Former jockey Laurie feels right at home beside the racecourse

For former jockey Laurie Williams, moving into Ryman’s Kevin Hickman Village feels just like coming home.

As a teenager, Laurie worked out his apprenticeship at Riccarton Racecourse next door to the village, so he was thrilled when he scored a room overlooking the home straight.

Laurie became obsessed with horses at just 14, despite having no family connection to racing. Growing up in Leeston, Canterbury, he would spend hours at a nearby stable, drawn to the animals.

By 15, he had left school to work as a stable hand. The early mornings and hard physical work never put him off.

“I just found them fascinating, and I knew I wanted to be a jockey,” he says.

Laurie’s apprenticeship was with a trainer based at Riccarton called CC McCarthy, whose best horse Dalray had won the Melbourne Cup in 1952.

Laurie aged 15 in the saddle his favourite horse High Score

Of the 10 horses he looked after, High Score was the one he had a particular soft spot for, and a photo taken of Laurie riding him which was later colourised by his family (above), is one he treasures to this day.

For Laurie to be a jockey, he had to complete a five-year apprenticeship first. Finally, after qualifying, he could race.

For the next five years, Laurie competed regularly but luck didn’t go his way, with his highest placing being fourth on Drake’s Treasure.

He decided to try something different and got a job at Burke’s Bakery in Riccarton.

“It was still early mornings!” he laughs.

Then, in 1965, Laurie went on holiday to Australia – and ended up staying for 30 years!

Says Trent: “Dad doesn’t really like flying!”

He tried his luck at horse racing again in Australia but after a couple of years he switched to farm work.

Laurie in action on Drake's Treasure

During that time he met and married wife Shirlette, with their son Trent arriving in 1981.

Finally, in 1987, Laurie returned to New Zealand with his young family in tow. It was time to reconnect with his siblings and his mother, Maggie.

Needing care, Maggie eventually moved into Ryman’s Woodcote Village in Hornby, and years later, he followed in her footsteps to the same village.

His own move into care came about after he suffered a stroke, unfortunately while on holiday visiting family in Australia.

“It was a stressful time,” says Trent. “There was an emergency dash back to New Zealand during the pandemic.”

But with Woodcote being the former home of his mother, the familiarity was reassuring and he grew attached to the team, especially his caregiver Emma.

When the care centre at Woodcote closed last year, Laurie was supported to move to Kevin Hickman Village – a change that came with an unexpected bonus – a close-up view of the racing action!

“This village is completely different – in a good way!” Laurie nods.

Laurie's son Trent is equally as impressed with the surroundings at Kevin Hickman Village

Son Trent says he was impressed to see how far up the straight you can go to watch the horses thunder past on race day, with meetings bringing the track to life up to 30 times a year.

As well as the beautiful surroundings and wonderful location, Laurie loves the food and the care he receives, especially as his favourite caregiver Emma followed him from Woodcote to Kevin Hickman too.

He was particularly touched when Emma painted a picture of a horse’s head to decorate his new room (top picture).

Being obsessed with horses since he was a boy, it is incredibly apt that Laurie finds himself right back where it all began – enjoying the sport he loves from just beyond the rails.

“I’m very happy in my new home,” he smiles.