The oldest sponsored thoroughbred race in New Zealand, the White Robe Lodge, will be run for the 50th time at the Otago Racing Club meeting at Wingatui on February 4. 2023. Sponsored by the North Taieri stud and training establishment of Brian and Lorraine Anderton, the race was first run as a limited handicap (maximum topweight 57.5kg ) in 1974 over 1600m for a stake of $5000. It was then a stakes race. The top weight was later raised to 58.5kg maximum. It has been a group three race since 1983 and has been run under weight-for-age conditions since 2018. The stake this year is $100,000, the same as last year and up from $70,000 or $75,000 between 2007 and 2021. It is now the most important race staged by the Otago Racing Club. A service to then-champion WRL sire Mellay was originally awarded to the winning owner. This type of sponsorship was subsequently excluded by racing authorities which led to the WRL stallion services being auctioned and the proceeds donated to the stake. Mellay died in August 1974 and he was succeeded at WRL by another champion sire, Noble Bijou, who stood there from 1975 to his death in November 1994. The sponsorship is now in cash.
Dalkeith Lad, trained by Barry Taggart and ridden by Stuart Ching won the 1974 edition. The Fantasy won the listed version in 1980 and 81 for a stake of $10,000 with Ali Robinson and Kevin Morton as the respective rider. The stake was $16,500 when Dig In won the first gr 3 version in 1983 for trainer Bill Hillis and jockey Jim Collett.
Grey Way, who won 51 races from 162 starts in the 1970s when trained at Washdyke by Pat Corboy for Peter South, made his mark in the WRL Handicap. He contested the race six times for wins in 1976 under Doug Holden; 1977 (Ali Robinson) and 1979 (Kevin Morton) with topweight of 57.5kg each time. He finished second to Rebel Lad in 1975.
The Diamond One, owned by the Dennis brothers, Ray, Tony, Martin, and Joe, won the race three successive years, the second in 2015, three days after the tragic death of his trainer Steve Anderton. His widow Claire continued training The Diamond One, who was ridden in 2015 by Rory Hutchings; Chris Johnson in 2014, and Daniel Bothamley in 2016. The Dennis brothers had won the race as owner-trainers with The Fantasy. The Diamond One traces to The Dimple, a half-sister to The Fantasy.
Brian Anderton has won the race as a trainer with A Gordon For Me (1992-93) and in partnership with his son, Shane has been successful with Perceptible (2002), Coulee (2017), Tommy Tucker (2018), and Gallant Boy (2019). Tommy Tucker was nine, the oldest horse to win the race. The youngest is 3-year-old Gaffa in 1983, trained by Dave Kerr at Riccarton and ridden by Jim Pankhurst. Jamie Bullard and Paul Richards are the most successful jockeys in the race with four wins apiece. Bullard won on Hold It Harvey (2010, 11), Jack Be Nimble (2005), and Volronamo (2004). Richards rode A Gordon For Me in his wins and Jonny Alone (1987) and Art Banquet (1990). Hold It Harvey carried a top weight of 58.5kg in his wins for trainer Terri Rae and owner Matt Shepherd.
The champion Bonecrusher won in 1988, resuming after an 11-month break from racing following a muscular disorder and a strained tendon in a front leg. Murray Acklin, the then and now president of the Otago Racing Club was instrumental in attracting Bonecrusher to Wingatui from Takanini, where he was trained by Frank Ritchie. Bonecrusher had won the 1986 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley by a neck after a torrid battle with Our Waverley Star. The finish at Wingatui was also thrilling with Bonecrusher (57.5kg, Gary Stewart) prevailing by a head from Robinski before a crowd of some 7000. Bonecrusher was quartered at White Robe Lodge the week leading up to his win and did light work there and fast work at Wingatui.