Terese Fulford
Race Images Palmerston North
When Terese and Harold Fulford headed to Otaki racecourse to take up the manager's role the young couple gave themselves five years in the job.
Saturday's Otaki meeting, some 38 years later, will be Terese Fulford's last as manager after taking on the position following Harold's death nearly seven years ago.
A lifetime working at the track was not on the radar when the couple, then farming near Hamilton, received a phone call from Terese's father, Otaki Maori Racing Club patron, Jim Winiata.
"He asked whether we were interested in taking up the manager's role," Fulford recalled. "In those days it also involved running the accommodation house and cooking for the AGM. I would be cooking for 30-odd people and I wasn't a very good cook in those days!
"We gave ourselves five years. It was a lifestyle, you either love it or hate it and obviously we loved it. Having the old accommodation house made a difference too. That old place could tell some stories."
Fulford said that when they came back to Otaki the club had just five race days, including a two-day meeting. The whole family - Harold, Terese and their three children - worked on the track.
Working alongside husband Harold she said there were the occasional arguments, but they stayed at work and she would usually bow to his knowledge.
"He was the boss, and I am old fashioned that way, so he made the decisions about the track," she said. "He taught me a lot."
Son Jason, track manager at Ellerslie for the past 14 years, is another who benefited from Harold's tutelage.
"Jason did his apprenticeship with his father," she said.
Hardly surprisingly, Fulford said she has witnessed huge changes in track management over the past 38 years.
"Irrigation has been one of the biggest changes. In the early days irrigation was used to keep the track green not to change it."
She has also seen the introduction of the penetrometer to provide a consistent track reading but Fulford said knowing her track and relying on the hand corer still gives a better indication.
"You've got to walk your track and get to know it, it becomes a personal thing."
Being the only female in a male dominated profession has meant she has developed a thick skin.
"I don't think they [the men] realised they treated me differently but they were condescending without knowing it," she said. "I felt it quite often. I would get an idea and they wouldn't listen. I was right more often than I was wrong though!"
"There have certainly been some trials and tribulations over the years and some tears but I
wouldn't change it for the world," she said.
Fulford will leave the track in good hands with her brother Reggie Winiata taking over and she is planning to ease herself into retirement.
"I am going to help Reggie for a while, just mowing and doing bits and pieces, but I am going to have time for me!" - NZ Racing Desk.
Saturday's Otaki meeting, some 38 years later, will be Terese Fulford's last as manager after taking on the position following Harold's death nearly seven years ago.
A lifetime working at the track was not on the radar when the couple, then farming near Hamilton, received a phone call from Terese's father, Otaki Maori Racing Club patron, Jim Winiata.
"He asked whether we were interested in taking up the manager's role," Fulford recalled. "In those days it also involved running the accommodation house and cooking for the AGM. I would be cooking for 30-odd people and I wasn't a very good cook in those days!
"We gave ourselves five years. It was a lifestyle, you either love it or hate it and obviously we loved it. Having the old accommodation house made a difference too. That old place could tell some stories."
Fulford said that when they came back to Otaki the club had just five race days, including a two-day meeting. The whole family - Harold, Terese and their three children - worked on the track.
Working alongside husband Harold she said there were the occasional arguments, but they stayed at work and she would usually bow to his knowledge.
"He was the boss, and I am old fashioned that way, so he made the decisions about the track," she said. "He taught me a lot."
Son Jason, track manager at Ellerslie for the past 14 years, is another who benefited from Harold's tutelage.
"Jason did his apprenticeship with his father," she said.
Hardly surprisingly, Fulford said she has witnessed huge changes in track management over the past 38 years.
"Irrigation has been one of the biggest changes. In the early days irrigation was used to keep the track green not to change it."
She has also seen the introduction of the penetrometer to provide a consistent track reading but Fulford said knowing her track and relying on the hand corer still gives a better indication.
"You've got to walk your track and get to know it, it becomes a personal thing."
Being the only female in a male dominated profession has meant she has developed a thick skin.
"I don't think they [the men] realised they treated me differently but they were condescending without knowing it," she said. "I felt it quite often. I would get an idea and they wouldn't listen. I was right more often than I was wrong though!"
"There have certainly been some trials and tribulations over the years and some tears but I
wouldn't change it for the world," she said.
Fulford will leave the track in good hands with her brother Reggie Winiata taking over and she is planning to ease herself into retirement.
"I am going to help Reggie for a while, just mowing and doing bits and pieces, but I am going to have time for me!" - NZ Racing Desk.