McDermott celebrates Life Membership as 100 wins beckon

He’s been a successful breeder, administrator, trainer and even a former New Zealand amateur driving champion – now John McDermott is a Life Member of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

He was accorded the honour earlier this week.

“I’m pretty chuffed with it to be honest,” he says, “and I’m very grateful to the Board and members.”

“And to follow in my father’s footsteps too.”

Eugene McDermott was a Past President of the Club from 1974-79 and was also made a Life Member.

While not a driver or trainer, Eugene bred and raced horses and in 1974 as Chairman presented the New Zealand Cup to the connections of Robalan, a horse he had bred and sold as a foal.

For a while there both father and son were on the committee at The Met at the same time though Eugene reportedly wasn’t always keen on John getting involved.

“He was super sensitive about claims of nepotism,” John laughs.

Always affable and passionate about the sport, John McDermott is the third generation of his family to be involved in harness racing.

His grand-father, also known as Eugene, won the New Zealand Cup with Indianapolis in 1934 but tragically lost his life during the 1939 Cup when he had a heart attack while leading with Colonel Grattan. He was just 54.

John had two stints with the club – from 1980-99 with the original “The Met” and then from 2010-2016 after the amalgamation with the Canterbury Park and New Brighton Clubs.

During his time he served on the programme committee, was on the Sires’ Stakes Board and in 1987 was the Convenor of social events for the Inter Dominions held at Addington.

He recalls a couple of real highlights.

“One was meeting Prince Charles and Princess Diana .. they were meant to come to a meeting at Addington but it was bucketing down with torrential rain and it was called off.”

“Instead we had a cocktail party at Twiggers!”

The other was the famous New Zealand Derby of 1984 won by Naval Officer after “Liquid Lightning inexplicably crossed his front legs and fell in front of the rest of the field.”

“I was one of the first people onto the track, there were horses, sulkies and drivers everywhere – thankfully no people or horses were seriously injured.”

After earlier enjoying great success as an owner, most notably with glamour filly Olga Korbut in the 1970s, McDermott took out his trainers’ licence in 2009.

Among his best performers were Flyover (10 wins) and Supreme Gem (8 wins) before they went to the broodmare paddock and produced the likes of Topaz (11 wins – pictured above), Ruby’s A Delight (13 wins) and Jeremiah (8 wins) as well as 2026 age group performers Fly High (5 wins) and Jorja.

McDermott has also had seven wins as an amateur driver, winning the New Zealand championships in 2016, aged 67.

After achieving 75 wins before his 75th birthday his career tally now stands at 94.

A big milestone is just six wins away, with McDermott’s next chance to add to his tally coming with Topaz at Timaru on Sunday.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk