CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB

The first trotting meeting for the 1892-3 season was held by the Canterbury Trotting Club on August 12, when the weather was fine but cold.

A feature of the day's racing was the Sires' Cup Handicap, for stallions in harness. The stake was £30 and silver Cup valued £10, two miles. The race resulted in a win for Blue Gown, who was one of the outsiders and paid a dividend of £62 12s. He won by three lengths from Kentucky Wilkes, with the scratch horse, Kentucky, third. The time was 5.59. Kentucky was a hot favourite. The other starters were Wilkin, Berlin Abdallah, Duncan Abdallah, Vanderbilt, General Tracy, Emerson and Lincoln Yet.

It is interesting to note that Duncan Abdallah sired Wisconsin, the second dam of Harold Logan; Kentucky sired the famous broodmare Thelma, and Lincoln Yet sired the first NZ Cup winner, Monte Carlo.

On the same day there was a pony saddle trot, of two miles, for £20. There were only three starters. Parnell ridden by the late R Reay, won from Toby II, who had 30sec start, the only other starter was Busy Bee, with 35sec start. The investments were £8 on Parnell, £2 on Toby II, and nothing was invested on Busy Bee. The dividend was £1 2s.

-o0o-

Extract from Star Friday 12 Aug 1892

SPRING MEETING

Handicapper, Mr H Piper; Starter Mr H J Derrett.

The Spring Meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club is being held at the Show Grounds to-day. The weather is fine, but cold, and there is an exceptionally large attendance of spectators. The following are details of the racing up to the time of our going to press:-

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

Mr J White's ns b m May Queen (late Dearest Annie) aged 36sec (Moorhouse) 1.

Mr J Gaskin's br g Charlie, aged, 28sec (Harrold) 2.

Mr A Stewart's b f Trissie, 3yrs, 18sec (Owner) 3.

Duncan Abdallah scr, Oakland 28sec, Hard Case 28sec, Dick 28sec, Messenger 28sec, Bonniveen 28sec, Bide-a-wee 30sec, Cyclops 30sec, Orizaba 32sec, Dinah 32sec, Little Maid 34sec also started.

May Queen led from start to finish, and though Charlie ran up to her, three hundred yards for home, May Queen going on, won by twenty yards. Time 6min 9sec. Dividend - £5 6s 6d.

TELEGRAPH STAKES HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 25 sovs; second horse 5 sovs. One mile and a half.

Mr C Hendrickson's ch g Tommy, aged, 29sec (Hammill) 1.

Mr R Sutherland's b m Paulina, aged, 29sec (Needham) 2.

Mr M Friedlander's br m Miss Hilda, aged, 4sec (Harrold) 3.

Sandgate 15sec, Butterfly 24sec, Erin's Hope 30sec, Timbuc 34sec, Jess II 39sec, Dick 39sec, Stable BOy 39sec, Black Bell 39sec, Miss Graham 39sec, Remedy 39sec and Bell 50sec also started.

Dick took command in the first quarter of a mile, but was passed by Tommy and Paulina three-quarters of a mile from home, and Tommy holding his position to the end won by three lengths. Time 5min 5sec. Dividend - £33 5s 6d.

PONY HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr B Ray's br g Parnell, aged, scr (Owner) 1.

Mr J Martin's rn g Toby II, 5yrs, 30sec (Owner) 2.

Busy Bee 35sec also started.

Toby II led till a quarter of a mile from home, when Parnell caught him, and going on, won by thirty yards. Time 6min 5sec. Dividend - £1 2s.

SIRES' CUP HANDICAP TROT (in harness) for cup value 10gns and 30 sovs added. For stallions only. Two miles.

Mr T Oliff's b h Blue Gown, by Remedy-Arab mare, aged 22sec (Owner) 1.

Mr R Sutherland's b h Kentuck Wilks, by Kentucky, 4yrs, 34sec (Needham) 2.

