Doctor’s $10,000 gamble still reaping rewards

In the 1970s, Ed Dewar, a young doctor practicing in Western Australia, took a punt and paid $10,000 for a mare that had been competing in harness racing meetings in Victoria.

It was no small gamble when the average Sydney house price was $17,000 – but Dewar was convinced.

“Back then it was a huge amount of money – but I’ve never regretted it!” he laughed.

“The horse was a New Zealand mare called Remit by Out To Win from Gold Heritage. She had won a few, but she was only small.”

Remit repaid Dewar’s faith and recorded 18 career wins, 11 of these in WA for Dewar and was also a placegetter in the Empress Stakes and the Breeders Stakes.

“I think she won $40,000 in stake money and she developed a lovely turn of speed,” he said.

It was later in the breeding barn where Remit really excelled – and over 45 years on, her bloodlines are still producing winners, with the latest at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 23, Lucky Lou Whitby (American Ideal) out of a granddaughter of Remit, Prix de Whitby (Life Sign).

“I realise I was lucky to get Remit who has gone on and produced so many good horses,” Dewar said.

“Like everyone, I’ve made some mistakes with the breeding side along the way, but you learn as you go.”

The “Whitby” moniker came about when the Dewars lived on a 168-acre property at Mundijong, south of Perth, with the Whitby Falls nearby.

More than 100 individual winners, including 26 that passed the $100,000 mark, have contributed to over 885 races which trace directly to Remit. Dewar is historically the leading breeder in WA with more than 1142 individual wins – the next best being former WATA President Mr J.P Stratton on 1056.

Among Dewars winners are 23 Group One races including two in Victoria and one in Tasmania. He’s also bred four Golden Slipper 2yo winners, four 2yo Pearl Classic winners and two apiece in the WA Oaks and Derby. And his USA Group One winner Its Rock And Roll has extended his wins to 29 and in excess of $500,000 in stakes.

In recognition of an extraordinary and truly remarkable breeding and racing record over many years, Dewar was last week presented with life membership of the Western Australian Standardbred Breeders Association.

“I have always had a motto of breed from good mares – but being honest, I’ve had a few abject failures!” he laughed.

The 82-year-old has a team of three horses in training and has prepared 129 winners of his own.

“I’ve got Ash Markham helping me out at the moment, which is great. I still race in the same colors – white with a green diamond – that I started out with in 1975,” he said.

“It was probably always in me because my parents loved the horses too.  My father’s family was into gallopers, while my mother’s side was standardbreds.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the training and racing of our horses and that’s with also having a busy medical practice and the farms.

“If I’m at the races, there’s still an adrenaline rush when one of our horses is in front turning for home. It will probably always be that way.”

Remit produced outstanding fillies Whitby Heritage 22 wins $201,758, Whitbys Merit 10 wins $168,598, Fiscal Miss 15 wins $53,854, Whitby Mitre 9 wins $39,916 and best colt Whitby Timer 23 wins $314,899!

Fiscal Miss who was twice named Australian Broodmare of the year produced: Australian 2yr old pacer of the year and then Australian 3 yr old Pacer of the year Whitbys Miss Penny (22 wins $568,289 and a remarkable 1.55.2TT); and Ace Of Whitby (29 wins and $317,247).

Other Remit grand progeny are Montana Anna (13 wins $230,863), Aikido Whitby (21 wins $270,328), Zerina Whitby (15 wins$107,827), La Roya Whitby (7 wins $106,649).

Ed Dewar has bred the winners of 23 Group One races including two in Victoria and one in Tasmania. He has bred four Golden Slipper 2-year-old old winners; four 2yo Pearl Classic winners; two WA Oaks winners.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink