Kiwi Legend: Gloaming

Two horses lined up for the Ormond Memorial gold cup race in Hawke’s Bay in 1925.
And it sent the crowd into a frenzy.  One was The Hawk - a Caulfield Stakes winner who had seven wins under his saddle and the other was a bay gelding, Gloaming.   Both were considered stars.
Initially two other horses were supposed to race, but when they were scratched it turned into a match race.
It was a true battle.  Between them the lead changed several times to the roar of the crowd.
But with 200 metres to go Gloaming gained the lead and won by a length.  He was nearly 10-years-old and it would be his last win and race before his retirement.
It brought to the end a racing career to rival other legends - Gloaming had won 57 of his 67 starts.  His name is considered up there with the likes of Phar Lap but not as well known.
Born in Australia at Melton Stud in 1915, he was considered an ordinary looking bay gelding, who had caught the disease strangles.  Which led to the bay colt being sold to G D Greenwood for what amounted to $480 odd and brought to New Zealand.
It wasn’t until Gloaming was three that he first showed the promise that would lead to his extraordinary career.  He was sent back to Australia for the Chelmsford race and after settling at the back of the pack, he flew past them all in the straight to win. By eight lengths. In his debut race.
After a loss in the GG Stead Memorial Stakes, he won the AJC Derby before returning to New Zealand.
It would set the tone for his career, crossing back and forth to Australia.  In 1919, he took on champion mare Desert Gold but it all went wrong.  He became tangled in the barrier strands and missed the start.  Gloaming chased Desert Gold down but couldn’t catch her.
Then six days later they had a rematch and this time Desert Gold got caught up in the strands.  When she made it clear she had to hurdle a fallen horse but it was too late. Gloaming had won.
By the time he faced The Hawk in Hawke’s Bay he was a rising 10-year-old.  His opponent was half his age.  He wasn’t expected to be able to beat The Hawk.
It was his last race.  He was immediately retired to his owner’s property in Teviotdale in North Canterbury.  He died in May 1932 and was buried there.
Gloaming never seemed to reach the heights of fame of other horses whose names are still spoken of, like Carbine or Phar Lap but he still holds a few records today.
His trainer Richard Mason had been born in Wellington in 1853 before becoming a jockey then a trainer.  He had a number of well known horses but Gloaming was special.   Mason died a week after the horse he had trained for so many wins.
His trainer - Richard Mason - who waited to retire until Gloaming did, died only a week after one of his most famous horses.   He is buried in St Peter’s Anglican Churchyard in Christchurch.

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