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CARDIGAN PETTERSON

Mr Cardigan Petterson, who shod horses for 65 years, is a mobile advertisement for the salubrious Akaroa climate. This patriarch of the anvil, who is much nearer 90 than 80, started nailing shoes on horses' feet when he was a lad, and he is still in remarkably good health, although his hearing is not the best. He continues to walk everywhere. He has retired from business, but still takes an interest in the equestrian activities of Peninsula folk who brought their ponies, thoroughbreds, trotters, hacks and draughts to his forge at Akaroa for more than 40 years.

Today the game of bowls is his absorbing recreation.

Cardigan Petterson shod horses for three - in odd cases four - generations of Banks Peninsula folk - the families headed by Jas. Dalglish(Sen), H Elliott, George Crotty, A Leonard, J Barker, V Masefield, Charles Moore, Robert Gilbert, Luke Waghorn, John Thacker(Sen), E X Le Lievre and Jules Le Lievre.

Mr Petterson, named after the ship Cardigan Castle, on which he was born when his parents were on their way to NZ from their native land, Sweden, in 1873, started work with his father, J P Petterson, who was a blacksmith and gunsmith on Banks Peninsula for many years. In 1900 Cardigan Petterson set up his own shop at Little Akaloa and, after five years there, he went to Christchurch and started business in Victoria Street in partnership with the late 'Bernie' Fanning. Six years later he shifted to Le Bons Bay, where he engaged in blacksmithing and farming. In 1917 he took over the Akaroa smithy, which had been run for many years by Mr Chas O'Reilly, and he plied his ancient trade there for over 40 years.

Mr Petterson was always a great admirer of 'Bernie' Fanning (a famous All Black Rugby lock) and his skill as a farrier. "Between us," he said, "we once made twelve shoes in under thirteen minutes for a bet. That was at Victoria Street. There were twenty-two blacksmith shops inside the city belt some 50 years ago," said Mr Petterson. "In those days we used to get 6/- for a set of hack shoes, and 7/- for draughts."

'Bernie' Fanning and 'Ernie' Archer were farriers of great skill, according to Mr Petterson. They could shoe any horse, and had few failures, especially with trotters and pacers, which were the most difficult of all horses to plate. Shoeing polo ponies was also a difficult job. Messrs Rutherford and Ellworthy used to bring their ponies to the partners when there was a tournament on in Christchurch.

Bernie and Cardigan were among the first to realise the importance of square toes on trotters, and they made a study of cross-firing preventatives on pacers. They paid particular attention to the hind feet, which still need the most care in both pacers and trotters. "Bernie shod the winner of the NZ Trotting Cup nine times to my knowledge," said Mr Petterson, "and that in a comparatively short space of time."

"We were fit young fellows in those days," he declared when chatting of old times. "Why, half a century ago they used to bring me unbroken horses that had never had a hoof lifted off the ground. I had to do the breaking-in for some of the Peninsula farmers by handling the horses' feet and straightening them up before shoeing them. I once tackled a farmer about the wild horses he used to send me to shoe, mentioning that these horses had not been trained to lift their feet. His reply was:'You know more about that part of it than I do.' We had to take a lot of risks with that type of horse," said Mr Petterson, "but it kept us fit for the football."

Reta Peter and Peter Bingen, both dual winners of the NZ Trotting Cup, were among the celebrities shod by Mr Peterson. "Reta Peter," he said, "the only trotter to win the Trotting Cup twice, used to slip when going at speed, and we made special concave plates with a ridge round the toe which gave her grip that increased her speed amazingly."

Ocean Wave, the dam of Muricata, and grandam of the dual NZ Trotting Cup winner Ahuriri, was another old-time mare who required a lot of study and careful shoeing before she developed her best form. "Her four plates weighed only 11 ounces altogether," said Mr Petterson. He compared this weight with the weight of a set of shoes for a draught horse - eight pounds for the set in some cases.

Horses with sore heels and quarter cracks presented a real problem - bar shoes to ease the pressure on the cracked heels and put the pressure on the frogs were among the most exacting tasks required of the farrier. The late Mr E X Le Lievre was among the first on the Peninsula to have his trotters and pacers shod as yearlings and 2-year-olds, with excellent results, "as the record books will show," declares Cardigan.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 28Mar62

F C DUNLEAVY

Mr F C Dunleavy, a leading light-harness trainer some years ago, died last week. He was 64.

Mr Dunleavy gained fame as the trainer of Indianapolis, the winner of three NZ Trotting Cups in 1934, 35 and 36. He headed the trainers' list in the 1934-35 season.

Mr Dunleavy was an Australian who came to NZ in 1922 with the late Mr W J Tomkinson, father of the Riccarton trainer, J C Tomkinson. When Mr Tomkinson, who was a leading trainer and had brought a strong team with him, decided to stay, Mr Dunlevy stayed with him.

