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O J WATSON

Mr Oscar Watson, whose death occurred at his home at Annat, Canterbury, last week, was a well known breeder of standardbred horses, a club executive and farmer.

He came into trotting more than thirty years ago with a pacer named Country Jack, who was bred by the late M B Edwards. By New Derby from a mare by Jack Potts, Country Jack was a winner for Mr Watson.

Peggy Wood, a mare bred at Spreydon by the Rushton family, was bought by Mr Watson at 'hack' price (something around $100), and this mare, by Parkwood-Marywood, became the foundation of his Rosewood Stud, which was established more than 30 years ago. Peggy Wood, to Gamble, left a high class pacer in Lady Ngaio, a good winner for Mr Watson - Lady Ngaio took a two miles record of better than 4:18 more than 20 years ago. Unfortunately, she died young, and it was left to her unraced full-sister Rosewood to carry on the line that is now in the forefront of standardbred families.

From Rosewood and her daughters has sprung a prolific winning family, including Good Chase, Red Chase, Bluff, Adorato, Avante, Rosy Morn, Spring Chat and Garry Brigade, besides a number of good winners in Australia.

Oscar Watson and his sons John and Denis, who ran the Rosewood Stud, sent top yearlings to the National Sales over a number of years, and at the last sales their colt by Local Light from Torlesse (U Scott-Rosewood) set a new record for the sales when he was knocked down to Mr A Jones, of Sydney, at $9500.

Mr Watson a foundation member of the Hororata Trotting Club, was it's president for a number of years, and he was the Club's delegate to the NZ Trotting Conference on several occasions.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Nov68

EDGAR TATLOW

'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Jun62

Mr Edgar Tatlow, who came to Christchurch all the way from Epping, Victoria, primarily to see the Canterbury Park Starting Gate in action (and was pleased with what he saw), travelled as far south as Invercargill on this latest of his many visits to NZ. Mr Tatlow's association with trotting goes back nearly 60 years. On most of his trips to NZ he has usually bought a horse, or horses, and he has taken away some gems.

He first took an active interest in the sport when in Tasmania, where he owned, trained and drove his own horses with a good measure of success. Since those early days he has been a keen student of breeding, and his judgement has been proved time and again by his successful record. His memory for pedigrees, performances and people continues to be prodigious.

Among many horses Mr Tatlow raced in Tasmania was Vendome. The Globe Derby mare won a Tasmanian Easter Cup, a major event, and one in which saddle or harness was optional. As a 7-year-old in 1928, Vendome was sold to the late J J Kennerley, and in three seasons racing in NZ she won six races, including the International Handicap at Addington, and gained 11 minor placings for £2055. She returned to Australia at the end of her racing career.

On a 1929 visit to the Dominion, Mr Tatlow, through the agency of H Matson & Co, purchased the broodmare Belle Logan from Mr H W Aker, of New Brighton, for 75gns. Mr Tatlow was the first Australian client to deal through the Matson firm. By Logan Pointer from the Wildwood mare, Curfew Bell, Belle Logan was bred in 1916 by the late Mr W J Morland. She raced in the interest of Mr D Rodgers and won two races as a 4-year-old, after which she became Mr Aker's property. For Mr Rodgers, Belle Logan produced the brilliant Dillon Logan (by John Dillon). Dillon Logan won 11 races for Mr Rodgers, for whom he was trained by W Barron.

Mr Tatlow put Belle Logan to Australia's outstanding sire, Globe Derby, and in 1930 she produced Logan Derby. After being sold by Mr Tatlow to Mr Harry Barnes, of Tasmania, Logan Derby developed brilliant form. He won 60 races, including the Inter-Dominion Championship in 1940. He raced seven times in NZ for three wins, including a free-for-all at Addington, in which he beat such good pacers as Harold Logan, Pot Luck, Parisienne, Supertax, Grand Mogul, Lucky Jack, King's Warrior and Plutus. Not a great success as a sire in Australia, Logan Derby was brought to the Dominion late in life by the late F J Smith, and he left an indelible imprint on standardbred history by siring mighty Johnny Globe, Vodka, Jewel Derby and others. That is why Mr Tatlow takes pride in the deeds of Lordship, a son of Johnny Globe. Mr Tatlow bred other good winners from Belle Logan, including Lone Raider (by Raider), who built up a fine record when trained in NZ for his breeder by the late F J Smith.

