Vale Colin Hair

By Brad Reid, NZ Standardbred Breeders Association 

Colin Hair, a highly respected figure within New Zealand’s standardbred breeding community, passed away on Monday following a short battle with cancer, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Hair was involved in harness racing for three decades through both governance and breeding, but it was as a small breeder he realised an extraordinary result that he will be remembered for most.

His pathway into the sport began in Christchurch, going to Addington on a Friday night, before later doing the same at Alexandra Park while living in Auckland. It was only after moving back south and buying a small property that he was able to become properly involved.

From there, he raced horses in partnership and then stepped into breeding, purchasing two mares at the all age sale, one of them the trotter Chiquita Dee.

That mare became the starting point.

Chiquita Dee produced Stardon, but even that nearly didn’t happen. As a yearling, Stardon suffered a serious leg injury and Hair was advised she should be put down. He persisted, rehabilitated her, and eventually got her to the races, where she won three times.

That decision shaped everything that followed.

John Mooney, who joined the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association on the same night as Hair around 2000, said that mindset was clear from the beginning.

“We joined the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders on the same night, around 2000. Two breeders with our homebreds, both wanting to make a contribution to improving our sport.

"On most topics we were joined at the hip. Our most visible campaign, with Kypros Kotzikas’ support, was the fight against accreditation, which we took all the way to the Court of Appeal and won.

"Colin always carried the passion of the small breeder and was a tireless advocate for the trotter. He was persistent and relentless in pointing out how trotters were disadvantaged compared to pacers in both opportunities and stakes.

"He loved his breed, with the well-bred Stardon the greatest of them. Then he and Nancy experienced the joy every breeder hopes for, when Stardon bred on with Sundees Son and Sunny’s Sister, creating moments only breeders truly understand.”

Hair joined the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association in 2007 during a rebuilding phase and went on to play a significant role in its development over the following years.

He served as both Treasurer and later Chairman of the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association, before stepping into national leadership. In 2019, he became Chairman of the NZSBA, a position he held until earlier this year when he stepped aside to focus on his health.

During that time, the Association strengthened its working relationship with HRNZ and secured funding to support the breeding sector.

In parallel, Hair served 13 years on the Harness Racing New Zealand Board from around 2009 to 2022, where he spent much of that time as Finance Chair. Drawing on his background as a senior executive with Pyne Corporation, he brought a measured and practical approach to the role, and remained involved on the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee after stepping down.

Barry Dent worked alongside him in that environment.

“Colin and I served together on the Audit and Risk Committee at Harness Racing New Zealand for a number of years, where he was Chair.

"I always found Colin to be someone who worked through any issue that came up with clear thinking around what needed to be done and how best to reduce risk. He had a strong sense of responsibility and always kept the organisation’s best interests at heart.

"He was also a very personable man. Easy to work with, easy to get on with, but always focused on doing the job properly.”

“I have many great memories of my time with NZSBA, highlighted by the progress made in the last few years, securing funding from HRNZ, appointing Brad as Executive Manager and developing a close relationship with HRNZ to enhance the breeding sector.”

While his governance contribution was significant, his impact is most clearly seen through his breeding.

Across his record, he bred 42 horses, with 20 starters and 13 winners producing 84 wins. Those included 14 Group 1 victories and more than $2 million in stakes, figures underpinned by one family.

After a number of early foals from Stardon failed to reach expectations, her fifth foal changed everything.

Sundees Son.

He won 34 races from 72 starts and more than $1.4 million in stakes. His 12 Group 1 victories included three Dominion Handicaps, three ANZAC Cups, three Ordeal Cups and a Rowe Cup. He was twice named Horse of the Year and three times New Zealand Trotter of the Year.

He did it across multiple seasons, returning year after year to compete at the top level.

Hair had chased the Dominion before with horses such as Uncas and Woodstone. Sundees Son went further and won it three times.

Robert Dunn, who trained him, said Hair remained consistent throughout that success.

“He was one of those owners you just love to have because he always allowed us, Johnny and myself and Jen, to be able to run the cutter as the saying would go, we made all the decisions really. Col just allowed us to have a free rein that way, which is wonderful when you’ve got owners like that, it makes training horses a lot easier, and of course when you get a champion like Sundees Son, then it makes it even better again because sometimes people can change once they get a wonderful horse like him, but he just stayed the same and he always allowed us to make all the decisions.”

“The first horse he gave us was Uncas, and when you think about it, this is his goal to a tee. He was incredibly passionate about it and passionate about his horses.

"He gave his horses every chance to do their best and even where some owners would have given up on them, Col was definitely not that way inclined.

"He had a passion for his horses and a love and I think he’s pretty proud that he was able to breed some really nice horses.”

“Col just didn’t give up on his horses, which was a wonderful attribute I think as a breeder. It means that you love your horses, and I think that really says a lot about Cole, that he was not only passionate, but he really had a genuine love for his horses.”

The family produced again with Sunny’s Sister, a full sister to Sundees Son, who won two Group 1 races.

“Sunny’s Sister had her issues, but she had so much ability. At one stage we thought she would go very close to Sundees Son because she had so much of his ability.

"That whole family had something pretty special.”

That depth was recognised when Stardon was named New Zealand Trotting Broodmare of the Year in 2022.

Dunn said Hair remained focused on the future of the family.

“He had a good talk to me a couple or three weeks ago and said that Nancy was really keen to carry on the breed and carry on racing the horses, and I think it made him pretty proud too.

She’s taken on his passion for the horses and she’s going to carry on with it.”

Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele acknowledged his contribution.

“On behalf of HRNZ, we acknowledge and honour Colin Hair’s remarkable contribution to harness racing. His leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment helped shape the industry for the better, while his success as a breeder inspired so many across New Zealand.

Colin’s legacy will endure through the people, horses, and community he so deeply influenced. Our heartfelt condolences go to Nancy and the Hair family at this difficult time.”

Hair’s breeding record was built around one family, developed over time, and carried by a horse that performed at the top level year after year.

That stands on its own.