A - Z New Zealand Cup : G

21 October 2020

It’s 20 days to the New Zealand Cup.

From now to November 10 we will feature some of the great races, horses and personalities with a new letter for each day.

G = Grice

Ben Grice was the breeder, owner and trainer of two time New Zealand Cup winner Haughty in 1942 and 1943. The 1943 race from a 36 yard (33m) handicap was particularly impressive, with Gold Bar clearing out to a big lead, only to be run down by Haughty who went on to win by two lengths. The crowd on the inside of the flock then surrounded the mare as she got a rousing reception.
The horse finished with 18 wins from 74 from 1940-48 with Ossie Hooper driving her in both Cup triumphs.
Coincidentally Haughty was later mated with Gold Bar to produce horses such as Whiz and Jaunty.
Grice was part of a well known racing family. He died on New Year’s Day in 1982 aged 96 after falling from a sulky while training a young horse at Prebbleton, just outside Christchurch.