Two Special Races

Bruce Stewart Contributor

This Saturday Central Southland Racecourse in Winton will host the Wairio Trotting Club for it’s autumn meeting. Included on the card will be two races with special significance to the family and friends of those being honoured. There will no doubt be many gathered for both the Tony Stevens Memorial Trot and the Ron and Maureen Hamilton 70^th Wedding Anniversary Mobile Pace.

Tony Stevens passed away in March of last year aged seventy four.

He drove twenty six winners during his career, his first being Night Chief (Newport Chief) in January 1972 at Invercargill. The horse was trained by his father Roy.

His first training success came a year later in January 1973 at Ascot Park and was also with Night Chief.

As a trainer, Wairio meetings provided Tony with seven of his thirty two winners. His final race as a driver was on Three Gees (Johnny Gee) at the Wairio meeting in December 1985 and his last winner as a trainer was Carrera Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) also at the Wairio meeting but a lot later, in March 2022.

The meeting will also feature the Ron and Maureen Hamilton 70^th Wedding Anniversary Mobile Pace.

Ron was a successful driver and trainer in the province between 1951 and 2012. He trained 61 winners, his first being Lucky Song (Flying Song) in December 1960 on the Winton course.

His first winning drive as a junior was on Coylton (U Scott) trained by his father John at Winton in 1951.

His most successful horse was Trevira (Scottish Command) which won sixteen races including the Group One Easter Cup, Waikato Flying Mile (twice) and Ashburton Cup. He also finished third in a New Zealand Cup and a Hannon Memorial and second in the New Zealand FFA and New Brighton Cup. He won the 1978 Winton Cup.

Trevira and Gavan Hamilton

Hamilton also had success with Trilobal (Nevele Big Shot) which won nine, including the G3 Tanqueray Stakes at Gore and the G3 New Brighton Cup. Tricotine (Boydon Hanover) was another good winner for the Central Southland horseman.

Trevira, Tricotine and Trilobal were all out of Vonnell which also left Tokorangi (Lumber Dream) which won eight.