Christopher Vance (5 November 1986 – 13 December 2016) was a Group One-winning New Zealand Standardbred racehorse, trained by Roy and Barry Purdon and generally driven by Barry Purdon or Tony Herlihy.
Racing career
He was the 1991–92 New Zealand Horse of the Year after winning both the major New Zealand races, the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup, as well as the Miracle Mile Pace 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, Master Musician, Jack Morris and Chokin. In the following year's New Zealand Cup he was 3rd from 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 In the 1993 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship he won a heat in 1:54.5 for the mile before going on to run 4th in the final.
Notable performances by Christopher Vance include:
Placing YearRace1st2nd3rd 1st 1990 Great Northern Derby Christopher VanceMark Hanover Amos Lee. 2nd 1990 Auckland Cup The Bru Czar Christopher VanceTight Connection 1st 1991 Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile Christopher VanceMark Hanover Franco Ice 1st 1991 New Zealand Messenger Christopher VanceFranco Ice Mark Hanover 1st Nov 1991 New Zealand Trotting Cup Christopher VanceClancy Surmo Way 1st Nov 1991 Miracle Mile Pace Christopher VanceDefoe Westburn Grant 1st Dec 1991 Auckland Cup Christopher VanceStarship The Bru Czar 3rd Nov 1992 New Zealand Trotting Cup Blossom Lady Giovanetto Christopher Vance 3rd Nov 1992 New Zealand Free For All Blossom Lady SogoChristopher Vance 2nd Nov 1992 Miracle Mile Pace Franco TigerChristopher VanceJack Morris 3rd Dec 1992 M. H. Treuer Memorial Jack Morris Band MagicChristopher Vance 2nd Dec 1992 Auckland Cup Master MusicianChristopher Vance The Bru Czar 2ndApr 1993 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heat Blossom Lady Christopher Vance Westburn Grant 1st Apr 1993Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heatChristopher Vance Master Musician Warrior Khan 3rdApr 1993 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heat Jack Morris Rustic Lad Christopher Vance 4th May 1993 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship final Jack Morris Warrior Khan Blossom Lady 3rd Dec 1993 Auckland Cup Chokin Franco IceChristopher Vance 2nd Feb 1994 A G Hunter Cup Blossom LadyChristopher Vance The Unicorn 1st March 1994 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Consolation final Christopher VanceOur New Life Tact Rashad 3rd Dec 1994 Auckland Cup Chokin Franco IceChristopher Vance
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.
During his retirement years, Christopher Vance lived at Cambridge Stud, where he was a companion to the champion thoroughbred Rough Habit. The two were buried next to each other, Christopher Vance dying a month past his 30th birthday.
See also Harness racing in New Zealand
References