The fourth and final in a series of four articles on the commentators at Addington Raceway.
Darren Tyquin –
Reon Murtha’s replacement following the 2006 NZ Cup’s carnival was Australian 
Darren Tyquin, originally from Melbourne. Tyquin arrived in NZ with a twenty plus year race calling career of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing. As well as race calling, Darren Tyquin was a presenter on Trackside Radio, a Voice Over Announcer for Radio and TV recording advertisements for New Zealand Racing, Family TV Network, Classic Hits and Sunbeam.
His career commenced in 1982 reading dividends and opening markets for greyhound races with leading race broadcaster Victorian radio station 3UZ. This led to a similar role with midweek harness racing and Saturday thoroughbred racing assisting chief race caller John Russell. He began calling provincial greyhound and harness meetings under the direction of Racing Manager Nancy Helmore and announcer Ron Papps who played key roles in his early career. Darren Tyquin progressed to number 3 caller at the station behind veteran announcer John Russell and TV personality Peter Donegan.. This enabled him to begin calling midweek and weekend provincial thoroughbred racing and assist Russell and Donegan at all major race meetings. Within the first 12 months or so on the job, he had been awarded the 1983 Pater Award for best new talent on Australian radio.
When 3UZ abandoned its racing coverage, Darren Tyquin moved to Hobart, Tasmania taking the role as chief race caller for TVT6. For the next two years (1985-1987), he did the local TV commentaries for thoroughbred, harness and greyhound meetings plus interviews, hosted a Sunday Racing review show and covered local sports for the 6pm news. He moved back to Victoria in 1987 continuing to call greyhound meetings until 1995 and remained in broadcasting until moving to NZ in 1999.
In NZ, Darren Tyquin was race caller for all TRAC (consortium of five clubs in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty area) race meetings at Tauranga, Rotorua, Matamata, Te Aroha and Taupo, starting in this role in September 1999, also on Trackside TV and on air host for Radio Trackside. Noted as a colourful caller, Darren Tyquin quickly established his own fan base among the NZ racing public. He became the commentator at Addington and Riccarton plus provincial Canterbury tracks, taking over from Reon Murtha after NZ Cup week November 2006. Darren Tyquin’s reign at Addington lasted a little over 2¼ years when he was killed in a road crash on State Highway 1 just north of Belfast in the early hours of Thursday 19 March 2009. Travelling with him had been jockey Patrick Holmes who was taken to Christchurch Hospital and treated for moderate injuries. Darren Tyquin was aged 41 at the time of his death.
Following Darren Tyquin’s death and until such time as a replacement could be appointed, resident Addington greyhound caller Trevor Wilkes took over harness commentary duties at Addington. Trevor Wilkes is a regular caller at harness trials. George Simon (northern gallops caller; winner of a commentators pace at Addington in 1989; past President Cambridge Jockey Club etc) also filled in on at least one occasion as did Aaron White (now Alexandra Parks’s commentator) in the five months before new appointee Mark McNamara took up the position of commentator at Addington Raceway.
Mark McNamara –
Addington’s current incumbent race caller has been in residence since August 
2009. An Australian, Sydney born, it seems likely Mark McNamara’s voice will be gracing the Addington and local airwaves for as long as he sees fit to stay in NZ.
Vivid memories remain of the first call Mark McNamara made in Christchurch on opening day (1 August) of the 2009 Grand National jumping carnival at Riccarton Park. The race was the Sydenham Hurdles over 3,200 metres, Mark’s first experience of calling a jumping race (he had another to come, the 4,150m Koral Steeplechase later the same day) when Mr Charlton led home the nine horse field. My wife and I were on course for the day and once the race had been run, we turned to each other and said words to the effect of “he’ll do us”. Certainly, if you were sight impaired, had your eyes closed or were listening on the radio, you would have been able to place exactly where your horse was positioned throughout the race. Every horse was clearly accounted for and the delivery was as if McNamara had been calling at Riccarton for a lifetime. Even better when he made his way to Addington and began his harness commentaries for patrons, he clearly established himself as New Zealand’s current leading harness racing caller and a world class one at that.
In his mid thirties, Mark has been commentating for over 17 years starting out with the 2KY/Sky Channel racing team after leaving school were he was understudy to his mentor Kevin Thompson. In the seven years before moving to Christchurch, he was race caller at Newcastle, Bathurst, Canberra (still showing as the race caller on their website in 2014!!), Goulburn & other NSW tracks and a familiar figure as a race day/race night studio presenter. For three years (2007 – 2009), McNamara and Greg Hayes were ambassadors for the NSW Carnival of Cups series. As the inaugural commentator for this series, it resulted in 3 years of travelling around NSW to feature meetings in most corners of the state, having a great time and meeting great people. Phantom race calling is another area Mark McNamara has been involved with, especially for the Black and White Ball in Sydney which he did for a number of years.
