What should have been Steve Davis’ proudest moment actually turned into his saddest.  It was standing next to his idol Peter Kelly on the rostrum at Te Rapa racecourse auctioneering horses. Not long after the auction started Steve Davis burst into tears and had to step down.

The time was December 1984. In January of that year Davis’ father had died of cancer.  “My dad’s passing was more a blessing than a sadness because the family were grateful that all the suffering was finally over,” Said Davis after being announced Media Award winner at the Mercedes Awards function in Christchurch.  “I guess I hadn’t cried in the months afterwards, but standing there on the rostrum next to peter Kelly it suddenly dawned on me that dad hadn’t lived long enough to see me get into bloodstock and how proud he would have been.  “Dad was a 50 cent punter and had encouraged me to take an interest in horse racing.

“I got into bloodstock only a few months after his death.” Despite his father’s urgings, a young Steve Davis wanted to become a teacher. The desire was strong, but teachers college didn’t think it was strong enough.  “They came to me at the end of one year and told me they thought I should pursue a different career.  “I don’t think I did my university studies much good, but I’m delighted with the way things turned out.” During his teachers college studies Davis called the Saturday harness workouts at Auckland’s Alexandra Park. 

High profile Auckland trotting club administrator at the time Ken Kramer-Roberts asked Davis if he’d even considered auctioneering. “Ken was holding some small auctions at the time and I think he was looking for someone to give him a hand.” Wrightson Bloodstock, later to become New Zealand Bloodstock, was approached and Steve Davis was suddenly a trainee auctioneer. “I was auctioning cars and Michael Floyd (Wrightson’s General Manager) showed up. I thought he was there to buy a car, but I found out later he was checking me out.

“Peter Kelly had just had a heart attack and I think they were looking for an auctioneer to be in support.” It all fell into place from that point.  Wrightsons were taken over by NZ Bloodstock in 1997.  Steve Davis left to set up Magic Millions sales here, but when Magic Millions went back to selling solely from Australia Steve Davis returned to his old position on a contractural basis, although he retained a position with Magic Millions as its New Zealand representative and one of the company’s senior auctioneers in Australia.  The award in Christchurch meant a lot. “You cop a fair bit of flak as a Trackside presenter – it’s nice to know that someone thinks you do something right and that you get recognition.

“I feel very fortunate that I earn my living in an industry I love. I wake most mornings and don’t even feel like I’m going to work.” Selling in South Africa for the last 10 years has been a highlight and of the horses that have passed under the Davis hammer, Octagonal stands out.

“I remember him making $210,000 and thought he was cheap.”

Steve Davis was right.