Ownership Profile - John Edminstin

Bluff based harness racing owner John Edminstin has enjoyed ownership from many different vantage points.

During his 15 years on the ownership journey he has experienced memorable moments as an outright owner, a breeder, a shareholder and also as a syndicate member.

“My earliest memories of harness racing were from going to the race track with my parents,” recalled John. “I think that’s where my love of harness racing started out.”

John, who also runs the popular Bluff Oyster Festival, was a part of the Bluff Bowling Club (BBC) Syndicate who had great success with their horses over the years.

“We had ten members and had some wonderful horses,” John said. “We had the likes of Bet’s Bet who won eight races, Capitol Drive who won five and also Ted West who won six here before being sold to Australia.”

“We had some really fun moments as a syndicate. We were quite social and liked to head to the races together. It was a great experience to enjoy that with others.”

John was able to also pursue ownership in his own right, racing the likes of When The Music’s Over who won five races and sits fondly in John’s memories.

“I would have to say he was one of my favourites,” John said. “He was so honest and gave it his all, he even placed in a few country cups but unfortunately just couldn’t pick one up. Be he stands out in my favourite moments as an owner.”

He has also recent tasted success after turning his hand to breeding.

“I bred from Kentucky Girl because I was told her family would be quite commercial,” John explained.

“She has a lot of good blood in her family so I decided to give breeding a go and she has had a promising start. I bred Onesmartfella (by Tintin In America) on my own out of her, and then my friend Earl Shannon came on board after that and we have together bred her to A Rocknroll Dance and Sportswriter. She is now in foal to Vincent.”

Kentucky Girl quickly returned the faith put in her by producing Onesmartfella to win the Nugget final last week at Northern Southland. He has now had one win and a second from just two career starts.

As many owners know though the path to the winner’s circle is not easy.

John has too experienced his fair share of bad luck and disappointment.

“We had horses that for some reason or another we did not see the best of,” John admitted. “Turbine was a big brute of a horse, which is why he was named that, but he had a wind issue and we had to retire him after winning three races.”

“Rochester won three of five and was sold to Perth before he broke down, and Dunrobin who won a Nugget final. They were two that had huge ability but sadly we didn’t see them best of them either. That’s just horse racing I guess, and it makes the wins even more special.”

“It can be an expensive past time, but I have spread it out over the years.”

“I would probably describe ownership as a bad habit. The best part of being an owner is winning,” John laughed. “But it is also about the sharing the ups and downs with friends and being a part of a syndicate is also fun and an affordable way to experience ownership.”

To find out more about how you can be involved in ownership please contact Jess Smith, HRNZ Ownership Co-Ordinator by emailing [email protected]