Beer respected Southland -veterinarian and standard -wide breeder Peter Williams recently died at the age of 81.
In an interview with Peter with nine years ago, he shared some aspects of his involvement in racing Harness.
As a young man, Peter trained as a veterinarian as part of the very first veterinary class at Massey University and graduated in 1967.
He then went south and went to work for Paddy Dunne and Hugh Horner in Invercargill.
“I worked a year before Paddy and then two other veterinarians Gary Chisholm and Stewart Cameron came down. In 1969 Paddy broke his neck during swimming in Nelson, so he rented the practice for four years for four years. At the end of the four years the other boys wanted to go, so I took it in Waikiwi,” “
In the late sixties and early seventies there were many equestrian studs in Southland, including Ascot Stud, Chelandry Stud and Hampton Stud and it was because of his work that he only acquired his first mare happiness (One tryax).
“I have her because they couldn’t get her in foal.”
Williams sent her to a majestic opportunity and the resulting foal was the chance of luck that Henry Skinner trained to win seven races, including the Greymouth Cup from 1978.
“Jan (wife and owner) and I had a six -month -old son at that stage and we took the chance to go through the almost Greymouth. Not many people go that way. We could not stay in the almost hotel because there was nowhere to place the horse. But there was some Whitebait -Camps in the way and we found a place to see a PEDCH for the Paddock.
In Stud Lucky, Robstar (two wins), Vendetta (4) and Beretta (2) also left behind, but the star of her offspring was Jan’s Chance, which was sold as a lottery and twenty -three races, including the Group One Queensland Oaks for the Australian trainer Keith Addison.
When Vendetta trained and driven by Henry Skinner won in Wyndham in March 19981, she was the first winner of Peter.
One of Just Lucky’s Last Veulens Lucky Boy was Peter’s first play winner when he won the aforementioned DB Superstar Series -final of 1983.
After winning five races for Alan Devery, Lucky Boy was sold to America.
“Bob Mcardle walked in one day for lunch, took a check out of his pocket and said that it was for Lucky Boy. It was. I have never seen a check – not for a horse. It was then big money and it got us two thirds of a house in Queenstown.”
That house is called Lucky Boy Lodge in the right way.
The troubling side of Peter’s breeding story also started in the 1970s when he breeding Princess Way (Keystone way). At Stud she left Arbitrator (3), Gregory Peter (6), Arlington (3) and Sundon’s Way (15).
But the daughter of Princess Way Whizz was to be his best troubling breeding mood.
After winning four races for Maurice Skinner, Matte Williams Whizway with Sundon in 2005 and the resulting foal Idid It Myway would be his best trotter.
Idid It Myway had high speed and started his career at Invercargill coach Jeff Williams who won six races before Colin and Julie Defilippi won another six with him. He ended his career to win for Paul Nairn.
During the fifty years as a veterinarian, Williams operated on thousands of horses from both codes, but one story stands out.
“We did a Tie -Back Wind Operation on one horse and a split pastern in his close relationship and they became near Wyndham one day.”
Those Horses Forest Pass and Miss Priscilla were from full sisters.
Williams owned 86 winners for his own account or in partnership and his last was Outamyway at Addington in November 2023.
His biggest winners were Idid It Myway (13), Outamyway (9), Elke old way (7) and Rocket Ship (6).
Peter Williams will be reminded for his dedication and expertise in the field of veterinary field and as a passionate breeder and owner.
Through Bruce StewartFor Harnesslink
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