Vale, Danny Champion

Media Release - Thursday November 21

The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.

The 52-year-old, who hailed from Taranaki, was based in Hawke’s Bay with his partner Kate Hercock, having spent much of his life in Canterbury.

Danny Champion sadly passed away this week.   Photo: Race Images

In 22 seasons of training, much of that time in partnership with Kezia Murphy, Champion won 139 races, highlighted by victory in the 2013 edition of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) with Orovela, who he had sourced as a weanling for just $1,200.

There would be few who knew Champion better than Murphy, who was by his side from the moment he kicked off his training career.

“He was a really significant person in my life,” Murphy said. “I met Danny when I was 17 and he had been involved in racing all his life, but he was looking to start up as a trainer himself.

“I was basically with him from day one when he got his trainer’s license, and we got into a lot of breaking in and pre-training.

“I had no involvement in racing. I loved horses but I had come from an eventing and dressage background. Danny really introduced me to the world of racing and starting young horses.

“When the operation got a bit bigger, we had the opportunity to move to Ashburton. I worked for Danny for quite some time and then her offered me a partnership around 2010 or 11, which I was very grateful for and duly accepted.”

Murphy said Champion had a great eye for horses, and while the stable didn’t have the budget to purchase top-end young stock, Champion was able to secure some bargain buys and got the best out of the horses he trained.

“He had a real gift for finding a bargain. Many of his horses were cheap purchases who went on to do well above what you would expect,” Murphy said.

“The thing that I most enjoyed with Danny was the challenging horses that perhaps some of the bigger stables might not have been interested in. Danny was a brilliant horseman and farrier, and he really liked a challenge, and he definitely instilled that in me.”

While a natural horseman, Champion wasn’t introduced to the animal he would come to love until he went to school and struck up an association with the son of a renowned Taranaki trainer.

“He grew up in a non-horsey family and when he was in primary school he became friends with John Wheeler’s son, Ryan,” Murphy said. “They were best mates and he used to go up to John Wheeler’s and he loved the horses.

“John and his late wife Lyndsey had a huge influence in Danny’s life and he loved going there to ride their ponies, which eventuated into riding track work.”

Advertisement

Champion was intent on a career in the saddle, but it soon became evident that he would quickly outgrow a jockeys build.

“I think Danny was pretty devastated when he got on the scales one day and he was 52.5 kilos and John said to him he wasn’t going to make an apprentice,” Murphy said.

With his riding hopes dashed, Champion turned to harness racing, but the love of the thoroughbred swiftly drew him back and he worked for a number of Taranaki trainers before eventually moving to Christchurch after a successful southern campaign in the early nineties.

“He was working for Max Northcott and he came down (to Riccarton) with a horse called Sir Barton for the Grand National Carnival in 1991, and he won the Grand National (Hurdles).

“Danny did quite a lot of schooling with jumpers, he was quite accomplished in everything he did, he was a gifted horseman.

“When he came down it was apparently really beautiful weather compared to Taranaki, where it rains all the time, and he thought what a great place to be. He went back home with the horses and then decided to move down to Riccarton.”

Following 20 years training in Canterbury, Champion moved to Hawke’s Bay last year to be with his partner Kate Hercock.

“It was bittersweet (ending the training partnership) having been involved with each other for 20 years, but I was really happy for Danny that he had met Kate and he was doing what he wanted to do,” Murphy said.

Champion continued to have success in the north and it was fitting that he was victorious with his last runner to the races, Makkaldee at Tauherenikau earlier this month, with Hercock in the saddle.

Murphy said it was a pleasure to be mentored by Champion and he will be sorely missed.

“He was a strong, courageous and loyal person and had a great sense of humour,” she said. “He was always happy to help a stranger, he loved helping people.

“When he was in a grand mood, there was no one else you would rather be around. He was one of a kind, a really funny guy and had a lot to offer.”

Champion’s funeral is set to take place at 2pm next Tuesday, November 26, at Riccarton Racecourse. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
Godolphin Again - Unbeaten Desert Flower Wins Newmarket 1000 Guineas
The stars continue to align for Sheikh Mohammed with the Godolphin blue again in the winner’s circle in the UK overnight with undefeated filly Desert Flower taking out the Group I Newmarket 1000 Guineas (1m).
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.