Chief Stipe

Where you drain silt?...or sand....

Dave's Story May 20, 2019 Dave O’Sullivan is solid gold, a true champion who’s had a long and illustrious career training legions of world-class record breaking racehorses. Success at this level is fascinating, it propels people into another realm, making them appear almost god-like. How do they do it? What are their secrets? We spoke with Dave O’Sullivan at his farm in Matamata to hear his story and see if we could find out his secrets - and we did. At 15, determined to become a jockey, he begged his father to let him leave his job at a menswear store and went to work at the local stables. After six months probation, he signed on for his apprenticeship, serving a further four and a half years. In 1956, he says he attained his greatest achievement - marrying his sweetheart, Marie Davis. After a decade in the saddle, despite 125 wins and making it to 2nd leading apprentice (North Island), Dave’s description of his performance as a jockey is typically understated. “A bit better than average” he chuckles. Around 1960, Marie’s father who was also a trainer, became ill, and Dave started to take over the reins. His jockey career had been hindered by ongoing struggles with weight, so training was a good way to stay in the industry he loved. Dave remembers “I got my license in February ‘61, and in March I got my first win… matter of fact I trained three horses who raced that day, the first dropped dead and the other two won.” A textbook example of the extreme highs and lows of horse racing. “It was a tough slog from there, never easy, but I didn’t expect it to be”. It paid off. He won one premiership title independently and a further eleven in partnership with his son, Paul. Winning the 1989 Japan Cup was a crowning glory - the biggest race in the world at the time, and the only New Zealand trainers to have ever earned the distinction. He continued to excel, remaining in the top three of all NZ trainers for the last 19 years of his career. An extraordinary record, because it’s one thing to make it, yet another to stay there. You can tell straight away that Dave has a cheeky side to him, his smile gives it away. That, and the fact that he doesn’t miss a beat. Walking across to the stables, he pops his hat on, perfectly completing the classic look of gentleman and horseman. The familiar way his roughened, worn hands maneuvers the elegant gelding out of its stall reveal his many years of experience. There’s no doubt that Dave is a trainer with a gift. His other son, champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan, described it as the “gift of the old fashioned stockman, to be able to instinctively read a horse”, adding that “Dad was fiercely competitive, but I think his biggest strength was that he was a master planner who never took his eye off the horse, it came before everything else.” Much has been said about the trainer’s pioneering approach to feeding horses like athletes, and Dave maintains that this was largely a case of feeding them more regularly. “They were stronger and I could work them harder.” Renowned for the physical condition of his horses, Dave also placed a lot of emphasis on their appearance. When first starting out, he had four horses to work with, and he recalls the owner visiting but leaving in disgust, “I want racehorses, not show ponies” he said, promptly removing two of them from his stable. Nevertheless, Dave’s conviction that good looking horses attract good people proved to be true, and always concentrated on building relationships with excellent clientele. “My owners were extremely important to me. You’re only going to get wins if you get good stock, and you’ll only get good stock if your owner believes in you, and is prepared to spend the money.” It won’t surprise anyone that it was winning that Dave loved the most. “That’s what you’re there for. Imagine getting up at 4 a.m. to watch your horse run slowly” he laughs. It would be misleading to suggest that Dave O’Sullivan’s success was a solitary feat, and no one including the man himself, said so. Instead, his family, a great team of staff, and a bit of luck received all the credit. Lance agreed saying that his mum, was a rock and a guiding light. “She was incredibly wise, had a great business head and her clever decision making was hugely important to their success”. On top of that, Paul, who currently holds the prestigious place of 3rd leading trainer in Hong Kong, was his right hand man, with him every waking minute from the age of 22. “A tight knit family team that was second to none”. So, now you know Dave’s secret too. His story, like most who rise to the very top of their game, is one of natural affinity, perseverance, hard work, and unrelenting family support. It seems that’s always the secret.

