The "Queen of the South" was a winning machine and the old school equal of Hall of fame mare, Sunline

The deeds of champion galloper Show Gate are still talked about with something approaching awe by those lucky enough to have seen her race with the legendary Bob Skelton in the saddle. The Wingatui mare, paddock-trained by Mosgiel chicken sexer Gordon Thomson, was nothing to look at but had blinding speed and a will to win that made her one of the greatest mares to grace the racetracks of New Zealand. Show Gate was a Racing Hall of Fame champion racemare sired by Gatekeeper out of Minglow, a Eulogy mare. Foaled in 1969, she was horse of the year in 1975 and 1977 and won races from 1200 metres up to 2400 metres in record times. She started in 51 races, winning 30, and was second 7 times, third twice and unplaced in 12 races. Show Gate was owned, bred and trained by Gordon Thomson of Mosgiel, Dunedin.

A mare with an ante ability to carry big weights over all distances in record times, legendary New Zealand jockey Bob Skelton was quoted to say "She's A Machine" and the equal of modern day Hall of Fame mare Sunline. She won the 1976 Stewards Handicap, Canterbury Gold Cup and the Churchill Stakes over 1200m, 2000m and 1600m respectively over 7 days at the Canterbury Show week meetings at Riccarton Park. She went on to capture all three twice during her career. Show Gate started off with the Stewards Handicap (1200m), stepped up to win the Canterbury Gold Cup (2400m) on the middle day and then finished off by claiming the Churchill Stakes (1600m) on the final day.

Show Gate suffered a fractured sesamoid bone in the spring of 1974 after winning her first five races as a five-year-old. She returned to racing as a seven-year-old, winning 7 of her 13 starts, and ran a very unlucky second to Good Lord in the 1977 Wellington Cup over 3200m. Two days later she broke the NZ record over 2400m, (2:26.1) with the top weight of 57 kg on three legs as she had again gone amiss 1000m from home, her last race. Many fine judges have Show Gate as one of the best mares ever to race in New Zealand and at least comparable with the greats. Showgate, the 'Queen of the South', suffered a slight fracture of the sesamoid bone during the running of the 1977 Trentham Stakes, but still won in a track record time, and also became the first dual winner of the New Zealand Horse of the Year award. Riccarton race caller for more than 30 years, Reon Murtha, who called many of her most memorable wins, rates her behind only Sunline as the finest horse to have raced on New Zealand soil since World War II.

Show Gate only produced three foals. Two were colts by Honey Crepe (GB): Sporting Show and Every Show. Later a filly, Show Queen by Balmerino. Sporting Show won 10 races from 56 starts while Every Show won 11 races from 26 starts. Both raced in the South Island and later served as sires. Show Queen produced one daughter, Showella (by Lord Ballina) who won six races. Her wins included the Gr.1 2000 New Zealand Stakes and the Gr.1 1999 South Australian Derby, as well as being group one placed twice.

Showella's first foal Safwa, a filly by Danehill, was sold to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoumm for $800,000 and went on to win five races in Australia. This included two listed races, the 2007 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m, Randwick) and the 2007 De Bortoli Wines Epona Stakes (1900m, Rosehill). Show Gate's great-grandson, Showcause was runner up in the Auckland Cup 2011 and won the Avondale Cup 2011 as well as the City of Auckland Cup and 2010 New Zealand Cup. He was the champion stayer in New Zealand 2010/11. In Australia he was placed 4th in the 2011 Geelong Cup behind Dunaden and 3rd in the 2011 The Bart Cummings behind Mourayan.

RACE RECORD - 51:30-7-2

EARNINGS - $104,167

Awapuni Gold Cup (1974)

Trentham Stakes (1977)

Canterbury Gold Cup (1976)

Stewards Handicap (1976)

Churchill Stakes (1976)

New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame

New Zealand Horse of the Year 1975, 1977