Obituary - Hec Anderton
Hec Anderton, an achiever in thoroughbred racing as a jockey, trainer, breeder and apprentice mentor, died today at the age of 84.
He had been in ill health and was admitted to the Otago Community Hospice in Dunedin today. He died surrounded by his wife, Pat and children, Michael, Paul, Debbie Kennedy, Janine Carroll and Tania Batt.
His death came soon after a horse he bred and raced in partnership, Descaro won at Wingatui. Descaro is trained by his brother, Brian and nephew, Shane Anderton.
Hec (Hector Thomas) trained the winners of some 350 races either on his own account or in partnership from stables close to Wingatui. He had 22 wins with his father, Hector and 98 in eight seasons with his son Steven.
He began training in the 1962-63 season with his father with whom he served an apprenticeship as a jockey He signed up as a probationer at the age of 12. His elder brother, Brian had ridden his first winner at the age of 13 but a rule was introduced extending the minimum age for an apprentice to take a ride to 15. Hec rode his first winner, Irish Wings at Beaumont in 1956 at that age.
His major win as a jockey was the Churchill Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton two years later on Fountainhead. “I was staying at the boarding house with the staff of from the stable of George Greene, who trained Fountainhead. The horse only had seven stone three pounds (46kg) as a 3yr-old and I phoned Mr Greene to inquire if he had a rider.“ Anderton was told to be at Riccarton the next morning at 4 o’clock to ride Fountainhead in work. “Mr Greene asked me how I would hold the horse and I replied that if he didn’t put me on he would never know.”
Anderton rode Fountainhead in behind in contrast to the usual style of the Gold Nib colt, who won by four lengths to equal the track record of 1.35.2 set by Liban in the Jockey Club Handicap three days earlier.
Hec rode Ravelston to win on each of the three days of the 1960 Riverton Easter meeting run on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Ravelston was owned by Harold Dennis, father of the Dennis brothers and trained by Hector. His Riverton wins were over seven furlongs (1400m), 1 1/4m (1800m, Southern Champion Hack Handicap) and President’s Handicap (1200m) under nine stone seven pounds (60.5kg) against 16 rivals. Hec and Ravelston carried on to win six in a row, the last two in open races at Invercargill and Wingatui.
Hec began training in the 1962-63 season with his father, posting 20 wins. Hec dropped out after the combination had won two races the following season. “The partnership did not really work out,” said Hec.
Hec then operated a horse transport business for five years, continuing to help his father.
The purchase of an Avocat General – Mistress Nell colt by Roger Grey, a friend of Hector, prompted the younger Anderton to renew his trainer’s licence in a sole capacity.
“I had taken the colt to the Trentham sales for Lance Aynsley, of Gore and he was passed in,” recalled Hec.
The colt was then entered for the Otago Bloodstock sale at Wingatui five months later.
“I saw him at the Wingatui sale and suggested to Roger Grey that he bid on him. He got him for 310 guineas.
“Roger informed dad that he had bought a horse on my advice and dad replied that I might as well train him.”
Hec began operating out of stable rented from Wingatui jockey Lex Hare. The colt was Crown Agent and won 12 races, mainly on provincial tracks. His wins included the 1972 Bank Of New South Wales Challenge Cup at Hokitika.
Hec bought the Zetland Lodge stable at Wingatui in the late 1960s and took over horses from the stable of his late uncle, Ashley Powell in 1969. They included Captain’s Command, Channel Command and Aldershot. Captain’s Command had won the 1968 Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton for Dunedin owner Eddy Young when trained by Powell. Captain’s Command won two minor races for Hec. Channel Command was a winner on the flat over hurdles and as a steeplechaser.
Aldershot was owned by Fred Anscombe and Eric (Curly) Smart.
“It was a big break for me getting these owners. Mr Young always bought horses at the yearling sales and Curly and Fred bred a lot of horses.”
Messrs Anscombe and Smart provided Hec with Mellseur. “arguably the best horse I have trained,’’ said Hec.
Mellseur won the 1980 group one Penfold’s Chardon Mile (now Thorndon Mile) at Trentham, the 1979 Thames Valley Stakes and 1980 George Adams Handicap at Riccarton. The Causeur – Queen Mellay mare won 17 races, including the South Island Thoroughbred Stakes at Orari twice, the Gore and Waikouaiti Cups. He was now back in the house and stables (Pink Robe Lodge) in Wingatui Road where he was raised.
He rated Mellseur alongside The Jewel among the best horses he trained. The Jewel won the g1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas in 2002, the g1 International Stakes at Te Rapa and the Doomben Roses when Hec was training with his son, Steve from new stables and home he built 34 years ago on a property opposite Pink Robe Lodge.
The father and son trained Sand Sweeper, whose 10 wins in New Zealand included the 2005 Canterbury Gold Cup and Easter Cup.
Hec had a soft spot for jumpers. “I go a huge thrill out of winning my first Great Western (steeplechase),’’ he said
That was in 1974 with Jack Tat, a newcomer to the stable that season and off the winning list for 12 months.
Anderton had his major jumps win in the 1986 Nescafe Steeplechase at Ellerslie with Rock Crystal. The Nescafe (Great Northern) then had a stake of $150,000, the richest for a jumps race in New Zealand. Hec took over Rock Crystal after the death of his father.
“Rock Crystal had bowed a tendon the year before and dad showed me how to patch up a tendon just before he died.”
Rock Crystal had gone in the wind and had heart strain after his Nescafe win but Hec brought him back to win the Great Western for a second time in 1988.
Hec had five trips to Australia and won 10 races on eight different tracks there. He won listed races at Caulfield and Moonee Valley with Native Monarch and won at Flemington with Noble River (hurdles), steeplechase (Owhata Son) and flat (Native Monarch and Ain’t No Doubt).
Noble River won the 1983 Winter Cup at Ricccarton at odds of 18 to one. Native Monarch won the 1993 Riverton Cup.
Hec prepared several horses for different sales and he sold a Noble Bijou -Foxfun filly for $150,000 at the National Yearling sale at Trentham in 1985.
“John Douglas -Clifford loaned me Foxfun to breed a foal and the sale really put me on my feet.”
Hec bred several horses in partnership, among them De Montfort, whom he trained to win the 1999 Dunedin Cup with his daughter Debbie Kennedy the rider. Hec and Brian bred Loftys Gift, winner of the race in 2025. Descaro (Ghibellines – Flyby) is a sister to Loftys Gift.
Debbie served her apprenticeship with her father as did Jason Laking, who rode The Jewel to win the One Thousand Guineas. Another of his apprentices was Jarrod Todd, who has made his mark in the Northern Territory of Australia. He has won over 700 races.
Hec retired from training in 2008 but he returned to help Claire Anderton when his son Steve, her husband was killed in a tragic accident in 2015.