Faith in the Fast Lane

04 Dec 2009

A new race horse ministry to the Canterbury racing industry has great odds of success.

The convenor of a working group looking to establish a chaplaincy for the horse racing industry can count on two fingers the number of times he’s visited a racetrack.
“I went to the diocesan race day in October and that was probably the second race meeting I’ve ever been to,” laughs Malcolm Falloon, vicar of Christchurch’s Bryndwr parish of St Aidan’s.

Malcolm has had a swift introduction to horse racing terminology and the workings of New Zealand’s track scene with the help of other working party members including veterinarian Corin Murfitt and Rangiora’s Jill Tyquin - whose husband was well-known race caller Darren.
The small but enthusiastic working party has been meeting monthly to discuss how an interdenominational ministry in Canterbury could operate and be funded. Similar groups have sprung up in Palmerston North and the Waikato and Malcolm says he’d ultimately like to see them all linked together under a national structure.

Chaplaincies are already operating in Australia and the United States, and Race Track Chaplaincy of America spokesperson and retired hall of fame jockey Pat Day visited New Zealand in September to encourage and meet with the working group.
“Pat’s quite an impressive man – although not in stature,” says Malcolm about the ex-jockey who was extremely successful on the track but battled drug and alcohol addiction. He became a Christian in 1984.
“Jockeys are like all elite athletes”, says Malcolm. “There’s a lot of pressure on them to perform and to be underweight and the like. The kind of hours you work means you can’t socialise the way other people do. The combination of that can lead to quite dysfunctional lifestyles.”
He says the chaplaincy would be offering pastoral care “to a section of society who maybe cannot ordinarily receive that through Sunday morning church”. It would be available to anyone associated with the industry, including trainers and stable-hands.

Expanding the working group, setting up a board and a network of supporters, and writing a constitution are some of the things to be worked on. All going well, the group anticipates a launch date in 12 to 18 months. Anyone who is in the racing industry or has a love of the sport and is keen to help can contact Malcolm on mal.falloon@xtra.co.nz

Words: Megan Blakie