Death of owner soon after major success

Press, 23 April 1983, Page 24

Death of owner soon after major success

By J. J. BOYLE Mr William Arthur Grant died at Timaru this week only 11 days after Flag Lieutenant credited him with his biggest individual success as a racing owner — by winning the Qantas Stakes on the final day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting. Bill Grant belonged to a family that had been identified with racing and thoroughbred breeding in South Canterbury for many years. On the death of his uncle Andrew, Bill Grant took

over the Strathconan Stud, first at Fairlie, then at Washdyke. Grey Way, South Canterbury’s most famous thoroughbred product since Phar Lap, had close family links with horses owned by members of the Grant family. Grey Way was by Grey William, one of the Strathconan Stud’s bank of stallions for some years. His maternal grandam was by King’s Command, which was imported by the late Mr Andrew Grant to race and then take up ser-

vice at Strathconan. The next dam’s sire, Pink Coat, won several races for Bill Grant’s father, the late Donald Grant, before going to stud. Jeykll, a brother of the famous race mare Meld, and Country Dance, sired several winners while Mr Bill Grant had them at service at Washdyke. Others to have terms on stallion banks at Strathconan included Darnley and Llanstephan. Flag Lieutenant’s sire, Votecatcher, was imported for Strathconan in 1976.