Vale Joe Yorke

[Wandering Eyes]

The racing industry has lost one of its more colourful characters with the passing of Joe Yorke on Sunday. 

The Manawatu horseman was a respected breaker and pre-trainer for a number of top Central Districts racing stables before becoming a bloodstock agent, but he is more known for his feats in the Equestrian world, having competed in showjumping at the 1976 Montreal Olympics with Big Red. 

The pair were inducted into the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Hall of Fame at their 75th Anniversary dinner on Friday night, alongside thoroughbred trainer and Olympian Harvey Wilson and his wife Ann. 

Wilson was sad to hear of Yorke’s passing just two days later, aged 77, and recalled their time together preparing to compete at the Montreal Olympics. 

“We rode a lot together in the early days,” Wilson said. “We went to England in a team in ‘76 to go to Montreal – Joe Yorke, myself and John Cottle.  

“John and my horses suffered a bit from travel sickness, so we didn’t get there, so Joe was the only representative when riding for New Zealand at Montreal.” 

Joe Yorke on Big Red clearing 6ft 6inches in Australia Photo: supplied

While they failed to make the final, Yorke and Big Red proved to be a formidable pair in the lead-up, gaining their Olympic selection through numerous wins and placings, including Horse of the Year and the Pilmer Plate for puissance in 1974, and the Norwood Gold Cup in 1975. 

Such was their standing that the trophy awarded to New Zealand show jumping’s Young Rider of the Year is called The Big Red Cup, named in honour of Yorke’s chestnut. 

While Big Red was Yorke’s most popular horse, Wilson said he also had plenty of success with another mount. 

“He also had another very good horse that jumped for New Zealand called Challenge,” Wilson said. “Challenge was his first horse and Big Red was his second horse, and he was a very good horse. He did a very good job to have two horses compete for New Zealand, and that is not easy.” 

Following his Olympic endeavours, Yorke returned to New Zealand to concentrate more on thoroughbred racing and he established a successful breaking-in and pre-training business. 

“He retired after Montreal and he set-up his own business up where he used to break-in and pretrain, and he then became a bloodstock agent,” Wilson said. 

Yorke was a familiar face on Stuart Hale’s annual yearling sale tour, with his quick wit and expert eye a welcome addition to the high-anticipated gathering. 

While sad to hear of Yorke’s passing, Wilson was pleased his old friend was able to be honoured for his achievements in the saddle when inducted into the Hall of Fame last Friday. 

“It’s very sad, having been inducted into the Equestrian Federation Hall of Fame two days before,” Wilson said. “He was a great horseman.”

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