Dave O'Sullivan has passed away.

What's the point of stakes increases if you can't get a start for your gelding?

I said "none" about what?

What's your point? Horses are bought and sold all the time. I keep asking you what's YOUR strategy to get a Group winner?

RACE Awapuni - 2024 Season Opening Synthetic Track Meeting We look forward to kicking off the winter racing season next Sunday 5th May with the first of our Synthetic Track Meetings at RACE Awapuni. After a reconstruction-imposed eight month break it’s exciting to have racing finally back in the Manawatu, with the first of nine racedays between now and the start of October. First Race: 12.57pm Last Race: 4.55pm ADDITIONAL RACEDAY INFORMATION FREE GENERAL ADMISSION! Carparking available RACE's Calendar Confirmed The 24/25 season national racing calendar has now been released, with 30 days scheduled across our tracks from August through to July. These dates are allocated as follows:- • 12 days at RACE Trentham • 9 days on the synthetic at RACE Awapuni • 9 days on the new turf at RACE Awapuni Key dates include four Christmas at the Races meetings at Trentham prior to Xmas, and the Wellington Cup Carnival over three weekends on January 4, 11 and 18. The turf at Awapuni is scheduled to reopen on Saturday January 25, with Oaks Day at Trentham on March 22 and Sires Produce returning to Awapuni on March 29. Feilding’s ANZAC Day returns in 2025, and synthetic racing supplements both turf tracks from May. Some of our traditional features are at other venues next season too, with the Marton Metric Mile (Wanganui Sept 21), Feilding Gold Cup (Hastings Nov 2) and Manawatu’s Boxing Day (Otaki Dec 26) some of the last rescheduled dates as a result of the Awapuni reconstruction. There is a new emphasis on Sunday racing across the country next season, with two Trentham days, one Awapuni turf day and five synthetic meetings transferred to Sunday. This includes Group 3 racedays at Trentham on Labour Weekend and pre-Xmas. NZTR has acknowledged that this is a significant change for clubs and participants but has agreed to trial additional Sunday meetings while the minimum funding guarantee from Entain is in place, to see whether there is a better wagering outcome and therefore greater distributions for our code. We encourage everyone to get behind this new initiative, and support the Sunday racedays that we are hosting. Tickets and hospitality packages are now on sale for the TAB Classic Christmas at the Races Day on Saturday 7 December, along with the next three Trentham days in May, June and July. Synthetic raceday packages are also available, and all can be purchased at https://membership.raceinc.co.nz/Tickets Detailed Calendar: Now to July 2025 May 5 Sun Manawatu RC Synthetic Synthetic Grand Opening May 18 Sat Rangitikei RC Trentham James Bull Rangitikei Cup Day May 25 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Majestic Horse Floats Jumps Day May 30 Thurs Feilding JC Synthetic Contractor & Sub-Contractors Day June 15 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Baxters Catering Winterfest June 21 Fri Marton JC Synthetic Winter Raceday July 5 Fri Manawatu RC Synthetic Ashhurst – Pohangina Cup Day July 13 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Grant Plumbing Steeplechase Day August 9 Fri Rangitikei RC Synthetic Feature Day, details to follow August 23 Fri Feilding JC Synthetic Student Day at the Races September 15 Sun Rangitikei RC Synthetic Synthetic Spring October 6 Sun Marton JC Synthetic Synthetic Grand Final October 27 Sun Wellington RC Trentham Thompson Handicap November 15 Fri Manawatu RC Trentham Christmas at the Races Launch December 7 Sat Wellington RC Trentham TAB Classic Day December 15 Sun Manawatu RC Trentham Eulogy Stakes Day December 21 Sat Manawatu RC Trentham Manawatu Cup Day January 4 Sat Marton JC Trentham Marton Cup Day January 11 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Three Group One’s Super Saturday January 18 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Wellington Cup Day January 25 Sat Wellington RC Awapuni Grand Reopening Day March 2 Sun Marton JC Awapuni Summer Raceday March 8 