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An ATC Interview with Terry, On Behalf of OTI Racing

The Australian Turf Club is happy to announce the ‘Australian Turf Club Owner of the Month’ for November is Terry Henderson (OTI Racing).

Our Owner of the Month award is awarded to an owner who has achieved success at ATC meetings over the last month and allows us to share Owners experiences and memories like Terry Henderson’s with our fellow Owners.

Henderson has enjoyed a fabulous month with his horses including Lady Laguna and Comme Bella Fille. The ATC congratulates Terry Henderson and OTI Racing on their successes over the last month.

Lady Laguna winning impressively at Rosehill last start.

What was your first memory of horse racing?

Listening to the car radio when Rising Fast won the 1954 Melbourne Cup

What made you get into horse ownership?

While I had owned a few pacers, in 1985 a friend invited me to join a partnership that had purchased 5 horses with Colin Hayes.

Best moment you ever experienced on the racetrack as an Owner?

Winning the Melbourne Cup with Doriemus, although coming second with 15.1 hands Bauer, comes a close second.

What horse do you have the fondest memories of and why?

Gailo Chop. He’s a stunning horse with a beautiful temperament. He took us from France to Royal Ascot, Hong Kong and Dubai. He won the McKinnon when trained from France. He suffered a tendon injury, was rehabilitated in Victoria and went onto win the Caulfield Stakes and the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. As a seven year-old he finished a gallant second behind Winx in the Queen Elizabeth at Royal Randwick.

What is the best horse you have ever owned and why were they so special?

Gailo Chop, Manighar and Doriemus were all multiple Group 1 winners. Each were talented over many seasons.

What current horse that you are in ownership of are most looking forward to seeing progress over the upcoming months?

I’m Thunderstruck looks to have an “X” factor. The Doncaster and All Star Mile look lovely races for him in the Autumn.

Favourite part of the race day experience as an Owner?

Having raced horses now for many years, I particularly love seeing the excitement and joy from our fellow owners when we have success.

What is the best raceday experience you have ever had?

Having purchased many horses from New Zealand, winning the Derby at Ellerslie with Vin de Dance (trained by Murray Baker) was special. Many fellow owners had flown from Australia and none wanted to leave the track.

What is the best post raceday celebration you have had as an owner?

With Covid restrictions surrounding this year’s Sydney Cup, Selino’s owners decided on a champagne lunch beforehand at a nearby hotel. Appropriately primed, we ubered to the track, won the race, then returned to the hotel, where the staff had backed Selino! The day could not have been scripted better.

What piece of advice would you give people looking to get into horse ownership?

Whether you own 5% or the whole horse, you still get the same enjoyment from winning. So if you decide to buy, spread your money across a few horses rather than putting all you funds with one.

What horse would you of most liked to own and why?

Carbine. A magnificent racehorse and a champion stallion both in Australia and Europe. Over half of the Melbourne Cup winners from 1914 to 1978 were descended from him.

What is your favourite story of one of your retired horses and their life after racing?

Super Impressive raced until he was nine and then joined the Victoria Police Force. I’d often greet him when on he was duty on the Mornington Peninsula. He retired from the Police Force aged 20 and spent his last days in the wonderful care of Living Legends.

This article was published by the Australian Turf Club and can be read in full on their website here.