there are few New Zealanders of whom it could be claimed they have been richly entertaining for virtually an entire lifetime. But Keith Haub is one. From the moment he embarked on a wisecracking career as a barber, through the halcyon days when he not only enthralled the nation’s turf fans with his masterly race calling but owned a speedster called McGinty (an icon in its own right) to being in hot demand as a brilliantly funny after-dinner speaker, Haubie has been a truly unique character. His often outrageous but always entertaining and amusing career is wonderfully portrayed in From the Horse’s Mouth, written by leading New Zealand racing journalist Mike Dillon, who has long been a friend and confidante of Haub’s. together they have produced a magical book, offering a rare mix of sporting drama and achievement, hilarious adventures and misadventures, and a superb insight into the Sport of Kings. For Aucklander Mike Dillon, who delights readers of the New Zealand Herald daily with his colourful racing accounts, this is his first book, but given the rich material he has extracted from Haub it is unlikely to be his last.
