Brent and Tim White – Part Two

Part two of the Brent and Tim White harness racing story explores more about Tim who’s been training in partnership with his father since 2022.

“I always loved them and had fantasy punts when I was a young fella. I lived with Granddad and he was a $2 each way man. I always sat at home with him watching the races. At that point Dad wasn’t as involved but it got me into it,” he said of his early days.

Tim went to school at Riccarton High in Christchurch before doing a two year agricultural course at Telford.

“I then became a stock agent for eight years. In that time I was helping Dad. It just developed from there and once Dad moved to Ashburton I was already living here. Staff became harder to get, I became the next cab off the rank.”

Brent and Tim’s first winner in the partnership was Bobby Waterhouse (American Ideal) at Banks Peninsula in September 2022.

The partnership only recorded four wins in its first season but hit it’s hopples the following year, winning 36 races.

Included in those victories was Brent and Tim’s first feature race winner Shard’s Matrix, (Sweet Lou) in the G2 Sapling Stakes on their home track in June.

Other feature wins followed with American Me (American Ideal) winning the G3 Methven Cup and the stable’s biggest win came at the end of the season when American Me won the G1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup.

Although the job dishes up some long hours, Tim says he’s loving it.

“I’m lucky I did something first. I don’t think I’d be here now if I came straight out of school. It’s good to go and get different experiences and deal with different people then come back to it. I’ve got a good circle of people I know.”

He says he built up a strong network of contacts and owners when he was a stock agent.

“I love doing that sort of stuff. We want to grow the Mid-Canterbury area. I played lawn bowls before I did this. I’ve got a couple of owners that played bowls with me in on horses. Some of the farmers I used to deal with have shown some interest.”

The Whites name might be printed in the racebook, but Tims says it’s a team effort with Kimberly Butt, Sarah O’Reilly and Jack Joyce very much part of the team.

“It’s not about just me and the old man. We’re only as good as our weakest link. Over the last 12 months we’ve got good staff and developed Jack.”

Tim says he gets excited when race day approaches.

“I like it when we’re getting close to race time and getting them pitch perfect. I also love tracking, doing the heart rates and all that stuff.”

Tim lives in Ashburton with his partner of twelve years, Vanessa Wylie.

“She’s a Mid-Canterbury local and I met her through one of the horses I owned, Trouble Rieu. She was friends with one of the other owners. She had no interest in horses at all so it’s quite good to go home and not talk about horses. But she does like having a wee bet”.

The couple have two children Issy (7) and Harry (5).

“It’s cool seeing them get into things. They’ve shown some interest in the horses but we won’t be pushing it too hard.”

Tim does the early feed at 6:15am and normally gets home at 4.00pm.

“We’ve got a small block of land and we’ve got some of Donna Williamson’s mares so that keeps us busy. Vanessa has a shearing contracting business so in the peak time of year she’s busy enough too.”

The stable has recently qualified two young horses; One For Jay, (Sweet Lou) a filly out of Bettorkeepthefaith and Bettor Go Vinnie (Vincent) which is out of Delightful Dale.

Bettorkeepthefaith is a one win Bettor’s Delight mare out of Running On Faith which won the G1 Great Northern Oaks and the Three Year Old Diamond while Delightful Dale also by Bettor’s Delight, is from the Black Watch family.

“We’ve got some nice ‘cattle’ and a nice bunch of about twelve yearlings coming through so it’s all positive.”

Another recent qualifier Superazz (Always B Miki) is out of Pembrook’s Delight, making him a half-brother to Rightazz (5 wins).

Tim says the stable likes to do their own ‘breakers” but they do get some help.

“Tracey Hickey a galloping trainer here on the course helps us. She does a bit of the mouthing. We use some of her facilities when we’ve got a few racehorses. We try and keep them separate so we don’t get all their bugs.”

The Whites have twenty five horses in work and outside of hoping to win a New Zealand Cup, Tim has a passion for age group racing, particularly three year old features.

“I love age group racing and would love to win the Derby.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink