David James "Doody" Townley (29 June 1925 – 28 March 1999) was a driver of
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 ...
racehorses
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...
in New Zealand. He was associated with many champions and was a leading driver of harness horses in New Zealand.
He is notable for winning four
Inter Dominion
:''for winners of the Inter Dominion see: Inter Dominion Pacing Championship and Inter Dominion Trotting Championship''
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand.
It is ...
Championships, the premier trotting series of races between Australia and New Zealand. Not surprisingly, he is also an inductee in the
Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
The Inter Dominion Hall of Fame is an organization created to recognise and honour those whose achievements have enriched the world of the Harness racing industry, particularly in the Inter Dominion series. The hall of fame was created to hon ...
. Doody also won two
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...
s and the
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 ...
. These are the two top races in New Zealand.
Townley died in
Ashburton on 28 March 1999, and his ashes were buried at Ashburton Cemetery.
Big race wins
* 1980
Inter Dominion Trotting Championship
:''for winners of the pacing event see: Inter Dominion Pacing Championship''
The Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final was a race for trotters within the overall Inter Dominion series. The series is held each year, and is a harness raci ...
Hano Direct
* 1971
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 ...
Stella Frost
* 1971
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 ...
True Averil
* 1970
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...
Stella Frost
* 1968
Inter Dominion Trotting Championship
:''for winners of the pacing event see: Inter Dominion Pacing Championship''
The Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final was a race for trotters within the overall Inter Dominion series. The series is held each year, and is a harness raci ...
Stylish Major
* 1966
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...
Waitaki Hanover
* 1965
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 ...
Robin Dundee
* 1962
Great Northern Derby Tactile
* 1959
Great Northern Derby Sun Chief
See also
*
Harness racing in New Zealand
Harness racing in New Zealand is primarily a professional sport which involves pacing and trotting competitions for Standardbred racehorses. The difference is the horse's gait or running style:
* pacing is where the two legs on the same side ...
References
{{Interdom HOF
1925 births
1999 deaths
New Zealand harness racers
Inter Dominion winners