Legacy lives on

When six year old harness racing gelding My Watchlist (He’s Watching) trained by Gary Hall Snr won at Gloucester Park recently, the breeding legacy of Central Southland breeder Roger Price who passed away last month, was in evidence again. 

Watchlist won twice in New Zealand before he was exported to Western Australia with Roger retaining a share in the gelding. He only had seven starts between October 2023 and April 2025 and was off the scene completely between November 2023 and September 2024. 

He’s out of Mach Three mare Donnamach, whom Roger bred out of Belladonna. She fashioned a great record at stud, leaving foals that won over 115 races. 

The list is impressive: Cadillac Kent (21), Bellaholmes (22), Pocket Master (11), Pocket Express (12), Bella’s Fella (9), Scotty Mac (39), Bellavita (1) and Donnamach (2). 

The best horse Roger bred was Chicago Bull which won 62 races and banked $2,417,890. He too was trained by Gary Hall Snr and driven in most of his career starts by Gary Hall Jnr. 

Chicago Bull’s wins included two Freemantle Cups, a WA Cup, a WA Derby and a Four Year Old Classic, all Group One features. 

The Price family have been involved in horses for over 100 years with Roger’s dad Jack Price and his brother Vic successfully racing gallopers. 

Rorke’s Drift was probably one of the best gallopers raced by the family. He won the Birthday Handicap at Wingatui in 1916, 1918 and 1921. He also won the Dunedin Cup twice as well as the Riverton Cup. 

But it’s the Standardbreds that Roger was involved with for most of his life, and of Belladonna’s record he was particularly proud.  

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink