Show Gate


Show Gate is a New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame champion thoroughbred racehorse sired by Gatekeeper out of Minglow, a Eulogy mare. Foaled in 1969, she was horse of the year in 1975 and 1977 and won races from 1200 metres up to 2400 metres in record time. She started in 51 races, winning 30, and was second 7 times, third twice and unplaced in 12 races.
Show Gate was owned, bred and trained by Gordon Thomson of Mosgiel, Dunedin.
A mare with an ability to carry big weights over all distances in record times, legendary New Zealand jockey Bob Skelton was quoted to say "She's A Machine" and the "Equal of modern day Hall of Fame mare Sunline"
She won the Stewards, Canterbury Gold Cup and the Churchill Stakes over 1200m, 2000m and 1600m respectively over 7 days at the Canterbury Show week meetings at Riccarton Park. She went on to capture all three twice during her career.
Show Gate suffered a fractured sesamoid bone in the spring of 1974 after winning her first five races as a five-year-old.
She returned to racing as a seven-year-old, winning 7 of her 13 starts, and ran a very unlucky second to Good Lord in the 1977 Wellington Cup over 3200m. Two days later she broke the NZ record over 2400m, 2:26.1 with the top weight of 57kg on three legs, as she had again gone amiss 1000m from home, her last race. Many fine judges have Show Gate as the best mare ever to race in New Zealand.