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NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Craig Grylls to be crowned champion jockey on last day of thoroughbred season
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are once again our champion trainers, the injured Lily Sutherland is the leading apprentice for the second year in a row and then there's the big one, the new one. Champion jockey: Gryllsy. He may only be 35 but Craig Grylls has been part of punters' lives for so long he can go by his singular nickname. Today is the realisation of a dream as he becomes the premiership winner, leading former two-time champion Michael McNab by 54 wins heading into today's meeting. A margin that size means Gryllsy had the premiership sewn up months ago when the TAB paid out on the result. But it will not be until they run the last race just after 4pm today that he officially becomes the champ, New Zealand's premiership-winning jockey. 'It still hasn't really sunk in,' he says. 'I know it has been coming and that I was going to win but tomorrow [Wednesday] makes it official. 'It is something to be proud of, and I am, but I haven't celebrated it yet.' Racing's relentless calendar leaves little time for celebration and like many who have won the title before him Grylls' achievement will be most publicly acknowledged at the Horse of the Year awards in Hamilton on September 7. It will be a popular award. Grylls has travelled so far and wide and ridden for so many trainers and owners that it seems everybody either knows him or feels like they know him. With a big smile for a little man, he is no-fuss on and off the track, busy enough to keep his horses handy when needed, so often the recipe for success in modern racing, particularly on the smaller circuits. 'It has obviously been a great season,' he says. 'Winning the NZ Oaks on Leica Lucy meant a lot to me because of the pressure and what it meant to Robbie [Patterson, trainer and close friend] and the owners. 'And winning the $1 million Aotearoa Classic on Orchestral on Karaka Millions night was also very special.' Besides being the most successful jockey this season, Grylls has also been the busiest and if all five of his engaged rides start today it will take him to 800 for the season, after starting the day on a new New Zealand record of $6,068,577 in stakes. 'I enjoy being busy but I had a little break recently. Just before that I was getting a little tired but I feel a lot better now,' he tells the Herald. 'Winter racing, when it is on the heavy tracks, is definitely harder on the body but I am feeling good now and looking forward to the new season.' The son of a jockey (Gary) and with a sister jockey in Bridget, Craig Grylls says today's achievement may have been two decades in the making. However, as tends to be the case with racing, life is about looking forward to the next meeting, the next winner, rather than pats on the back. 'We haven't talked about it too much but I know they [family] are proud of me and to be honest, so am I,' he says. 'But you never want to stop riding winners and next season starts the day after tomorrow.' That promises to be even more challenging as the jockeys' rooms, particularly in the north, will be their deepest in possibly two decades as Opie Bosson and Matt Cameron return, while Matt Cartwright is coming back from Australia. 'It will be strong and I like that. I actually think it is easier to ride in fields full of good jockeys and better for the punters.' As for today and his best chance of adding to his 140 wins and putting an exclamation mark on his dream season? 'All of mine have chances and are actually pretty even but I am on a few for Te Akau and that is always a big help.' Regardless of who wins today, Grylls will finally be where he has always wanted and now deserves to be. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Champion racehorse injured during latest victory euthanised 12 days later
Patches O'Houlihan, crowned Canada's Horse of the Year in 2024, was vanned off the track after scoring in gutsy fashion at Woodbine last month A champion racehorse has been humanely euthanised 12 days after recording his latest victory. Patches O'Houlihan, named after a character in the hit movie Dodgeball, was crowned Canada's Horse of the Year in 2024 after a campaign in which he was defeated once in five starts. He had begun the new campaign with two wins from two races taking his career score to 13 from 16 and earnings to £629,000. The sprinter was last in action at Woodbine, Toronto, at the end of June when he captured a Grade 2 race under regular rider Sofia Vives. He secured the win by a diminishing neck margin after he veered alarmingly across the track in the final stretch. The Equibase footnotes said Patches O'Houlihan had 'drifted out considerably to be in the ten path when clinging up front with a furlong from the prize, lost the lead momentarily with a sixteenth to run, showed his heart late digging back in to prevail in the stretch drive by a photo at the wire, was eased shortly after the race and left via equine ambulance'. Vives dismounted the five-year-old after crossing the line> He was reported at the time to be 'back at the barn and resting comfortably after being assessed by the veterinarians'. However on Thursday his owner and breeder Frank Di Giulio Jr shared the news that his star horse had passed away. 'We are heartbroken to announce that 2024 Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan was humanely euthanized on Thursday, July 10th,' he said. 'After sustaining a soft tissue injury while galloping out after winning the Highlander Stakes, it was hoped that he would recover well enourgh to be retired to pasture. 'However, in the time since then, his prognosis worsened. We consulted with veterinarians and surgeons on an ongoing basis and it was determined surgery was not a viable option for a sustained quality of life.' Di Giulio offered condolences and thanks to those closest to his horse including trainer Bob Tiller and his team, Vives, the vets who treated him plus 'the Woodbine starting gate crew for attending to Patches so quickly after the accident.' He continued: 'Everyone at the barn is devastated. We are going to dearly miss watching him run, as will his many fans. He gave us so much pleasure and so many thrills during his career. 'Patches O'Houlihan was an amazing animal that was beautiful both inside and out. He absolutely loved to race and possessed outstanding heart and desire, and was as honest as they come. 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Patches, but we are truly blessed and grateful to be part of such a true Champion.'
