George Simon: I've had a fair crack at Easter
George Simon • April 21st, 2025 3:30 PM
I've always enjoyed calling the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie.
It's one of my favourite races to call each year.
Most racing enthusiasts would know of the rich history of the race, which for many years attracted the very best metric milers in the country.
There's the scarcely believable effort of Sleepy Fox winning the race four times back in the 1940's.
The roll call of winners over the years was testament to the prestige of the Easter Handicap.
Shivaree, Tudor Light, Kiwi Can, Silver Nymph and Silver Wraith were just a handful of winners who were considered some of the very best gallopers of their era.
And then there was Grey Way.
Grey Way's win in the 1977 Easter Handicap had to be seen to be believed.
The Washdyke Wonder got up in the last few strides under the urgings of Bob Skelton, to score a narrow victory against one of the greatest fields ever assembled for the race.
Long time race caller Syd Tonks captured the action beautifully as Grey Way prevailed in one of the most thrilling finishes ever seen.
Don't take my word for it though.
You can watch the replay on YouTube and see for yourself.
I've seen that race hundreds of times over the years and I can honestly say, if there was one race that made me want to be a race caller, it was the 1977 Easter Handicap.
I got my first opportunity to call an Easter in 1987 when Field Dancer, ridden by a fresh-faced apprentice called Micheal Coleman overpowered another star-studded line up.
I've called every Easter since 2005, so you could quite rightly say I've had a fair crack at it.
Of course, the race has undergone a few changes over the years.
In its heyday the race had Group One status, and the big boys and girls would come out to play.
Unfortunately, the Easter has undergone a huge transformation over the years.
Competition on the racing calendar from newer races saw the quality of the field drop away over a period of time and somewhat inevitably the Easter lost its prized Group One status.
Despite the continued sponsorship support of Manco owner Brian Black, the Easter Handicap is now a Group Three race.
Despite that, last Saturday's edition of the Easter once again provided ample evidence that the Easter Handicap is still a good horse's race.
The win of the Joanne Moss owned and trained Doctor Askar, was infused with a huge dollop of the feel-good factor, which has always been a part of the history of the Easter Handicap.
Despite going into the race as the winner of his last four starts, Doctor Askar was largely overlooked by punters, myself included.
Yes, he'd captured everyone's attention with those string of victories, but this was his first look at Ellerslie, and he had a wide draw to contend with too.
With respect, seeing J Moss in the race book as trainer, probably doesn't inspire the confidence of a S Marsh or Te Akau trained runner.
More fool us.
Joanne Moss is a hugely talented horsewoman, and it showed when Doctor Askar stormed to victory with Joe Doyle aboard.
Watching Joanne Moss proudly leading her home bred gelding around the Ellerslie birdcage after the race, I got the distinct impression that another good horse had just won the Easter Handicap.
Thats why I love calling the Easter Handicap every year.
