Grey Way, the Washdyke Wonder, was a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. He was foaled in Washdyke in 1970 near Timaru by Grey William out of Waybrooke who won the 'Broodmare of the Year' title in the 1977–78 season. Another famous racehorse foaled in this area was Phar Lap.
Achievements He was horse of the year in 1973. He was grey in colour and pure white in the later stages. Grey Way was successful mainly at distances from 6 furlongs to a mile, i.e., a sprinter-miler, but he did win at longer distances. He had a record of 51 wins and 27 seconds and 21 thirds from 164 starts. He raced from 2 to 10 years old, beating nearly every champion that New Zealand had to offer, including Show Gate. He also broke the Australasian record over 7 furlongs as a seven-year-old while carrying 60.5 kg. The rider in many of his races was Robert (Bob) Skelton.
He was the New Zealand equivalent to another great grey, Gunsynd.
Grey Way was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
Racing career
Originally thought of as a jumping prospect, Grey Way won four races as a two-year-old and added seven minor placings. He won a further seven races as a 3yo, also setting a track record for 1400m at Trentham Racecourse.
Early on as a four-year-old, he won two races, including another track record, set at Ashburton. He then went to Victoria, Australia where he struck unsuitable wet tracks, which he detested, but won the Chirnside Stakes at Caulfield in soft conditions. His final start there in the George Adams yielded a close fifth on a firm track, where rider Noel Harris lost his whip. Back in New Zealand, Grey Way ran a number of minor placings and looked awkward on right-handed tracks. He ended the season with three further wins, including a course-record at Riccarton.
As a five-year-old, he won 13 races including the Awapuni Gold Cup over 2000m, where he beat Oopik in track-record time. Other top gallopers he defeated that season included Copper Belt, Kiwi Can, Sind, Black Rod, Ajanta, Blue Blood, and Chrisarda. Going white with age, Grey Way won a number of races as a six-year-old. Among these were the defeat of mare Show Gate in the Stewards Hcp carrying 60 kg. He had several meetings with Copper Belt, and they beat each other on a number of occasions. At Ellerslie, he won the 1977 Easter Hcp over 1600m carrying 60.5 kg. He had a wall of horses in front of him and bulled through for rider Bob Skelton. Behind him were Tudor Light, Vice Regal, Kiwi Can, Verax, Patronize, and Shifnals Pride. His first win right-handed, and the Ellerslie crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Grey Way had lost some of his zip as a 7yo and 8yo. However, he won a South Island sprint under 62.5 kg and set an Australasian record for 1400m clocking 1:21.75 at Trentham, aged 7. More wins brought him up to 45 career victories. At 10, he brought up win numbers 50 and 51, and retired after knocking a leg at Trentham. His coat ended up almost snowy white.
Racing career
Notable performances by Grey Way include the following races.Taylor, Mark., Century of champions., (2002)., HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand Limited., Auckland., New ZealandGlengarry, Jack., The great decade of New Zealand racing. 1970-1980., (1983)., William Collins Publishers Limited., Auckland., New Zealand
PlacingYearRaceDistance (m)1st2nd3rd1st21 January 1974Metropolitan Handicap (Trentham)1400Grey Way 49.5 Dee Light 52Ah Bee 481st 16 October 1974 Chirnside Stakes (Caulfield)1200 Grey Way 57 Coolalinga 58 Aurealis 521st 19 November 1975 Levin Cup Stakes (WFA)1600Grey Way 58 Sind 56 Black Rod 581st 20 December 1975 Manawatu Challenge Stakes1600Grey Way 58 Kiwi Can 58 Cream Puff 541st 20 March 1976 Awapuni Gold Cup2000Grey Way 58 Oopik 58 Prepak 561st 6 November 1976 Steward's Handicap (Riccarton)1200Grey Way 60 Show Gate 63 The Swagger 491st17 November 1976 Levin Gold Cup Stakes1600Grey Way 58 Copper Belt 58 Black Rod 581st18 December 1976Manawatu Challenge Stakes1600Grey Way 58Copper Belt 58Master Morgan 581st29 January 1977 George Adams Handicap (Trentham)1600Grey Way 56.5 Fraxy 54 Caruba 511st 5 March 1977 North Island Challenge Stakes1600Grey Way 57.5 Shahbanou March Legend 571st9 April 1977 Easter Handicap (Ellerslie)1600Grey Way 60.5 Vice Regal 52 Kiwi Can 581st 27 December 1979 Timaru Cup (Washdyke)1600Grey Way 58 Tuis Lass 54 Napiat 58
See also Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand Youtube video - Grey Way winning the Awapuni Gold Cup Youtube video - Grey Way winning the 1977 Easter Handicap
References