Stuart Allcock, the first professional trainer to serve on the committee of a harness racing club, died in Dunedin on Saturday at the age of 74.
Allcock was training at Waikouaiti when he was elected to the committee of the Waikouaiti Trotting Club in 1982.
The governing body, the New Zealand Trotting Conference, had changed the rules to permit professional trainers being elected to the committee of a club.
Allcock had success as a trainer and reinsman, holding a licence until 2005. He trained Diamond Trail, the trotter who won seven races in the 1990-91 season. He trained and drove the trotter Iris Pointer to win six races in the 1980s.
Allcock won four races with Sir Jim in the late 1970s and a similar number with Auburn Chip before the gelding was sold to Australia.
Ima Locarno, another sold to Australia, won twice for Allcock.
He won three with Mister Whipster and four with Sure Charlie before the gelding was sold to the United States.
He drove Passover to win the 1986 Central Otago Cup. Other useful winners he drove included Chipaluck, Spring's Pride, Ollie's Chance and Great Way.
