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In 1888 there was a move by the Lancaster Park Cricket Company for the Trotting Club to assume a separate identity from the Cricket Company, to pay a rental for the use of the grounds and become a Club whose sole aim was the promotion of Trotting. The shareholders of the Cricket Company ceased to have any say in the management and in 1890 the Club was controlled entirely by Trotting enthusiasts. In that year (1890) the principal Officials of the Club were: Stewards, D Barnes, C Louisson, V Harris, G McHaffie, J Perkins and L Wilson; the Starter was C O’Connor and the Secretary, A I Rattray.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compile by D C Parker

1888 LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING

[Per the "Star's" Pigeon Express]

The Autumn meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held today. The weather being fine, there was a good attendance. The course was in good order except at the turns, where the recent banking improvements have hardly consolidated. The following are results:-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr C Dixon's gr m Patience, 6yrs, (Day) 1.

Mr G Burke's b m Jane, 4yrs, (Owner) 2.

Mr J Dewey's b g Jimmy, 5yrs (Edwards) 3.

Hero, Physic, Hard Times, Esau, Lioness, Blossom and Pet also started.

Patience and Jane trotted together for half a mile, when the former began to draw gradually away, and won easily by ten lengths.

Time - 6min 24 1/2sec. Totalisator - £3 10s 6d.

HANDICAP TIME PONY TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. Height 14 hands or under. Two miles.

Messrs W & C Kerr's blk m Tiny, aged, 30ses (W Kerr) 1.

Mr W Horner's gr g Shakspere, aged, scr (Day) 2.

Mr G Mitchell's b g Toby, aged, 30sec (C Kerr) 3.

Billy, Yankee Tom, Miss Polly, Bantam and Nelly also started.

LANCASTER PARK HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 50 sovs; second horse to receive 5 sovs out of the stake. Three miles.

Mr C Hammond's b g Jumbo, 5yrs, 25sec (A Cox) 1.

Mr J Farrar's b g Billy, aged, 35sec (Owner) 2.

Messrs W & C Kerr's b g Wait-a-While, aged, 10sec (W Kerr) 3.

Cock Robin 15sec, M N 40sec, Tommy 40sec, Jenny Cook's 40sec, Jenny Clements' 45sec, Bess 45sec, Money cannon 55sec and Whalebone 60sec also started.

SELLING TROT (in saddle) of 25 sovs. Selling allowances. Two miles.

Mr B Edwards' ch m Madcap, aged, 20sec (Edwards) 1.

Mr W Cavanagh's blk m Black Bess, aged, 20sec (Owner) 2.

Mr Joseph Parkin's ch m Jess, aged, 20sec (Owner) 3.

Never Mind 20sec, Physic 20sec, Jubilee 20sec, Tomboy 20sec, and Fidget 20sec also started.


Credit: Star 31 March & 2 April1888

1888 LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB: May Meeting

Handicappers: The Handicapping Committee; Starter: Mr C A Calvert.

The May Meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held this afternoon. The weather was dull but fine, and at the commencement of proceedings the temperature was just what could be desired for the business at hand. The track looked in good order, but it was expected that the late heavy rains would prevent anything like fast time being made in the harness events.

Early in the afternoon there was only a moderate attendance on the ground, but this was largely augmented as the day wore on, the Challenge Trot proving a great attraction. This race which is a novelty in New Zealand will be found fully reported in our latest edition, but it may be stated here that it was conducted on orthodox American principles, and the Park authorities are entitled to a good deal of credit for their enterprise in introducing the event to their programme.

The following are the results received up to the hour at which we went to press :-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs; for horses that have never won any public money; weight not less than 10st. Two miles.

Mr J Dewey's b g Jimmy, 5yrs (W Kerr) 1.

Mr J Hall's b g Our Nag, aged, (Murfitt) 2.

Mr H Paul's b m Sapphire, 6yrs (Munroe) 3.

Rose, Shuttle, Jane, Blossom, Orient, Symphony, Don Pedro and Misfortune also started.

Jimmy at once shot to the front, and going in good style, had the majority of his field in difficulties before half the distance was covered. Our Nag made a determined attempt to catch the leader in the last round, and both broke. They were soon set going, and Jimmy won by twenty yards. Only three finished.

Time 6min 6 1/2sec Dividend - £2 18s 6d.

NOVEL RACE HANDICAP TIME TROT (Harness) - Billy Dunn, Megrims, Shuffler.

BIRTHDAY HANDICAP TIME TROT (Saddle) - Narrow Gauge, Tommy, Gipsy.

CHALLENGE TROT (Harness) - Daisy, Plunger.

SELLING TROT (Saddle) - Corah, Never Mind.

LANCASTER PARK HANDICAP TIME TROT (Harness) - Shamrock, Dexter, The Rogue.

HANDICAP TIME PONY TROT (Saddle) - Brown Jo, Tiny, Fedora.

Credit: Star 19 & 21 May 1888

ALF KEITH

There is an very comprehensive and interesting article on this early rider and driver in the July/August 2009 issue of the Harness Racing International Magazine (Volume 11/No.4).

It is well worth a read. - Colin Steele




Credit: John Peck writing in Harness Racing International Magazine

TROTTING AT LANCASTER PARK

How many of the thousands of people who pack the stands and the embankment of Lancaster Park to watch football matches realise that there was a trotting course there many years ago?

It was in 1887 that the Lancaster Park Amatuer Trotting Club was formed. For 22 years it carried on. Then in 1899 the Lancaster Park, Heathcote and Canterbury Trotting Clubs amalgamated, and became the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.

One of the earliest competitors in trotting races on the ground now given over to football, cricket, hockey and other athletic sports was the late Bert Edwards, noted trainer and driver. A story which he once told of a race at Heathcote may be mentioned. Those were the 'break and turn' days of trotting in Canterbury, when every horse that 'broke' had to be turned round before it was allowed to trot on. The first horse that Bert Edwards owned was Fidget. This was his story:-

"I nominated my new purchase for a trotting race that was to be run on the Heathcote Racecourse. The race was won by a horse called Conger, ridden by Alf Keith, a grey horse, Erin, ridden by George Burke, being second, and the stallion, Victor, ridden by Johnnie Rodriques, was third, with Fidget fourth. The race was a regular fiasco. The first horse, Conger, was disqualified for having won a race at the head of the Bays, which was not put on his entry form. Erin was disqualified for turning the wrong way when he broke and Victor was disqualified for galloping along the back of the course and failing to pull up and turn. I finished fourth on Fidget, and had the only ticket on my horse on the totalisator. As there was only first and second money, I did not weigh in and so the race was declared null and void, all moneys being returned, less 10% to the investors. One of the Stewards, the late Mr Barney Hale, came to me, and said,'Well my boy if you had weighed in you would have got the lot.' That was not a very good experience for a kick-off, was it?"

Edwards continued:-"Somewhere about this time the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club was formed, and came out with a programme. It's track was a very small one, being three laps and 40 yards to the mile. I entered Fidget for the principal race, which was a three-mile one. This race he won, going the three miles without a break, the time being 9mins dead. The grey horse, Erin, ridden by the late Dan O'Brien, finished second. Alf Keith, who at that time was considered the champion rider of trotters, was third on a bay mare called Malvina. Fidget, by winning the big race at the Lancaster Park Amateur Club's inaugural meeting, can I think, claim to be the first winner of an open race this club held. The club's first race was a maiden event, all off the one mark, and was won by the late David Barnes, with a bay mare called Winnie. Later, I sold Fidget to George Burke, now of Melbourne. Some years later Burke rode him three miles on the Show Grounds, Christchurch, winning the race in 8mins, which was a NZ record for that distance for some years.

"Shortly after the start of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, a new club was formed at Addington, called the Canterbury Trotting Club - that used to race on the Show Grounds. Of this club I was one of the first members. Three of the stewards were appointed to frame the handicaps: W Kerr, Tom Walker and myself. We made such a good job of it that none of us won a race, whereupon we all decided that we would not take it on again. At the next meeting of the club, two of the stewards were appointed: Mr Alex Duncan and Mr H Brinkman. Later, Mr Duncan fell out of it for business reasons, but Mr Brinkman continued to become a leading handicapper.

"A year or two later, the Lancaster Park Club put on a free-for-all - it was not so designated in those days - of two miles off the one mark. The three best horses in Christchurch then were Wait-a-While, Daisy and Plunger. Wait-a-While was trained by the late C Kerr, Daisy was owned by Alf Dunn, and Plunger by myself. The conditions of the race were for three horses to start or only half of the stake to be paid. On entry night C Kerr and I met Alf Dunn. He said that he had no chance and did not intend to enter. Kerr and I each thought we could beat Daisy, and as we wanted the full stake, we tried hard to get Dunn to nominate. At last he said,'Well, if you like to pay up for her, I will put her in.' We did so. The track was three laps and 40 yards to the mile, and was very heavy because of recent rains. Alf Dunn with Daisy, drew the inside position, and Wait-a-While second, Plunger being on the outside. The inside going was much the best. The outside, which recently had been banked up with soil, on account of the small turns, was very heavy; my horse was going in almost to his fetlocks. Well, Daisy went to the front and, although tiring badly, won by half-a-length from Plunger, and got the race. It is needless to say we did not pay up any more for other peoples horses. This Daisy was a great trotting mare and later went to Melbourne. Wait-a-While and Plunger were both by thoroughbred horses. Wait-a-While being by Albany, and Plunger by Wrangler. Wait-a-While was a speedy horse and a great stayer.