Another high-class pacer and sire owned by Mr Tatlow was Van Derby (by Globe Derby from Roselawn). After winning numerous races in Australia, Van Derby came to NZ and notched several major successes against our best horses. In June of the 1938-39 season, he recorded 3.09 3/5 in a trial against time at a matinee meeting held at Addington. This was then a NZ and Australian record.

In 1932 Mr Tatlow paid 37½gns to secure the Logan Pointer-Precision mare, Ayr, at a sale at Tattersalls in Christchurch. Ayr was offered on account of the late Mr H F Nicoll. Mr Tatlow mated Ayr with Globe Derby, and the result was Springfield Globe. Mr Tatlow sold Springfield Globe, as a yearling to the late Mr C J McCarthy, of Junee, New South Wales, and he became a champion pacer in Australia, crowning his career there by winning the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championship at Launceston in 1939. He was a 5-year-old when his owner sent him to Addington to be trained by the late R B Berry, for whom he became a champion, including a free-for-all among his numerous wins. His successes in NZ are well remembered by all those who saw him race. He was a grand specimen.

Springfield Globe became the most successful Colonial-bred sire in Australasia of the last quarter-century, and probably the greatest since Rothschild. He was at the stud in NZ for six seasons, and produced such great pacers as Adorian(NZ Cup), Mobile Globe(NZ Cup), Thelma Globe(4.11, mares world record), Tactician(1.59 4/5, NZ race record), Fortuna, Victory Globe, Mighty Song, Lady Joss, Lady Rowan and Au Revoir.

Besides Springfield Globe, Ayr left eight other first-class winners, including Cloudy Range, Our Globe, Van Ayr and Commotion.

While in the United States in 1954 Mr Tatlow secured two high-class stallions. The first of these, Stanton Hal, is a son of Hal Dale(2.02 1/4) and Ellen Volo(2.10, 2 yrs). Before breaking a sesamoid bone as a 6-year-old, Stanton Hal won 18 races and $66,311, and took a record of 2.01 3/5 on a half mile track in a race. The second stallion is Volo Chief, who took a record of 2.03 in a race on a half-mile track. Volo Chief won 20 races and $32,895. He is by Chief Abbedale, sire of seven performers in 2.00, from Camay, 2.03 3/5(trotting at 3yrs). Camay is also the dam of Cami Colby, 2.03(free-legged at 3yrs), and Volo Colby, 2.04 2/5(trotting at 2yrs). She is by Volomite, 2.03 1/4(sire of 33 in 2.00) from Lady Lux 2.14(full-sister to Margaret Arion, 2.10 1/2, at 3yrs and dam of 3 in 2.07), by Guy Axworthy from Margaret Parrish. Margaret Arion produced Protector(3), 1.59 1/4,The Marchiness(3), 1.59 1/4, His Excellency(3), 1.59 3/4 and Princess Peg(3), 2.00 3/4. Both Stanton Hal and Volo Chief are making the grade as sires in Australia. Last season Stanton Hal was fourth and Volo Chief seventh on the Victorian sires' list.

-o0o-

One of the best known trotting personalities in Australia and NZ, Mr Edgar Tatlow died at his home, 'Derby Lodge' stud, Epping, Victoria, last week.

Mr Tatlow was Australia's most successful standardbred breeder. Most of the broodmares at his studs in both Tasmania and Victoria were purchased in NZ, many from Southland, and he was a regular visitor to America where he purchased the successful sires Raider, Volo Chief, Stanton Hall and Meadow Vance.

Mr Tatlow had been associated with trotting for over 65 years. In 1927 he purchased the celebrated sire Globe Derby to stand at his newly-established 'Derby Lodge' stud at Hagley, Tasmania. The great foundation mare Belle Logan was purchased by Mr Tatlow from NZ, and when mated to Globe Derby she produced Logan Derby.

In 1932 Mr Tatlow secured the Logan Pointer-Precision mare Ayr for 37½ guineas at Tattersall's sale in Christchurch. Mated with Globe Derby, she produced Springfield Globe. When Globe Derby reached retirement age, Mr Tatlow went to America and selected Raider, a double-gaited two-minute horse who also became Australia's leading sire.

Mr Tatlow was in America in 1954 and secured the two high-class stallions Stanton Hall and Volo Chief, both of whom have been successful sires. His latest purchase, Meadow Vance has been up near the top for the last two seasons.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Mar68

O E HOOPER

Mr O E Hooper, who had a most successful association with trotting as a breeder, owner, trainer and driver extending over some 50 years, died suddenly in Christchurch last week. Mr Hooper retired from training and driving in October 1957, but since then he has raced an occasional horse, the most recent being Queensway.

Born near Waipiata, in Central Otago, Mr Hooper began to train as a mining engineer at Waikaia, but he went overseas early in the First World War. He was invalided home in 1915 and later secured a property between Rakaia and Methven. He sold the property about 1950 and then trained at Harewood.

Mr Hooper's first connection with trotting was as an amateur rider. He had his first win at a Canterbury Park meeting in June, 1917, riding Miss Chancellor. Mr Hooper enjoyed considerable success early in his career, one of his best winners at that time being Linden, who won a £1000 race at Auckland in 1923 and a number of other races.

Soon after this began an association with Mr D Spence, of Christcurch, which continued right up to Mr Hooper's retirement. Later Mr Hooper trained a number of top class horses for the late Mr W McDonald of Edendale. Satin King and King Pointer, whom Mr Hooper rated as one of the best horses he ever handled, were two horses to reach cup class for Mr McDonald. King Pointer won the 1930 NZ Free-For-All and the National Cup in 1930. Mr Hooper won many races with Willow Wave, including the 1937 Auckland Cup and the Dunedin Cup in 1937 and 1938.

As well as training a big team with great success, Mr Hooper was much in demand as a reinsman. He had a long association with Mr B Grice, who trained a big team at Tinwald. At a time when stakes were at a low level, Mr Hooper drove the winners of more than £20,000 for Mr Grice. They included the dual NZ Cup winner, Haughty, who took a mile record of 1:59 3/5, becoming the first mare outside the United States to achieve that feat. Knave of Diamonds, who won close to £20,000, Czardus, Radical, Privateer, Magellan, Mayenga, Starwise, On Approval (NZ Sapling Stakes), Lee Todd, Peter McKinney, Elvo's Pride, Consul, Titania, Demetrius (Oamaru Juvenile Stakes) and Peter Silk were among the many winners he trained.

Among the many winners he drove were Hardy Oak (All Aged Stakes), Master Roy (Canterbury Handicap), Milo Minto, Starwise, Panto, Kilrea (Greymouth Cup), King Pointer (National Cup), Little Nelson (Timaru Cup), Cruiser, Arietta and Fragment (Manawatu Cup).

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 31May67

Dan McCormick chats with the Duchess of Kent and Peter Wolfenden

D A McCORMICK

Mr D A McCormick, who had a long association with the administration of the NZ Metropolitan TC, died last week in Christchurch.

Mr McCormick was elected a steward of the club in 1941 and to the committee a year later. He served for some years on the grounds committee and was one of the original directors of Addington Raceway Ltd. He acted as totalisator steward for the club from 1948.

Mr McCormick was a keen golfer and earlier he represented Canterbury at rugby. Mr McCormick was for some years the Christchurch representative of Hammond and McArthur, organisers of the Art Union, and more recently the Golden Kiwi lottery.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 31May67

V W (VIC) ALBORN

Mr V W (Vic) Alborn, whose death has occurred, was one of the most successful and colourful trainers and drivers in the Dominion until the mid-1950s. Vic reached the retiring age of 65 for drivers in 1953. By 1956 he had completed half a century of life with the trotter and pacer.

Alborn was an infant when he arrived from Somerby, England. His father was a vehicle builder and set up business at Westport. Young Vic saw the old coaching days, and he was only about 16 when he had become a fine rider and driver. His first venture as an owner was his purchase for £10 of a pony trotter named Silver. He had a great run of wins with her. She was only a 'dot,' but often beat horses that could of carried her.

In a few more years Alborn had become an owner and trainer of some substance and he laid down a training track at Inangahua. One of his best known winners from there was Dixie Lee, with whom he won the Westport Cup of 1919. The same year he won the Greymouth Cup with Red Prince, and he had other winners round about that time in Fernleigh, Armature, Woodland Rose, Rose Alma, Invictus, Neverwell, Adroth and Repington. At one Westport fixture he won four races on end. With Ringleader and Fore he had a 'trot' at Nelson and Blenheim meetings and carried on to win good money with Fore at Forbury. A little later Alborn did well with three trotters named Merryjigs, Cannonball and Peter Eyre, and with the pacer Denver Wood he won five races in his first six starts.

