Top racing man's wife shot dead

Police tape blocks access to the Meads home in Matamata after yesterday's fatal shooting. Photo / Alan Gibson

The wife of a high-profile horse-racing figure has been shot dead in a killing that has rocked the close-knit industry.

Hamilton detectives started a homicide inquiry yesterday after being called to a Banks Ave property near the Matamata racecourse, where officers found the woman's body in an outhouse.

The Herald has learned the woman is Helen Meads, wife and business partner of horse breeder Greg Meads. She was a mother of three.

Mr Meads is a successful figure in the horse-racing industry and until three days ago part-owned the top-performing Ginga Dude.

A source, who asked not to be named, told the Herald that Mr and Mrs Meads had been married about 10 years, and had been in business together, breeding and training horses, since then.

Mrs Meads had two children - a son aged in his early 20s and a daughter aged about 17 - from a previous relationship and the couple had a child together aged about 8.

Another industry insider, who asked not to be named, said everyone was stunned by the news and had reacted with complete disbelief to Mrs Meads' sudden and violent death.

"It's just total shock. I guess everyone in the racing industry is hard. It's a hard industry - you're racing for multi-million dollars a week, but everyone respects each other.

"It can be like warfare out on the track but no one shoots each other."

The man said he did not know Mrs Meads, but described Mr Meads as "the loveliest, quietest, most unassuming bloke you've ever met in your life".

Mr Meads had been involved in the horse-racing industry "pretty much all his life" and was a "middle of the road" horse breeder, and the owner of Willow Park Stud, the man said.

Mr Meads sold his share in Ginga Dude to partners Graeme Boyd and Raewyn Yovich on Monday.

Ginga Dude has won $340,625 over the past two years, won the Japan Racing Association Stake at Ellerslie two weeks ago and is expected to perform well in the Kelt Capital Stakes in Hastings on October 3.

Mr Meads has also raced other well-known horses including Ascot Isle, Nikisha, Count Cristo, Higgins, Labasa and Avontor.

The Meads' property on a quiet country lane was cordoned off yesterday.

A neighbour and close friend said she had never heard of any trouble from the address.

"This is completely out of the blue. I know them well, and I would have never expected this. They were a lovely couple."

Matamata racing identity Dennis Ryan - a friend of Mrs Meads - said the community had lost a hard-working and well-liked member.

"For a close-knit community it's a real shock ... the circumstances are tragic and right now everyone's just coming to terms with it."

The body was found about 8.15am yesterday.

Mrs Meads' children were not at home at the time of the shooting and relatives were caring for them last night.

Mr Meads' brother drove to the address from Ohope when he heard of the shooting. He was too distraught to speak to the Herald after visiting the scene.

Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Van De Wetering of the Waikato CIB said a man found at the scene surrendered himself up when police arrived.

Mr Van De Wetering said police were questioning the man over Mrs Mead's death.

No one else was being sought in connection with the inquiry.