"Somewhere about this time there was in Christchurch a crack bike rider - I think his name was Webb - hailing from Australia, and a discussion arose as to which would win a match: Trotting horses against a bicycle. The match was duly fixed up to take place on Lancaster Park over 10 miles; the trotting horseman to have two horses. The race eventuated, the two horses being ridden by Alf Keith, who was considered on of the crack riders in those days. His horses were Wait-a-While and a bay mare called Malvina. He rode the horses five miles each and beat the bike by over a lap. The 'bike' was one of the old-fashioned high-wheelers.

"The Lancaster Park track being so small, was very confusing, as in some of the three-mile races the limits were as much as 75sec from the scratch horse. The horse on the limit would often be once around before the back-marker started; so you can just imagine how confusing it was. A bell would ring when the leading horse entered on his last lap. Some of the old-time trotters that were running in those days were the late F Mulholland's grey gelding, Doctor, R Sutherland's Cock Robin, and Kirkwood's Our Pony, later named Betsy. This pony, which came from Wanganui, was a champion and could hold her own with all comers. A little previous to the time I am talking about, this little mare was matched, for a good sum, to trot Native Cat, which was the best horse they had down south in those days. Our Pony, ridden by W Thompson, won the match."

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 8Nov44

A newspaper report of 16th April, 1886 stated that several leading sportsmen, Mr H P Lance prominent amongst them, agreed to band together to conduct Trotting Meetings at Lancaster Park in an endeavour to finance their new ground, that is Lancaster Park, for cricket. The locality was handy to town and supplied an attraction for sporting men who were at a loss on Saturday afternoons. The first Meeting was advertised to be held on Saturday 15th May, 1886 and the programme contained five races, three in saddle and two in harness, with added stakes totaling 125 sovereigns. A journalist, who inspected the grounds and facilities stated “a good course has been staked off round the grass, and with a little alteration in the fencing to the west of the grandstand a tolerably commodious saddling paddock will be adequate for the comfort of officials, jockeys, etc and altogether the facilities for the comfort of visitors will be up to the average.”

The track was a third of a mile in length or under three furlongs (600 Metres).

The inaugural meeting was not held on the day set down as there were two postponements. The first postponement was due to heavy floods in Christchurch, the Avon River having risen four feet and Ferry Road, near Lancaster Park, being one sheet of water. The second postponement was due to the death of Mr H P Lance who was a devotee of racing, one of the founders and a Steward of Lancaster Park Trotting Club. The Meeting was finally held on Saturday 29th May, 1886 when there was an attendance of over 1,100 and reports state that the arrangements made for the Meeting were excellent. £38 was taken at the gate. £1,512 was invested on the Totalisator run by Hobbs & Goodwin. The advertised Officers of the Club for the first Meeting were: Judge, Mr H P Lance, but he was replaced following his death by Mr Justice Johnson; Starter, C A Calvert; Clerk of the Course, A M Ollivier; Handicapper, B J Hale; Secretary, C J Penfold; and the Stewards, Dr H H Prins, F Cotton, J B Gresson, F Jones, H P Lance, A E G Rhodes, A Cracroft-Wilson and C H Williams.

The principal event was the Lancaster Park Time Trot of three miles in saddle. The first prize was 40 sovereigns and the result was:

1st: B Edwards “Fidget” 50 seconds Rider: Owner

2nd: D O’Brien’s “Erin” 45 second Rider: Owner

3rd: P Howard’s “Malvena” 50 seconds Rider: A J Keith

Time was 9 minutes and the dividend paid on the Totalisator was £12/3/-. The Addington Workshops Band provided a musical programme.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club conducted seven Meetings in its first season between 29th May 1886 and 27th June 1887.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

TROTTING AT LANCASTER PARK

After two postponements the inaugural meeting was finally held on Saturday 29th May, 1886. For the first meeting, on a course three laps to the mile, five races - one at three miles and four at two miles - were held before an attendance of 1100. The tote handled £1,512 ($3024)while total prize money was £125 ($250). The main event of the day was won by Fidget, ridden by Bert Edwards from Dan O'Brien's Erin in a time of nine minutes for the three mile journey.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club conducted seven Meetings in its first season between 29th May 1886 and 27th June 1887. This Club was formed to help boost the finances of the Lancaster Park Cricket & Athletic Sports Company which was formed in 1880 and wanted to acquire Lancaster Park.