Allan has contributed to thoroughbred racing nationally and internationally. In 2017 he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his long service to NZ horse racing.

Having loved racing since his youth, Allan has been involved in many levels of racing administration for over 40 years.  His first official involvement was in 1974 when he was appointed Secretary of the Manawatu Racing Owners’ Association. Robust discussion about all aspects of racing took place at the monthly meetings. The Association ran trials on a regular basis during the year; taking entries from trainers, organising the fields and typing up racebooks was all in a day’s work.

Allan was subsequently elected to the Manawatu Racing Club, which in turn led to experience as a member of the Whanganui District Committee. He then became the District Committee delegate on the Racing Conference (now NZTR) and was also elected to the TAB Board and the Board of the NZ Racing Authority.

Allan, a retired accountant, started out working at Wilberfoss & Company (subsequently becoming Ernst & Young) Wellington, later becoming a Partner in the Palmerston North office. In 1992 his career changed direction when he resigned as a Partner and took up the position of General Manager at Awapuni with responsibility for the Manawatu, Feilding, Marton & Rangitikei Racing Clubs.

The following year he was appointed Chief Executive of the NZ Racing Conference (now NZTR), a position he held for 12 years until his retirement at the end of 2005. Many new initiatives and reforms were introduced to the industry during those years.

Now based in Marton, Allan’s love for racing will never wane (he is a self-confessed “racing tragic”). His current involvement includes being re-appointed Secretary of the Manawatu Association in 2009, being a Director of the NZ Racing Hall of Fame virtually since its inception, being Secretary of the NZ Equine Research Foundation and as a Life Member of the Manawatu Racing Club.

Allan has bred and/or raced many horses over the years, often in Partnerships or Syndicates, having won over 100 races. He looks forward to a continued involvement in racing. He shares his love for horses and thoroughbred racing with his wife Susan and their three children and their families.

Allan Fenwick