Congratulations Pat

Long standing, loyal Te Akau owner Pat Dyer recently celebrated his 50^th and 51^st win with Te Akau, courtesy of consecutive victories by Swing Note (Encosta De Lago).

I was born and raised in a state house in Glen Innes, Auckland. We never had any holidays, as kids. My father didn't have a driver's licence, never had a car, and never had any money. I played rugby league and in my later years played cricket until I was 50. When I started work, I got the telephone connected and when my sister started work we bought the TV. In fact, when I left home at 21 I was earning more money than my father, who was a plumber. There was nine of us in the family and I was the oldest of seven (children).

I worked in the Post Office for five years in Auckland. At 21 I left to go farming, as a townie with no experience. I came to Taranaki, a town called Kaponga. I was earning 10 pounds a week in 1964. I couldn't see myself surviving, so I went back to town and went farming again when I was 31. I bought a farm in Eltham when I was 39.

My wife died 19 years ago and I felt the kids missed their mother around Christmas time, so I took them and the grandkids on a cruise and I've done 60 cruises now, as a travel agent.

My two favourite places are the European River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, and Peru, South America. I've hosted a lot of groups overseas and I've taken five groups to South America. I've taken seven groups on a river cruise and have more planned for next year.

I had my first share in a horse in 1967, which won a race at Stratford, and started with Te Akau when I sold my farm in 2006. I've still got shares in Primo Quest. She won seven, so did De Lago Dancer. Bronte Lass and Unsurpassed both had five wins, and a favourite of mine was Scrutinize. I've always been happy having shares in horses with Te Akau, no problems. The communications are excellent and I think I've got shares in 11 horses at the moment, and a foal due out of Lady Masako (she's just foaled a filly), so I now have 12. I don't have big percentages.

Some of them are: Lightning Field (Deep Field) who recently finished second in a trial, So You Said (So You Think), Crimson Star (Burgundy), Markus Aurelius (Ghibellines), and a 2 f Rock ‘N' Pop - Primo Quest (Quest for Fame).

I enjoy the hospitality of David & Karyn, love all the communications, and I think Jamie (Richards) is doing a great job. I am enjoying seeing Opie (Bosson) back riding. I think he's the best rider in the country, but I also think Shafiq is going pretty well too, and the apprentices, they're going well.

I've always had an interest in racing, but could never afford it when I was younger. It was a hobby after I sold my farm. It keeps me interested and I love the racing in Singapore. I like to have one or two more up there. I've had four so far.

I started the Eltham Travel Centre 23 years ago. It's still going well and I love the travel, and love cruising in particular. I'm doing a cruise at Christmas, just around New Zealand and to Australia. I don't care where it goes, really. I just like the ship life. It's very relaxing and we've got a few friends going with us. We have a good time.

We like to going to Portofino restaurant in New Plymouth. Food is a tricky thing, because I'm a fussy eater and my partner is gluten free. The dining experience on the backend of the river cruiser, with 24 people and a chef cooking right in front of you is hard to beat. It's all included in the price of the cruise and it's quite magic cruising down the Danube, or somewhere, looking off the backend of the boat. We do that a couple of times on a 14-night cruise. The chefs and waiters really look after you. I've done that cruise seven times. I've got two more planned for next year and one the following year, at the moment, hosting groups.