Chief Stipe

This is the most comprehensive obituary I have seen for Gary Williams (aka @TAB For Ever) Vale Gary Williams 14 November 2025 , Obituary By Garrick Knight Northern harness racing has lost of one its biggest supporters with the sudden and unexpected passing of Gary Williams. The 72-year-old father of three died while swimming at his local Kohimarama Beach in Central Auckland last Saturday morning. It came as shock to many in the racing industry, including the dozens of people who had their weekly conversation with him at Alexandra Park the night before. Williams was ever present at the Auckland track on Friday nights in his role as a Race Night Steward, one that the genial and personable gentleman was so well suited to. “Gary joined the Auckland Trotting Club in 2013 and was a valuable, engaged and proactive member of the club,” said Club President, Jamie MacKinnon. “More recently, he joined the Race Night Steward team, which looks after the sponsors, winning owners and trainers of each race. “Gary was very good at this with his friendly and interested manner. “Each race night he wandered the course and always had a time for a hello and chat with everyone who crossed his path. “He will be sorely missed by the ATC and all the industry.” Williams was also a member of the Caduceus Club and a former committee member with that group. His biggest contribution to ‘the game’ was no doubt as an owner where he enjoyed considerable success as a syndicate member in both equine codes. In October 2023, he celebrated his 500th winner as an owner and was on course to see his charge, High Step win in Melbourne. At the time, 374 of those winners were in harness racing and many more have been added to that tally in the ensuing two years. Many of those came with involvement in lots of syndications; firstly the now-defunct Auckland Trotting Club Syndicates and more recently, as part of the annual syndicates put together by Breckon Farms to race their retained fillies. “Gary was a member of ten of the ATC Syndicates and had a total of 166 wins, including the Group 1 winners, Changeover, Tintin In America, Matai Mackenzie and Ideal Belle,” said Rob Carr, manager for both syndication groups. “He was also member of 10 Breckon Farms Syndicates and had a total of 130 wins, including the Group 1 winners, Luby Lou, Partyon, Tickle Me Pink, Bettor Twist, A Bettor You and High Energy. “Gary enthusiastically shared his thoughts on his horses’ performances and attended most of their race meetings, travelling throughout New Zealand and Australia. “He will be sadly missed, for his very positive and enthusiastic attitude, his kindness and friendship to all and his contribution to the racing industry.” Changeover gave Williams a cherished win in the biggest race on the calendar – the 2008 New Zealand Cup. “Changeover was one of four horses in a 50-person syndicate, but it was the most profitable of any that I’ve been in,” said Williams in a 2023 story in RaceForm. “He won over $2 Million on the track and when he retired to stud, we collected another $2.5 Million!” Williams’ gallops successes were highlighted by the prodigiously talented Xcellent, whose four Group 1 wins included the New Zealand Derby and Kelt Capital Stakes. But he is best remembered for his 2005 Melbourne Cup placing. Williams also won an Easter Handicap and City of Auckland Cup with Pasta Post and, just this year, a Grand National Steeplechase in Australia with the Mark Walker-trained Leaderboard, who also won a Wellington Cup. Away from horses, Williams lead an interesting and varied life, that started out in Mosgiel, near Dunedin, where he grew up. Many Saturdays were spent at nearby Wingatui racecourse or any other racetracks in the wider region that were running meetings. He was drawn to the industry and was soon helping out at the stables of local trainer Gordon Thomson, who prepared the mighty mare, Show Gait. Eventually, his career took priority and Williams studied accountancy at Otago University. He was a talented sportsman, captaining Otago Boys High School’s First XV Rugby side and he played first class cricket as a wicketkeeper for Otago eight times in the mid-to-late 1970s. Once graduating, he spent seven years in Bermuda, where he met his wife, Canadian-born Roseanne. He even represented Bermuda at the World Table Tennis Championships. After returning to New Zealand in the late 1980s, he and Roseanne settled in Nelson, where they purchased two McDonald’s fast-food franchises and raised three children – Guy, Maria and Paul. “It was 20 years of hard work, but it enabled me to retire earlier than most people,” said Williams in that same RaceForm story. One of the first horses he bought in to was the appropriately named galloper Mac ‘N’ Fries but soon to follow was Xcellent and champion pacer Changeover, among many others. “I only had four percent of Xcellent, but what a time we all had! He won the Derby at just his third start, and the following spring he finished third in the Melbourne Cup. “That day at Flemington, there I was looking for a seat in the stand, and I ended up sitting next to Bart Cummings – you could never buy those sorts of experiences!” Williams spent his retirement in Nelson playing and coaching basketball and table tennis, as well as managing the Nelson Giants basketball team. The Nelson Giants and Table Tennis New Zealand were among the many to post tributes to Williams this week, as well as trainers of both equine codes, too many to mention. The messages bore a common theme – that Williams was a kind, genuine man that had a real affinity for people. Eldest son, well-known comedian Guy, posted a tribute to his father on Thursday and re-enforced what those in the racing industry had come to learn over the past few decades. “Dad was a beautiful man, incredibly kind and friendly. “I reckon his main goal in life was just having a laugh with anyone and everyone. “He was an incredibly patient and gentle father who gave everything his all, he was kind and generous to everyone around him.” Gary and Roseanne moved to Kohimarama just over a decade ago and those lucky enough to have him on Facebook saw regular postings of his regular exploits around his community, including swims, bike rides and walks. It was on one of those daily jaunts, and amongst his good friends - a swimming group known as the High Tide Club - that he met his sudden end. If there is such a thing as divine intervention, two of Williams horses may well salute the judge this weekend. Firstly, at Cambridge on Friday night, Rubble On The Double will shoot for a second straight win for trainers, Dylan and Jo Ferguson. And then on Saturday, at Riccarton, Court Of Appeal will contest the Gr.3 $450,000 New Zealand Cup for trainers, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Williams had plans in place to attend Cup Week in Christchurch. The colours of both horses will bear black armbands in his memory. “Gary loved the industry, and he was everyone’s biggest supporter,” said Jo Ferguson, who would see him every Friday night at Alexandra Park. “He was such a lovely man, and his loss will be widely felt across the industry up here.”

