Wilson House – 2025 Junior Driver Champion

Last season was a breakout season for 21 year old Canterbury junior driver Wilson House.

Not only did he win the New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership, he also drove his two hundredth winner and his first black type harness racing winner.

His rise through the junior drivers rates has been impressive. In 2022 he drove nine winners, in 2023 he drove thirty nine, in 2024 sixty two and last year he reined ninety four winners to win the premiership three clear of Carter Dalgety.

Last year’s topsy turvy battle for the title was a talking point late in the season.

“I was lucky enough to win a couple at Gore which was the makings of it, because before that I was behind,” Wilson said.

Seventy three of his ninety four winners were for his father Michael.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without what Dad’s done for me. He’s pretty easy going if you can turn a blind eye to the chaos. It’s really enjoyable because he’s brilliant with what he does, he’s very kind to his horses and he gets the best out of them. Dad’s very clever and horse placement is massive in his stable.”

The Manawatu Raceway was the cornerstone of Wilson’s success last season with thirty three of his wins recorded there, while Addington was a success track with twenty four wins.

“I’d like to go to just Addington which is just 15 minutes away but I do enjoy going to Manawatu. It’s actually harder to win a race there than people realise. They go very quick round that track for the calibre of horse racing there. They can go quicker round there than they do at Addington a lot of the time.”

Michael has been a strong supporter of the Manawatu Raceway for a number of years .

“It can be hard if you have a small number of horses and have to travel to multiple meetings. If you’ve got a big team and multiple vehicles it makes it doable. They’re (Manawatu) just limited with the number of horses in the area especially in the last ten or twelve years. It’s a shame really, because there are so many passionate people up there.”

During the season Wilson drove his first Listed winner in the Ashburton Engravers Mobile Trot with The Present Maker, trained by Anne-Marie and Jack Best.

“Jack and Anne-Marie have been brilliant to me. Not many people get to drive a horse like him. He’s got a lot of ability and it’s taken me on a really good ride so far. Hopefully it goes on for a bit longer.”

The Present Maker is a rising star in the trotting ranks. The seven year old has won eight of his twenty five starts.

“You don’t have to ask for anything, he does it himself. He wants to race. He’s a very tough and fast horse and tries hard.”

His 200^th winner was driving Racey Krusa trained by Amber Hoffman at Gore on December 27^th

“It was a great milestone to achieve, especially as a junior driver.”

Outside of driving Wilson helps his father with logistics when he can.

“I do a fair bit of Ute trailer driving but I don’t have a truck license. I’ve avoided that to protect myself. I’m often between meetings and can’t because the horses are going a couple of days earlier. I often take a float home as opposed to taking one to the races.”

Wilson was destined to enter the racing industry with both his mother and father involved.

“Mum is (Michelle Wilson) from a galloping family and she owned the shop across from Riccarton racecourse. She was there ten to twelve years and worked there long before she bought it. She loves it and makes an effort to come to all the local meetings.”

Her father Bob Wilson operated the blacksmith shop next to the Racecourse Hotel.

“He was a legendary character among all the older generation that knew him.”

After attending West Melton Primary School, Wilson went to St Thomas’s College. She made plans to go to Massey University.

“I was planning on going there and I was half accepted and ready to go. Then I realised I had the opportunity to do the racing thing now and it might not be there in a few years. With the numbers Dad’s got now, it’s a great opportunity and I can develop it a wee bit further. There are a lot of people keen to put me on, it’s just the management of it all.”

Last year Wilson, Carter Dalgety, Sam Thornley and Harrison Orange were members of the New Zealand team in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship held in Brisbane.

“It was brilliant. It’s really different racing over there, they race hard. The horses are different to drive. They want to run. It was great fun and I met some really cool people on the way and some lovely horse trainers who were happy to have us on.”

A goal for Wilson this season, is to continue to obtain more drives outside of his father’s stable.

“It’s a matter of driving as many as I can outside of the stable and getting away from Canterbury. So the big thing for me is to get outside drives and develop myself as a driver.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink