No regrets on the trot down memory lane

W P (Billy) Walsh has been a Buller harness racing identity for more than 50 years. He continues his reminiscences with David McCarthy.

You did a lot of freelance driving. It could not all have been plain sailing?

There was one time when a Canterbury trainer put me on at Westport. We did everything right and won and he was absolutely furious. He had not said anything beforehand about what he wanted. He wasn't happy when I brought it back but then went around town telling everyone I had " had a go" on my own while he had not backed it.

What could you do about that?

Well, I did talk to the stipe Len Butterfield and said I thought it was a bit tough being talked about like that. Len had a lot of experience. He came back to me and said "Any trainer who has to ride a bike around Christchurch hasn't amounted to much" and we left it at that. I rated Butterfield far ahead of his predecessor.

You drove quite a lot for "Super" Shrives of Reefton. Super could be a bit fiery too?

Super could get wound up but we never had a cross word. I remember driving Steel Lady for him once at Nelson and he told me he had let the hopples out eight holes. I said that seemed a bit extreme but he said it would be alright. Well, she just couldn't find her gait and never paced well. The second day he took the hopples up six holes and she won. Repus Rob was a trotter I won a couple with him for Super too.

You drove, trained or owned other good ones?

I was always a seller and most of the good ones went early. Cedar Kiwi ran a first and a second in two starts and went to America. We had a full brother who was better but was a heartbreak. He was always sore and we spelled him more than once but he always went wrong. The Deputy we sold after he qualified and Johnny Tapp won a lot of races with him in Australia. One of the best horses we had was Hurry On which my father (Claude) raced with Jack Clayton. He won on Show Day at Addington (1964) and was a bit unlucky not to win on Cup day as well. I drove Remlap three times for three wins. Johnny Gilbert won a Westport Cup. Faberge I won several races with for Brian Woodcock. It is not easy to remember them all now. Chesterfield which I drove for Ransley Reid, won a race at Addington and caused a stir at Omoto one day.

In what way?

Well, I went down there just to drive Chesterfield. I didn't find out until I got there that he was out and then I was offered the drive on Doctor Jim not long before the race. I went to see the stipes and there was a bit of talk but I was allowed to drive him and he won. Some punters were not impressed because those off course didn't know I was driving it.

Cecil Devine hired you one day?

Yes, that was for a mare he sent over called Daisy D'oro. I remember him telling me that when he first came to Westport (in the 1940s) at the old Mill Rd track he slept the previous night in the grandstand. He went a long way from there. He told me to check out Daisy D'oro with Bob Young on raceday because he had driven her. Bob didn't muck around. He just told me she was a "stinking little b .... " and he was dead right there.

You also drove Golden Rule quite a lot?

Yes, but I wasn't on when she won the Champion Stakes at Ashburton because that meeting clashed with Westport. My father had a racing share in her with Jack Reedy at that stage. I took her up north where she won the Masterton Cup. It's been a great family. She was a lovely mare to handle.

Mister Gregory?

Yes, we sent him over to Denis Nyhan later which we did in those days with the better ones to cut the travelling down. He won the Timaru Cup for Denis and I am pretty sure he set a track record doing it.

I guess with your opportunities you never had a big tally of winners in a season?

I think 11 was the best and it wouldn't have been with that many drives, maybe 30 or 40. As I said it was a hobby rather than a business proposition for us. We'd buy a horse at the sales most years looking to sell on. Aveross Seelster we had some luck with. Craig Thornley and Jackie Burrows did a lot of the work with him. We sold him to Perth for very good money and I got a shock when my boys told me one night Averos Seelster was arriving back in the morning.

What was the story?

My wife Gloria had died and I was a bit down. I took a long while to get over it. He hadn't done that well in Perth. The boys tracked him down, bought him back, and he turned up at home to give me a bit of a lift I suppose. He went a big race for second first up but didn't do much after that. He broke a leg out in the paddock one night.

Now the next generation is taking an interest?

Yes, one of my sons, Graeme, and his wife, Karina, have gone into breeding for the sales here. Actually the only horse I have in work now is a Christian Cullen filly they are retaining for breeding. They have done pretty well so far. It is not an easy business breeding to sell.

Christian Cullen. Where did he rate with you among the greatest you have seen?

Right up there. One of the really great ones. But Highland Fling has always been my favourite. I saw him race quite a few times. You never forget a horse that could do what he did.

You are now 80 and seem to be keeping well?

I had a brain bleed a while ago which kept me in hospital in Christchurch for a few weeks but it seems all right.

It hardly seems worth while asking if you have any regrets?

No way. I have met a lot of great people in trotting. A lot of great people. I still follow the game as closely as I always have. It's been an important part of my life.

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