The Matamata and wider racing community is mourning the death of one its most respected and admired members, former trainer Norman Crawford, who has passed away at age 92.
Crawford, the father of current licence-holder Karen Fursdon, grew up in the Depression and dairy farmed with family in his formative years before gradually becoming more involved in racing.
With the purchase of a five-acre block on the southern town boundary in 1954, he established Willow Stables, where he and his wife Kathleen raised a family and continued to live for the remainder of their lives.
Across the array of stayers, sprinters and jumpers, Crawford trained a number of top flight performers. They included star sprinter So Modest, classy sprinter-milers Tashi and Kerryman, talented middle-distance gallopers Kahu and Rare Commodity, Oaks-winning filly Hexagonal and the jumpers Pal O’Mine, Macquarrie and Jumping Joe.
“Over the years Dad was hardly ever without a good horse,” said his daughter Karen.
“The first of them that he enjoyed talking about was Lavish Countess, who lowered the colours of the great Picaroon when she won the (1962) Awapuni Gold Cup.
“He did love his jumpers, but he could turn his hand to just about every type of horse. He was so patient with them, if they needed time that’s what they got.
“One that he took special pleasure from after seeing him through various issues was Beach Tango, who didn’t start racing until he was a late four-year-old but won some decent races.”
Family was special to Crawford, which included taking Karen and her brother Kevin into a three-way training partnership in 1988. The highlight of Karen’s training career was her 2004 Auckland Cup victory with Upsetthym, while more recent stars at Willow Stables include the quality racemare Yearn and current performer Le Sablier.
Amongst those to speak highly of Crawford is Hall of Fame trainer Dave O’Sullivan, whose friendship dates back some 60 years to his earliest days as a trainer.
“When I started training here in Matamata my tie-up stalls were next to Norm’s,” O’Sullivan recalled.
“If I had a problem he was the first person I would turn to for advice, he was like a wise old owl, just a great guy.
“Like everyone around here, I had a great deal of respect for Norm; he was a wonderful horseman, mild-mannered and a thoroughly decent man who was devoted to his family.”
Horses and family apart, Crawford’s other great passion was his vegetable garden. His new potatoes were legendary, invariably the first in the district to make it to the family dinner table in late spring.
“After Mum passed away (in 2010), we all rallied around Dad and he loved still being able to wander out the back to the stables, get out in the garden and enjoy the grandkids and then great-grandchildren growing up,” Fursdon said.
“He had his health issues over the past few years but thankfully hadn’t spent any time in hospital. He still had his routine and we had a roster supplying him with meals.
“On Saturday evening he had a dinner of steak, eggs and chips and in the morning we found that he had gone peacefully during the night.
“He did say he wanted to pass away in his garden, but as a family we’re taking comfort from how he went.
“We’re all going to miss him a lot, however we know we were very lucky to have parents like Mum and Dad.”
Norm Crawford is survived by his daughter Karen, sons Kevin and Gainard, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
