Murray Swain has always been passionate about harness racing and now he’s got the chance at the highest level to put some of his ideas on the table.
He’s not new to administration having held positions as President of the Winton HRC and as a board of Southern Harness.
Although administration at this level has been a passing thought, Swain didn’t expect an opportunity to take a position on the board of HRNZ would come so soon.
“Being on the board of Southern Harness was a thought, but not Harness Racing New Zealand. That just came about with Alisa (Smaill) retiring. I’ve been asked over the last few years if I’d give it a go but the timing just hasn’t been right,” he said.
The Swain name is well known in harness racing in Southland and Murray mixes farming and commercial eeling with horse training on his Roslyn Bush property.
He farms on 300 acres with mainly dry stock, fattening lambs and cattle.
“I’ll probably concentrate on cattle now as they’re less labour intensive if I’m going to do this job so it’s a bit easier instead of dagging sheep.”
Being on the HRNZ board means there will have to be other changes at home.
“There are about twelve meetings in Christchurch. I haven’t told him yet but Aaron (son) will have to look after the horses when I’m away.”
As well as being a breeder, trainer, driver and administrator Swain also likes to have the odd bet and has a very good understanding of racing from a punters viewpoint.
He says the key thing in his new role is to listen to all industry players.
“A lot of people out there complain about a lot of things. You just have to sift through it and work out which is worthy or not. I have a lot of ideas I can add to the industry and I think I can pull the clubs together. My intention is to be an asset (on the board).”
On the breeding front he currently has nine foals on the ground and six mares in foal with about thirty horses all up. And he’s keen to ensure that other owners continue to breed.
“If you do breed to a lesser stallion I want you to get a fair return. My main aim is to look after the grass roots, encouraging people to breed horses and race them more.”
Over the years he’s realised that selling is often the only way to remain sustainable in the industry.
“If you sell you go again. If you win a good stake it encourages you to go again. I think we’ve got behind (in stakes) and we’ve got some ground to make up.”
Over the years he has also trained and raced a number of handy horses, his best being Scoots a Holmes Hanover mare out of Outspoken which won seven races before she was sold to America in 2000.
“She won another thirty (races) in America against the best Free For All mares over there. At one point she was the fastest mare to leave Australasia. She won a half a million dollars in America.”
Other good winners from his stable were Radar Installed, the winner of 10 races. Hayton Brain a Sir Vancelot gelding won nine races and a further thirteen in Australia including the Group Two Celebrity Sprint, the Group Three FHRC Members Sprint, Group Three Village Kid Sprint at Northam and the Group Two Mount Eden Sprint. He also ran third in the Group One Australian Pacing Championship.He ended his career having won $369,672.
Mister Kentucky and Oomph were other good winners Swain has trained.
Although he acknowledges there’s plenty to learn about board protocol he says he’s keen to offer his services on a number of subcommittees.
“I think I’ve got a very good knowledge of handicapping. I’m also interested in setting conditions and rules for age group racing including concessions. I’ll see what’s available but I know where I want to be. I don’t mind sitting out on the edge as long as it’s sustainable. I also don’t mind being wrong.
There’ll be some pretty knowable guys up there. You can’t be scared to try and can’t be scared to fail.Programming is very important too. We need to get every horse on the track every second week with just ten races. Harness Racing is at a very crucial point at the moment and failure isn’t an option.”
Murray Swain will assume his new position following the Annual Conference on 30th July, replacing Ailsa Smaill who is retiring after being on the Board of HRNZ for the past 12 years.
Bruce Stewart