Racing icon retires

In a sport often spotlighting jockeys and trainers, Ross Coles is one of the unsung legends.

Ross was the Clerk of the Course at Ellerslie and Pukekohe for nearly 60 years. Ross celebrated his last ride at his home course, Pukekohe Park, on Ladies’ Day.

Mounted on horseback throughout race meetings, the Clerk of the Course plays a crucial, behind-the-scenes role: managing field movements, catching loose horses, and ensuring the safety of both horse and rider.

“It’s really just safety, to make sure they all get to the start, and that they all come home.”

It’s a demanding job that requires deep horsemanship and calm under pressure. The 76-year-old has carried out these vital duties longer than most racegoers have been alive, becoming a steady, respected presence who keeps race days running smoothly, rain or shine.

While horses don’t get loose very often, Ross reckoned he caught hundreds during his six decades on the job.

“It’s perhaps the most dramatic thing that we do.”

However, Ross recalled a particularly dramatic incident in Ellserlie about 30 years ago.

“In the jumping races, there used to be the odd horse going the wrong way around. We had one at Ellerslie in a flat race that got away, galloped into a corner, fell over and slipped under the fence. They caught it in the Ellerslie shopping centre. It still had the saddle cloth and the number on.

“They go a long way when they’re galloping!”

His faithful mount, Mister Grey, is washed the day before race day, with a 7am start to the day for Ross.

“In New Zealand, racing is for the love of the horse. The trainers will tell you that they don’t get rich by training horses. Their standard of living is determined by the amount of money they earn from winning races.”

One of the major changes in racing over the years has been made through the TAB and Entain, who have “changed the whole dynamic of punting”.

“You’re racing for better money. Today’s [June 25] races are all $25,000, whereas 10 years ago we would’ve been racing for $10,000.”

The one thing Ross will miss the most, come the new racing season, is having “the best seat in the house”, trackside on Mister Grey.

“I’ll still be around the race days; I really enjoy it. It’s not like you pack your bag and walk away.”

Ross said he fell into the role in the 1960s as his father was a Clerk of the Course, and it was another opportunity to earn some money.

“My father retired in 1983, and I took over his job. He was a huntsman by profession, so I took over that job and inherited the leader’s role in this job.”

Born and bred in Howick, Ross moved to Karaka in 1953. He is a former Huntsman of the Pakuranga Hunt.

He was later Chef d’Equipe and team manager for various New Zealand equestrian teams – including the gold-medal-winning World Championship team in Rome and the 2000 Sydney Olympics – Ross’s knowledge and leadership shaped not only racing but wider equestrian sport in New Zealand.

In 2019, he was recognised with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Service Award, and in 2024, he received Life Membership from Auckland Thoroughbred Racing – a reflection of the enduring contribution made to both club and the sport.