Lots of horse knowledge in Beck stable
Allan Beck was a highly successful trainer-driver in South Island harness racing winning more than 800 races in 37 years (1984-2021). He's now helping with a family stable dominated by gallopers.
Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
These days, Winton horseman Allan Beck assists his wife Leda with her team of gallopers in their family-run racing stable.
The Becks' daughter, Sarah, 18, shares track work riding with Leda and Allan helps with other work required.
Allan was a highly successful trainer-driver in South Island harness racing winning more than 800 races in 37 years (1984-2021). He won Group races, drove in the New Zealand Cup and had feature race wins throughout the South Island.
Among his successes were the Southland Oaks Final (four wins), NZ Standardbred Breeders' Stakes (three wins), Invercargill Cup (one win), Central Otago Cup (four wins), Wyndham Cup (four wins) and Roxburgh Cup (three wins).
A lot of his wins from the mid-1980s to 2000 were with the progeny of Admiral Halsey.
"Through the 1980s I would have sold a million dollars worth of Admirals," Allan said.
Top level horses he drove or trained included Bee Bee Cee, Tartan Lady, Josephine Bret, Shortys Girl, Diamond Field and Tact Halsey.
"I won the Southland Oaks with Josephine Bret in my first year of driving [in 1984]," Allan said.
In recent years he has increased his involvement in Leda's training operation.
The only standardbred on the Beck property is a broodmare.
"I haven't renewed my [harness racing driver's] licence for the last couple of years, but still got my trainer's licence," Allan said.
"I doubt I'll be back driving standardbreds."
About 12 horses are the most the Becks train at any one time between July and the following May.
"I've bred a Ghibellines weanling and we've got a couple of Vadamoses that we bought at the Karaka weanling sales last year," Allan said of some of his thoroughbred interests.
Allan and friend Murray Forde race Amalfi Coast, who won a maiden race at Ascot Park on May 12, and Wellaintshe, who finished third in another maiden event on the same programme.
Allan rode track work for his father, Bob, who trained gallopers at Riverton in the 1970s.
"I was about 10 when I started riding track work," Allan said.
Later on he rode in a couple of amateur riders' races.
One of his regular rides in training was his father's 1972 Invercargill Cup winner, Snow Boy. Among the owners Bob Beck trained thoroughbreds for were Dal Fea and Lou Haywood.
In the late 1970s Bob and Allan moved from Riverton to Winton and Bob slowly branched into training standardbreds, with Allan following into the code.
Returning to 2024, Allan's involvement helping wife Leda with her team of gallopers suits him and he sees the sport's stake money increases as an incentive to invest in it.
Allan does farrier work and farms other stock on the couple's 40.4 hectares (100 acres) property at Winton.