He broke a bone, lost two shoes, but still beat Marscay and was guarded by "Shotgun" Billy in Australia - The McGinty stories are all true

The sensational racehorse MCGINTY virtually wrote his own tributes every time he stepped out on the turf. He was outstanding as a stud stallion, leaving powerful stayers and six Group One winners. At his best, McGinty was arguably as talented as any galloper in the 1980's. McGinty was the winner of six Group One races and a total of 14 races. He was trained by Colin Jillings at Takanini for race commentator Keith Haub and co-owner Barney McCahill. He was usually ridden by Robert 'Bob' Vance who had a great affinity with the horse.

He may not have won the Cox Plate like BONECRUSHER or the Japan Cup like HORLICKS, but while they ground their way into the history books, he simply flew into the hearts and minds of racing fans. McGinty, known in Australia as MR MCGINTY, was a legendary Group one winning New Zealand bred and trained race-horse and sire that was loved by the New Zealand public and was easily one of the most popular racehorses of the 1980's.

Training from the Paeroa racecourse, Les Jarvis proved a dab hand with two-year-olds that included MOON ROCK, ERNADER and ORANMORE. Ernader turned out to be one of the best two year olds of her year, finishing her career on the track as an open class sprinter, with 12 wins to her credit. Les’ sister Hilda, who raced Ernader with him, decided to mate her with One Pound Sterling with the resulting foal being MCGINTY. The son of ONE POUND STERLING out of the dam, ERNADER (Serenader II GB), was entered for the Trentham yearling sales, but he suffered a small injury and the colt was withdrawn, eventually sold via private treaty to Haub.

McGinty was outstanding as a young horse, with six wins and a second from seven starts as a two-year old juvenile, and four wins and two places from eight starts as a three-year old. He was the top-weighted horse on the NZ 1981/82 Two-Year-Old Free Handicap and was top colt on the 1982/83 NZ Three Year Old Free Handicap. His Group One wins came in the Air New Zealand Stakes (twice), Rawson Stakes, Canterbury Guineas, Caulfield Stakes and George Adams Handicap.

His standout moment was when he beat the champion Australian 2YO MARSCAY in the Todman Slipper Trial. Not only did he beat Marscay, (who went on to win the Golden Slipper and was subsequently crowned Australian Champion 2YO), he defeated him running on three legs, having cracked his cannon bone at the top of the straight and missing two front shoes, lost when jumping out of the gates. Although he lost his chance to race in the 1982 Golden Slipper, McGinty was arguably one of the most formidable New Zealand racehorse of the era, and his victory over Marscay on three legs was nothing short of exceptional. But one of the most remarkable stories relates to McGinty's return visit to Australia in 1983 for the Canterbury Guineas.

When the team arrived back in Sydney, infamous crime boss George Freeman's influence was supreme in Sydney racing, and he was known to have ‘got at’ a number of top horses through doping. He was supposed to have been a key figure in a 1971 conspiracy that broke the Canberra TAB with a $500,000 win and allegedly dictated who won and lost at the Harold Park trots throughout the 70's. It was a scandalous period where the inaction of officals amounted to nothing short of criminal negligence. The doping of APOLLO TEN prior to the 1974 Sydney Cup (a race he won the year before) was the perfect example, and made connections nervous. Even though Freeman was dead - his influence wasn't. Chief Stipendary steward, John Schreck gathered the connections of McGinty and had a serious chat.

"Do you know anyone handy with a gun, a person prepared to use it?" he asked.

Billy Burke was having an afternoon beer at his local Poroti pub in New Zealand when Keith Haub called asking him to get to Australia immediately. Armed with a shotgun that would provide him with his nickname, Billy "shotgun" Burke, he watched over the McGinty stable day and night in the lead-up to the race and didn't let the horse out of his sight. McGinty was safe, but that didn't complete the entire picture.

Trainer Colin Jillings meet with Jockey Bob Vance on the morning of the Canterbury Guineas and suggested it won't be an easy race to win and these Aussie jockeys will be out to get you. Under no circumstances, he told Vance, are you to go inside any other horse within the second half of the race, and for fucks sake, stay off the running rail. Stay behind the leaders and do not go for an inside run. Jillings was right. Several horses came outside McGinty and attempted to push both horse and rider towards the running rail on the first bend, but Vance was up to the ploy. He poised the horse, but was trapped, as the two horses ahead of him narrowed the gap and squeezed his mount so badly, he almost knuckled over and fell.

