Fairytale Finish: Hobby Trainers Shine in Canterbury Classic

Hobby Trainers Trevor Proctor and Greg Manson Make Their Mark in Canterbury Classic

In the fast-paced, competitive world of harness racing, it’s easy to think the big names and bigger barns always steal the show. But every now and then, the racing gods deliver a fairytale – and last Friday night at Addington, we got not one, but two.

The Canterbury Classic saw two unlikely heroes punch their golden tickets to the IRT New Zealand Cup – Tact McLeod, trained by Trevor Proctor, and Franco Marek, under the watchful eye of Greg Manson. Both hobby trainers, both with small operations, and both now bound for New Zealand’s greatest race.

The Legacy of Tact McLeod

For Trevor Proctor and his partner Diane Dynes, Friday night’s win felt like more than just a victory. It was a continuation of a legacy that started decades ago, stretching back to the roots of the Tact breeding line that Diane’s late father, Derek Dynes, helped build.

Trevor and Diane’s Tact McLeod, a towering son of Sweet Lou, stormed to victory with a brilliant drive by Samantha Ottley, securing his spot in the Cup. It’s been a long journey for Proctor, who first laid hands on Tact McLeod as a raw, gangly youngster, full of potential but with plenty of work to be done.

Proctor, now 74 , has been around long enough to know when he’s got something special. “We’ve slowly worked on him, and he’s slowly come right,” he said of the horse that he and Diane decided to keep, passing on offers to sell. "I think he could be the best horse I’ve had."

But the story of Tact McLeod isn’t just about the here and now. It’s rooted in the history of the Tact horses, a line that stretches back to the 1940s, when Tactic, the famed broodmare, was born. Tactic’s bloodline produced champions like Tactile, a New Zealand juvenile superstar who won five Derbies in a single season – a record that still stands today.

Diane’s father, Derek, was instrumental in that legacy, and the family has carried it forward ever since. Together, Diane and Trevor continue to uphold the Tact name, keeping the tradition alive on their property near Winton, where they raise and train horses that carry generations of excellence.

Greg Manson and Franco Marek: Racing with Heart

Just behind Tact McLeod, another horse with a heartfelt story of its own secured second place and a spot in the Cup. Franco Marek, trained by Lincoln’s Greg Manson, carries the colours of the late Blair Vining, a close friend of Manson’s who inspired the nation with his battle against cancer and his push for better healthcare.

Manson’s horses race with Vining’s initials, “BV”, emblazoned on their silks in black, red, and white – the colours of Vining’s beloved Midland Rugby Club. For Manson, every time Franco Marek steps onto the track, it’s about more than just winning. It’s about honouring the memory of a mate who fought the good fight.

“It is a dream come true to get him into the race, and we will be going,” said Manson, already eyeing the Cup with anticipation. Franco Marek has come a long way under Manson’s care, and his second-place finish in the Canterbury Classic only cements his place as one to watch.

Two Hobby Trainers, One Dream

In a sport where big stables often dominate the headlines, the success of Trevor Proctor and Greg Manson is a reminder of what makes harness racing special. It’s not just about the money or the size of your operation – it’s about heart, dedication, and love for the sport.

For Proctor and Manson, securing their spots in the IRT New Zealand Cup feels like a nod to the old days, when small-time trainers could take on the giants and come out on top. "We’ve waited for this moment," said Manson. "And now, it’s here."

The countdown to November 12 is on, and when Tact McLeod and Franco Marek step onto that hallowed track at Addington, they’ll be doing more than just racing. They’ll be carrying with them the hopes and dreams of everyone who’s ever dared to believe that, in harness racing, anything is possible.