Nigel Craig – history maker

You won’t find many trotting CVs like that of Nigel Craig (Protector).

The talented square gaiter did it all. He time trialled, was pitched against globetrotting mare Petite Evander in a match race, ran in a Miracle Mile against the pacers, won a Dominion Handicap and raced successfully in America. 

Nigel Craig was bred by Dave Oxnam of Murchison and one of his first challenges in life came as a yearling when the Murchison River broke its banks and reached the paddock where he was grazing. 

Oxnam found the young horse downstream alone on an island shivering but safe. His tenacity to be in for the fight was to auger well for his racing career. 

Oxnam took the young Protector colt to the 1971 National Sales at Addington where Lance and Bevan Heron bought him for $475.00.

Named after Bevan’s two sons, Nigel Craig started his career at Kaikoura in November of 1974 as a five year old. He broke and finished eleventh. He won his first race at Blenheim in February 1975 and finished his first season with two wins and three minor placings. 

At six he won five of his twenty starts and ran second on five other occasions.

Nigel Craig came into his own as a seven year old, winning eleven of his twenty four starts. His wins included the Ordeal Trotting Cup and the DG Jones Memorial/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup beating arch-rival Alias Armbro.

Taken to Auckland for the first time he won a 2200 metre stand but was beaten by Petite Evander in the Benson and Hedges Invitational Trot. 

Back in Canterbury for the Cup Meeting Nigel Craig won the Worthy Queen in record time but in the Dominion Handicap he was beaten by Armbro Lady by three quarters of a length. In the New Zealand FFA, he finished second to Petite Evander. 

In February 1977 Nigel Craig time trialled at Addington with a galloping pacemaker. The pair ran the first quarter in 29.6, reached the 800 metres in 58.8 and three quarters in 1-27.8. He stopped the clock in 1-58.8. It was the first time in New Zealand a trotter had gone under 2 minutes. 

A month later Petite Evander also time trialled and a match race was organised between the pair. Raced over a mile in Auckland Nigel Craig won, but the time was a pedestrian 2-10.8. Regardless, it was reported to be a crowd pleaser. 

Nigel Craig’s biggest win came in November 1977 when he finally won the Dominion Handicap. In the race, driver Bevan Heron took him straight to the lead. 

The crowd of 22,000 roared as Nigel Craig turned for home in front with Best Bet and Waipounamu chasing hard. Best Bet was closing hard but the gallant gelding dug deep to hang on to win by a length.

Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake made the presentation and seventy three year old Lance Heron who had been suffering from ill health took the microphone and replied.

“I’m very proud to have won this race. I had to do it today before it was too late. God bless all those in hospital and all the best to you who have supported Nigel so many times before,” he said.

After the Dominion win Nigel Craig created history by being the first trotter invited to the Miracle Mile at Addington. He drew barrier one but ran fifth of the seven starters. Nimble Yankee won in 1-59.9 with Bevan Heron claiming the race was not run fast enough for his trotter.

He continued to race successfully as an eight year old winning eight of his nineteen starts with his last start being in the Trotting Championship in March 1978 which he won. 

Nigel Craig finished his New Zealand career with a record of 80 starts for 26 wins, 18 seconds and 6 thirds, banking $91,235.

He was sold for $100,000 to New York trainer Mike Gagliardi through local agent Kevin Ryder.

In America he had seventy five starts for 16 wins, 8 seconds and nine thirds earning $143,511.

Nigel Craig, one of this country’s trail blazing and enduring trotters. 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink