What's in a name? - Zoltan Boscik

3 September 2024 , News

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

Zoltan Boscik is a trotter on the rise. Trained by Jeff and Luke Whittaker, the talented four-year-old has created quite the impression by winning three of his first six starts, and only being out of the money once.

But what of the horse's distinctive name?

Where does that come from and what does it mean?

It's essentially a love story.

Zoltan Boscik was the alter ego of Zoltan Szabo, a Hungarian wrestler who become a cult hero in Europe and beyond in the 1960s with his trademark scowl, and his signature move, the three-in-one grapevine!

So what's the connection?

After meeting in London in 1983, the real life Zoltan Szabo and the then Sue Toth married six years later and subsequently moved from England to New Zealand, settling in Christchurch, Sue's home town.

Sue Szabo and the Whittakers (Jeff and his wife Trace) were long-time family friends. Sue's father Johnny Toth raced horses with the Whittakers, most notably Wait A Moment who won 10 races in the late 1980s.

Jeff Whittaker and Norm Withers bred the Majestic Son foal that would later be named Zoltan Boscik. Sue became involved in the ownership group and it was suggested he be named after her husband who had died after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease in 2020, aged 81.

"It's just so emotional every time he races," says Sue Szabo, "it's happy sad."

"Zoli was just the most generous, kind and thoughtful of guys," says Sue, "he was certainly not what you saw in the ring!"

To backtrack, Zoltan Szabo was born in Hungary and had a difficult childhood in Kondoros, a town of around 5000 people in the south east of the country.

During his teenage years the country was in crisis. It was the time of the Hungarian Uprising, an attempted countrywide revolution against the socialist government of the time. The uprising lasted 12 days before being crushed by Soviet tanks and troops on 4 November 1956. Thousands were killed and wounded and nearly a quarter of a million Hungarians fled the country

Among those fleeing to Austria and ultimately to England was a 16-year-old Zoltan Szabo. Looking to find work in the mines he settled in Huddersfield in Yorkshire.

Already a keen wrestler he pursued his sport and gained a reputation as a fast and technically accomplished lightweight.

In the early 1960s he had featured in a number of televised wrestling shows, even performing in front of 5000 fans at the Royal Albert Hall, and by the end of the decade was crowned British lightweight champion.

"He was very popular and travelled all over Europe and to the Middle East," says Szabo, "his persona was a baddie, he'd give his rivals the 'hairy eyeball'."

"There was a lot of showmanship involved but it seemed more legit than it does today and he got his fair share on injuries."

Just as he was scaling back his heroics in the ring he met Sue in London through a mutual friend. She had gone on her OE as a 21-year-old in the early 1980s. As their relationship grew the pair were involved in managing and running pubs.

"There was one in Southgate in north London, one in Wembley where you could see the stand but from our bedroom window and the Three Greyhounds in Soho."

"It could get a bit volatile at the Wembley one and Zoli was pretty handy at getting them into a headlock and marching them through the premises!"

"We also promoted a couple of (wrestling) shows, because there was a nightclub within walking distance of the Southgate pub called The Pink Elephant .. it was fantastic and lots of fun."

After they arrived back in this country the pair set up a pub of their own.

"It was in an old Post Office, we gutted it and did it up really nicely."

Known as "Zoli's" it was sold in 2001.

The Szabos then moved to a lifestyle block at Broadfields just on the outskirts of Christchurch. They bred a few horses from there including two progeny from Career Girl called Zoltan and Zolimite.

Of Hungarian descent herself through her father, Sue plans to return to Hungary next year. She's been there many times but this time will be different.

"Next year Zoli's daughter Fiona and I are going to take his ashes, do a train trip, drink red wine and take part of him back to Hungary."

"We are going on a roadie with Zoli!"