Who really cares? Any horse that doesn't win isn't a cheap horse. Wild Nighr was a good buy but then I guess you cynical mentally retired types wouldnt agree.

No that was the first hospitality option sold out. The Soft Food Suite.

I guess some online commentators watch Trackside with the sound off as this information was reported during the broadcast.

ORCHESTRAL (G Rooke) - Slow to begin. Underwent a post-race veterinary examination which revealed the mare to have suffered cardiac arrhythmia. Co-trainer R James was advised that ORCHESTRAL https://bitofayarn.comwill not be permitted to start in any race or trial until a veterinary certificate declaring the horse free of any cardiac arrhythmia following a gallop of at least 1000 metres.https://bitofayarn.com

Well you aren't exactly full of great ideas are you? You can throw brickbats all you want but I cut you some slack in that you obviously don't know how difficult it is to get these tracks renovated correctly. Australia have had their problems as well. Without exception the worst failures are with those tracks that have been left far too long to renovate and trying to get it done while only missing one spring/summer season of racing.

@Huey I was just checking tickets for Waikato Cup Day - you can still get The Grand Tour tickets only $30 and good music. Unfortunately every other option is sold out and I gather that The Grand Tour will be sold out within a week. In the memory of @TAB For Ever "it's all happening!"

On what basis? Of course RACE is to blame for your home track Trentham's demise....NOT!

Buzzzzz - Wrong. 7 (SEVEN) race meetings have been held at Awapuni this year.

So @curious , @Huey and @Freda - what your ideas to turn things around? Bearing in mind that if it wasn't for the Government/Taxpayer bailout and ENTAIN stepping up none of you would be racing horses still. The TAB was insolvent. None of you have put up ideas of where the Capital will come from to fix all the broken infrastructure but then I guess you don't intend to as you have all mentally bailed from the industry!

Well as I said earlier @Huey thank you again for your vote of confidence but as I also said there are too many cynical types like yourself ensconsed on these committees.

I am and have been a part of it. Needs tweaking but a damn good start. Shame your Grand Tour days are well behind you and lets face it spending a marketing dollar targeted at you and your peer group would be a negative investment.

I don't believe it is entirely the wrong strategy. Just needs tweaking as you infer. It is reaching new young customers but probably not as effectively as it could. No point marketing to the captured especially the older one's. I ventured into The Grand Tour area about a year ago and found the whole setup very well done. A group of us actually stayed and watched the rest of the races from our bar stools overlooking the pre-parade ring. The young people there were certainly more entertaining than old miserable moaners in the members stand! Also a friend who was in Christchurch for Cup week passed on some feedback from a bar manager at one of the many new bars on the Riverside section next to the Avon. The bar manager's view was that he was surprised at the number of young people who were increasingly talking about racing before and after cup week. He himself was a newcomer and uses BETCHA. So maybe there are some green shoots. But as you say at least we are seeing some marketing expenditure but maybe not quite targeted right yet.

