samantha Ottley only female drivers, Philip Butcher, Zachary Butcher
Alexandra Park has had most five or better winning driving performances with twenty four followed by Addington (twenty) and Forbury Park fourteen).
TRAINERS :
The Purdon name makes numerous appearances in the list of six and seven training successes in a day.Many six or seven win training performanceshave been recorded on feature/Premier race days.The three Purdon’s, father Roy and sons Barry and Mark appear on no less than thirteen occasions with all four seven training win performances featuring a Purdon.
When it comes to training/driving successes by same reinsperson, the stand out performer remains Fred “Wizard” Smith who trained and drove six winnersat the eight race programme Saturday 24 October 1936 Auckland TC meeting at Alexandra Park. Charlie Hunter comes close with a share in six training successes with father Jack and five driving victories at the Wanganui TC meeting in October 1966. Mark Purdon has trained six and driven five on NZ Cup Day 2015 and Auckland TC (12 December 2014) plus twice jointly trained and driven five winners on the same day (Wairio TC October 2008, NZMTC March 2014).
Seven :
Three training combinations have recorded seven winners on the same day on four occasions.
ROY AND BARRY PURDON : at Friday 12 March 1993 Auckland TC’s second night of 1993 Trotters Interdominions, ten races/starters in eight including winner of an ID Trotters heat (Night Allowance).
Race winners were :
Hitchcock, owners Lew Christensen, Warren Pengelly, Scott Richardson, Noel Taylor, driver Barry Purdon
Assisis Advance, owner Katrina Purdon, driver Chris Webber (Air NZ/Noel Taylor Junior Drivers Championship heat)
Night Allowance, owners Billy Heads, Ross Cleland, Robert Tosh, driver Barry Purdon
Andrels Dream, owners Brian and Beverley McGettigan, driver Barry Purdon
Chokin, owners Pacers Australia Syndications Pty Ltd, Michael Joyce, Jeff Loughnan, Bert De Boer, driver Barry Purdon
Lord Payson, owners Kevin Johnson, Glenn McCullough, Louis Vinsen, driver Gareth Dixon(Air NZ/Noel Taylor Junior Drivers Championship heat)
This Time Franco, owners Murray Notman, driver Tony Herlihy
MARK PURDON AND GRANT PAYNE : at Auckland TC’s New Year’s Eve meeting on 31 December 2009, thirteen races including non-tote/starters in eleven races with winners being :
Major Mark, owners Glenys and Phil Kennard, Neil Pilcher, Gavin Douglas, Phil Creighton, driver Mark Purdon
Pocaro, owners Trevor Casey, Timothyand James Whelan, Stephen Ward, Shane Hausler, driver Mark Purdon
Kotare Mach, owners Kotare Downs Ltd, Tony and Gay Abell, driver Mark Purdon
Joyfuljoy, owners Ian Dobson, driver Blair Orange
Highview Tommy (Manukau Summer Cup), owners Hazel van Opzeeland, Glenys and Phil Kennard, driver Blair Orange
Meredith Maguire (NZSS – 3f), owners Braedenand Caroline Whitelock, driver Mark Purdon
Russley Rascal, owners Neil Pilcher, Bill Grice, driver Blair Orange
MARK PURDON AND NATALIE RASMUSSEN : on two occasions, the first being NZ Cup Day 2014 (Tuesday 11 November), NZMTC, Addington, twelve races/starters in nine races with winners being :
Backup, owner Bill Feiss, driver Natalie Rasmussen
Rare Opportunity, owner Graeme Rogerson, driver Mark Purdon
Messini (Junior FFA),owner Bill Feiss, driver Natalie Rasmussen
Have Faith In Me (NZSS – 3), owners Dennisand Malcolm Dunford, driver Tim Williams
Vice Consul, owners Butterworth Racing Syndicate, driver Mark Purdon
Adore Me (NZ Cup), owners Charlie Roberts, Paul and Mary Kenny, driver Mark Purdon
Prince Fearless, owners Glenys and Phil Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Neil Pilcher, John Magness, driver Mark Purdon
Auckland TC New Year’s Eve meeting, 31 December 2017, twelve races/starters in nine races with winners being :
A Lister, owners Braeden and Caroline Whitelock, driver Tim Williams
