The harness racing couple are embarking on a big change as David leaves his full-time job at the country’s leading barn, Stonewall Stud, at the end of this week.
Together with wife Stacey, who is sponsorship and marketing manager at Woodlands Stud, they will relocate to a new, purpose-built facility at Ashburton Raceway.
"It’s a busy time but we are very excited about what’s ahead," Stacey said.
"We are fully committed to making it work."
The couple will make the move from Christchurch in coming weeks, along with their two young children, aged 2 and 10 months.
Until now they have been training a small team alongside David’s day job at Stonewall Stud’s Rolleston base.
They have registered 20 wins together since 2019, including five in Australia.
"We’re not starting from scratch," David said.
"We already have the gear, the carts and the systems in place, which gives us a real head-start."
Training independently has long been part of the Whites’ long-term plan, and the timing now feels right.
"It’s something we’ve always worked towards," Stacey said.
"It’s a big move, but it gives me flexibility with the kids and the chance to fully focus on our own horses," David added.
Their first starters from their new base could be as early as January.
"Initially there’s capacity for around a dozen horses," David said.
"We currently have eight, including five rising 2-year-olds, and over time we could comfortably grow to 20 or 25."
Their stable star without doubt is this year’s Rowe Cup winner Bet N Win.
They purchased him for $32,500 in 2021. He has gone on to win 15 races and over $550,000.
"Certainly Bet N Win and Major Hot have helped us in terms of success and profile to get to where we are now,"David said.
Major Hot was the training partnership’s first group 1 winner when he won the Queensland Derby at Albion Park in Brisbane last year.
"The owners in those horses are very supportive and they have been the ones to give us confidence to take this next step," Stacey said.
They include the likes of Glenys and Philip Kennard and Peter Baken.
Once they are settled in Ashburton one of the Whites’ top priorities will be to secure some new horses at the 2026 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales.
"We will certainly be active during the sales in February. Hopefully we can find a few more Bet N Wins," Stacey said. — HRNZ