WTF are your ideas? That's right you don"t have any!

Can't do any worse than you did when you were at the helm!!!

I think that is the key - implementing them. However getting the rabble to agree and let go....

I can't change your mind what hope have I of changing your peers minds?!!!!!

Yes you can only sell land once but if it isn't producing anything and is costing more to keep then it is lead weight. Its what you do with the realised capital that matters. For example the Ellerslie iconic hill was only used about 10 times a year. It may have been useful if Ellerslie was a training centre but funding a new track was a better use of that capital.

Then why refer to him condescendingly as "Poor Hunter"? I agree he is a top bloke and has great skills and experience in the industry. Well chosen Te Akau. I do think Hunters work has turned a few TA horses form around with the help of some Woodend beach work as well. He is one of the many reasons TA's Sth Island Premiership win should be applauded.

Project Stamina Advances with Appointment of Independent Advisor RCP New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ), with the support of TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ), have today confirmed the appointment of RCP as independent consultants to Project Stamina, a dual-code initiative focused on the future of New Zealand’s racing infrastructure. Project Stamina aims to produce a unified Master Plan for racing and training venues nationwide. It will provide a clear, long-term view of where and how the industry should invest across both Thoroughbred and Harness codes. In doing so, it links this investment to day-to-day outcomes: reliable tracks, a consistent racing product, stronger wagering performance, and more funding to reinvest back into the sport. Following a competitive process, RCP has been engaged to provide strategic advisory and programme management support to the codes. RCP is a leading provider of independent project management and strategic advisory services across New Zealand’s property and construction sectors, including major sporting infrastructure and recreation facilities. NZTR Chief Executive Officer, Matt Ballesty, said RCP’s appointment marked an important milestone in the project. “This is a critical piece of work for our industry. There have been a lot of assessments completed over the years at the Club, regional and code levels, but it hasn’t always been cohesive or aligned to a single national view,” he said. “We’ve taken the time to run a thorough process and are pleased to have RCP on board. Their experience in complex, multi-stakeholder infrastructure projects will help us bring real clarity to the options in front of us and give everyone greater confidence in the decisions we ultimately make,” Ballesty said. HRNZ Chief Executive Officer, Brad Steele, said the work now underway would support better decision-making for Clubs, participants and funders. “This Master Plan is an opportunity to make sure our infrastructure is fit for purpose, safe, and capable of supporting the growth we want to achieve as codes." “RCP’s independent expertise will help us get an honest assessment of the current state and build a clear picture of where investment will make the biggest difference. This work is essential to giving Clubs, participants and funders the confidence to plan for the future," Steele said. TAB NZ, which is supporting the initiative, views Project Stamina as a key enabler of a reliable racing product and sustainable wagering returns for the industry. Broader industry engagement will be a core part of the process, and NZTR and HRNZ will outline how stakeholders can be involved as Project Stamina moves through its key phases. As Project Stamina progresses, both codes will continue to provide key updates to the industry, with TAB NZ contributing strategic input throughout. About Project Stamina Project Stamina is a joint initiative between New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ), supported by TAB NZ. Announced in 2025, the project aims to deliver a unified Master Plan for New Zealand’s racing infrastructure, enabling better-informed, long-term decisions on the future use, investment and configuration of racing and training venues across both codes. About RCP RCP is a leading provider of independent project management and strategic advisory services to New Zealand’s property and construction industry. With a multidisciplinary team and experience across sectors including sports and recreation, RCP supports clients to shape, organise and deliver complex projects nationwide. Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing For more information, contact: Emma Thompson E: nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz

Thanks @Huey for your vote of confidence. However I wouldn't go near a Club Committee of any kind even if I was paid. Most of them are dominated by old men such as yourself, bereft of new ideas and wallowing in the nostalgia of a bygone era when the trough was overflowing.

Well at least everyone realises now that Awapuni needed extensive renovating. The fact is shifting everything to Foxton or Levin wouldn't have been the answer. The bitching, moaning and Club parochialism hasn't helped either - but a dose of reality has.

Why? Specifically? Or are you another nostalgic old dude remembering "when times were best"?

None of that is correct @Huey and you know that.

Really? How condescending of you. Quite frankly your posts are negative and cynical. If stating the facts constitutes being "out of touch" then whatever you are "in touch with" I don't want a bar of.