Vale Steve Anderton

Steve Anderton, who died on Tuesday (3/2/2015), was a gifted trainer and his death is a major loss to the racing community and his family, said his uncle, Brian Anderton, the principal of White Robe Lodge.

Steve (43) died from injuries suffered when he was crushed by the loading ramp of his horse transporter the previous day at his Wingatui Rd stable.

"He was the complete horseman and a credit to the profession,'' said Brian.

"He went to Australia to further his knowledge of training and that showed through to the success he had. He upheld the family standards in the training profession.

"His death is a huge loss to the racing community and his family.''

Steve trained The Jewel to win the group one NZ One Thousand Guineas and gr one International Stakes at Te Rapa in partnership with his father, Hec.  Sand Sweeper, who won a Canterbury Gold Cup, Easter Cup and Great Easter Handicap; Maccadons Dream (Easter Cup and Great Easter) and Native Monarch (Riverton Cup) were among other good winners for the partnership. The Dennis brothers, Tony, Ray, Martin and Joe, who raced The Jewel remained his clients when Steve began training in a sole capacity eight seasons ago.

Steve won the major race at Wingatui, the group three White Robe Lodge Handicap, last year with The Diamond One.  Other good winners he trained   were The Solitaire and The Glitzy One. The Solitaire won the Dunedin, Riverton and Gore Cups and South Island Breeders' Stakes. The Glitzy One won the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton twice.

The Diamond One is a prominent candidate for the White Robe Lodge Handicap on Friday. The race has been renamed In Memory of Steven Anderton Handicap. There will be a minute silence before the race and jockeys will wear black armbands. A table will be set up by the Otago Racing Club with a memory book.

"Our thoughts are particularly with Steve's wife (Claire) and two young children (Katie (3) and Tillie (eight months),'' said Brian.