CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

W J MORLAND

Gold Country, an outstanding pacer of the 1930s, died at Mr R A Boag's property, Kirwee, recently, his Christchurch owner, Mr A W Morland, told the Calendar this week. The passing of this 28-year-old gelding brings to mind one of the most colourful sagas in the history of the standardbred in NZ...that of the outstanding breeder-owner-trainer, the late Mr W J Morland, and his success with the family founded by the tap-root mare, Bonnie Bell.

In 1894, Mr H Richardson, of Taranaki, imported to the Dominion the stallions, Wildwood and Ha Ha, and the mare Alice Azmoor, and the trio was subsequently purchased by Messrs W and C Kerr. Ha Ha was not a success at stud, but Wildwood, after his racing career ended, founded a great line in the Dominion, producing some fine pacers and trotters. Alice Azmoor was mated with Wildwood and produced Alice Wood and Wildmoor.

About 90 years ago Sir Cracroft Wilson brought to NZ from India a purebred Arab stallion and several mares. From one of these horses descended a mare, which in 1895 was mated with the Young Irvington stallion, Lincoln Yet, by a Mr T Yarr. The result of this mating was Bonnie Bell, who was purchased by Mr Morland on the advice of Mr J Brake, snr, a well-known and successful sportsman in the very early days of trotting in Canterbury. Lincoln Yet, who at one time pulled a cab around Christchurch, was a grandson of Hambletonian 10, and it was through the agency of Mr Brake, that the stallion got a chance at stud.

At the stud for Mr Morland Bonnie Bell produced Curfew Bell to Wildwood, and later Country Belle to Wildmoor, a son of that stallion. Country Belle was foaled in 1908, and her owner explained many years later why he had bred Bonnie Bell to Wildmoor, who was unknown as a sire. He had previously mated Bonnie Bell with Wildwood, Curfew Bell being the result. The next two seasons the mare was mated with Prince Imperial, but her owner was not impressed with the progeny. As Curfew Bell had shown speed, he came to the conclusion that the Wildwood strain was best, but that stallion had died in the meantime, and, Wildmoor being the only Wildwood stallion about, he decided to mate Bonnie Bell with him. The judgement of Mr Morland proved correct, as he got an exceptional mare as the result.

Country Belle was a powerfully-built mare, well mannered and a great stayer, in addition to her speed. She was trained for all her races by Mr Morland (who had no superior in the Dominion as an educator) on his private track a few miles fron Rakaia township. She won nine races and was four times second and once third from 27 starts. She won the 1915 NZ Cup, after finishing second to Win Soon the previous year. Her other successes included the Auckland Trotting Club Handicap, the Forbury Cup and the New Brighton Cup Free-for-all.

She earned further distinctions by taking two NZ records within a few weeks. At Addington on December 15, 1915, she established a mile record of 2.07 1/5, beating the previous figures, 2.08 2/5 held by King Cole. A request from the Auckland Trotting Club, that the Cup winner and mile record holder should attend its meeting and attempt a two-mile record, was favourably considered by Mr Morland, and Country Belle, in charge of J Bryce, paced 4.22 4/5, smashing the previous record of 4 28 1/5.

Country Belle was then retired to stud, and in 1917 produced Good Gift to Logan Pointer, but he was not raced. The following year, to the same horse, came the brilliant but erratic Countryman, a pacer of moods and speed, who had a record of 2.10 2/5. Next season came Homestead, by Nelson Bingen. He was not a success, but the following year to the same sire, she produced the brilliant mare, Escapade, who after being worked as a pacer, was converted to the trotting gait and went 4.27 1/5, winning several races. Escapade has left a family of nine all good winners. Two years later, Country Belle produced Episode to Nelson Bingen, and, missing another year, she produced a filly by Rey de Oro in 1924, but after showing great promise she died. Another blank year followed, and to Rey de Oro she produced Gold Country.

Gold Country began racing as a 3-year-old in the 1929-30 season, and won his only start that term, over one mile and a half at Ashburton. He was then operated on for a wind affliction and 11 months later, he won at his only start as a 4-year-old, over the same distance at the same course. He brought his record to three successive wins at his first start as a 5-year-old, scoring in the Wellington Railway Handicap. Later the same day he suffered his first defeat, but at his next start he won the two-mile Gore Trotting Club Handicap. In the same season he won the Winton Trotting Club Handicap and the Express and Halswell Handicaps at Addington, all over two miles.

As a 6-year-old he won the Lincoln, Yaldhurst and Hornby Handicaps (Addington), the Mace Memorial Handicap (New Brighton), the Ashburton Cup and the Craven Handicap (Addington) in that order. The Craven Handicap was his last success, and it was a very notable one. Over one mile and a quarter, he beat Harold Logan by 10 lengths, with a similar distance back to Wrackler, and Free Advice fourth. He ended that season fourth on the list of stake-earners with £1450, this sum being £420 less than that won by Harold Logan, who topped the list. He raced again as a seven, eight and ten-year-old, but did not regain his best form. Gold Country last raced in the interest of Mr Morland's son, Mr A W Morland, and the gelding was at Kirwee since his race career ended.

Country Belle later produced another grand mare in Rustic Maid to Rey de Oro. Rustic Maid has left a long line of winners, including Scottish Lady, Free Fight, Slavonic and Chamfer.

Mr Morland's property in Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton, was one of the most select breeding establishments in NZ, and his keen study of successful bloodlines has proved of great value to trotting.

Credit: Ron Bisman writing in NZ Trooting Calendar 29Jun55

A HENDRIKSEN

The death occurred in Christchurch on Friday of Mr Albert Hendriksen, who about 40 years ago was one of the leading drivers in NZ.

Mr Hendriksen came into prominence when he brought Albert H (which was named after him) from Blenheim for Mr M Mahar just before the 1912 NZ Cup, which he won. Mr Hendriksen then settled in Canterbury, and he drove many winners, including a number for the late Mr W J Morland.

His winners included Country Belle (NZ Cup), Cardinal Logan, winner of many races and second to Kohara in the Cup, Prince Akwood and Peter Mac (NZ Derby Stakes), Erin's King (National Cup), Sungod (Timaru Cup), Hal Junior (Canterbury Handicap), President Wilson and Nantwitch (Great Northern Derby Stakes), and Hustler (Gore Cup).

Mr Hendriksen was for a time studmaster at Santa Rosa Stud, Halswell, when Truman Direct and Real Guy were there.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 9Jun54

MR J R D JOHNS

Mr James Robert Daniel Johns, one of Canterbury's leading dairy farmers, died last week, aged 79. Mr Johns was best known for establishing, with his brother, Mr A F Johns, and Mr E T Forbes, the town milk supply firm of Devondale Dairy, but he was also noted for his contribution to trotting in Christchurch.

Mr Johns was a member of the New Brighton Trotting Club for more than 30 years and was for a long time a steward and committeeman of the Club. He was president for two terms, 1939-40-41, during which period the club celebrated its jubilee. At New Brighton Mr Johns is mostly remembered for the tirless work he did in improving the club grounds. An executive of the club said that the track was perhaps the best track surface in New Zealand, and all credit for its condition was due to Mr Johns; also he was a member of the club's judicial committee.


Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 1Dec54

J D SMITH

Mr J D Smith, who died in Christchurch, was one of New Brighton's best-known trainers for more than 30 years. He bred, owned and trained many good performers, including Pot Luck, whom he sold as a young horse to Mr H Stafford. Pot Luck reached NZ Cup class and won the Grand Final of the 1938 Inter-Dominion Championship, held at Addington.

Other good winners bred and raced by Mr Smith were Eureka Boy, Mac Dillon, Dark Girl and Bexley Girl. Mr Smith was a member of the Canterbury Owners'and Breeders' Association for many years.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 24Jun53

FRED JOHNSTON

Mr Fred Johnston, who died in Christchurch last week, at the age of 86, shod horses for 54 years. He was one of the best known farriers in the Dominion and was the official farrier at Addington meetings for about 25 years.

Among the great horses he put shoes on were Author Dillon, Red Child, Kentucky, Thelma, Bellflower, Durbar, Marian, Aberfeldy, Dan Patch and Wildwood Junior.

Fred Johnston, who was still attending meetings at Addington and New Brighton up till the close of last season, saw all the champions from Fritz and Ribbonwood down to the present time, and he declared right up till the end that Wildwood Junior was the best horse he ever shod. Wildwood Junior won the NZ Cup twice, and Fred was convinced he would have won the race a third time if he had not broken down. Wildwood Junior was one of the finest specimens of the standard breed seen on Dominion tracks up to his day - and later. Fred Johnston, in an interview with the writer some years ago said of Wildwood Junior: "He was a treat to put shoes on. His four shoes weighed only 13ozs in all. We had made some progress even in those days, as you see," said Johnston.

Wildwood Junior, a pacer, won the NZ Cup in the years 1909 and 1910. "But," he continued, "what a headache the early trotters used to give us! They were nearly all speedy cutters, and the pacers were mostly cross-firers, and I used to lie awake at night trying to puzzle out ways and means of improving their gait. You see, in the early days the breed wasn't there. The farrier was expected to make trotters out of cart horses. Today, they are so well bred they are gaited, so to speak, as soon as they are foaled."