Then arrived a bold pacer in Vesuvius, one of the greatest 'front-runners' we have ever seen in this country. Vesuvius was the Gold Bar of his day, a genuine racehorse who reached Cup class and was a close second in a heat of the premier event in 1931. He was a very popular horse with the public. Alborn, at the same period, had a great innings with a pacer named Linkman, a plain, heavy-boned pacer by the same sire as Vesuvius - Matchlight. He was a fine stayer, reaching NZ Cup class. Somerby kept the pot boiling for Alborn in the depression days. Somerby was a very capable sprinter, in saddle as well as harness.

A few years before this Alborn had transferred his team from the West Coast to Addington and he greatly strengthened the training ranks at headquarters. In track work Vic could always be relied upon for some fireworks and members of his team invariably put up some of the best trials. He had a successful training arrangement with the late Arthur Cox for some years. Honeymoon was a brilliant trotter trained and raced by Alborn in the 1930s. The best of Honeymoon was not seen on the racetracks. He was unsound. When he could be sent along at speed he was as fast as any trotter - and most pacers - then in training at Addington.

In 1938 Alborn paid £350 for Royal Romance. But she proved a rare investment, winning many races and finishing up in the top flight - her victory in the Dominion Handicap of 1939 put a seal on a splendid career. With Royal Suprise and Nationalist he won the Westport Cup, a race he took a sentimental pride in winning. Burt Scott, a decided moderate over a couple of seasons, and a positive 'ugly duckling' to look at, was purchased by Alborn at the close of his 4-year-old season for £300. Few greater bargains have been secured because Burt Scott, a novice in October of that season, 1941-2, won 10 races and was placed second in his other two starts in the very short space of six months, his final victory that season being in the Autumn Free-For-All at the NZ Metropolitan Easter meeting from a field of champions, including Nelson Eddy(second), Gold Bar(fourth), Bronze Eagle, Lightning Lady and Springfield Globe. Burt Scott carried on to win many more races for Alborn and was one of the biggest stake-winners of his time.

In the pacer Native Scott Alborn also worked a tremendous improvement. So poor had Native Scott's form been that Alborn bought him for £150. He promptly won three races at Greymouth and carried on for many important successes, including the Canterbury Park President's Handicap. Yet another 'derelict' Alborn set on the road to fame late in life was Bulldozer, who cost hin £100 as a 9-year-old and with whom he won thousands. Bulldozer won five races in less than two months and finished up beating some of the greatest stayers and sprinters then racing in the Dominion. He ended up in Cup Company.

Alborn's next star was Dundee Sandy, who had already won good races at Addington for his owner, Mr B Rushton, of Nightcaps, when Alborn was asked to train him. The combination was a lucrative one for five seasons and Dundee Sandy's final stakes total was £17,345. He was another Cup qualifier, his important wins including the NZ Metropolitan Ollivier Handicap and Auckland President's Handicap.

But perhaps his greatest chapter was with Maori Home. Veterans both at the time, Alborn and Maori Home proved an outstanding combination in the 1952-3 season, and for some seasons before that, too. Besides winning the Dunedin Cup a second time, they were successful in the Electric Stakes, the latter race bringing Maori Home's free-for-all to three in two successive seasons. Maori Home had won 17 races and £18,725 in stakes up till July, 1953, more than £10,000 of it after being operated on for a throat affliction. Following the second of these operations, Maori Home was turned out for a long spell - well over a year - and he did not return to racing until he was a 10-year-old. His recovery and eventual development of champion form was the more note-worthy for a horse at one time 'gone in the wind'.

A record Alborn made, and which may stand for all time, was that of winning three races in the one day with the one horse - Colonel Axworthy at the Reefton Trotting Club's meeting on December 11, 1937.

Alborn was the first owner to win a five-figure sum in stakes in the one season. He topped the list in 1945-6 with £10,015. He was also the leading owner in the 1941-2 season with £3,940. Alborn was his own farrier: he shod his own horses practically all the time he was a trainer.

-o0o-

NZ Trotting Calendar 7Dec49

GENEROUS ACTION OF CHRISTCHURCH TRAINER

Returning from the Reefton Trotting Club's Annual Meeting on Saturday, a party of four racegoers had the misfortune to have their car damaged at the summit of the Lewis Pass about 9.30pm. As not much traffic can be expected over the Pass at this hour, the party settled down, not too hopefully, to await assistance.

After about half an hour a welcome pair of headlights pierced the gloom of the mountainside and these proved to belong to V Alborn's car. Hopes of obtaining a lift however, were dashed when it was seen that Alborn's car had a full compliment of passengers. V Alborn, however, generously offered to tow the stranded vehicle with its four occupants back to Christchurch - a distance of about 112 miles over tortuous roads - and the offer was gratefully accepted.