Vance swung MCGINTY hard to the left with 200m to run and was cannoned into by BARON KANE - a giant three-year-old that actually straightened him up, before MCGINTY produced a dramatic sprint finish to win the race, beating home Sydney star VELOSO. John Schreck dragged the jockeys into the judicial room afterwards and told them it was the worst case of obstructive riding he'd ever witnessed. Jillings was furious at Bobby Vance for not following instructions, but they were still victorious. On pulling up, jockey Peter Cook turned to Vance and said, “that's the last race you'll win in Sydney.”

MCGINTY would go on to to win the Canterbury Guineas and Caulfield Stakes and run an admirable 3rd in the 1983 Cox Plate. The brilliant galloper would also finish 5th to STANERRA in that year's Japan Cup in front of 80,000 at Tokyo. His final big win was in the 1984 Rawson Stakes (2000m) beating home TRISSARO at Rosehill. It is now called the Ranvet. During this period, very few New Zealand horses were able to compete effectively against Australian gallopers at these middle distances, as most New Zealand horses were hardy two-mile stayers rather than classic sprinter/milers. But MCGINTY was something special and should be remembered for his remarkable deeds at home and on the Australian turf.

Notable results included: 1st Sapling Stakes (880m), 1st 1981 Avondale Stakes (1200m), 1st 1982 Great Northern Foal Stakes (1200m)

1st 1982 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m) beating MARSCAY and DUKE DIAMOND. In this race McGinty won with a cracked cannon-bone and two missing front shoes.

1st 1983 Wellington Stakes (1600m) for 3YOs at Trentham Racecourse, beating BRIGHT PLUME and GLAMOUR STAR.

1st 1983 WRC George Adams Handicap (1600m), ridden by Jim Cassidy, beating RINGTRUE and JON in 1:32.99. This was the first time the 1:33 mile mark was broken in New Zealand

1st 1983 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m), 1st 1983 Canterbury Guineas (1900m) beating VELOSO

2nd 1983 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) behind STRAWBERRY ROAD with VELOSO third

3rd 1983 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill

2nd 1983 George Main Stakes (1600m) carrying 57kg with EMANCIPATION 54.5kg winning

1st 1983 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) beating COSSACK PRINCE

3rd 1983 – Cox Plate Plate behind STRAWBERRY ROAD

2nd 1983 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) (2500m) behind FOUNTAINCOURT with MR JAZZ third.

5th 1983 Japan Cup (2400m)

1st 1984 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m) beating SILVER ROW and ISLE OF MANN

3rd 1984 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) carrying 57kg behind EMANCIPATION 55.5kg

1st 1984 Rawson Stakes (2000m) beating TRISSARO and ADMIRAL LINCOLN. His final race was a 12th out of 14 runners in the 1984 Tancred Stakes behind HAYAI at Rosehill on 14 April 1984.

MCGINTY entered the stallion paddock with 14 wins from 26 starts, but unbelievably his stake earnings were only just over $500,000. A horse of that calibre today with better luck, drier tracks and one less pin in a cannon bone, could earn $10 million. He began stud duties in 1984 and sired six Group One winners. Notable offspring included: JOLLY OLD MAC; winner of the 1992 Australian Guineas. MARCONEE; winner of the 1995 Enerco Stakes, MILTAK, winner of the 1994 Auckland Cup and BMW Stakes. THE GENTRY, winner of the 1988 New Zealand Derby and 1989 New Zealand Stakes. THE HIND, winner of the 1998 Adelaide Cup. On 6 June 2001 McGinty died at Progressive Farms in Karaka while running across his paddock at the age of 21. A legend never forgotten.

RACE RECORD - 26: 14-4-3

EARNINGS - $527,621

1982 Todman Trial Slipper

1983 Wellington Stakes

1983 Canterbury Guineas

1983 Caulfield Stakes

1984 Air New Zealand Stakes

1984 Rawson Stakes