‘Famous five’ competed and collaborated on racedays
Another one of New Zealand racing’s ‘‘famous five’’ has died, aged 81. Errol Bryan Skelton was one of five West Coast brothers who took up careers as jockeys.
Bill, Frank, Bob, Errol and Max Skelton were original West Coasters hailing from Cobden in Greymouth and they all enjoyed success in the saddle, though Errol’s main highlights came as a trainer.
The brothers rode a total of 4581 winners in New Zealand, with Bill setting the benchmark and becoming the first New Zealand jockey to notch 2000 wins, while Bob included a Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Van Der Hum among his host of victories and Max also enjoyed success overseas.
Both Bill and Bob Skelton died in 2016, several years after brother
Frank, and now with Errol’s death, Max Skelton, who is living in Christchurch, is the sole survivor and feeling the latest loss.
‘‘We were all good mates – competitive on racedays, but we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company,’’ Max Skelton said.
‘‘Errol’s death has left a big hole. We were pretty close. He was quite a character, often funny without trying to be, and he loved helping people.
‘‘He was all set to come for the Grand National meeting next month.’’
While overshadowed by his brothers as a jockey, Errol Skelton still managed to ride 37 winners from 1955 before increasing weight and injuries from a fall persuaded him to switch to training in 1964.
His most memorable win as a jockey was the 1963 Otago Steeplechase on Tarmine.
Skelton retired from training in 2006 with 296 wins in New Zealand, the latest being Royal Shaka at Wanganui in September 2004. He never had a big team in work and in the twilight years of training he pottered around with just a few horses.
But the statistics don’t tell the whole story. In his 40 years of training, he saddled up some of the best horses in the country and his success spilt over to Australia.
‘‘He was so casual with his horses and they responded so well to him,’’ Max Skelton said. ‘‘Some thought he was too casual, but he got results.
‘‘One of the biggest thrills Errol got was winning the Greymouth Cup. Brother Bill was there and his son, David, rode him, and Frank, my other brother, had a share in him.’’
To go back to his home town and win that 1994 Greymouth Cup was indeed special for Skelton and Grey Raider went on three starts later to also win the Kumara Gold Nuggets for the same combination.
Skelton initially rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the versatile Frederik, who won 11 races, including the 1971 listed Parliamentary Handicap, Grand National Hurdles twice, Wellington Steeplechase, Hawke’s Bay Hurdles and McGregor Grant Steeplechase.
Rose Mellay then emerged to win the 1974 Auckland Cup with Bob Skelton aboard after being runner-up the previous season in the New Zealand Derby and New Zealand Oaks when they were run at Riccarton for the last time.
Skelton later produced his top filly Our Flight, who won the 1982 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie after just failing to land the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas double at Riccarton when going down by a nose to Clansman in the first leg.
Our Flight also won the Bayer Classic and she was third in the New Zealand Oaks, becoming the
1982-83 New Zealand Filly of the Year.
Sly Wink was the top filly on the
1976-77 New Zealand 2YO Free Handicap for Skelton, winning 13 races. She was runner-up in the
1978 Telegraph Handicap and 1977 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Rose And Thistle was also a hardy performer, winning 10 of his
106 starts, including the Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Ellerslie and he was runner-up in the 1981 New Zealand Derby and New Zealand St Leger.
Skelton regularly took Rose And Thistle to Australia, where his efforts included a second in the VATC Herbert Power Handicap and thirds in both the 1984 Brisbane Cup and P J O’Shea Stakes and probably the most memorable, a fourth in the 1984 Melbourne Cup with Bob Skelton aboard.