Los Angeles Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
John C. Harris, California horse breeder and owner of Harris Farms, dies at 81
John C. Harris, California horse-racing mogul, had a particular love for the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector of his company, Harris Farms. Multiple horses that were raised and trained at Coalinga-based Harris Farms went on to become national champions, including Tiznow, the 2000 Horse of the Year, and California Chrome, a national Hall of Fame racehorse. A close friend recounted Harris' reaction to the latter thoroughbred winning the 2014 Kentucky Derby. The moment California Chrome sprinted over the finish line, tears streamed down Harris' face. 'It was just knowing that his farm had such a major role,' said his good friend Doug Burge. 'It was probably the most fun we ever had.' Harris, who owned the multimillion-dollar agribusiness Harris Farms, has died. He was 81. Those who knew Harris described him as an acclaimed rancher, farmer and horse-racing enthusiast who devoted himself to his passions to the end. Harris Farms confirmed his death in a statement shared on July 3. No details, including cause of death, were provided. Harris was born on July 14, 1943, and resided in Fresno County all of his life. He earned a degree in agricultural production at UC Davis before serving in the U.S. Army for two years. Harris took ownership of Harris Farms following his father's death in 1981. He oversaw all operations of the ranch, which encompasses a thriving farm that produces more than 30 types of crops including garlic, pistachios and wine grapes, as well as the horse-breeding operation, according to its website. Harris Farms was known for the beef it produced, but the cattle-raising portion of the business was sold in 2019. Harris nurtured a steadfast passion for horse racing and the thoroughbred breeding industry in Northern California, according to friends and family. He was a former president and board member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn. and served on the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the National Jockey Club. According to those who worked with him, he shaped the horse-racing industry into what it is today. 'He had a love for the land, everything from farming to raising horses,' said Burge, the current president of the CTBA, who knew Harris as a mentor and friend for more than 30 years. Harris was a longtime, dedicated advocate for the agricultural industry, according to Oscar Gonzalez, the vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who previously served as assistant secretary of Agriculture during the Biden administration. 'Mr. Harris was just a phone call away,' he said. 'When I was in Washington, D.C. ... and I needed a point of reference or background information on an issue involving agriculture, or water or immigration, he was always somebody that had context in that background.' One of Harris' last advocacy efforts was just a couple of weeks ago, when he fought to reinstate live horse racing at the Big Fresno Fair, a proposal that was ultimately unsuccessful. 'We will never give up continuing this storied tradition of Fresno racing. Today's story is not the end — we will come back again next year,' Harris said, according to the Business Journal. Justin Oldfield, a thoroughbred breeder and a chairman of the CTBA, said that Harris wanted everyone in the industry to be successful, always offering mentorship and help to those who needed it. 'For as successful as a businessman as he was, you would have never have known it from the way he treated you,' Oldfield said. 'John was an extremely humble, down-to-earth individual that treated everyone with respect, treated everyone like they had value.' He said that he once went to a horse racing industry event honoring Harris with more than 3,000 attendees. 'I can't even imagine how many people are gonna be at his funeral,' Oldfield said. Harris is survived by his wife, Cookie, and others 'whose lives were enriched by his strength of character and enduring compassion,' the statement from Harris Farms said.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
John C. Harris, California horse breeder with ties to 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 81
COALINGA, Calif. — John C. Harris, a breeder of thoroughbreds whose Harris Farms foaled and raised 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow, has died. He was 81. John C. Harris, California horse breeder with ties to 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 81 He died Wednesday, according to Harris Farms. No cause of death or location was provided. Harris didn't breed either California Chrome, a two-time Horse of the Year, or Tiznow, but both spent their early years at his Coalinga farm in California's San Joaquin Valley near Fresno. Both horses were elected to the sport's Hall of Fame. California Chrome was the first California-bred to win the Derby since 1962. The colt went on to win the Preakness, but had his Triple Crown bid derailed in the Belmont. Harris Farms stood many leading California sires, including Unusual Heat, Cee's Tizzy, Lucky Pulpit, Eclipse Award winner Acclamation and Smiling Tiger. Harris was born on his family's farm on July 14, 1943. