Meet The Team - Cameron Kirkwood

CAMERON KIRKWOOD

Title: Registration & Racing Assistant.

Role/Duties: All things foal registration related, trainer notifications, gear notifications, trial dates/results, qualification of horses, handicapping analysis, checking the fields/race details, and anything else that’s required or asked of me.

How long have you worked at HRNZ? It’s been 6 and a half glorious years straight from school.

Are you involved in racing outside of work? If so how? I am heavily involved as I own, race, and breed horses,  I work in a stable on the weekend, I have completed the harness cadet scheme, I am a steward for Banks Peninsula Trotting Club, I am the NZ rep for Llowalong Farms for their two stallions in Poster Boy & Pastor Stephen, I bid spot at NZ Bloodstock’s annual Yearling Sales, I have also owned a winner in all three codes but harness is my passion.

What are your hobbies? Work/racing keeps me busy but helping in a stable, spending time with mates, playing golf, indoor cricket, sport, fishing.

Favourite horse from past or present? Paris Metro would be up there as she got me into racing watching her race and eventually became my broodmare. Of more recent times Possente Cavallo and Terry have definitely been favourites.

What was your first paying job? Working in a high-end restaurant serving up to 300 customers a night - Fish & Chip shop.

Favourite holiday destination? Canada – I could easily move there to live one day or failing that anywhere with a racetrack

What do you like most about your job? There’s bad points as per all jobs don’t get me wrong but working in an industry I have such a strong passion for is the best although my fiery passion can land me in hot water occasionally. Working closely with those outside the office with a genuine care and love for the horse/sport. Dealing with owners from the registration process right through to race day and sharing their passion and enjoyment.

What is something that not many people know about you? I “broke” my arm only to go back to the hospital a week later to change the cast to find out the doctors read the wrong x-ray and it wasn’t actually broken.