Johnston thought knee-knockers were at their worst about 40 years ago. In later years knee-knockers, in his view, were not worth going on with. It would always remain a hard defect to cure. He recalled that when Peter Riddle, a very successful Australian trainer, first came to NZ with a team of horses, he had had the pleasure of shoeing Riddle's horses. Riddle remarked to Johnston: "If you can't get a horse that doesn't knock its knees , don't have one at all." That is what Riddle thought of knee-knockers. Other authorities, Gus Milsom and Bob McMillan, were of the same opinion.

"But in the early days we had no option. There were few good-gaited horses about. Round about 1897 a man named Bob Day came to Sydenham with a team of horses, among them Gazelle, a trotter, and the first to break five minutes for two miles at Lancaster Park. I mention this mare in particular because she was easy to shoe, wearing only a 4oz shoe on each foot," said Johnston, who often referred to the axiom: "No foot, no horse!" "That's as true today as ever it was," he said. The foot was the one essential thing about a horse; a defect in any other part may not make it useless, but a bad foot could make it unsuitable for anything except breeding.

Fred Johnston's passing emphasises the acute depletion of the ranks of the Dominion's farriers. At the last meeting of the NZ Trotting Conference, in Christchurch, the Ashburton delegate, Mr A J McNicoll, drew the attention of delegates to the plight of the horse-shoeing trade. "Farriers are a dying race," he said. There is not a single farrier in Ashburton. The nearest one was in Tinwald, and he was an elderly man. He urged Conference to promote some scheme for the training of young men as farriers. "In a short time, if nothing is done about it, it will be practically impossible to get a horse shod," warned Mr Nicoll.

Mr W G Clark (Winton) said it was a very live question. There was little incentive for a 'young fellow' to become a farrier and the authorities were apparently apathetic to their interests. After Mr A L Matson (President) had spoken, Mr Nicoll agreed that the matter be left to the incoming Executive with a recommendation that everything possible should be done to encourage young men to become farriers.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Aug52

W E SIMES

Mr Walter Edwin Simes, who died in Christchurch last week, was aged 75. He had been a well-known estate agent and auctioneer since 1900.

Mr Simes had had a long association with trotting, as an owner, breeder and administrator. He was president of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association about 35 years ago; he was a member of the NZ Trotting Association; and was a steward of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1940-41. Mr Simes was a member of the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs. He joined the Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1905.

Mr Simes was probably better known as a breeders of trotters. He bred a number of high-class performers, many of which he raced himself. He raced a number of horses under the name of M Clarice. The veteran trainer F Holmes, and his son, F G Holmes, prepared most of them. Mr Simes made several trips to the United States and imported Belle McKinney, who left a fine race mare in Muriel de Oro, and other winners in Shirley McKinney and Edna Worthy. She also left Tijuana, the dam of a brilliant pacer in Clockwork, who at one time held the NZ mile and a half winning record of 3.09 4/5.

Mr Simes also bred Masterpiece, a recent winner at Hutt Park. Other good horses he bred included Law Chimes, Jewel Pointer (a successful sire), and Lady Barrister. He also raced good winners in Mystic and Pax.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 24Sep52

WILLIAM KERR

The death occurred last week of Mr Wm. Kerr, famous in earlier days of trotting as a trainer and studmaster at 'Wildwood Farm,' New Brighton.

Wildwood Junior, winner of the NZ Cup in 1909 and 1910, Admiral Wood, Thelma, Calm, President Wilson, Goldie and others won numerous races for Wm. Kerr and his brother, C Kerr. At one time Wm. Kerr was the outstanding trainer in Canterbury.

'Wildwood Farm' was named after the great imported trotter Wildwood, who was brought from America as a 2-year-old by Mr H Richardson in 1894 and was subsequently purchased by Wm. and C Kerr. Wildwood proved a great trotter in a limited racing career in this country and during his 10 or 11 seasons at the stud he sired some great horses, notably the champions Ribbonwood and Wildwood Junior.

Writing of 'Wildwood Farm' many years ago, Mr F C Thomas, now living in retirement at Riccarton had the following comments: "The writer well remembers his first introduction to Wildwood, soon after the black son of Good Gift arrived in Chistchurch. Though still showing traces of his journey from San Francisco to Christchurch, he filled the eye as quite the best looking young horse ever brought to these shores. He was then rising three, and after a few week's spell was put into light work at Kerr's track. It was two seasons later, however, that he first faced a racecourse crowd, and though of practically unknown quality, he was backed for the Record Reign Handicap at the Showgrounds as if the race was all over bar shouting. Despite his opponents including much better-performed horses such as General Tracey, Albert Victor, Little Willie, Sam Slick and Viking, he was required to give them starts ranging from 4 to 10 secs in two miles. In the field also was a little fancied candidate hailing from Ashburton, Prince Imperial, owned by Mr A G Holmes, and driven by Newton Price. After going a fine race Wildwood just failed to concede Prince Imperial the required 4sec start, though he managed to account for all the others.

"It was this race that led up to the famous match between Wildwood and Prince Imperial at New Brighton, over which big sums of money changed hands. Dave Price drove Prince Imperial, and Willie Kerr, through the indisposition of his brother, held the reins over the black trotter. Wildwood won in two straight heats. Subsequently he showed his worth in races at the Showgrounds, New Brighton and Plumpton Park.

"On retiring to the stud Wildwood was not long in establishing his speed-begetting ability, as a sire of both pacers and trotters. On of the earliest to bring him fame was Ribbonwood, who defeated the Australian champion Fritz in the greatest match ever held in NZ. Another of Wildwood's sons, Wildwood Junior, must take rank as among the greatest racehorses of modern times. In their home trials there was little to choose between Wildwood Junior and his son Admiral Wood. Whereas the latter gained Blue Ribbon distinction, the 'black demon,' who did his racing before Derbies were instituted, won the NZ Trotting Cup in 1909 and 1910.

"Before both these Cups Wildwood Junior had done everything asked of him at his home track, one of his trials being two miles in 4.31, coming home the last mile in 2.10½. He was also a success at stud, tieing for first place on the sires' list for the number of races won, with Logan Pointer, in the 1921-22 season."

Wildwood Junior mares and their innumerable descendants also made their mark, and his blood courses through the veins of such great horses as Highland Fling, Lucky Jack and a host of others. From Wildwood Junior's dam Thelma, Wm. Kerr bred a great line of additional winners, successful sires and producing mares, and this great foundation mare has become the most famous of all Colonial-bred matrons. Winners in NZ and Australia descended from her in the direct maternal line are now close to the century mark.

-o0o-

F C Thomas & 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 21Feb51

Long before light-harness racing had been established on recognised courses in the Dominion, meetings were held by a few enthusiasts on the New Brighton beach. They were rough-and-ready affairs. Few of the competitors had had any training outside their daily routine between the shafts of tradesmen's carts. Most of the races had small sweepstakes attached to them, while the prizes were frequently of the utility order, such as a set of harness, a saddle or even a whip.

At one of the early meetings William Kerr made his first public appearance, and the finished manner in which he handled Queen B and Maud S was an augury of his later development into one of the greatest reinsmen ever associated with trotting in the Dominion. Some years later he and his brother Charles set up a training establishment at Wainoni, about half-way to New Brighton, which, in the course of time, became famous for the number of winners it turned out, besides being the foaling place of several champions. The establishment is still there, its homestead and tall macrocarpa hedges being a reminder of it's past glory.

When William and Charles Kerr set up as public trainers at Wainoni their abilty soon became recognised, and their stable was generally full. At every meeting, whether at New Brighton, Plumpton Park or Lower Heathcote, their colours were always to the fore, and frequently half the days programme came their way. When Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club was formed, much better stakes than usual were given on the opening day, and William Kerr won a £400 race with Blue Mountain. Up to this time the majority of horses passing through the Kerr Bros' hands were of the utility order. Those that showed more than average merit were gone on with, but the majority returned to their original sphere of usefulness.

As related in last week's issue, in 1894 Mr H S Richardson, of New Plymouth, imported two sires, Wildwood and Ha Ha; also two broodmares - Alice Azmoor and Norbell; a quartet that played a very important part in helping to build up the Dominion's light-harness industry. Mr Richardson had intended his collection as the nucleus of a North Island stud, but through the agency of the late Mr Joseph Chadwick, a well-known sporting journalist of his time, it was agreed to sell the lot to the brothers Kerr.

Wildwood was a handsome black son of Good Gift, by Electioneer, from Amlet, by Fallis (son of Electioneer; second dam Almeda, by Langford (thoroughbred); third dam Lady Bell by Williamson's Belmont; fourth dam Puss, by American Eclipse. It was an unusual pedigree, for Wildwood was a grandson of Electioneer on the sire's side, while his dam was a great grand-daughter of the same horse. Another feature of the pedigree was the unusally strong infusion of thoroughbred strains. There was four of these in Good Gift's veins, and a like number in those of Amlet.

Wildwood, as a 4-year-old, was put into work by William Kerr and soon showed form of an outstanding order. A number of races came his way, and his appearance at any meeting was an attraction, for most of the local 'sports' had as yet not seen a Yankee trotter in action. About this time Dave Price had in his stable a 4-year-old pacer known as Prince Imperial, a son of Hambletonian Bell Boy and his old favourite Princess, a champion pacing mare - a real sensation of her day. From his first appearance on the tracks Prince Imperial was hailed as a coming champion as he had carried all before him in his public trials. Discussion as to the merits of the two horses became general, the outcome being a match of £500 a side, best two of three one-mile heats.

Excitment reached fever heat when the two champions took the track at New Brighton. But, like so many contests of a similar nature, the match failed to live up to expectations. In the first heat Wildwood quickly raced past his opponent, and from this out the issue was never in doubt. Nor did Prince Imperial fare any better in the second heat. Again the American horse soon drew clear, and though Prince Imperial struggled on gamely, it was soon evident that he was outclassed. Wildwood soon afterwards was retired to the stud. He found a ready affinity with Thelma, who subsequently made good her claim to rank as the greatest producer and foundation mare of all Dominion-bred matrons.

Hearing that Mr John Todd, of Lincoln, had a useful sort of gelding for sale on his farm, William Kerr took a run out to inspect the juvenile. It did not come up to the would-be purchaser's expectations, but he was greatly taken with Thelma, who became his for the sum of £30. And what a great investment it turned out to be!

Thelma, who won several races, including the Champion's Plate, was seven when she retired. She produced 16 foals from 1902 to 1917 and died in 1922. He first foal was Willowwood (by Wildwood), who retired with an unbeaten record: he started only three times, once each season in 1907-08, 1908-09 and 1909-10 and led the field home on each occasion. He must have been a horse of some class, because in one case his winning margin was 10 lengths in a mile and a half race and in another it was 12 lengths in a mile race. His best time was 2.24.

Full relatives to Willowwood were Thelma's foals for the next three years - Wildwood Junior, 4.33, Marie Corelli, 2.17, and Authoress. Wildwood Junior was a champion stayer but unsound. Proof of his calibre is given by the fact that his two NZ Cup victories, in 1909 and 1910, were his only races during those seasons. Wildwood Junior became a very successful sire, and tied with Logan Pointer for first place for the number of races won in the 1921-22 season. Wildwood Junior sired more than 100 individual winners and his daughters bred on very successfully their progeny including Lucky Jack (dual NZ Cup winner), Olive Nelson (one of the best trotters of her day), Zincali (one-time mile and a half record holder), Bingen Palm, Zingarrie, Ronald Logan, Mute, Sure, Wild Guy, Midshipmaid, Probationer, Trenand, Belle Lorimer, Ambition, Real Girl and Dundas Boy. All told, Wildwood Junior mares produced more than 140 individual winners. Wildwood Junior also basked in great reflected glory when the claim was authenticated that the fourth dam of Highland Fling, 1.57 4/5, was an un-named mare by the Wildwood - Thelma horse.

Adonis, by Harold Dillon, as his name implies, was a handsome little chap. He was also a fine racehorse, winning in saddle and harness and was good on top of the ground or in the mud. He made a specialty of two-mile saddle races, and his numerous winning performances in harness included the Metropolitan Courtenay Handicap, Forbury Handicap, Metropolitan Parliamentary Handicap, Forbury Park Kitchener Handicap, all two-mile races, and the Metropolitan International Handicap, a leading mile and a quarter event in those days. Adonis also twice finished second in the National Cup. He had not been long at the stud in NZ when he was sold to the New South Wales studmaster Mr A R Tewksbury and became a very successful sire at the Delavan Stud. Adonis sired in the Dominion Queen's Own and Away, both Cup horses.

Waverley, by Galindo, was a good racehorse from three years of age. That season he won a mile harness event in his only start. At four years he made only two appearances and won over two miles in one of these by a wide margin. At five years he was again a decisive winner over two miles at Otahuhu. As a 6-year-old he finished second to Steel Bell in the Auckland Cup and won the President's Handicap, two miles, at the same meeting. At seven years he won a mile harness race in heavy going and the Australasian Handicap, two miles, in 4.35, both at Auckland. Waverley did most of his stud duty at the 'Willowbank' Stud, Southland, and got many winners, including Willow Wave (Auckland Cup), Master Roy, Lynwood, Play Wave, and Jolly Drive.

Of the other sons of Thelma, Neil Denis and The Pointer were the best racehorses. Neil Denis won three races and The Pointer six races. Azelzion also won races, and he and Neil Denis sired an odd winner or two. Aristos, another son of Thelma, did not race. The Pointer was gelded.

Daughters of Thelma who were excellent racehorses were Marie Corelli, 2.17, by Wildwood, Lady Sybil, 2.18 2/5, by Rothschild, and Cameos, 2.15 1/5, by Galindo. Lady Sybil as a 3-year-old was a winner over two miles in harness; at four she won three races, in saddle and harness; and at five she won twice, taking her best record of 2.18 3/5, a good effort in her day. In a restricted career Marie Corelli won two races and took a record of 2.17. She possessed great speed. Cameos, in her only start as a 3-year-old, won the Stewards Handicap, a mile and a half harness event at Forbury Park by half a dozen lengths. At four she won three races, including one over two miles in saddle by a dozen lengths. She won two more races the following season and also divided two great mares in Adelaide Direct and Emmeline in an important sprint at Forbury Park. Authoress did not race.

After Wildwood Junior, the next member of the tribe to carve a niche for himself on the rock of ages was a grandson of Thelma, Author Dillon, winner of the NZ Derby, NZ Cup - and the November Free-For-All three years in succession.

Onyx, who for some years held the NZ mile and a half record of 3.13 against time, and won numerous races before finally finishing second in the NZ Cup, was a famous grand-daughter of Thelma. She won £10,747 in stakes at a time when prize-money was less than half of what it is today. Onyx did not live long at the stud and her only foals were Princess Onyx, whose 3.39 1/5 for a mile and a half still stands as the 2-year-old trotting record, and Baron Chenault.

Free Advice, a great-grand-daughter of Thelma, was a splendid all-rounder who at one time held the mile and a quarter record for a mare. Her crowning achievement in an era of giants - Harold Logan, Wrackler, Kingcraft, Roi l'Or, Logan Park, Logan Chief, Peter Bingen and Lindbergh were among her contemporaries - was to win the second qualifying division of the 1931 NZ Cup from Wrackler, Kingcraft and Harold Logan and finish third to Harold Logan and Kingcraft in the final. A celebrity of the trotting gait who came through the Lady Sybil branch of the Thelma family was Pilot Peter, winner of the Dominion Handicap, 1938.

Classic winners of more recent years tracing to Thelma are Moana Tama (NZ Sapling Stakes); Nelson Eddy (NZ Champion Stakes); Horsepower (Great Northern Stakes, NZ Champion Stakes, NZ Futurity Stakes and Great Northern Derby); Pacing Power (Timaru Nursery Stakes, NZ Sapling Stakes, Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, NZ Derby and NZ Futurity Stakes); Free Again (Great Northern Stakes), and Perpetua (NZ Sapling Stakes and New Brighton Oaks).

Another mare that proved very prolific to the Wildwood strain was Gertie, a daughter of Knight Errant. She was imported from America to Sydney in 1890 by Messrs Trestrail and Burns, who subsequently passed her on to William Kerr. At the Wainoni establishment her first foal by Wildwood was the speedy Storm, followed by Stormlet and Stormless. In 1907 she was mated with Wildwood Junior, and the result was a bay colt called Calm, who did his breeder good service on the tracks. On one occasion Calm ran third in the NZ Trotting Cup, a race that Kerr always maintained should have been his. In his trials, Calm was the equal of Wildwood Junior, but was not nearly as genuine. Gertie's later foals, all by Wildwood Junior, were Gertiewood, Breeze, Calmly, Peaceful, Leewood and Taunekaha; a truly notable collection.

No mention of Wildwood would be complete without reference to his greatest son, the sensational Ribbonwood. This speed merchant was bred by Mr G H McHaffie, of New Brighton. Though he never had his name inscribed on the list of NZ Cup winners, he won many important events and made history by his easy defeat of Fritz in the never-to-be-forgotten match at Addington. Ribbonwood was phenominal for his day, he was the first horse in the Southern Hemisphere to break 2.10 for a mile.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 14Feb51

THOMAS FROST

A trainer and owner who helped to establish trotting in NZ, Mr Thomas Frost, died at New Brighton last week at the age of 88.

Mr Frost, who came to NZ from Yorkshire at the age of 12, was interested in trotting before most of the present day trainers and drivers were born, and raced his horses when tracks were on the New Brighton beach, at Heathcote, Lancaster Park, and the present Showgrounds.

Milroy, who won many races, was one of the first horses owned by Mr Frost, who was later associated with Mr Harry Mace. Mr Mace did much to establish trotting in Canterbury, and was responsible for the establishment of the New Brighton track. Jessie Palm was a champion mare owned by Mr Mace while Mr Frost was associated with him.

A famous grey horse, Stonewall Jackson, was trained, driven and ridden by Mr Frost. Bright, one of the best horses of his time racing in NZ, Troubadour, and Charles Dale were other good horses trained at New Brighton by Mr Frost before he handed over to his son, Harry, in 1917.

Harry Frost won many races, two of his best performers being Talent and William The Great. Another son, Leicester, is still prominent in trotting in NZ, and last season her won five races with Maida Dillon, who returned a record double with Red Emperor of £7948/9/- at the 1950 NZ Cup meeting.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 21Nov51

D TEAHEN

D Teahen, whose death occurred last week, was one of the best-known trainers in the Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, district over a long period. He owned and trained many good winners of both gaits, but his heart was in the trotter, and when he bred that great colt Certissimus, he felt that his crowning achievement as a breeder had arrived.

Certissimus was the greatest juvenile trotter ever bred in the Dominion. His tragic death as a 4-year-old early in 1942 cast a gloom over horse-lovers in every part of the country. He fell heavily while jogging along a road at Pleasant Point and sustained injuries from which he died a few days later. Certissimus was a peerless exponent of the square gait. He was also an Apollo among horseflesh and a 'gentleman' to boot. With ordinary development he looked to have the makings of the greatest of his gait ever to be bred in this country. His 3-year-old record for a mile and a half, 3.18, established from the 72yd mark with a lot in hand at Addington in 1941, has yet to be approached; it is still seconds better than the next best. In his camparatively short career of 19 months on the racetrack he won 13 races and finished second twice in 20 starts. Seven of his wins were gained as a 3-year-old.

One of the first horses Teahan ever raced, back in the middle 1920s, was Lazarus, a trotter with whom he won several races. He trained and drove John Jinks to win the 1929 NZ Sapling Stakes. Gunfire and Sabu were among the other good pacers he trained and drove.

Teahan achieved a high reputation in breeding trotters, and among the winners he bred were Sure Gift (NZ Trotting Stakes): Mamanuas, Conceit, Dalcassian, Stray Shot, Sandy Duval (Addington Trotting Stakes); Max Baer, Lochinvar, Desmond's Pride, King's Brigade (NZ Trotting Stakes), and Desworthy (Ashburton Cup).

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Jun51

Part of the Facilities

ROYDON LODGE

When you start following a hobby there's no telling where it will lead you. Sir John McKenzie started breeding and training horses as a hobby; to-day he is the owner of one of the largest and most successful stud and racing establishments in Australasia.

Roydon Lodge, his 190-acre property at Yaldhurst, Christchurch, is a byword among members of the New Zealand trotting and pacing fraternity. Sir John himself is a well-known figure in light harness racing on both sides of the Tasman. Sir John's devotion to his hobby has never flagged, and his untiring personal interest is one of the biggest factors in the Lodge's continuing success. Surprisingly active for his age, Sir John is able to indulge his affection for horses in a practical way: he breaks in and gaits most of the yearlings himself. It is a tribute to his patience and thoroughness that there is rarely any trouble when he is on the job.

Established in 1927, Roydon Lodge laid the foundation for the breeding of such horses as (to mention a few): Certissimus, Commander Scott, Scottish Emperor, Arial Scott, Real Scott and In The Mood.

Training at Roydon Lodge is in the capable hands of George Noble, who came to New Zealand from Sydney in 1940. To his qualifications as a leading trotting trainer, George can add an expert knowledge of shoeing. He has designed special shoes for a number of well-known performers, including the celebrated Fantom, whose victories, it is said, would never have been possible without his expert attention. When he left Sydney for Roydon Lodge, George brought with him the mare White Globe (Globe Derby-Lee White), who just prior to the Tasman crossing, had taken an Australasian mile trotting record of 2.08 at Harold Park, Sydney. A daughter of White Globe by U Scott later raced as Roydon Derby, showing exceptional promise by winning twice in her first three starts, but being forced to retire because of soreness.

Farm management at Roydon Lodge is the responsibility of Mr Jack Clarke, better known as NZ marathon champion and third place-getter in the recent Empire Games. Some idea of the big job Jack has to do can be gained from the fact that in one year the 190 acres of Roydon Lodge have to support between 200 and 300 mares. It takes something like 1800 bags of chaff, 1450 bales of hay, 600 sacks of oats and 500 bales of straw to provide the yearly requirements of all the mares, racing horses, stud horses, foals and yearlings.

Besides the routine farm work of tending pastures and crops, repairing fences, etc., Jack Clarke shares with George Noble the task of keeping the training track in good order and repair. This is an important job, and, in the summer time, an exacting one. Hot weather brings the notorious Canterbury 'nor'-wester,' which scoops up loose soil surfaces, and to stop parts of the track being spirited away it must be watered every night. The Lodge has its own water supply for this job, and spraying is carried out by a mobile sprinkler tank towed behind a tractor. In addition, the track must be harrowed every morning.

The inner needs of the men at the Lodge are capably catered for by Mrs Clarke, whose prowess at the stove is highly thought of by her seven charges. They descibe her as the perfect 'mother,' to whom nothing is a bother.

The day's work around the stables begins at 5.45am. The horses are fed and all gear made ready before breakfast, and the remainder of the morning is taken up with the working of 16 or 17 horses. After the midday meal the horses are put out in the paddocks and the cleaning of gear and carts is attended to, then, at four o'clock the horses are brought in again for dressing and feeding. The stable day concludes at about 7pm, when the horses are given their hay.

On the stud side of the business, the day commences at the same time, feeding, etc being carried out before breakfast. After breakfast, Sandy Stewart takes Light Brigade for a jog and stud assistant Stan Tunstall attends to the turning out of the stallions. The rest of the day is employed in the yearlings that are being broken in or handled under Sir John's guidence. At four o'clock the stallions are brought in and dressed and fed, and with the distribution of hay at seven o'clock the day is completed.

A commendable feature of the work at Roydon Lodge is the encouragement given to youthful drivers by both Sir John McKenzie and Gearge Noble. On the Lodge's well-kept track the young men are given every opportunity to absorb and put into practice those finer points of driving that are essential to a successful career in light harness racing. This far-sighted policy has already borne fruit in the achievements of the two youngsters, Jack Crofts (head lad and the Lodge's second driver) and 19-year-old Murray Andrews (who was formerly with Mr J S Shaw, of Beaumaris fame). Jack Crofts has run up quite an impressive list of victories and minor placings, and Murray Andrews scored with his very first drive - Spring Fancy, at Blenheim in January. To show it was no fluke, Murray secured a second placing at his third drive, and a quiet tip from Roydon Lodge is that much bigger things are expected of the young Mr Andrews.

Roydon Lodge is well known in Christchurch as the venue of trotting matinees staged by Sir John McKenzie for the benefit of charity. For these events a proper race book is issued, and the programme follows a pattern something like this: 2.15pm Parade of Yearlings; 2.30 Parade of Broodmares with Foals; 2.45 Three and Four Year Old Handicap Pace(1 1/4 miles); 3.00 Parade of Stallions; 3.30 Afternoon Tea; 3.45 Novelty Event; 4.00 High Class Pacers' Handicap(1 1/2 miles); 4.15 Novelty Event. The first matinee meeting was held in October, 1946, when Royal Worthy, driven by Free Holmes(snr) trotted the mile in 2.10. It is interesting to note that Johnny Globe, this year's champion three-year-old, had his first win at one of these matinee meetings, as a two-year-old.

Stallions imported by Roydon Lodge include: Llewellyn, Peter Chenault, Silk Tread, Arion Airworthy, Gallant Knight, Winthrop, Spencer Volo, Worthy Bingen, U Scott and Light Brigade. Imported mares include: Loretta Napoleon, Addie Guy, Belle Keller, Dolores, Flora Volo, Miss Worth, Nulgeria, Real The Great, Stepfast, Lady Worth, Air Flow, Taka Chance, Widow Volo, Esprit, New Fancy and Splangled Maiden.

U Scott is by Scotland(1.59¼), who sired Rosalind, world champion trotting mare(1.56¾). Rosalind's earnings reached $67,000. Scotland was also the sire of Spencer Scott(1.57¼) one-time world champion trotting stallion.

Light Brigade is by Volomite, world's leading light harness sire, out of Spinster, close relation to Hoot Mon, 1947 Hambletonian Stakes winner, and Miss Tully(2.01 2/5), also Hambletonian Stakes winner. Light Brigade has sired Vedette, Soangetaha, Red Emperor, Two Step and many others.

Spangled Maiden (Volomite-Margaret Spangler) is a sister to four champions: Chief Counsel(1.57¾), King's Counsel (1.58), Blackstone(1.59½) and Attorney(2.03). A young full brother to Spangled Maiden was sold as a yearling for $35,000.

Air Flow is by Guy Day(2.04¼), who stands at Walnut Hall Farm, the same stud as Scotland and Volomite. Air Flow is the dam of Aerial Scott, NZ champion trotting money-winner, Red Emperor, Flight Commander, Scottish Air and Risingholme.

Widow Volo(2.06¾), by Peter Volo, is the dam of Noble Scott, now in Australia. (U Scott was the sire). Noble Scott sired one of NZ's leading horses - Real Scott.

With such impressive stock as this, Roydon Lodge has been able to write some notable chapters into NZ trotting and pacing history. Under the wise guidance of its founder, Sir John McKenzie, the Lodge will no doubt add much more to what has already been written.

Credit: N Z Hoof Beats Vol 2 No.4