One of the stranded party said that the unruffled and pleasant manner with which Alborn met all the irritating delays through breaks in the tow rope and so on, impressed upon him that here indeed, was 'courtesy of the road.' The driver of the damaged car added that he had the unique experience of 'getting the perfect trail' behind Alborn for 112 miles.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 22Nov67

T W ALLSOPP

When Mr T W Allsopp, the senior racecourse inspector, retired on March 31 he had served the Racing and Trotting Conferences for 20 years to the day. Mr Allsopp took up his appointment with the NZ Racing Conference on April 1, 1947.

Mr Allsopp's distinguished record of service to the NZ public extends over 43 years. Twenty-three of those years were spent in the police force and if he had that time over again he would not settle for anything different.

Mr Allsopp was born in Stafford, England, in November, 1897. As a youth he assisted his father in the family butchery. At the outbreak of World War I he entered the Coldstream Guards, became a sergeant, and was awarded the Military Medal for his service in France. After leaving the army Mr Allsopp came to NZ. In 1924, four years after his arrival from England, he joined the police. His first posting was to Dunedin, in the uniform branch. Twelve months later he was transferred to the detective branch.

In 1928 Mr Allsopp was posted to Auckland, and it was there that he was assigned to a case which made history. It was the Lakey murder case in October, 1933 - better known to the public at the time as the 'Bayly Trial.' This double murder took many months of painstaking investigation, persevering research, precise observation and deduction, and magnificent team work by Mr Allsopp and Detective T Sneddon before William Bayly was arrested and brought to trial for his crime.

Several records in criminal history in NZ were established during the trial. Five weeks were occupied at the Auckland Supreme Court and the depositions filled 483 typewritten pages, representing about 200,000 words. Seventy-seven witnesses were called and 274 exhibits produced. The cost of the trial was estimated to be £4000. Mr Allsopp is said to hold the police record for the longest evidence ever given in a murder trial in NZ. His depositions consisted of 60 typewritten pages and he was in the witness box for more than two and a half days. As a result of their part in the investigations Detectives Allsopp and Sneddon were both awarded records of merit and increases in pay.

Mr Allsopp was transferred to Hawera in 1940 as detective in charge of the South Taranaki and Stratford districts. A little over a year after that transfer Mr Allsopp was again in the 'headline news' in another murder case. The victim was a Mr A H Parkinson, a 78-year-old store-keeper who was found murdered in his shop at Waitotara on August 5, 1941. The murderer, a Maori named Katene, was arrested at Patea less than two days after the murder. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Katene was the first murderer to be sentenced in NZ after the law was amended and capital punishment abolished. Once more Mr Allsopp received commendation from the trial judge for the manner in which the case had be investigated. A further tribute came from the counsel for the accused, who stated that the accused wished to refer to the scrupulous fairness and often kind treatment from Detective Allsopp and his associate Detective J Murray. Cousel said it was realised that both men had done their duty according to the highest traditions of the detective service.

When Mr A E S Ward, NZ's first chief racecourse inspector - he was appointed in 1921 - annonced in February, 1947, that he intended to retire, the Racing Conference did not have to look far for a successor with outstanding credentials.

Unlike many positions connected with racing - about which there is a certain aura of glamour - racecourse inspector is a 'behind the scenes' job. The public, in general, would hardly know such a person exists. The primary duty of racecourse inspectors is excluding or removing from racecourses during race meetings all undesirable persons. In a report to the conference, on behalf of the racecourse inspectors, of whom there were five, Mr Allsopp said that during last season 620 persons had been warned off the course and that since the 1960-1 season the total number of persons so dealt with had been 3171. It is also the duty of the inspectors to interview 'excluded' persons seeking relief. Their reports are submitted to the conference. Last season 113 persons were granted exemptions.

Other duties performed by the inspectors include inquiries and reports on applications for probationary engagements of lads beginning employment at racing establishments; applications for licences by trainers, jockeys and amateur riders; probationers and apprentices leaving their employment; misconduct at any time by licensed persons; alleged breaches of the rules of racing and trotting; investigations in connection with with suspicious ownership and changes of ownership of horses; investigations in connection with the drugging of race horses and trotting horses at meetings; any investigation requested by the Totalisator Agency Board; matters incidental to the various phases of racing and trotting administration; disputes at racing establishments; advice to licensed persons as to their well being in racing; annual visits to all racing establishments to prepare reports to the conference and district committees on all licenced persons, living conditions of employees and conditions of premises.

