The third in a series of four articles on the commentators at Addington Raceway. This week we continue our look at Reon Murtha’s career.
Reon Murtha
Mention must be made of Reon Murtha’s proudest horse ownership moments. These came with the particular success had with one galloper he raced together with his son Sheldon (he gifted Reon a share) and Michelle House. Bred by Michael House (Roydon Lodge) and Top of the Trots Ltd (Sheldon Murtha, company formed for the purpose of breeding and selling horses), Ombre Rose was a 2002 O’Reilly filly out of Lady Chanele. Her overall record read : 34 : 7 – 4 – 2 – 3 – 5, $227,613 and she was the 2006 NZ Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year and 2005/2006 South Island 3yo of the Year. She was trained by Shane Marr at Riccarton Park.
Ombre Rose as a 3yo won 6 races including her first maiden start over 1200m at Ashburton in October 2005. She followed up this with a series of victories all at Riccarton – Christchurch Casino 3yo 1400m on the opening day of 2005 NZ Cup carnival; CMP Canterbury 3yo 1400m in March 2006; SI Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (F & M) Listed race over 1600m in April 2006; NZ Bloodstock Air Freight Stakes (Listed) 1600m in April 2006; NZ Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed) 2000m May 2006 capping a stellar season.
At four Ombre Roses only and final win came in the Ilam Real Estate (Open Hcp) 1400m in September 2006 at Riccarton. All of her victories were called by Reon in his normal professional manner. The majority of her racing from this point on was at top group level. Notable placings included a fifth in the 2007 Stoney Bridge Stakes (WFA), Hastings; second in the 2007 Cuddle Stakes Gp3 at Trentham; third in the 2007 Counties Cup Gp2 at Pukekohe; fifth in the 2008 Thorndon Mile Gp1 at Trentham; third in the 2008 Whakanui Stud International Gp1 at Te Rapa; second in the 2008 First Sovereign Trust Stakes Gp1 at Ellerslie; fifth in the 2008 MudgwayPartsworld Stakes Gp1 at Hastings; fourth in the 2008 Stoney Bridge Stakes Gp1 at Hastings. All the while threatening to pull off the “big’ one, Ombre Rose had her final start in the 2009 Manawatu Breeders Stakes at Awapuni.
Since her retirement, the now 13 year old mare Ombre Rose, for Michelle House, Reon and Sheldon Murtha, produced an unraced bay colt Room For Excuse (2010 No Excuses Needed); a Pins colt (2011) Court Order (4yo) raced by Courtco Racing Ltd, trainer Brian Court that has had fIve starts for two victories (first start at Ashburton and Riccarton) and stakes of $15,710 to date; and Savabeel filly (2013) Rosa Carolina owned by JML Bloodstock Ltd, one start for a second. In addition, the 2014 season for MJR Harris and Michelle House brought a No Excuse Needed colt now owned by Michelle House. He was sold at the 2015 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $16,000 (to NZ Bloodstock as agent). Ombre Rose was herself sold at the same 2015 sale for $105,000 on account of Waikato Stud Ltd, to dissolve the breeding partnership. A full brother to Ombre Rose sold for $145,000 at the 2012 NZ Bloodstock South Island Sale in August 2012 (O’Reilly/Lady Chanele) to NC Chan, Hong Kong. The vendor was Roydon Lodge Stud (Michael and Michelle House).
Reon’s son Sheldon has to a degree followed in his fathers footsteps. He was employed as a Trackside TV presenter/producer in the 1990’s after which he established Global Horse Racing Television Ltd, a media company making TV/Video and Internet programmes. One of the earlier shows was Global Harness Racing which aired on Sky Sport 2, Southland TV, Sky Channel Australia and Trackside TV networks. Other horse racing shows produced include ‘Top of the Trots’ and ‘123 Racing.TV’ while they’ve broadcast live events such as the NZ Standard bred Yearling Sales, North American Harness Racing and a few race meetings. Sheldon is currently contracted through Global Horse Racing Television Ltd to manage/produce/edit etc content for the HRTV component on Harness Racing New Zealand’s website. Sheldon presents Plains FM (96.9, Community Access Radio) Breakfast Show TheLite 8 Breakfast every weekday morning between 8-9am.
Sheldon has raced several horses, being a part owner of Kamwood Cully and Grand Circuit performer Franco Jamar his best so far. Sheldon has numerous breeding interests and he is an enthusiastic and successful amateur driver who has had 64 drives for 5 wins and 21 placings over the past six seasons.
