Josh Dickie moving to Victoria

[Davis]

Group 1 Kiwi reinsman Josh Dickie set for Victorian moveMichael Guerin

30 JUL 2021

 

One of New Zealand’s most talented young harness trainers is moving to Victoria in a shock decision that will see Josh Dickie officially stop training in NZ from tomorrow.

But rather than see the move as a curtailing of his training, Dickie hopes it will benefit both his training and driving careers long term.

Dickie and partner Sammy Kilgour are planning to move to Victoria in November to train from Kilgour’s property close to the Melbourne's metro racetrack at Tabcorp Park Melton.

The move comes partially because the property Dickie trains from in South Auckland is soon to be placed on the market by owner Marilyn Hoggard, whose late husband Kerry set it up for horse training before he passed away in 2015.

While the property may not be sold for up to a year, Dickie says he and Kilgour have failed to find a suitable replacement training establishment in South Auckland so the time is right to move.

“Marilyn was always going to sell the property one day and she has been great to us since Kerry passed away,” said Dickie.

“So when she told us the news we went out to try and find another property and we simply can’t get the right one.

“Sammy has her own property in Victoria, with a training track and stables, so it makes sense.

“We have talked about moving there before and I am really keen to have a shot at freelance driving over there as well and then building up a team so now is the time to try.”

With the move coming in a few months the 30-year-old will transfer the horses he currently trains to his father John’s name tomorrow but remain working with him until he moves.

The pair trained in partnership until last year when John stepped away from full-time training, but he has still been hands-on in the business and will resume training officially tomorrow. He could remain on the current property for the foreseeable future until it is sold, or even after, depending on the new owner’s plans.

“Now we have made the decision to head to Australia we wanted to put the horses in Dad’s name as soon as possible, rather than changing them all over in October,” Dickie said.

His move is a loss for the NZ harness racing industry, but especially in the north, as he is already an enormously accomplished horseman with Group 1 victories on both sides of the Tasman and the business acumen and skills to help fill the void that will be created when some of the industry’s giants, many well into their 60s, retire.

“I am really keen to concentrate on my driving over there but also be available to take on not only local horses but New Zealand horses people may think will be better off being based over there.”

 

Article courtesy of NZ Herald

[Taku Umanga]

24 minutes ago, Davis said:

Group 1 Kiwi reinsman Josh Dickie set for Victorian moveMichael Guerin

30 JUL 2021

 

One of New Zealand’s most talented young harness trainers is moving to Victoria in a shock decision that will see Josh Dickie officially stop training in NZ from tomorrow.

But rather than see the move as a curtailing of his training, Dickie hopes it will benefit both his training and driving careers long term.

Dickie and partner Sammy Kilgour are planning to move to Victoria in November to train from Kilgour’s property close to the Melbourne's metro racetrack at Tabcorp Park Melton.

The move comes partially because the property Dickie trains from in South Auckland is soon to be placed on the market by owner Marilyn Hoggard, whose late husband Kerry set it up for horse training before he passed away in 2015.

While the property may not be sold for up to a year, Dickie says he and Kilgour have failed to find a suitable replacement training establishment in South Auckland so the time is right to move.

“Marilyn was always going to sell the property one day and she has been great to us since Kerry passed away,” said Dickie.

“So when she told us the news we went out to try and find another property and we simply can’t get the right one.

“Sammy has her own property in Victoria, with a training track and stables, so it makes sense.

“We have talked about moving there before and I am really keen to have a shot at freelance driving over there as well and then building up a team so now is the time to try.”

With the move coming in a few months the 30-year-old will transfer the horses he currently trains to his father John’s name tomorrow but remain working with him until he moves.

The pair trained in partnership until last year when John stepped away from full-time training, but he has still been hands-on in the business and will resume training officially tomorrow. He could remain on the current property for the foreseeable future until it is sold, or even after, depending on the new owner’s plans.

“Now we have made the decision to head to Australia we wanted to put the horses in Dad’s name as soon as possible, rather than changing them all over in October,” Dickie said.

His move is a loss for the NZ harness racing industry, but especially in the north, as he is already an enormously accomplished horseman with Group 1 victories on both sides of the Tasman and the business acumen and skills to help fill the void that will be created when some of the industry’s giants, many well into their 60s, retire.

“I am really keen to concentrate on my driving over there but also be available to take on not only local horses but New Zealand horses people may think will be better off being based over there.”

 

Article courtesy of NZ Herald

Another issue up North is staff.  Josh was adverting for months for a stablehand/junior driver but apparently couldn't attract any interest.

[Davis]

3 minutes ago, Taku Umanga said:

Another issue up North is staff.  Josh was adverting for months for a stablehand/junior driver but apparently couldn't attract any interest.

Hardly surprising as stables hands poorly paid and one can earn more on the dole, er... Job Seekers benefit. Early starts in all weathers, weekend workout... nah, lets sign up for the dole. 🤣🤣

[Brodie]

Another nail in the coffin for North Island racing!

Josh Dickie is a talented horseman and clearly a big loss for the N.I.
Think there will be other young ones that will follow him over and with some of the elder trainers giving it away, it is very very hard to see how harness racing in Auckland being viable in the next few years!!!

[Dougie]

17 hours ago, Brodie said:

Another nail in the coffin for North Island racing!

Josh Dickie is a talented horseman and clearly a big loss for the N.I.
Think there will be other young ones that will follow him over and with some of the elder trainers giving it away, it is very very hard to see how harness racing in Auckland being viable in the next few years!!!

What have HRNZ done in the last 5 years to improve/save NI harness racing?? when the ATC was loaded they just sat back and did jack shit and now ...

What have HRNZ done in especially in Auckland with a huge population to improve betting turn over and find new punters or industry participants ?

When huge turnover meeting happen at say Cromwell/Mot  where does the extra 40% of turnover come from, do HRNZ analyze this and target or just rub their hands together and pat themselves on the back and think it's them as a organization that's improved certain meetings?

What has HRNZ done in the last 2 years minimum to slow down the hundreds of horses exported especially to Aussie.... have they ever tried a prize money minimum of say $300 for all horses finishing 6th - last ... what would that cost over a year compared to increased turnover it would push up as field sizes would increase.