Vale "Bonnie" McGarry

HRNZ would like to pay its respects to Valerie "Bonnie" McGarry, who bred one of New Zealand's greatest ever mares Bonnie's Chance.

Mrs McGarry died in Ashburton last month, aged 98.

While she bred and raced horses from the 1970s through to the 2000s it was Bonnie's Chance who was an absolute stand out.

She not only bred the champion mare and 1982 New Zealand Trotting Cup winner but also raced her in partnership with her sister-in-law Karen Grice.

Bonnie's Chance was by Majestic Chance out of Bonnie Countess. The dam was unraced, and bought as a 3YO filly.

Bonnie's Chance was the second of her 11 foals. Her other winning progeny, all bred by McGarry, were Steve's Chance (2 wins), Federal Skipper (3 wins) and Bonnie Lord (4 wins).   

Foaled in 1975, Bonnie's Chance was broken in and educated by Harry Swain and Garry McEwan before debuting for trainer Alex Black and driver Curly Thomas at Invercargill in 1978. She won by five lengths.

At the time Valerie McGarry said "Karen and I were pretty excited about winning the New Zealand Cup but that first win was just so exciting. I suppose because we were new to the game."

It was as a 5YO and under the expertise of trainer Richard Brosnan that Bonnie's Chance really started to make her mark. She won six races that year, eight as a 6YO and 10 as a 7YO.

After winning the 1982 New Zealand Cup by seven lengths she was named Horse of the Year in 1983, beating the likes of Scotch Notch, Gammalite, Delightful Lady, Armalight and Our Mana.

All told she won 32 races, including 13 mile races in a row with her 1:56.2 at Washdyke, equalling the national record set by Lord Module.

According to HRNZ records, "Bonnie" McGarry bred or co-bred nearly 140 horses, with 44 of them getting to the races.

Eight race winners Gimme A Break (2006-08) and Talk About Rhonda (1995-98) and Flying Count (six wins before being exported to USA) were among her other top performers, though nothing ever close to emulating the great Bonnie's Chance.

She was very much a once-in-a-lifetime horse.