• Dedicated professional who dealt in facts, not speculation
Otago Daily Times day editor Dave Cannan, a former man of the track, pays tribute to Tayler Strong's contribution to the newspaper.
I worked for the Christchurch Star, and Tayler was first racing editor of the Timaru Herald and then racing editor of the ODT, replacing my first racing boss, the unforgettable Jack Morris.
You could not get two people more different in temperament and personality than Jack and Tayler, but they did share one trait which rubbed off on me: a love and enthusiasm for the racing game, the many colourful characters who belong to both codes and, of course, the great racehorses, gallopers and standardbreds that fired our imaginations and inspired our writings.
It's fair to say all racing scribes develop their own styles.
Tayler belonged to the group who strongly believed that opinions were fine and dandy but facts were sacred, and facts were what the punters and readers of the ODT wanted, first and foremost.
"Information, not speculation" would probably have been Tayler's mantra.
I, on the other hand, belonged to the group who might best be described as adjectival junkies and specialised in purple prose.
From this, though, came a mutual respect for each other as professional journalists and also a friendship that has lasted nearly 40 years.
For the past 17 years we have been colleagues at the ODT. A few times, not many, I've had occasion to venture back into my old writing haunts of the racing world, and every time Tayler, being the consumate professional, has been supportive of my humble efforts, and offered his help as well. For that I will always be grateful.
The world of racing writing in newspapers has changed dramatically since Tayler and I first ventured into it and I do wonder (and worry) where it is heading.
But one thing I do know: Tayler should look back on his substantial contribution to it with pride and satisfaction of a job done thoroughly, accurately and with dedicated professionalism.
• First with the story and photo
No-one inside the Otago Daily Times building knows Tayler Strong better than his colleague in the racing department, Bruce Fraser. Bruce offers these thoughts.
Together, we have produced some 10,456 race pages and Tayler would have written an even greater number of stories.
Tayler's catch phrase was "basics".
"If you get the basics right you have a platform to work from."
His advice was never to assume anything. Check and question everything.
"Have you ever seen a horse going backwards with 400m to run?"
"I don't think so, Tayler."
" I rest my case."
The work did not finish when the race page was put to bed. It was not uncommon for Tayler to ring with an alteration any time up to midnight.
Both of us have woken up at some early hour of the morning in a lather wondering if a name was wrong or another fact incorrect.
The paper would be opened with trembling hands the following morning. If no error was found we would breathe a sigh of relief, but if a glaring mistake had been overlooked we would choke on our rolled oats.
While Tayler just missed seeing Phar Lap race, his devotion to racing parallels the staying prowess of that equine wonder.
From quill to laptop, and box brownie to the modern-day camera, and technology which allows photos to be sent directly from the racecourse to the office, Tayler has adapted to the changes.
He was one of the few racing journalists working for a metropolitan paper who both wrote and took his own photos.
Tayler would always seek to be first to the story and photo. Other media were trampled by his flailing hooves, as, with flaring nostrils and silvery mane, he strove to gain an advantage over his media rivals.
People and horses ducked for cover as he approached, camera in hand, but few could dodge being nailed to a wall, fence or tree to add to what was without doubt the best racing photo library of any newspaper in New Zealand.
Tayler was also one of the few racing journalists who covered both thoroughbred and harness racing. In recent times he has also dabbled in greyhound reporting, but professes to being only a pup in that sphere.
His historical knowledge of racing facts is unparalleled. He can recall any feature race result, the trainer and the jockey.
The regard in which Tayler is held by those across the racing industry spectrum and by his peers has been evidenced in recent weeks by the number of calls we have fielded. That gallop may have slowed to a canter as he has reached the "aged" category, but the enthusiasm remained.
Tayler still preferred his trusty notepad to any fancy recorder, saying it was easier to refer to the printed word both in notes and in publications.
It took too long, he felt, to boot up and log in to a computer.
Tayler penned his last piece for the Otago Daily Times in the same diligent fashion as he did his first story.
Tayler, you have truly earned your place in the "home" paddock.
• Other tributes to Tayler Strong
Former 'ODT' sports editor Brent Edwards:
He was a no-frills person, too, full of sound common sense but passionate in his beliefs. He learned his craft off the late Jack Morris and soon carved a niche as one of New Zealand's leading racing journalists.
Tayler was a good companion. We often had the editorial floor almost to ourselves on Sunday mornings as we tidied up our work from Saturdays and it was then that we would chew the fat and put the world to rights.
Tayler disliked flowery or personality journalism but, despite that, he became one of the legends of the New Zealand racing scene. His has been a remarkable career, both in its longevity and its quality.
Former 'Southland Times' sports editor Don Wright:
Nor was Tayler a trumpet blower who pushed his own barrow in the 45 years I worked with him, often very closely. He simply let his high standard of work speak for him.
Tayler's departure will certainly leave a gaping hole in the ranks of competent and specialist racing and harness racing scribes. A man doesn't put 47 years at least into something without gaining a wealth of knowledge and working ringcraft.
I do not envy Tayler's successor, who will have huge shoes to fill. Take that from one of almost as much experience over almost as long a period (45 years).
My close colleague, Jamie Searle (Southland Times), joins with me in extending our best personal and professional wishes to Tayler in his retirement. Like me, Jamie has found him an ultra-reliable working colleague and a trusted friend.
I only have one gesture left to extend to Tayler and that is to persuade him to accompany me soon in some of my outback Fiordland hunting and angling outposts.
As Jamie said to me: "It won't seem quite the same without Tayler about on racedays, will it?" He's got that right.
The ODT is saying adios to an employee who scaled considerable heights in his professional career and was a pleasure to work so closely with. Thanks for the memories, Tayler.