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1965 with a degree in animal production. He served for two years in the Army. He became the sole shareholder and CEO of Harris Farms in 1981 following the death of his father, Jack, and led the ranch for decades, including Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, Harris Ranch Beef Co., Harris Feeding Co., Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division and Harris Fresh. Harris was also known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting his alma mater as well as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Fresno State. He donated horses to a program at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga that gives horses and prisoners a new start through its vocational training program. 'Mr. Harris' foresight, courage and willingness to invest his energy and assets in making our sport be better and rise higher in the eyes of the general public was a thing of pure beauty,' the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club said in a statement. 'We owe him a great debt for dedicating his life to the marvelous animals we all love.' Harris served as chairman of the California Horse Racing Board for three years and was a longtime board member and former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He served on the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and was a member of the California Racing Hall of Fame. 'No one understood and appreciated the intersection of agriculture and Thoroughbred breeding and racing more than John, who was a farmer at heart,' Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said in a statement. 'His presence was felt from his native California, to the farms and sales rings he frequented in central Kentucky, and all the way to Washington, D.C., where he helped shape and support the industry's federal policies.' Harris was involved in horse breeding and racing for more than 50 years. He gave trainer Carla Gaines her first horse in 1989 and she went on to train numerous stakes winners for Harris Farms. 'His contributions to the thoroughbred industry in our state cannot be overstated and his support was unwavering,' Santa Anita Park said in a statement. 'The green and white Harris Farms silks were omnipresent in Santa Anita's winner's circle and the legacy of the man they represent will be everlasting.' Harris is survived by his wife, Cookie. horse racing: /hub/horse-racing This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
John C. Harris, California horse breeder with ties to 2014 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 81
COALINGA, Calif. (AP) — John C. Harris, a breeder of thoroughbreds whose Harris Farms foaled and raised 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow, has died. He was 81. He died Wednesday, according to Harris Farms. No cause of death or location was provided. Harris didn't breed either California Chrome, a two-time Horse of the Year, or Tiznow, but both spent their early years at his Coalinga farm in California's San Joaquin Valley near Fresno. Both horses were elected to the sport's Hall of Fame. California Chrome was the first California-bred to win the Derby since 1962. The colt went on to win the Preakness, but had his Triple Crown bid derailed in the Belmont. Harris Farms stood many leading California sires, including Unusual Heat, Cee's Tizzy, Lucky Pulpit, Eclipse Award winner Acclamation and Smiling Tiger. Harris was born on his family's farm on July 14, 1943. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1965 with a degree in animal production. He served for two years in the Army. He became the sole shareholder and CEO of Harris Farms in 1981 following the death of his father, Jack, and led the ranch for decades, including Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant, Harris Ranch Beef Co., Harris Feeding Co., Harris Farms Thoroughbred Division and Harris Fresh. Harris was also known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting his alma mater as well as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Fresno State. He donated horses to a program at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga that gives horses and prisoners a new start through its vocational training program. 'Mr. Harris' foresight, courage and willingness to invest his energy and assets in making our sport be better and rise higher in the eyes of the general public was a thing of pure beauty,' the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club said in a statement. 'We owe him a great debt for dedicating his life to the marvelous animals we all love.' Harris served as chairman of the California Horse Racing Board for three years and was a longtime board member and former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He served on the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and was a member of the California Racing Hall of Fame. 'No one understood and appreciated the intersection of agriculture and Thoroughbred breeding and racing more than John, who was a farmer at heart,' Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said in a statement. 'His presence was felt from his native California, to the farms and sales rings he frequented in central Kentucky, and all the way to Washington, D.C., where he helped shape and support the industry's federal policies.' Harris was involved in horse breeding and racing for more than 50 years. He gave trainer Carla Gaines her first horse in 1989 and she went on to train numerous stakes winners for Harris Farms. 'His contributions to the thoroughbred industry in our state cannot be overstated and his support was unwavering,' Santa Anita Park said in a statement. 'The green and white Harris Farms silks were omnipresent in Santa Anita's winner's circle and the legacy of the man they represent will be everlasting.' Harris is survived by his wife, Cookie. ___ AP horse racing:
