Elton Knight

Every week day at the crack of dawn Elton Knight is down on Karioitahi beach, ready to help out racehorse trainers who bring their charges for a workout.

The self-styled “strainer post,” Elton acts as a mobile tie-up point for horses as they are off-loaded from trucks or have their gear changed. In the absence of sturdy hitching rails, Elton’s experienced hands are appreciated by the young horses and their trainers alike.

A former rider, Elton relishes the opportunity to be among the animals he loves. And the horses clearly enjoy his company. “They like to give me a smooch when I’m wearing aftershave,” he smiles.

Elton’s equine encounters are a welcome respite from his day job. Back in Waiuku, he’s a funeral director. As he watches fishermen and swimmers braving the surf, he muses that some may end up requiring his services.