Vale Veronica (Roni) Lauren

Respected breeder, owner and trainer Veronica “Roni” Lauren (above,right) is being remembered as a harness racing enthusiast who loved the sport and her horses.

Lauren died in Cambridge over the weekend, aged 79.

From the early 1980s through to 2024 she bred 66 horses and also trained 17 winners.

The best horse she was associated with was the multiple Group 1-winning mare Allegro Agitato. She owned the champion mare along with husband Michael and trainer Phil Williamson.

A five-time Group 1 winner, Allegro Agitato’s CV included the 2005 New Zealand Trotting Free For All and the 2004 and 2006 New Zealand Trotting Championship.

Allegro Agitato’s breeders are listed as Denis Lauren, Pip Gerard and Sean McCaffrey though McCaffrey says to all intents and purposes it was Roni and husband Michael who bred her.

“It was still in our name when she got served but the foal was transferred to Roni when it was a foal but you can say she bred it,” says McCaffrey.

“It was her foal – her and Michael’s.”

After her retirement in 2008 Allegro Agitato (Sundon – Chiola’s Lass) headed to the broodmare barn, producing seven foals for the Laurens.

Of them Gershwin (Muscles Yankee) had 11 wins, I Got Rhythm (Majestic Son) had seven and Lady Be Good (Andover Hall) and Itaintnecessarilyso (Creatine) had six each.

“She had some good horses she got offered good money for but she was too attached to them to sell them,” says McCaffrey.

“She loved her own horses and treated them real well … she was always putting into the game that’s for sure.”

The Laurens bred from I Got Rhythm too. Her best progeny was Funny Face (Peak) who won seven in this country.

I Got Rhythm was the best horse Lauren trained. She had six wins with her.

Overall she trained 14 horses and had 17 winners, the first win was with Pandora’s Box at Oamaru in 1997.

Many of the Laurens’ horses had the Pandora’s name including race winners Pandora’s Diamond (4), Pandora’s Rose (1), Pandora’s Hope (1) and Pandora’s Gambit (1).

“If they had a horse racing they’d be there with bells on,” says McCaffrey.

“She was more than enthusiastic about the sport.”

Lauren lived in North Otago for around 20 years before relocating to Cambridge in 2012.

At Sunday’s meeting at Oamaru drivers honoured Lauren by wearing black armbands in the Edinburgh Realty Waikouaiti Trotters Cup.

Fittingly it was Practical Magic who took it out.

She is trained by Phil Williamson who guided Allegro Agitato throughout her 22-win career.

HRNZ would like to send its condolences to the Lauren family.