Memories of legendary horseman Peter Wells

During a heady era of harness racing at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, legendary horseman the late Peter Wells, will long be remembered for his exceptional driving skills.

Wells, who died last Thursday at age 90, combined with trainer Charlie Bell during the 1960s, for a most successful association, notably with the talented Noire Fille but also several others.

First arriving in Australia from New Zealand to compete with a mare named Super Royal in the 1959 Inter Dominion, Wells enjoyed Melbourne so much that he decided to make Victoria his home.

The tight Showgrounds circuit was Melbourne’s harness racing home attracting huge crowds from 1947 to 1976 when the action shifted to Moonee Valley (and later to Melton in 2010).

He had involvement with a star in Waitaki Hanover, as well as other smart horses like Dark Edge, Lonesome Dove, Koranui and Super Scope.

One of his best wins with Waitaki Hanover was 60 years ago when the pair successfully took out the 1964 Geelong Cup.  Waitaki Hanover won 26 races and one of the champions of the mid-1960s, competing against some of the best in New Zealand, defeating Robin Dundee and Cardigan Bay.  In 1963 he won the NSW Lord Mayor’s Cup and ran third to Cardigan Bay in the Inter Dominion at Wayville in Adelaide.  He competed in the 1964 Inter Dominion, failing to qualify for the Grand Final, but winning the Consolation.

Another of Wells’ feature victories was with Meadow Lad in the 1966 NSW Sapling Stakes.

Wells will also be remembered as the stable driver for the strong “Skipper” and Estelle Taylor team. They had considerable success with Koranui. The gifted reinsman later enjoyed partnering Donkiri, a very smart juvenile square-gaiter.

In August of 2013, Wells, of Sunbury, who was a rising 80-year-old at the time, landed a unique double at Ballarat’s Bray Raceway.

He scored with stablemates Dell Boy and Donkiri, both from the Safely Kept mare Belle Kiri. They were prepared at Diggers Rest by trainer Carlo Corso. Dell Boy, a son of Armbro Invasion, moved out from a three wide trail on the final corner to win the 2YO Trotters Handicap in 2.06-9, eclipsing Blitzthemcalder’s juvenile track and class record.

Donkiri, sired by Sundon, did it tough to score in the T1 or better class in a time of 2.04.

There was talk at the time that the achievement by the veteran Wells would be worth a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.

Wells will be missed by his much-loved partner Valerie and the Cerchi family.

Harnesslink sends its condolences to family and friends of the late Peter Wells.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink