The owner of champion trotter Lyell Creek and punter extraordinaire Graham Bruton was last night named New Zealand Racing Personality of the Year.
Voting figures for the award, conducted by the Racing Writers' Association, are not revealed but it is believed the decision was very close between Bruton and champion apprentice jockey Michael Walker.
The award is not necessarily for achievements gained during the racing season. When nominations are called for, all that is asked is that the candidate should have been prominent and a household name or personality in his or her own right.
In addition to Bruton and Walker harness racing junior driver Mark Jones, greyhound trainer Garry Cleeve and greyhound Trackside television presenter Mark Rosanowski were nominated.
Bruton was to the fore during the season mainly through the deeds of Lyell Creek.
Creek The Freak, as he became known, was the first trotter to win the triple crown - the $100,000 Dominion Handicap in Christchurch, the $A500,000 Interdominion final in Melbourne and the $A100,000 Rowe Cup in Auckland.
He ended the season with 16 consecutive wins to set a record for a New Zealand trotter.
Bruton purchased Lyell Creek for $20,000 after the horse had won his debut and now has stake earnings of $668,000. Lyell Creek's record stands at 18 wins from 20 starts.
Bruton was nicknamed Steel Balls by TAB bookmakers for his punting feats.
His first achieved fame for his punting when he backed Otago to win the country's national provincial rugby championship (NPC) in 1998.
He was said to have placed bets totalling $80,000 on Otago and won about $200,000.
The citation that accompanied last night's top prize read:
"The award to Graham Bruton acknowledges his unique contribution to the industry as owner of champion trotter Lyell Creek and renowned punter.
"These included an unprecedented achievement of the triple crown - Dominion Handicap, the Interdominion Grand Final and Rowe Cup.
"He struck gold and the 1999-2000 season was richer, too, for having a high profile player such as Graham as the face of racing."
Awards presented at a black tie evening at Alexandra Park were: -
Thoroughbred racing
Leading trainer: Graeme Rogerson-Keith Hawtin. Leading jockey: Michael Walker. Leading apprentice Walker. Leading jumps jockeys: Eddie Lamb. Leading strike-rate trainer: Del Roberts. Leading newcomer to training: Mark Walker.
Harness racing
Leading trainer: Mark Purdon. Leading driver: Tony Herlihy. Leading junior driver: Mark Jones. Leading strike-rate trainer: Lawrence Hanrahan.
Leading newcomer to training: Todd MacFarlane.
Greyhound racing
Leading trainer: Craig Roberts. Leading strike-rate trainer: Margaret McFarlane. Leading newcomer to training: David Schofield.
Racing: 'Freak' helps secure top award
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