The Grey legend seemed to race every week in the 70s and was just impossible to miss out on the track

GREY WAY, also known as the 'WASHDYKE WONDER, was an incredibly talented New Zealand racehorse that appeared to race forever throughout the 1970s. He was foaled in the small South Island town of Washdyke near Timaru in 1970 by the sire GREY WILLIAM out of WAYBROOKE, who won 'Broodmare of the Year' title in the 1977-78 season. A daughter of KING'S COMMAND, Waybrooke was unplaced in four starts when tried as a five and six-year-old. Grey William stood at the Strathconan Stud of Bill Grant at Washdyke.

GREY WAY achieved such a remarkable number of victories in New Zealand that his name was widely recognised throughout the 1970s, even among the non racing contingent. The big grey would just monster the opposition, and not only break their minds, but also their hearts nearing the line. He was a sound-legged horse, who travelled well and he ate well, which seemed to be the simple equation for success. Bob Skelton rode Grey Way in many of his races, but Snooky Cowen and Doug Holden also tasted success on the big boy.

GREY WAY was the first and only surviving foal from Waybrooke. Not to be forgotten, another famous racehorse foaled in this area was the immortal PHAR LAP. Grey Way, trained by Pat Corby in Washdyke achieved legendary status in New Zealand racing due to his remarkable longevity and distinctive, bright white appearance. Breeder, Peter South tried to sell Grey Way's dam while she was in foal with the horse, however the top bid was less then the service fee, so he kept the colt, and the rest is history. Corboy had ridden over jumps, winning the Otago Steeplechase on COLONEL SMART (1949) and DESERT TREK (1952). He trained the Otago Steeplechase winners SWEENEY TODD (1983,85) and ALASKA LAD (1987). Corboy won the Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui with ORB (1984) and LEJANO (1978)

GREY WAY was a legend in New Zealand during the 1970's and was voted horse of the year in 1973. He was light grey in colour and pure white in the later stages of his majestic career. Grey Way was successful mainly at distances from 1200m to 1600m, but he did win over further. He had an amazing record of 51 wins, 27 seconds and 21 third placings from 164 starts. The gelding raced from 2 to 10 years of age, beating nearly every champion that New Zealand had to offer, including the brilliant SHOW GATE in the 1976 Stewards by a nose. He also won across the Tasman in the Chirnside Stakes at Caulfield in 1984. The gelding also broke the Australasian record over 7 furlongs (1408m) as a seven-year-old while carrying a whopping 60.5 kg. The rider in many of his races was the legendary Robert (Bob) Skelton. He was the New Zealand equivalent to another great grey, GUNSYND and was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.

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. As a five-year-old, the gelding won an incredible 13 races, including the Awapuni Gold Cup over 2000m, where he beat 1976 Sydney Cup victor, OOPIK in track-record time. At Ellerslie, he won the 1977 Easter Hcp over 1600m carrying 60.5 kg. He had a wall of horses in front of her and bullied through for rider Bob Skelton. Behind him were TUDOR LIGHT, VICE REGAL, KIWI CAN, VERAX, PATRONIZE, and SHIFNAL'S PRIDE. It was his first win right-handed, and the big Ellerslie crowd gave him a standing ovation. Skelton claimed, you didn't have to tell him where to go, he just saw a gap and powered up with incredible endurance and a mighty will to get past them all.

GREY WAY had lost some of his zip as a seven and eight-year-old, 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 seven. More wins brought him up to 45 career victories. As a ten-year old, he brought up wins numbers 50 and 51 at Geraldine and Rangiora in 1980 and retired after knocking a leg at Trentham. Grey Way was consistently racing around the 60 kilograms plus region, giving away 15kgs in weight to some of his rivals. The only chink in his Armour was a wet track - he just hated the thought of getting a drop of rain on him.

In April 1979 a filly, IONIAN SEA, beat Grey Way by a neck in the Open Hcp at Riccarton carrying 46kgs whilst Grey Way carried 61.5kgs. Surprisingly, his coat ended up almost snowy white as he aged and he was a public idol on and off the race track. Grey Way's stakes earnings of $249,000 saw him become one of the biggest earners of his time and he is considered the most prolific thoroughbred winner in New Zealand with 51 victories in total. GLOAMING achieved 57, but most of those were on Australian soil. His race record makes for poignant reading. At the time of Grey Way's death in 1984, due to grey-horse cancer, his owner received more than 500 messages of condolence from the public who adored the old champion. He was truly admired, anf probably due to the fact that Grey Way was in the public conscience for so long as a true champion, his distinctive colour and his remarkable bulletproof racing style. We'll never see one like him again.

RACE RECORD - 164: 51-27-21

EARNINGS - $249,000

Won 4 as a two year-old (1972)

Won 7 as a three year-old (1973)

October 1974 - Chirnside Stakes (Caulfield)

November 1975 - Levin Cup (1600 WFA)

December 1975 - Manawatu Challenge Stakes

March 1976 - Awapuni Gold Cup 

November 1976 - Steward's Handicap (Riccarton Park) 

November 1976 - Levin Gold Cup Stakes

January 1977 - George Adams Handicap (Trentham)

March 1977 - North Island Challenge Stakes

April 1977 - Easter Handicap (Ellerslie)

December 1979 - Timaru Cup (Washdyke)