Gammalite
Encyclopedia
Gammalite was an Australian bred Standardbred racehorse who was the first Standardbred to win A$1 million in Australia. He was regarded as one of Australia's most successful pacers
with 16 Group one
wins.
He was bred, owned and trained by Leo and Maureen O'Connor of Terang. Gammalite was foaled in 1976 and was sired by Thor Hanover (USA) and his dam was High Valley by Intangible (USA). High Valley produced 13 foals, the best of which were Alphalite, (winner of twenty three races, including the Victoria Derby), Amative (13 races), Betalite (15 races), The Rogue (22 races), and Omega Valley (12 races).
, NSW, Queensland
and South Australia
trying to win a Derby. He did win the Group one
(G1) South Australian Derby, was 2nd to San Simeon in the West Australian Derby and Quamby's Pride in the Queensland Derby and placed 3rd in the Australian and Victorian Derbies. During the season he had 20 race starts for 12 wins and earnings of $49,240, being only unplaced twice in 38 starts.
for racing at the New Zealand Cup meetings. He finished fifth in the New Zealand Cup, fourth in the NZ Free for All (FFA) and second in the Matson FFA. Back in Australia Gammalite won the first of his four G1 South Australian Cups at Globe Derby Park
, in Adelaide, and the Lady Brooks Cup at Moonee Valley. He flew to Wellington, changed planes and proceeded to Auckland, arriving there at 2am the day of the Auckland Cup. In the cup five-year-old Gammalite fought on courageously to defeat Bonnie's Chance by a head in 3:24.6, a national record for a stallion for mobile start over 2,700 metres, but not equalling Delightful Lady's 3:22.9 of the previous year. Gammalite won the $100,000 1982 A G Hunter Cup
over 2,870 metres and the FFA Marathon over 3,300 metres, both contested at Moonee Valley. In Queensland Gammalite had four starts for one win and three placings including a third in the Queensland Championship. Gammalite had 28 race starts for fifteen wins and ten placings with earnings of $260,900 for the season.
After Gammalite’s win in the G1 Cranbourne Cup on 28 February 1983 he was flown to Auckland for his first attempt at the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
. Popular Alm
, who had won ten of his eleven clashes with Gammalite, was an Inter Dominion Grand Final contestant, too. In the running of the race Popular Alm drifted off course on the home turn allowing Gammalite to come through and defeat him by two and a quarter lengths to win the race.
Gammalite finished the season with 13 wins and 12 placings for earnings of $405,340, to become the first Australian Standardbred to win more than a million dollars.
Gammalite was defeated on the first night by Bundanoon, but won his next two heats and then won the Grand Final from Thor Lobell and Bundanoon. He became the fourth pacer to win the Inter Dominion Championship twice, and thus qualify for the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
. He then won his third South Australian Cup, the Lady Brooks Cup at Moonee Valley, and the Lord Mayors Cup at Harold Park.
Attempting to win his third Inter Dominion Championship at Moonee Valley in 1985 Gammalite raced for two thirds and a win in the Qualifying Divisions. In the Grand Final he finished fourth.
(108).
In 1982 and 1984 he won the Australian Harness Horse of the Year
award. He was the 1982, 1983, 1984 Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
Champion and twice won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships Grand Final.
By the end of 2006, his brood mares were the dams of some 16 horses rating under 2:0.
Gammalite died in December 2006 at Terang, at age 30, and he is buried at the entrance to Terang’s Dalvui raceway.
Horse gait
Horse gaits are the various ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans.-Classification:...
with 16 Group one
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
wins.
He was bred, owned and trained by Leo and Maureen O'Connor of Terang. Gammalite was foaled in 1976 and was sired by Thor Hanover (USA) and his dam was High Valley by Intangible (USA). High Valley produced 13 foals, the best of which were Alphalite, (winner of twenty three races, including the Victoria Derby), Amative (13 races), Betalite (15 races), The Rogue (22 races), and Omega Valley (12 races).
Racing record
Gammalite’s trainer was Leo O'Connor and his regular driver was Bruce Clarke, who drove him to 65 wins.Two-year-old season
Gammalite was unplaced in two of his first three two-year-old race starts, before recording ten successive wins including the Victoria Breeders Plate and the Edgar Tatlow Memorial Stakes both at Moonee Valley. He also placed in the Youthful and Sapling Stakes at Moonee Valley. He finished his two-year-old season with eighteen starts for 11 wins and 5 placings for earnings of $41,003 - second only in the national standings for two year olds to San Simeon.Three-year-old season
At three Gammalite travelled to Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, NSW, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
trying to win a Derby. He did win the Group one
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1) South Australian Derby, was 2nd to San Simeon in the West Australian Derby and Quamby's Pride in the Queensland Derby and placed 3rd in the Australian and Victorian Derbies. During the season he had 20 race starts for 12 wins and earnings of $49,240, being only unplaced twice in 38 starts.
Four-year-old season
In the 1980-81 season Gammalite had 28 starts for 16 wins including the $60,000 Craven Filter Championship in Brisbane and the $40,000 New South Wales Spring Cup for a season’s total of $216,765. He now had accumulated 48 successive race wins or placings before finishing fourth at Harold Park and had taken his lifetime earnings to $307,008.Five-year-old season
Gammalite had two wins and three seconds in the 1981/82 season before he was taken across the Tasman SeaTasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
for racing at the New Zealand Cup meetings. He finished fifth in the New Zealand Cup, fourth in the NZ Free for All (FFA) and second in the Matson FFA. Back in Australia Gammalite won the first of his four G1 South Australian Cups at Globe Derby Park
Globe Derby Park
Globe Derby Park is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Salisbury.-Demographics:The 2006 Census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics counted 314 persons in Globe Derby Park on census night...
