Hamilton still in the game

Although Central Otago horseman Murray Hamilton hasn’t held a trainer’s licence for twenty five years, he remains involved in the harness racing industry as an exporter and horse transporter.

“I transport horses for Tony Shaw just to fill in time,” he said.

For four decades Murray has exported horses to both the United States and Australia.

“We did eighteen one day to Los Angeles out of Auckland. We did four hundred one year out of Port Chambers to Melbourne. I didn’t sell them all. I was shifting them for other people.”

Recently he’s exported to the North America, Artatac, Celtic Spirit, Helium and Magic Four, all of whom are raced by James Morris and Norman Rae Racing and trained by Chris Noble.

“I’ve had the same clients for forty years. This client is a new one and he’s got those four horses so how lucky can you be.”

Artatac has had 50 starts in the States for 19 wins and $420,577, Helium 8 starts for 4 wins and $96,027, Major Four 41 starts for 8 wins and $166,221 and Celtic Spirit 4 wins from 7 starts for $66,285.

Hamilton says it now costs $44,000 to transport a horse to North America.

“I remember when it was $1,500.”

As a trainer Hamilton trained 135 harness winners in his own right and a further 10 with Joanne Rietveld. He had success with Young Pat (6), Blanche’s Song (5), Douglas Ham (5) and Prince Del (5).

He also trained gallopers, with Kid Columbus’s win in the 2011 Grand National Hurdles in the hands of Chris Johnson a career highlight.

He stood standardbred stallions Bogart Hanover, No Fission and Macatross at his Lauder property.

Macatross left Strietross who became the first open class pacer and trotter in this country for Lauriston trainer Hopa McDonald while No Fission sired 1994 Great Northern Oaks winner Pretty Kiwi, which Hamilton bred and initially raced.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink