Frosty’s delight

After sixty eight drives, amateur harness racing driver Warren ‘Frosty’ Frost won his first race today at Rangiora. And he’s on cloud nine.

“I got the bug from Dad and Grandad. I also did a bit of work in my late twenties for Leicester Tatterson out at Rangiora,” he said.

In today’s Country Feast Mobile Pace Frost settled his drive Ruby’s A Delight (Bettor’s Delight) at the back of the field early on. At the 700 he was two off the running line but Foveaux Gambler (Betting Line) was on his outside three wide and going nowhere.

“I thought there’d be a bit of speed early on. There was a bit of pace on which works for her. I was intending to move at the 800 but Colleen Negus (Foveaux Gambler) was stuck out there three wide. At the 700 it looked as though the horse was going to come back but I stayed in and waited. At the 500 I took the bull by the horns wanting to make it a true staying test. At the 150 I did feel confident because she’s just so honest this horse.”

Ruby’s A Delight got the better of Foveaux Gambler and Smokin Annie (Mach Three) close to the line and won by a neck.

Warren Frost and Ruby’s A Delight winning at Rangiora today (Race Images)

The sixty two year old says today’s win was one of the biggest thrills in his life.

“I think it’s because my grandfather and my dad had been in the game, and I’ve just enjoyed it. It was actually quite a good field today and I thought Smokin Annie would be very hard to beat because she’s won ten races. It was a lovely feeling at the 150 when I hit the front.”

Warren congratulated by John McDermott

Warren’s father Bill drove three winners, two for his father Leicester.

Leicester who had a stable at New Brighton trained twenty eight winners between 1949 and 1963. The best was Maida Dillon (Dillion Hall) which won thirteen races. She ran second and third in the Dunedin Festival Cup and was second in the 1951 New Zealand FFA won by Māori Home (Dillon Hall). He also trained Lucky Tryax (Hal Tryax) which won six and was the sire of Sam Tryax which won thirteen races including the 1969 Welcome Stakes and 1970 New Zealand Messenger.

“I’ve actually got his (grandfather’s) colours which are gold and purple stripes. I’ve used them a few times when I get the right horse.”

Owned by John and Christine McDermott the win was Ruby’s A Delight’s tenth – four of which have been at Rangiora.

“They’ve been very supportive and put me on a few horses.”

Warren’s wife Donna and daughter Natasha who would normally be on course to watch him drive couldn’t make the trip today.

“They’re avid supporters but we have a dance company (Latin Fire) and they’re heavily into training at the moment because there’s a South Island competition in two weeks time which my wife and I run. It was a bit of a bummer because Rangiora put on a presentation which I wasn’t expecting. Things like that added to the day.”

Although he’s had a lifetime interest in harness racing Warren gave the sport away to concentrate on a career path with Turners and Growers.

“Seven or eight years ago I just happened to see amateur racing and thought gee that looks like fun. I got hold of Gavin Cook and worked with him a bit. He introduced me to John and Christine, and I formed a relationship with them and they gave me some opportunities on their horses. I worked for Ivan and Anne Court for about ten months. I’ve also done some work with the Stapletons and Colin and Julie DeFilippi. All of them are genuine people.”

Frost appreciates the Amateur Drivers group and he says they’re all very supportive of one another.

Warren has worked for Turners and Growers most of his life and is currently the business’s Category Development Manager.

“I travel up to Auckland every second week because we have a lot of glasshouse businesses up there. I look after all the innovation so I bring in all the new varietal stuff from overseas, look at what the market is looking for and drive all the new product development.”

Frost says the company is excited about a number of new tomato products.

“There’s one called Farmers Harvest which is a medium sized truss in a really nice cardboard box. The tomatoes have really nice flavours because a lot of these big loose tomatoes are not really great for taste.”

Frosty now has a taste for winning and his father and grandfather would be proud.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink