Harness racing lost one of its most avid supporters last Thursday when owner/breeder Rick Burchell passed following a long illness.
Burchell bred and raced many smart horses, the majority of which had ‘Calder’ in their name, including multiple winner Calder Sensation by S Js Photo (trained by the Maree and John Caldow), who was one of the first standardbreds to undergo stem cell surgery.
However, without doubt the outstanding juvenile Blitzemcalder was the star of his brood.
The colt by Metropolitan from Like A Calder, who was trained by Ross Payne, won more than 26 races between 2012 and 2014 including the 2012 Australasian Breeders Crown and the Victoria Trotters Derby a year later.
Blitzemcalder also had a brilliant victory in the New Zealand Trotting Derby and competed admirably in the NZ Jewels Series.
“He’s got a big ticker,” Burchell said of Blitzemcalder, the pride and joy of his stable and part of his proudly unconventional means.
“You’ve got to dare to be different,” he once said. “If someone tells me to turn right, I’ll turn left, that’s me in life.”
Burchell and wife Janne had a beautiful property just outside Torquay, where he bred many winners and had many partnerships with trainers, who were well aware of his breed’s great blood lines and potential.
Harness Racing Victoria extends its sincere sympathy to Burchell’s family and friends.
