Loss of two harness racing stalwarts

Bruce Stewart Journalist

At yesterday’s meeting the recent passing of two well known contributors to harness racing in the south, Maurice Kerr and Peter Marshall, were remembered and acknowledged.

Maurice Kerr died earlier this week. He drove 206 winners in his career, the first being Belle Vue for his father Davie at Winton in 1962. His last winner was Hayden Supreme at Invercargill in September 2011.

He trained 175 winners. The first was Sole Chance at Gore in 1977 and his last Nightmarch, in Invercargill in 2017.

MAURICE KERR AND NIGHTMARCH

His good winners were Glen Moria which won seven for Maurice and a further three for Jack Carmichael and Missed Again which won seven. Loch Rannoch, Abbey Knight, Effie What, Wee Donna, Karalea, Sole Chance and Churnside all won five.

Peter Marshall died in February.

He raced many good horses, among them Home First which had nine wins, and Michael’s Medley and Winnies Mak each of which won seven.

Most of his horses were trained by Ron and Tony Barron and Tony is still breeding successfully from one of Peter’s mares Elite Medley.

Peter was a great sponsor of harness racing in Southland through his business Marshall Industries.

They sponsored the Southern Supremacy Stakes between 1992 and 1999 and for a number of years donated a roof to be auctioned on race day with the funds raised going to the Guide Dog Appeal.

Our thoughts are with both the Kerr and Marshall families.