Since moving to Christchurch in 2009 and being employed by the New Zealand Racing Board, Mark has taken over race calling at all Canterbury, North, Mid and South Canterbury (essentially Kaikoura to Timaru) harness racing and thoroughbred meetings. He called a number of Central Districts galloping races (Trentham/Awapuni) following the resignation of Tony Lee in late 2012 and continues to do so occasionally. He commented that ‘it was strange’ watching Addington after calling an Awapuni meeting earlier that afternoon. His latest North Island foray came recently with the Stratford Trotting Club’s meeting at their Te Kapua Park venue in late February 2016.
Mark McNamara has had an eventful time in Canterbury since his arrival; he married his long time partner Katie who had worked for the Harness Racing Weekly at HRNZ; co hosted the Harness Racing Awards with great mate Greg O’Connor (Trackside presenter) in both 2010 and 2011, something new to him which he enjoyed doing; hosted Canterbury Regional Awards; has appeared on The Box Seat (Fence Talk); raced horses from Mark Jones’s and Stephen McNally’s stables; was calling proceedings at both Riccarton (Labour Weekend Sunday 23 October 2010) and Addington (23 December 2011) when significant after shocks from the swarm of earthquakes Christchurch experienced from September 2010 occurred; put together racing syndicates and to cap everything off the McNamara’s celebrated the arrival of their first child, son William Chase (5lbs 11 oz) in mid February 2013, to be followed by daughter Bronte in July 2015.
Mark finds time to return “home” to Australia, in particular for the Eugowra Carnival of Cups where he called Beetson home first in the Lexus of Parramatta 2012 Canola Cup, in 2013 Holy Camp Clive, in 2014 Holm Three and in 2015 Oh I Am The One. Katie McNamara attended in 2012, assisting with judging the fashions on the field competition.. Whilst the Bathurst Gold Crown meeting holds fond memories, as far as special atmosphere goes Eugowra has what no other track in Australia has according to McNamara.. It is comparable to the special one off nature of the annual Kaikoura Cup meeting at South Bay racecourse in NZ that he is particularly passionate about. Mark McNamara remains a tragic but dedicated Cronulla Sharks Rugby League fan for which he receives not inconsiderable grief at times.
Horse ownership is one “disease” that has afflicted Mark McNamara. He raced a number of horses in Australia, with no stars but the better ones included :
Kate Shannon – 2002 Artiscape/Olgas Niece filly bred by late Bryce Buchanan, PF and M Neil in NZ, exported to Australia in November 2003. Her impressive record reveals 15 wins/18 placings from 69 starts, $52,575, 1:54.7TT, 2:00.6MR at Bathurst, her favourite track where multiple wins were recorded… Bernie Hewitt trained her and drove her in to win on fourteen occasions.. His son Jason (JT Hewitt) was successful on the other occasion.
Promise You – 1996 Chandon/Its Klondyke Kate filly won 10 of 70 starts, placed on 14 occasions, $32,495, 2:00.1MR. Included were successes at two and three plus wins at Harold Park/TABCorp Park Menangle.
One of Mark’s favourites was a horse purchased from Victoria that he had a share in called Shutthe Fridge door (1995g Golden Greek/Finalize, overall record 4 wins, $13,800, 2:02.8) – a two win horse for McNamara (Newcastle in consecutive weeks in August 2001) but with the “coolest” of names.
Since arriving in Christchurch, Mark has taken a direct personal interest and involvement with a number of horses, some more successful than others.. A passionate harness racing owner, he has utilised the services of Mark Jones in this regard and a brief rundown of his NZ winners in addition to Champagne Franco/syndicate horses (see later) reveals :
Union Buster – part owner (2005g Union Guy/Emcil) who won at Rangiora on 17 July 2010 for tr Mark Jones/dr Ricky May. Since his export to Australia in September 2010, he has had a further ten wins, 1:58.4MR and total combined NZ/Aus stakes of $26,440.
Anita Patron – “maybe the one that got away“, (2006f Badlands Hanover/Anna Patron (1:55.0US)) was purchased from Burbeck Harness Bloodstock Ltd (Ron Burrell and Don Raisbeck) after her first two placed starts. Mark organised the purchase and remained in the ownership through the next few starts. Anita Patron won first up for her new owners at Addington repeating the dose five starts later also at Addington for Mark Jones. McNamara shortly after this relinquished his part ownership. She went on to win a further three races and has to date left an unnamed Rock N Roll Heaven filly.
In the breeding stakes, Mark McNamara together with Cavalla Bloodstock is breeding from Miss Moonlite Shadow an unraced Christian Cullen mare from Sirius Flight 1:54.2US (out of top race mare Pacific Flight, 9 NZ wins, 38 US wins, 1:51.2US, $562,345 ), winner of 5 in USA, dam of 2 2:00 winners in Timeless Perfection (7 wins) and Malak Uswaad (9 wins) in NZ. She is the dam of unraced 2yo Mr Sharkey (2013c Four Starzzz Shark), owned by Steve Thompson and Grant Dickey; Schweinsteiger (2014 yearling colt Falcon Seelster). In addition, Champagne Franco (2008f Falcon Seelster/Crusader Franco), part owned by the McNamara’s and the winner at her first of only two starts at Rangiora on 18 December 2011 (tr/dr Mark Jones) is being bred from. She is Mark McNamara‘s pride and joy, having been his most expensive ever purchase but unfortunately injuries curtailed her race career. Her 2014 yearling filly Sabering is by Sir Lincoln while her 2015 weanling filly is by Changeover. Katie McNamara shares in the ownership of these two fillies.