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Racing & NZB Kiwi Watch Party March 19 Wed Manawatu RC Awapuni New Summer Raceday March 22 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Al Basti Equiworld NZ Oaks Day March 29 Sat Manawatu RC Awapuni Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires April 5 Sat Manawatu RC Awapuni Ashhurst-Pohangina Cup Day April 25 Fri Feilding JC Awapuni ANZAC Raceday May 10 Sat Wellington RC Trentham Winter Finals Day May 17 Sat Rangitikei RC Awapuni Rangitikei Cup Day May 25 Sun Feilding JC Synthetic Synthetic Grand Opening June 7 Sat Manawatu RC Awapuni Winter Raceday June 8 Sun Manawatu RC Synthetic Synthetic Raceday #2 June 22 Sun Rangitikei RC Synthetic Synthetic Raceday #3 June 28 Sat Wellington RC Trentham End of Season @ Trentham July 4 Fri Manawatu RC Synthetic Synthetic Raceday #4 July 5 Sat Marton JC Awapuni Business House Day July 17 Thurs Rangitikei RC Synthetic Synthetic Raceday #5 Trentham Renovation Update The six week window between the April 6 and May 18 racedays was long enough for our Track Manager Jamie Phillips to undertake a planned renovation at RACE Trentham. Following the regular post-race tap back the grass was cut down to 30mm, before the track was cored and verti-drained. Undersowing of new grass seed also occurred, with all of this taking place during a good spell of weather. Consequently the track has responded well, and is now ready for the three winter days ahead. Awapuni Reconstruction Update The vast majority of the reconstruction works at RACE Awapuni are now complete, with a welcome tinge of green grass noticeable on the new surface. Next steps are a birdcage refurbishment and the installation of inside and outside running rail, before the installation of slit drains in July. After that it will be a matter of seeing how the Spring growth period assists the surface, with a long period of gallops, jumpouts and trials before the track can return to racing. Melbourne Cup Tour 2024 Tickets are now available for the always popular Melbourne Cup Tour. Hosted by Sporting Tours and our very own Des Coppins this trip always packs a punch and is bound to be a great time. If the Melbourne Cup is on your bucket list then you don't want to miss this. Click here to find out more! Share Forward RACE Awapuni Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club Feilding Jockey Club Manawatu Racing Club Marton Jockey Club Rangitikei Racing Club 67 Racecourse Road, Awapuni, 4412 06 356 4940 RACE Trentham Wellington Racing Club 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, 5018 04 528 9611 Join the Action at RACE Awapuni & Trentham for an entire season of thoroughbred racing thrills. Creative Catering & RACE Trentham Event Centres open for all your corporate and social functions. You are receiving this email as you are a RACE Member or have subscribed to our Newsletter Preferences | Unsubscribe

Who leads that? Don't you have a local programming committee anymore? If you do - who leads that?

Bollocks - name one they won't let go? The one @Special Agent referred to was sold as a racing proposition with the caveat that it would take time to mature. The one @Newmarket metioned was probably no longer a racing proposition and I'm guessing @Newmarket knows that.

Should be paid by the RIB!

I'm not saying that at all. The tighter the radius of the bend the more camber you need. BUT the radius of the bend at Ellerslie is very large and so little or no camber is required. But the camber ISN'T the issue it is the surface. It is slippery even if you were galloping straight. The horses hooves are sliding on the grass and top layer. Which should be the RIB's prime responsibilty. Why Karaka Millions night wasn't called off for safety reasons should be questioned. Why didn't they inspect after each race at the last meeting when they knew there had been problems? Consensus from that group of disparate interests and skills would be impossible. The simple factor to get right is to provide a safe and fair track. It shouldn't be up to one Jockey to say "my horse slipped, sir", and then they all rush out and stand around looking for skid marks.