Dene Biddlecombe - Obituary

By Michael Guerin 

Temporale almost pulled off the most appropriate tribute to his late owner Dene Biddlecombe at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.

Biddlecombe, a former director of the Auckland Trotting Club, passed away aged just 61 on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

As well as serving in the ATC board and being the former chair of the Auckland Rugby League, Biddlecombe was a passionate harness racing owner. He raced horses for over two decades but struck gold as the part-owner of Temporale, who gave him the thrill of a lifetime winning the Rowe Cup three years ago.

Temporale, now trained by Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, almost pulled off the impossible by looming up like a winner in the main trot on Thursday night before understandably peaking on his run after starting off a 50m handicap over 2200m.

Biddlecombe, who was an energetic administrator and passionate owner, is survived by his children Kate and Mark and his funeral will be held in Auckland on Tuesday but almost certainly not open to the public because of Covid-19 restrictions.