As already mentioned, Mark McNamara has put together public harness racing syndicates. YOR! racing – short for Your Own Racehorse. This syndication package was for a two year period. Horses were to be trained by Mark Jones. Initial returns from Pacing Delight (injured/returned to breeders), Hikoi (didn’t make the grade) and Kate Stephanie (three starts for best placing of fifth) were mixed to say the least. A subsequent lease of then 4yo mare Curve (Courage Under Fire/Sly and Stylish, from the family of Sly Flyin, 1:53.6AUS, $903,705), provided the syndicates first winner at Forbury Park on 6 June 2013 (6 starts for syndicate for a first and a third). Machs A Flyin who moved from the Purdon stable had three wins and a couple of placings for Mark Jones after his acquisition late in 2013/14 season (Addington Met Multiplier reward winner). Another syndicate called YOR! Racing with Boes McNally, leased Ataahua Tiki (2006f Elsu from six win mare Rangatira) from Mrs Christine (CM) Watson. Ataahua Tiki managed a win in an Amateur Drivers race at Motukarara and three placings for the syndicate. Other syndicate horses organised by Mark have included : Crazy Heart (Santanna Blue Chip/Belle‘s Girl) mare who from two three year old starts from the Mark Jones stable won a 1700mM fillies and mares race at Forbury Park in a 1:57.4MR before her export to Australia; Pats First Sun (Sundon/Go Pat) trotting gelding, another Forbury Park syndicate winner for Mark Jones and 8yo Sundon trotter/gelding Danske (out of Thanx) who has won at Forbury Park and Rangiora and been placed on four occasions to date for the Danke For Coming syndicate, again trained by Mark Jones.
Mark has done a fair bit of driving over the years, this commenced at Bathurst where he was resident commentator and often stayed with one of his best mates Jason Turnbull. Stable rules applied if you were staying, you had to help out, this naturally led him into driving, something he enjoys and has continued to drive track work since his arrival in Christchurch.
Personal highlights : for Mark, feature meetings are always highlights whether they be New Zealand Cup Week, Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival or his absolute favourite meeting, the annual Kaikoura Trotting Club race day. Of all the races he has seen, Smooth Satin winning his fourth Bathurst Cup in 2005 (also 2001, 2002 and 2003) after having been retired two years prior made for a night of high emotion.
Personal lowlights as a commentator come when calling a horse the wrong name. Like all commentators it has happened before and will happen again, as Mark says hopefully not for a long time. The mixing up of Arctic Fox and Soldier of Love at a Riccarton meeting is still fresh in the mind. As regards the sport itself, race falls resulting in injuries to horses/riders/drivers are a lowlight. One recent lowlight which McNamara trusts remains in Australia, is drivers wearing greyhound colours. It is his pet hate, he won’t watch it and if he wanted to see that he would watch the dogs.
The best of series : Horses – Christian Cullen, Smooth Satin, Beau Zam (one of his favourites, winner of four group one’s at three including AJC Derby, another Gp1 at four, Aust Horse of Year 1987/88) and more recently Black Caviar. Jockeys – Malcolm Johnston has been his favourite jockey and is entertaining on Off The Rails as well. Drivers – Mark considers Ricky May to be definitely one of the best reinsman to grace a sulky.
Fill Ins and part time callers –
Like us all, commentators need some rest and relaxation or they may be required to perform other duties including race calls from overseas locations. Those who filled in during the Clarkson and Murtha years at Addington were mentioned in earlier articles.. Whilst not a complete record of race callers who have filled in over recent years at Addington, here are a few of those who have done so –
Tyquin era : Aaron White (NI based caller, Alexandra Park/Cambridge harness etc); Trevor Wilkes
McNamara era : Trevor Wilkes; Tom Wood (then Otago area dual code caller who started his career at the Westport Xmas meetings and now Central Districts caller – mentored by Reon Murtha); Matt Cross
And just to finish with a totally international flavour to calling at Addington Raceway, even Dan Melieki (Victorian Harness Racing’s principal caller) commentated a race during a NZ Cup carnival at Addington.. Reon Murtha recalls Max Brewer (now deceased), an American bloodstock agent and Monticello commentator also calling a couple of races. He was a very big man and his typical start to every one of his race calls was..… “Here they come” (long pause) ….. “There they Go.”
During Christchurch Interdominion carnivals, it was customary to invite a guest caller to do at least one race during the series – these included prominent callers such as John Tapp, Bruce Skeggs, Ian Craig, Brian Martin, John Russell and Hilton Donaldson among Australian contingents.
So there you have it. The four major players, those who have had minor parts and the “invitees” – the voices of Addington Raceway over the past 75+ years.
Peter Craig
10 March 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