But an inspector's life is not all dreary routine. There is always the possibility of the unexpected happening. Mr Allsopp was involved in one such instance within a few months of his appointment. While on duty at the Nelson Trotting Club's meeting in April, 1947, he was informed that two pickpockets were working on the course. With the assistance of Senior Sergent H E Knight, who was in charge of the police party at the meeting, he apprehended both men. Mr Allsopp was a key witness at their subsequent trial in the Supreme Court at Nelson in July,1947. In his evidence he described the way the pickpockets had worked as they mingled with the crowd. The man actually picking the pockets of unsuspecting racegoers passed the stolen property to his confederate who stood close behind. The second man had an overcoat slung over one arm and his other arm down through a sleeve. This method ensured that the property, drawn back through the sleeve, never came into view. The pickpockets, both Australians, were found guilty and each sentenced to two years in prison.

For two years after his appointment as a racecourse inspector Mr Allsopp was stationed at Palmerston North. Since 1949, he has lived in Christchurch. Tom Allsopp will be missed by his colleagues in his own circle, by club officials, and by newspapermen who held him in the highest regard. He brought credit to his job, and to himself, wherever he went.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 5Apr67

N C PRICE

The death has occurred of Mr Nelson C Price, a prominent trainer of more than 40 years ago. He trained the 1922 NZ Cup winner, Agathos, one of the biggest stake-winners of the 1920s.

Mr Pringle also trained Glenelg, a leading 3-year-old who won the Great Northern Derby in 1924. Glenelg went on to good company, as did Berenice, a smart mare in the Price stable.

In later years Mr Price trained a top-class saddle pacer in Chef, the Auckland Cup winner of 1945, Sea Born, the 1945 NZ Sapling Stakes winner Sprayman, and he trained and drove Peter Locanda for several wins.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 23Nov66

C M LAING

Charles McMenamen Laing, who died at Tinwald, spent more that 25 years training and breeding racehorses.

He raced several well performed pacers and trotters and was also associated with the breeding or breaking-in and early training of several outstanding horses, which later achieved Cup standard, including a top trotter in Dictation, Mobile Globe, who won the NZ Cup, and Acropolis, who won the Dunedin Centennial Cup.

Mr Laing owned a racehorse and dairying property and mixed farm, Wairiri Lodge, at Tinwald. His trotting career began in the 1940s when he became attached to the stable of the late Mr P J Andrew as trainer-driver. He married Miss Rona Andrew. On Mr Andrew's death some years ago, Mr Laing took over the property and continued to breed and train racehorses. He raced some horses in part-ownership with Mr F W Jarman, Darfield.

Among many horses he bred, trained or had an interest in were Scott Axworthy, Jimmy Warton, Gay Note, Wairiri Girl, Captain Eddy, Scotty's Double, Anitra, Kennoway, Te Par, Thumberlina, Kyran, Friendly Tom, Alvean, Melissa, Nirvana, Phillonic, Marcina, Horatio Nelson, Pilot Peter, Seal Globe, Nelson Eddy and Rainstorm.

Mr Laing was a foundation member of the Mid-Canterbury Trotting Owners and Breeders Association and served on its committee for 10 years after its foundation in 1952.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 6Jul66

B J McKENNA

Mr Bernard John McKenna, JP, a well-known St John Ambulance administrator and a trotting club enthusiast, died last week. He was 86.

Mr McKenna was a member of the New Brighton Trotting Club for more than 50 years. He served two terms as it's president and was elected a life member a few years ago.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 7Apr65

J McLENNAN

Mr John McLennan, one of trotting's best known and most successful riders and drivers earlier this century, died last week. He was aged 82.

At the time of his retirement about 30 years ago, Mr McLennan held the record of having ridden the winners of 70 saddle races over one mile, and five of these were straight-out trotters. One of his most successful meetings was the 1920 NZ Cup meeting at Addington. On that occasion he and F (Free) Holmes, now in his nineties, each handled six winners, just half the programme between them.

McLennan was 16 when he trained and rode his first winner, at a Geraldine meeting. There were many good horses he drove and rode in this time but one of the best was Cello Sydney Wilkes. At the 1919 NZ Cup meeting he won four races with this Balclutha-owned stallion.

For many years Mr McLennan resided in Oamaru. While there he did all the riding and driving for the stables of J Henderson and R Logan, two highly successful trainers of that time.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 22Sep65