The New Zealand Thoroughbred industry is mourning the loss of another member of its community this week with the passing of Group One-winning trainer Anne Herbert, aged 68.
Herbert had a lifelong passion for horses, taking the well-worn path of riding at pony club as a child before progressing to ride track work and ultimately took out her trainer’s license in 1991.
She made the perfect start as a trainer, with her first runner, Perfect Return, winning at her home track of Awapuni, and she would go on to record many more over the next 35 years, including at the highest level.
Herbert trained several topline thoroughbreds, including 2002-03 New Zealand Horse of the Year and five-time Group One winner Tit For Taat, 2006 Gr.1 Railway (1200m) winner Baldessarini, and dual Group Three winner Salvatore.
Initially training in Manawatu, Herbert subsequently moved to Cambridge where she met fellow trainer Toni Croon, and the pair developed a close relationship, with Herbert eventually training a couple of horses for Croon when she moved back to the Chatham Islands several years ago.
“She’s my bestie,” Croon said. “We were neighbours in Cambridge, I was a little bit lost and she took me under her wing, and we have been best friends ever since.
“She had unconditional love for the people around her and when you think of Anne you just think of love. Her friendship and love for me has always been huge.”
Herbert operated a boutique stable and Croon said she had a talent with horses.
“She has had many winners over the years, she has been very boutique but a very astute horsewoman,” Croon said.
While spending most of her career in Cambridge, Herbert moved back to Manawatu before electing to semi-retire in Christchurch, where she was closer to her sister, Julie Walsh, and continued to train a couple of horses out of Riccarton for Croon.
“She left Cambridge and went to Awapuni, and her health deteriorated and that brought her to Christchurch to be closer to her sister, Julie Walsh,” Croon said.
“She moved down to the South Island about five years ago and she has just been doing my horses, so I have been very fortunate to have her all to myself. Her health hasn’t been the best in the last five years, so just doing one or two horses has been enough.
“The move down to Christchurch and Riccarton was the best move in her life. The warm welcome that she got from Riccarton and the people down there was great and she has always appreciated it.”
While she only trained a couple of horses in Christchurch, Herbert had plenty of success for Croon, particularly with Contemplation Bay, who won four races under her care before transferring to Terri Rae, who has won a further two races with the daughter of Rageese.
“She used to race the mother (of Contemplation Bay), and we have sold a couple out of her, so we have done well,” Croon said.
Croon said Herbert’s love for the horse was unwavering and she will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
“She had an undying love for the horse and New Zealand racing. There wasn’t much that she didn’t know and not much she hadn’t seen,” Croon said.
“She left this world loving the world, and her masterpieces are her children.”
A celebration of Anne's life will be held at Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch on Friday, May 29, at midday. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