Mr Dunleavy left the stable for a while to become a private trainer for Mr G Watkins, at Edinburgh Lodge, but later returned and took over Mr G J Barton's team when Mr Tomkinson died. Indianapolis was the best pacer he trained for Mr Barton, but other good ones included Tempest, Grand Mogul and Cloudy Range. For Mr J Richardson he had some success with Iraq.

Mr Dunleavy was also private trainer for a brief period to Sir John McKenzie, for whom his best winner was U Scott. U Scott won a heat at the Inter-Dominion Championships in 1938 while trained by Mr Dunlevy.

After ceasing his training activities, Mr Dunleavy went into business. He had been in retirement for some years before his death. He is survived by his wife.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 9May62

R T McMILLAN

The death has occurred of Mr Robert Thomas McMillan, of Irwell, Canterbury, who was a past-president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. He was prominent for many years in public, farming and local body affairs. He was 75.

Mr McMillan was a steward of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club from 1942 until the time of his death. He was a serving member of the committee, to which he was elected in 1943, and was president of the club from 1952 to 1954. He was elected a life member in 1954.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 19Sep62

G MOURITZ

The death occurred in Christchurch recently of Mr G Mouritz who, for more than 30 years, was a trotting trainer and driver in Canterbury.

Mr Mouritz was born in Australia and he came to NZ more than 30 years ago. He was private trainer for Sir John McKenzie for a time and while with him he trained and drove Taxpayer to win the NZ Sapling Stakes and the NZ Derby Stakes. Mouritz also drove two fine pacers in Wild Guy and Supertax to win races.

In partnership with Mr C Campbell, he bred a number of winners, including Petite Yvonne, one of the best mares raced in NZ in the last 10 years.

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In the photo, George Mouritz is seen returning to scale at Greymouth with Elsinore, dam of Robalan, after the first of her three wins

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 16May62

J G FRANCIS

The death has occurred of Mr James George Francis, of Happy Home, Halswell, Christchurch, who was well known for his expert knowledge of store sheep markets and fat lambs, and as an owner of trotters and gallopers.

Mr Francis bred and raced a number of pacers, mostly in partnership. Brava, which he raced in partnership with his brother, Mr E J Francis, was an outstanding winner and is now an successful sire in Australia. Others in which he had an interest were King's Order, Agricola, Dodger, Fury River and Zany.

Langham, whom he also raced in partnership with his brother, was by far the best galloper he raced. Langham's wins included the Winter Oats and Wellington Racing Club Handicap at Trentham and the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton. Navarone was the most recent winner for the partnership which earlier enjoyed success with Bravura and Inspire.

Mr Francis was for some years a steward of the New Brighton Trotting Club, a position he held at the time of his death.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 19Sep62

MR R H (REG) BUTTERICK

The death has occurred of Mr R H Butterick, for many years one of Canterbury's best-known owners, trainers and breeders. Reg Butterick was one of trotting's 'characters'- a self-effacing, agreeable type of man who had a great deal more ability than ever appeared on the surface.

Reg secured his first real 'break' in trotting one overcast afternoon - it was Wednesday, August 14, 1935, to be exact - when he bid 4gns for lot 13 at a horse sale of nondescripts at Christchurch Tattersall's Horse Bazaar, Cashel Street (now-1962- Gough, Gough & Hamer's premises) and had it knocked down to him. This was a bay mare, seven years, by Wrack from a Nelson Bingen mare, and about the plainest bit of horseflesh imaginable. It took the auctioneer, the late Mr A L Matson, all his time to give her away, and Reg Butterick declared that he "only bought her for a farm hack."

By mere chance Mr Butterick discovered the mare could trot; he put her into training and she proved a goldmine by winning seven races on end. She was then retired to the stud and produced a foal by Quite Sure which strangled itself in a fence. Of a fatalistic philosophy, Reg Butterick decided that Peggotty should not have been retired to the stud, and he put her back into training - she proved better than ever, and won the Dominion Handicap in 1941.

Reg Butterick, who bought the American trotting stallion Josedale Dictator from the late F J Smith and had him at stud for many years, owned a lengthy list of horses, the best of whom were Roy Grattan, who was placed second in the NZ Cup, Macklin, winner of the Auckland Cup, and Peggotty.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 26Sep62

ALF BOURNE

There is a tall, jovial trotting trainer in the South Island by the name of Alf Bourne. And what a character is this red-head. I must admit I met him in the most pleasant conditions. It was a bright sunny Sunday morning and one of the local publicans, Bill Anderson by name, asked me to got and look at some horses. The idea appealed to me immensely when I saw in the back of his car three of four iced flagons of the nut brown ale.

And don't think you have to travel miles to reach Alf Bourne's stables. They are almost in the heart of Christchurch city itself. Alf had only one horse racing at the recent NZ Cup carnival and that was Aquaplane. He finished fifth in the Empire Handicap the first day but it was an effort that suggested he may not be long in taking out a winning stake. Ebony Scott and Larnie Scott are two others from the Bourne stable but he has two or three in the younger division which have the appearance of going places.

Just prior to the Cup meeting Alf was more than a little lucky in not being seriuosly hurt when he was working a horse. The pacer stumbled and shot the driver high into the air. Fortunately, Alf is made of strong material and a badly swollen hand was all the injury he received.

As a group of us sat round the stable and moaned of our previous day's losses, the always laughing trainer brightened up the refreshment hour with racing anecdotes and some tales of his experiences. Although the light-harness sport is Alf Bourne's main interest now, he was a provincial Rugby player in his day and also held the New Zealand heavy-weight boxing title on two occasions.

Alf Bourne may not figure at the top of the trainers' table at the end of the season but he meets with a fair measure of success and really enjoys the game. If you are down that way drop in on a Sunday morning. Even if you don't like horses, you'll like the social hour.

Credit: MPT writing in NZ Hoof Beats Vol10, No7

MAURICE HOLMES

When Maurice Holmes drove Rustic Lad to a four-length victory in the Final Handicap at Addington on November 8 he became the first reinsman in the history of New Zealand light-harness sport to drive a thousand winners. It is doubtful whether this fantastic effort will ever be equalled let alone broken.

In his long association with the sport Holmes has topped the drivers' list 11 times which is another record. He has the record score for a season - indeed twice he has piloted 67 winners. Almost every major race in the trotting calendar has been won by Maurice including three NZ Cups, his first way back in 1930 behind Wrackler. Twice he has won the Inter-Dominion Championship with Vedette and Pot Luck.

But not only as a driver has Holmes been to the forefront in trotting but he has also been a successful trainer. He started in this phase of the sport in the 1932-33 season and since then over 400 winners have come from his stable.

Naturally 'Morrie' likes to win races and although he was well aware of the remarkable achievement he had performed in notching his thousandth winner he was the same imperturbable gent when his arm was being almost shaken off by genuine well-wishers after Rustic Lad's victory. Incidentally Maurice's first victory was in a saddle race but that was many years ago.

I was talking to the 'maestro' just prior to his going out to drive Rustic Lad and remarked: "Say, that thousandth winner is harder to get than your first, isn't it?" Morrie raised his eyebrows,"You fellows have got me all keyed up. I'm getting a bit nervous," he said. He then jumped into Rustic Lad's cart a few minutes later the same unsmiling Maurice lifted his hat to the roaring crowd as he came back into the enclosure with the incredible task accomplished.

The photo shows club president, Mr J K Davidson, making a presentation to the successful reinsman after his win in the final race.

Although it took Maurice all the first day to score that elusive win to make the 1000 it took a good deal less to start his way on the second. In the opening event on Friday, November 11, Maurice was seen at his very best when he stole a march on the field at the home turn with Reprimand and carried on to win in hollow fashion.

Credit: Mal Treston writing in NZ Hoof Beats Vol 10 No7

MR V LEEMING

The well-known Prebbleton trainer, V Leeming, died suddenly at his home last week.

Mr Leeming first came into prominence just before the beginning of World War II when he trained horses for Mr J Richardson, of Dunedin. Three of the best he trained for Mr Richardson were Colonel Grattan, Toorak and Belmont Hall, the latter now being a successful sire in South Australia. Colonel Grattan reached NZ Cup class and among other races, Toorak won the NZ Champion Stakes in 1936.

Integrity, who Mr Leeming raced, was his most successful winner. Integrity won over all distances and after finishing second to Bronze Eagle in the 1944 NZ Cup, and to Gold Bar the next year, he beat Josedale Grattan and Haughty in the £7500 race in 1946.

Unite, whom he bred himself, graduated to NZ Cup class with an Auckland Cup among his many successes. Esteem and Admit were two other useful winners for Mr Leeming. Among the other horses he trained were Lady Nairne, Aden and Notify.

Mr Leeming, who had a model training establishment at Prebbleton, also farmed extensively on the property. His horses were always turned out in first class order as was the gear they wore and the sulkies they raced in. He was most meticulous in this direction.

Mr Leeming was a prominent official of the Canterbury Trotting Owners and Breeders' Association for a number of years.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 5Oct60

A J TOON

Mr Arthur John Toon, a former totalisator manager for the three Christchurch trotting clubs, died last week. He was aged 69.

Mr Toon retired from his position as totalisator manager in 1957 after 16 years' service. Before that he had been an accountant to a dairy company in Christchurch for 28 years, though during that time he had worked on totalisators from Oamaru to Greymouth and Kaikoura.

He introduced pre-race betting on the NZ Trotting Cup at Addington after he had noticed that the queues of bettors on the Cup meant that many people either failed to see the race or failed to place their bets. His innovation was followed by other Clubs.

Mr Toon had the task of organising doubles betting and off-course betting at Addington and New Brighton.

The two most memorable meetings that Mr Toon controlled as totalisator manager were the Inter-Dominion Trotting Final in 1951 and the Royal meeting in 1954. On the final day of the Inter-Dominion meeting, £214,424 was put through the totalisator and he had a staff of 364 to look after the betting, though he could remember days when he only had a staff of 70 and there was a turnover of £50,000 to £60,000.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 7Dec60