, in Adelaide, and the Lady Brooks Cup at Moonee Valley. He flew to Wellington, changed planes and proceeded to Auckland, arriving there at 2am the day of the Auckland Cup. In the cup five-year-old Gammalite fought on courageously to defeat Bonnie's Chance by a head in 3:24.6, a national record for a stallion for mobile start over 2,700 metres, but not equalling Delightful Lady's 3:22.9 of the previous year. Gammalite won the $100,000 1982 A G Hunter Cup
A G Hunter Cup
The A.G. Hunter Cup is a competition in Harness racing. It is contested over 3,050 metres at Tabcorp Park in Melbourne, VIC. It is one of the world's richest handicap standing start events, currently worth A$425,000...
over 2,870 metres and the FFA Marathon over 3,300 metres, both contested at Moonee Valley. In Queensland Gammalite had four starts for one win and three placings including a third in the Queensland Championship. Gammalite had 28 race starts for fifteen wins and ten placings with earnings of $260,900 for the season.
Six-year-old season
At six years old during the 1982/83 season Gammalite had eight starts at Moonee Valley, Bankstown and Harold Park for one win and three placings. When taken to Perth, his form improved for wins in two FFA’s, the Fremantle Cup, plus two heats and the Final of the $136,000 WA Cup at Gloucester Park. Returning eastwards to Harold Park he won the Harold Park Cup and SA Cup in Adelaide.After Gammalite’s win in the G1 Cranbourne Cup on 28 February 1983 he was flown to Auckland for his first attempt at the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rotation of the Championships is fixed...
. Popular Alm
Popular Alm
Popular Alm was an Australian bred Standardbred pacer. He was one of the fastest pacers Australia has produced, running exceptional times over many distances. Popular Alm set a world record for a mile time trial at Moonee Valley on 13 May 1983, running 1:53.2...
, who had won ten of his eleven clashes with Gammalite, was an Inter Dominion Grand Final contestant, too. In the running of the race Popular Alm drifted off course on the home turn allowing Gammalite to come through and defeat him by two and a quarter lengths to win the race.
Gammalite finished the season with 13 wins and 12 placings for earnings of $405,340, to become the first Australian Standardbred to win more than a million dollars.
Six-year-old season
In 1983/84, the seven-year old Gammalite had wins at Bankstown, Fairfield, Bulli and Harold Park early in the season including the Golden Mile and the Bankstown Club Cup. Heading for Perth again Gammalite missed out on the WA Cup but won the G1 $60,000 1984 Fremantle Cup on 27 January 1984 before returning to Adelaide for the 1984 Inter Dominion Championship.Gammalite was defeated on the first night by Bundanoon, but won his next two heats and then won the Grand Final from Thor Lobell and Bundanoon. He became the fourth pacer to win the Inter Dominion Championship twice, and thus qualify for the Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
Inter Dominion Hall of Fame
The Inter Dominion Hall of Fame is an organization created to recognise and honour those whose achievements have enriched the world of the Harness racing industry, particularly in the Inter Dominion series. The Inter Dominion is a horse racing series for standardbred horses which takes place every...
. He then won his third South Australian Cup, the Lady Brooks Cup at Moonee Valley, and the Lord Mayors Cup at Harold Park.
Seven-year-old season
Gammalite had a further 24 race starts during the 1984/85 season which included wins at Bankstown, Tweed Heads, and the Gold Coast. He then had his fourth win in the G1 $100,000 SA Cup, followed by a win in the Ballarat Pacing Cup. In November 1984 Gammalite was taken to New Zealand but his three starts there only resulted in a 7th, 6th and 11th.Attempting to win his third Inter Dominion Championship at Moonee Valley in 1985 Gammalite raced for two thirds and a win in the Qualifying Divisions. In the Grand Final he finished fourth.
Summary
Gammalite won most of the mainland Grand Circuit and Group races except the Miracle Mile. He had 179 starts for 94 wins and 53 seconds, with gross earnings of $1,386,480. He only defeated Popular Alm twice in their 17 meetings. His tally of 94 wins puts him third on the all-time Australasian winners list behind Cane Smoke (120 wins) and Paleface AdiosPaleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
(108).
In 1982 and 1984 he won the Australian Harness Horse of the Year
Australian Harness Horse of the Year
The Australian Harness Horse of the Year is an honour that recognises the top harness racing horse in the Australia. The award is selected by industry people and media representatives....
award. He was the 1982, 1983, 1984 Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
The Australian Grand Circuit for Pacers began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every state within Australia. In 1992 New Zealand was admitted and the Circuit was renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit.The best horses...
Champion and twice won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships Grand Final.
Stud record
Gammalite stood his first stud season at the Alabar Stud in 1985 at a fee of $2,000. He had sired one foal in 1979 as a two year old, but his first commercial crop arrived in 1986. Gammalite sired 107 individual winners including six in 2:00. His best progeny being:- Generator 1986 1:56.7, won $252,867
- Overlite 1991 filly, 2:02.1 $139,511, dam of Camlach (P.1:56.7 winner of $367,349).
- Serene Queen 1987 filly 2:02.5 $89,610, producer (dam of winners).
By the end of 2006, his brood mares were the dams of some 16 horses rating under 2:0.
Gammalite died in December 2006 at Terang, at age 30, and he is buried at the entrance to Terang’s Dalvui raceway.