Paul Kerr to retire, surplus equipment has to go

A collection of harness racing equipment, built up over nearly four decades, now needs a new home.

North Canterbury-based trainer Paul Kerr is retiring and after moving on most of his racing team he's now doing the same with all his surplus gear.

"After 38 years I'm pretty much selling up everything, there is a Supreme horse float, two race carts, four work carts, heaps of boots and harnesses, all sorts of gear."

"And a 1600 Nissan ute that we use on the farm."

The two carts are a Meteor - "only two years old" - and a Challenge Sprint.

The reason to retire comes down to health.

"I need two hips done (replaced) and this is the right time. I had two knees done six years ago and it's got to the stage I can't even jump in the cart," Kerr says.

Since his first win with Manana Lodge at Geraldine in November 1985, Kerr has had over 300 training successes, and 69 wins as a driver.

Along the way he's been associated with a lot of very good horses.

"We were lucky to have 37 Group and Listed race winners - the best of them was Pay Me Christian."

A 12-race winner, Pay Me Christian was a multiple Group winner highlighted by victories in the 2006 New Zealand Derby, the 2005 Sires' Stakes Final and the 2005 Kindergarten Stakes.

He also set a new Australasian mile record when winning in Newcastle in 1:52.8 and was an unlucky fourth in the 2006 Miracle Mile in Sydney.

Other top performers he was associated with include Chloe Hanover (11 wins), Nick Off Holme (12), Cadillac Jack (9), and trotter Our Super Force, who won 10 both here and in Australia.

While he's transferred the majority of his race team already he will keep two horses in the meantime, Mach Major and a two-year-old Captain Crunch filly who is "three weeks away from the trials."

Mach Major was his last training success, at Timaru last October.

"I was at Addington the other day and thought this is one of the last times I'll be here racing horses," says Kerr, "and that's a bit weird."

Anyone interested in talking to Kerr about his racing gear can contact him at : [email protected]