Christopher Vance (5 November 1986 – 13 December 2016) was a

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

-winning New Zealand

Standardbred The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...

racehorse, trained by

Roy Roy is a masculine given name and a family surname with varied origin. In Anglo-Norman England, the name derived from the Norman ''roy'', meaning "king", while its Old French cognate, ''rey'' or ''roy'' (modern ''roi''), likewise gave rise to ...

and Barry Purdon and generally driven by Barry Purdon or

Tony Herlihy Anthony Grant Herlihy (born 4 October 1958) is a New Zealand driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses. He was associated with many champions and has been a leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand. In 2014, he was inducted into the N ...

. He was the 1991–92

New Zealand Horse of the Year There is a New Zealand horse of the year in each of the racing codes: - Standardbred or harness racing, either pacers or trotters, and - Thoroughbred racing or gallopers. Harness Horse of the Year The New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year award ...

after winning both the major New Zealand races, the

New Zealand Cup The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch. New Zealand Cup week The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of Novem ...

and

Auckland Cup The Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club (ARC). It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres (two miles) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race was ...

, as well as the

Miracle Mile Pace The Miracle Mile is an Australian harness racing event for Standardbred Horse gait#pace, pacers that was held at Harold Park Racetrack each November until 2008 when the race was switched to Menangle Park Paceway. Prize money has long been among ...

at Harold Park in Australia. Christopher Vance was not as dominant in the following seasons but remained competitive against top class opposition such as

Blossom Lady Blossom Lady was a leading New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. Affectionately known as "The Bloss" she is most noted for winning the 1992 New Zealand Trotting Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All double. She also won the 1994 and 1995 A G Hunter Cu ...

, Master Musician, Jack Morris and Chokin. During his retirement years, Christopher Vance lived at

Cambridge Stud Cambridge Stud is a Thoroughbred stud farm established in 1976 at Cambridge, New Zealand by Sir Patrick Hogan. Stud sires It has had a number of top quality stallions including: * Sir Tristram: sire of 45 Group 1 winners and inducted into the Ne ...

, where he was a companion to the champion thoroughbred

Rough Habit Rough Habit (2 December 1986 – 7 November 2014) was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won 11 Group One (G1) races on both sides of the Tasman, and won New Zealand's Horse of the Year Award in 1992 and 1995. Background Rough H ...

. The two were buried next to each other, Christopher Vance dying a month past his 30th birthday.

Racing record

During his career, Christopher Vance won or was placed in the following major races in New Zealand and Australia: * 1st - 1990

Great Northern Derby The Great Northern Derby is a harness racing event for 3 year old standardbreds. It is a major event for 3 year old colts and geldings in New Zealand. It is run at Alexandra Park in Auckland, on the same night as the Auckland Cup in early March. ...

beating Mark Hanover and Amos Lee. * 2nd - 1990

behind The Bru Czar and Tight Connection third. * 1st - 1991

Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a Group One race for pacing horses in New Zealand. It is currently held over the distance of 1609 metres (one mile) once a year at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand. From 2007 to 2018 it was raced over 1700 ...

beating Mark Hanover and Franco Ice. * 1st - 1991 New Zealand Messenger beating Franco Ice and Mark Hanover. * 1st - Nov 1991

New Zealand Trotting Cup The New Zealand Cup for standardbred horses, also known as either the New Zealand Trotting Cup or the New Zealand Pacing Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Chri ...

beating Clancy and Surmo Way. * 1st - Nov 1991

beating Defoe and Westburn Grant. * 1st - Dec 1991

beating Starship and The Bru Czar. * 3rd - Nov 1992

behind

and Giovanetto, with a 15-metre handicap and breaking at the beginning of the race.''Harness Racing Annual 1993 (22nd Edition)'' Editor: Ron Bisman, Publisher: Moa Publications, Auckland * 3rd - Nov 1992

New Zealand Free For All The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand. History of the race Horses which have won the F ...

behind

and Sogo. * 2nd - Nov 1992

behind Franco Tiger, with Jack Morris third. * 3rd - Dec 1992 M. H. Treuer Memorial behind Jack Morris and Band Magic. * 2nd - Dec 1992

behind Master Musician with The Bru Czar third. * 4th - 1993

Inter Dominion Pacing Championship :''for winners of the trotting event see: Inter Dominion Trotting Championship'' The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The Inter Dominion was the brain child of Western ...

behind Jack Morris, Warrior Khan and

. In the heats he had one win (beating Master Musician and Warrior Khan) in 1:54.5 for the mile, a 2nd placing behind

and a 3rd placing behind Jack Morris and Rustic Lad. * 3rd - Dec 1993

behind Chokin and Franco Ice. * 2nd - Feb 1994

A G Hunter Cup The A.G. Hunter Cup is a competition in Harness racing. It is contested over 3,000 metres at Tabcorp Park in Melbourne, VIC. It is one of the world's richest handicap standing start events, currently worth A$425,000. The race was formerly stage ...

behind

and The Unicorn third. * 1st - March 1994

Consolation final beating Our New Life and Tact Rashad. * 3rd - Dec 1994

behind Chokin and Franco Ice. From April to August 1995 Christopher Vance was driven in a number of Australian races by Brian and Darren Hancock, only managing to win two lesser events. He was then brought back to New Zealand to race but failed to manage a top three placing in his final campaign. His last race was a sixth placing in the Courier Post Flying Mile (Group 2) at Cambridge behind Victor Supreme on 16 February 1996.

References

{{reflist 1986 racehorse births 2016 racehorse deaths Auckland Pacing Cup winners Miracle Mile winners New Zealand standardbred racehorses New Zealand Trotting Cup winners

Racing record

See also

References