During ReonMutha’s reign at Addington Raceway, the NZMTC conducted two race commentators’ nights in the mid 1980’s where each race was named in honour of the caller. Those who called on each night (Dave McDonald is still calling races) are shown below with brief bio’s of their careers to follow with some photos 1989 vintage :
Dan Myers – Central Districts gallops caller; at various times was member of NZ Racing Conference executive and Taranaki District Committee, President Egmont Racing Club, Chairman Hawera Race Course Partnership, Treasurer Egmont/Wanganui Hunt Club. Doug Ahern was another race caller who covered the Taranaki area in the 1960’s – 1970’s
Lochie Marshall – from Geraldine, first called in 1964 at the tender age of 19; generally called races in the central to southern South Island area between Orari and Roxburgh. His first call at Timaru (Phar Lap Raceway) was in 1967 before he took over permanently from Gordon Matheson in 1977. He called at Timaru from 1977 – 1993 when his contract was cancelled, with the advent of Radio Pacific broadcasts squeezing him out of a job (lost Waikouaiti, Forbury and Oamaru 2 years before finishing up at Timaru). He also did stand in’s at Hutt Park, Riccarton and Ashburton. A successful owner and trainer – Anna Castleton (4 wins, T2:08.4, $19,489)/Tinka Castleton (6 wins – 4 trained by Terry May and 2 by Marshall), T2:04.6, $27,270)
Mike O’Sullivan – dual coded Central Districts race caller, calling at Manawatu R/W for various periods since early 1980’s and now closed Hutt Park
(late) Reg Clapp – worked for Tingeys and then ran his own menswear store in Mt Roskill (Auckland). His 47 years of calling commenced with the Stratford RC in 1945. In 1952 he was broadcasting trotting and later gallops on station 1YA, national programme in Auckland. Auckland Trotting Club race caller at Alexandra Park plus other northern meetings from 1954 – 1992 when he retired
Tony Lee – hotelier, prominent Central Districts race caller, mainly gallops but also Manawatu/Hutt Park harness in late 1980’s/early 1990‘s. Commentator for inaugural Harness Jewels meeting at Ashburton in 2007. Hung up his glasses in October 2012
Keith Haub– barber, hotelier (Waiheke Island), owner, breeder, after dinner speaker, auctioneer (including first two northern s/bred sales at Alex Park conducted by Keith Haub& Co, Wrightsons took over after made success); conducted sale for Welshman Albert Gubay and private trainer Trevor Payne; then chief auctioneer for Dalgetys, (Wrightsons main rival), northern race caller for over 30 yrs NZ (including Auckland Racing Club at Ellerslie; 1970 first call at Kensington Park, Whangarei; retired 2004); overseas including Hastings Park, Vancouver 1996. Hauby called major races such as Auckland Cups, Melbourne Cups, Cox Plates, Japan Cups being the first English caller of a Japan Cup in 1983 that featured McGinty. He called a harness race at Hollywood Park in 1975 and his first NZ harness call was at Manawatu Raceway on Wednesday 9 February 1983 (same night callers included Murtha, Clapp, Kelly, Bright and O‘Sullivan). Part owner of : The Gentry (1985 gelding McGinty/Rainfall), 1988 GN Foal Stakes Gp3, 1988 NZ Derby Gp1, 1989 Air NZ Stakes WFA Gp1 – as a 3yo; 21 : 6-1-1 $486,825; McGinty (1979 colt One Pound Sterling/Ernader), raced in Australia as MrMcGinty; 2yo GN Foal Stakes, Dalgety Stakes, Todman Slipper Trial (beat champion Marscay with cracked canon bone/broken leg – Marscay’s only 2yo defeat); 3yo George Adams Hcp (Trentham), Air NZ Stakes, Canterbury Guineas; 4yo Caulfield Stakes, 3rd Cox Plate, 5th Japan Cup, Air NZ Stakes, Rawson Stakes : 26 : 14-4-3, $578,636; sired 670 winners of $9m in stakes before his death in 2001
(late) Alan Bright – commenced calling at Poverty Bay (Gisborne) where he did the odd race call when the commentator had to leave early to catch the railcar. Moved to Palmerston North in 1954, first meeting was Ashurst-Pohangina meeting at Awapuni in 1955/56. Worked as journalist/Racing Editor for Manawatu Evening Standard. Central Districts race caller for 35 years plus another 4 years in the Waikato. Manawatu Raceway harness caller for 20 years until replaced by Mike O’Sullivan early 1980’s (did a further few years late 1980’s/early 1990’s). His son,Johnny Bright, a one time Trackside TV presenter made his first calls at the Manawatu HRC meetings on 25/28 October 2012
Dave McDonald – long time tri code race caller for all Southland clubs (including Invercargill greyhounds) plus galloping and trotting trials. Made first call at Forbury Park trials as a 15 year old in 1970, then understudy to George Hayward before commencing full time calling in 1977/78 season. Other Southland caller was Bill Cherry (1945 – 1975), who like Reon Murtha was employed by the NZ Broadcasting Service as a ProgrammeOrganiser and likely made his race calls in his own time away from radio commitments. Dave McDonald continues commentating and Trackside presenting in 2016
Rob Fielder – first called races at Beaumont in 1977; auctioneer with PGG (worked with Dave Clarkson); Wrightson Bloodstock SI Manager; judge at Riccarton
Reon also recalls Alby Gain (northern dual code commentator including Alexandra Park post Reg Clapp era), George Simon (northern dual code caller, President Cambridge JC, one of earlier Trackside presenters) and Kevin Payne (previous Otago tri code caller before Tom Wood and latterly Jason Teaz) also calling at an Addington commentators night – this appears to have been in 1989 although races were not named after the race callers.
Those who filled in for Reon in his absences over the years included, Jack O’Donnell (rugby commentator, local politician, 27 years calling on West Coast, Nelson, Blenheim; did a stint occasionally at Hutt Park; retired October 1982); Ian Chambers who took over Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast from Jack O‘Donnell); Trevor Wilkes and Rob Fielder.
The fourth and final in the Voices of Addington series will look at Darren Tyquin and Mark McNamara’s careers.
Peter Craig
3 March 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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