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LOCAL HISTORY

January 14 - "Great Peninsula Fire" destroys much of the bush on Banks Peninsula.

The first X-ray is done at Christchuch Hospital.

Australasia's first swimming championships are held in Ch-Ch.

Wellington businessman and politician William McLean imported the first motor car into New Zealand.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY PEOPLE

JOHN BUCKLAND

A major figure in our harness history because he was the first person to establish a satellite stable and in his case an international one. One of the dominant figures of Australian harness, Buckland brought a team over in 1898 headed by the champion trotter Fritz and was so impressed he set up a professional stable here at Riccarton's historic Lonsdale Lodge (the well preserved house is still there) with his foreman Claude Piper in charge. Buckland owned the leading Australasian stallion Vancleve and his stock cleaned up most of the feature races here.

In five years Buckland was the leading owner in New Zealand four times and second in the other. His 2300ha Pine Ridge station was a fabulous estate producing stud horses of both codes; stud sheep and cattle; deer, parrots, turkeys and pigeons. The trotting facility was state of the art. He also maintained a racing stable in Sydney. Unhappily he gelded all the best sons of Vancleve and so killed off his own sire line. When he died in 1932 he left an estate of millions of dollars.

Trivia Fact: Claude Piper stayed on in Christchurch. He ran hotels at Springfield, Leeston and Southbridge and later the city's leading hostelry, the Clarendon. A noted sportsman in many areas Claude also acted as stipendiary steward and was a founder of the Owners, Trainers and Breeders Association.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Jan 2017

RACING HISTORY NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB

1898 NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB'S FIRST DAY SPRING MTGN

Handicapper Mr H Brinkman: Starter Mr C O'Connor

The New Brighton Trotting Club's Spring Meeting opened today in beautiful weather, and with a good attendance.

Results:-

MAIDEN HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 30 sovs; second horse 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr H Mace's b g Bob M, by Berlin Abdallah-Madeira, 5yrs, scr (T Frost) 1.

Mr J Wright's b m Mayflower, 6yrs, scr (Owner) 2.

Lady Tracy scr, Princess Victoria scr, Advice scr, Au Revoir scr, Glemnuick 2sec and Dolly Emerson 4sec also started.

Bob M took the lead in the first half-mile, and, going on, won easily. Au Revoir finished second, but having galloped most of the way, was declared distanced, and Mayflower, who finished seventy yards behind the winner, was placed second.

Time 5min 44 3/5sec Dividend - £1 16s.

PONY HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 30 sovs; second 5 sovs. One mile and a half.

Mr G Hutchinson's b m Amelia, by Berlin Abdallah, 5yrs, 12sec (J Lawrence) 1.

Mr A Reid's b m Lassie, 5yrs, 12sec (A White) 2.

Narragansett scr, Daystar 14sec, Rimu 14sec, Uncle Sam 15sec and Hamlet 15sec also started.

Lassie took a long lead in the first half mile, but Amelia quickly closed up, and in the next half-mile drew level, then going on, won by half a dozen lengths. Narragansett was third.

Time 4min 22sec Dividend - £1 12s.

BURWOOD HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 60 sovs; second 10 sovs. Two miles.

Mr H Peat's blk g Master Irvington, by Young Irvington, 6yrs, 20sec (T W Price) 1.

Mr J Milne's ch g Manton, aged, 9sec (Owner) 2.

Awahuri scr and Sans Souci 15sec also started.

Young Irvington increased his lead in the first mile, and won, uncallenged, by sixty yards.

Time 5min 38sec Dividend - £2 10s.


SELLING HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 25 sovs. One mile.

Skipper 1, Mistake 2, Burwood Peggy 3.

...



Credit: Star 13 Oct 1898

RACING HISTORY NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB

1898 NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB SECOND DAY SPRING MEETING

Handicapper Mr H Brinkman: Starter Mr C O'Connor

The New Brighton Trotting Club's Spring Meeting was continued today. The weather was fine, and there was a large attendance. Results:-

MAIDEN HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 30 sovs, second 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr W B Edwards's ns br g Johnny III, aged, 7sec (J Milne) 1.

Mr A G Holmes's b m Sing Sing, aged, 8sec (W Kerr) 2.

Mr T Popham's ch m Rossignol, 4yrs, 8sec (Albaugh) 3.

Guy Irvington 8sec, Au Revoir 9sec, Bess 11sec, Sue Dudley 11sec, Kent 11sec and Kenny 12sec also started.

Johnny III, Rossignol and Sue Dudley were rounding the last turn together, when Rossignol broke and capsized Sue Dudley's sulky. Johnny III then went on, and won by three lengths, Sing Sing beating Rossignol on the post for second place.

Time 5min 52sec Dividend - £4 4s.

PONY HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 30 sovs, second 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr R Hill's b m Jessamine, 5yrs, 20sec (Owner) 1.

Mr A Reid's b m Lassie, 5yrs, 24sec (Smith) 2.

Mr G Land's b m Come Again, aged, 26sec (Day) 3.

Master Irvington scr, Sailor Boy II 10sec, Angeles 32sec and Uncle Sam 32sec also started.

Lassie led until the home stretch was entered, when Jessamine took command, and, after a good race, won by three lengths, the same distance separeating second and third.

Time 6min 9 1/4sec Dividend - £1 16s.

SPRING HANDICAP TROT

Tracy Belle 1, Monte Carlo 2, Young Burlington 3.

...



Credit: Star 15 Oct 1898

CLUB HISTORY LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB

In February 1898 it was reported that the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club had each appointed sub-committees to meet and discuss the purchase of suitable land adjacent to Christchurch for the establishment of a Trotting track with facilities but the joint committee did not meet with any success. In July 1898 the Lancaster Park Ground Company acquired more land and signified it was agreeable to the track being extended to a half mile if the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club would take up a five year tenancy. At the Annual General Meeting of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club held on 15th August, 1898, a Committeeman stated that more effort should be made by the joint sub-committee to find a new ground and that if they continued to be unsuccessful then the Club should enter into an agreement with the Lancaster Park Ground Committee. The Deans property at Riccarton had been explored as a possibility. It was advocated at the time that Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club and Canterbury Trotting Club should join forces provided there was no reduction in total permits now held by the two Clubs (Lancaster Park 4, Canterbury 6).


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker