The combination of a warm personality and a wide reach across thoroughbred racing made Stewart McGrail one of the best-known and well-liked members of the lower North Island racing fraternity.
Reflections of the man known to everyone as Stu have been many these past few days in the wake of news that at age 85, he passed away last Saturday in Bundaberg on the Queensland coast.
His death came after several years of poor health and, typical of so many of his ventures in life, was on his terms.
“Stu ended up living in Bundaberg after a health episode four or five years ago when he was visiting my brother Gregory,” McGrail’s Feilding-based son Kelvin said.
“He had emphysema and the warmer climate over there suited him, but it got to the stage that he ended up in hospital under pretty serious care and last week he decided enough was enough.
“He made a few phone calls, including to the family back here, and said he had had it with being hooked up to machines. His last wish was to watch the Sydney Cup races, which was quite an omen.
“He was very accepting of his situation and as he had said on a number of occasions ‘I can’t complain; I’ve had a good innings’.”
McGrail’s wide contribution to racing included journalism, handicapping, judging and administration.
Growing up in the Wanganui district, his early working life was at local wool stores and on the Castlecliff wharf, before becoming involved in publishing. That was originally as a linotype operator at the Wanganui Chronicle before getting the break he was looking for as a racing journalist with the Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune.
In time he combined journalism with the role of handicapper for the Hawke’s Bay, Waipukurau, Poverty Bay and Wairoa clubs, along with official raceday judging duties, when his gravelly voice became a familiar sound to racegoers across the region and through broadcast channels.
Before the internet made data more accessible, he also published the New Zealand Racing Form Record, a weekly subscription service detailing all race results and posted to clients throughout the country.
In the late 1980s McGrail moved to the Hong Kong offshore enclave of Macau as handicapper before returning to New Zealand and the beginning of more than a decade as secretary-manager with the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club.
He continued to supply trackwork notes from what was still a busy training centre on the western side of the Manawatu Gorge as well as judging at race meetings, with his last official day in that role at a Wanganui meeting in September 2016.
A reduction in work output meant more leisure time for lawn bowls, golf and other pursuits, including shares in racehorses.
“He enjoyed his bowls and it got to the stage he took it pretty seriously, from memory once getting to the last 16 in a national fours competition,” said his son Kelvin.
McGrail, who was predeceased several years ago by his wife Shirley, never lost his dry but kindly humour, nor his practical approach to life.
“He had his own way of looking at things, but always positive and understanding,” Kelvin said.
“They’re planning a get-together for Dad in Bundaberg and then his ashes will be delivered back home and we’ll mix them with Mum’s and scatter them on the farm here at Colyton.
“I’m sure they’d like that.” – NZ Racing Desk