Elle Mac (NZSS – 3f)/Jesse Duke, owner Jean Feiss, driver Natalie Rasmussen
Stress Factor, owners Breckon Racing Syndicate, driver Tim Williams
Chase Auckland (NZYSS – 3), owners Alabar Racing Syndicate, driver Natalie Rasmussen
Vincent (AK Cup), owner Bill Feiss, driver Natalie Rasmussen
Ashley Locaz, owners Peter, Judy, John and Lynda Van Beek, driver Tim Williams
Six :
Those to train six winners pre computerisation were :
FJ (FRED) “WIZARD SMITH : same day trained and drove six winners (refer earlier for details)
FP (FRANK PICKFORD) WATSON : Monday 8 February 1954 at Reefton, trained three horses that each won twice when driven by Doug Watts (refer earlier for details)
COLIN BERKETT :
at Nelson TC meeting on Saturday 16 October 1954, Colin Berkett trained six, driving four of them to victory himself. The race winners were :
Largesse (twice), owner Colin Berkett, Tom Harrison, driver Colin Berkett
Sue Scott (twice), owner WJ Clark, driver Derek Jones
Deveron, owner Mrs M Wilkins, driver Colin Berkett
Scottish Ensign, owner A Pope, driver Colin Berkett
Over the two day Nelson meeting, Berkett trained eight winners and nine place getters.
Trainers of six winners with further details available on infoHorse are :
JACK AND CHARLIE HUNTER :
at Wanganui TC meeting on Wednesday 5 October 1966, six winners with Charlie Hunter driving five (Fred Smith jnr other) including last three races hat trick. Over the two day Wanganui meeting, the Hunters trained nine winners with Charlie driving eight of them.
MARK PURDON :
A) on own account : at NZMTC Nevele R Fillies meeting on Saturday 11 May 2013, winners included Adore Me (Nevele R Fillies), Isaiah (NZYSS – 2)
B) with Natalie Rasmussen : on seven occasions –
Friday 12 December 2014 Auckland TC, six winners from starters in seven races including Adore Me (Northern Breeders Stakes)
Monday 26 October 2015 Ashburton TC six winners from starters in seven races (four consecutively) including Smolda (Flying Stakes)
Tuesday 10 November 2015 NZMTC NZ Cup Day, six winners from starters in seven races including Have Faith in Me (Junior FFA), Lazarus (NZSS – 3) with Mark driving five of them
Sat 26 March 2016 NZMTCEaster Cup night, six winners from starters in eight races
Sat 21 May 2016 NZMTCNZ Oaks Day, six winners from starters in seven races (one non-tote) including NZ Oaks (Dream About Me), Winter Cup (Titan Banner), More The Better (NZSS -2)
Monday 24 October 2016 Ashburton TC six winners for second year running from starters in seven races including Lazarus (Flying Stakes)
Tuesday 8 November 2016 NZMTC NZ Cup Day, six winners for second year running from starters in eight races including Lazarus (NZ Cup), Ultimate Machete (NZSS – 3), Dream About Me (Junior FFA)
ROY AND BARRY PURDON : at Auckland TC meeting on Saturday 2 February 1991, six winners from starters in eight races
Roy Purdon, Tony Herlihy, Mark Purdon and Barry Purdon
Five –
As at mid-February 2018, trainers to have had five successes at an individual meetingpost computerisation are :
Twelve occasions : Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen; Seven : Roy and Barry Purdon; Six : Mark Purdon and Grant Payne; Four : Mark Purdon; Robert Dunn; Three : Barry Purdon;David and Catherine Butt; Two :Geoff Small; One : Cran Dalgety;Doody and Kevin Townley;Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman; Greg and Nina Hope; Ian Small; John Lischner; Mark Jones; Peter Blanchard; Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson
Alexandra Park has had the most five or better winning training performances with 22 followed by Addington (18) and Ashburton/Manawatu (5).
All of the above are fine achievements deserving of recognition and permanent recording of their efforts.
Peter Craig
21 February 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