Messrs Sutherland and Jardin's b h Kentucky, by Berlin-Jenny Tracey, aged, scr (Farrar) 3.

Wilkin 8sec, Berlin Abdallah 14sec, Duncan Abdallah 24sec, Vanderbilt 24sec, General Tracy 30sec, Emerson 30sec and Lincoln Get 33sec also started.

Kentucky Wilks passed Lincoln Get in the first two hundred yards, and at the end of the second round was leading with General Tracy and Blue Gown following in order named, and Kentucky going up at a great pace. In the next round Blue Gown collared General Tracy and, catching Kentucky Wilks, at the entrance to the straight, went on and won by three lengths, with Kentucky two lengths further away third, and General Tracy fourth. Time - 5min 59sec. Dividend - £62 12s.

ADDINGTON PLATE HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 75 sovs; second horse 10 sovs. Two miles.

Mr P O'Donnell's ch g Spider, 6yrs, 36sec (Corrigan) 1.

Mr E Bowes' ch g Roy, aged, 24sec (C Kerr) 2.

Mr J Farrell's blk m Winchester, aged 40sec (E Price) 3.

Wilkin 4sec, Tikaro 8sec, Barney O'Hea 14sec, Little Charm 14sec, Pansy 19sec, Miss Cave 19sec, Black Rose 22sec, Diana 24sec, Parnell 30sec, Mecca 30sec, The Frog 36sec and Dakota 40sec also started.

Winchester led for a mile, when Spider passed her, and going on, won by thirty yards from Roy. Time 5min 41 1/2sec. Dividend - £29 1s 6d.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 26Aug42

1891 CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB 23 OCT MEETING

President - Mr H McIlraith. Vice-President - Mr W Boag. Stewards - Mr H McIlraith, G W McRae, A L Myers, C Amyes, J S Williams, W Boag, W Tonks, G King, Jas. Jackson, Jos. Perkins, E Blake, MHR. Judge - Mr W Boag. Hon. Treasurer - Mr Geo. King. Starter - Mr H J Derrett. Clerk of the Course - Mr F Mulholland. Clerk of the Scales - Mr J Kerr. Secretary - Mr F Mills. Handicapper - Mr W White.

The above meeting was held yesterday under exceptionally good circumstances. The weather was splendid, and the attendance good. Amongst the spectators were a large number of ladies. The course was in good condition, the new half-mile track being used. A considerable portion of the straight was protected by a picket fence, the remainder being roped off.

The racing was good and there were several close and exciting finishes. The form shown by Cygnet in both the races which she won was capital, and Zealandia, Bedale and Primrose also exhibited speed in the events in which they contested. The sum of £1713 was passed through the machines.

The following are the results:-

MAIDEN STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle) of 20 sovs. two miles.

Mr J Hill's b g Bobby Burns, aged, 15sec (Owner) 1.
Messrs J & J Murray's br m Lady Jane, 5yrs (J Murray) 2.

Victoria II scr(Butler), Granny 8sec(Shaw), Lena 8sec(Douglas), Jenny II 10sec(McGregor), Nellie III 10sec(Hammill), The Major 10sec(Rosson), Nilreb 10sec(W Kerr), Sultan 13sec(Clegg), Exile 13sec(J Campbell), Ballance 15sec(R F Ranger), Kitty O'Shea 15sec(F Needham), and Pansey 15sec(D Needham) also started.

Bobby Burns led all the way, and won by about twenty yards from Lady Jane, the rest nowhere. Time, 6min 4sec. Dividend - £1 14s.

HANDICAP SELLING TROT (in harness) of 20 sovs. The winner to be sold and all proceeds to go to the funds of the Club. Two miles.

Mr J Goodger's blk m Apology, 6yrs, 25sec (Owner) 1.
Mr A Williams'g g King Billy, aged, 37sec (Owner) 2.
Mr E Bowes' c g Bobtail, aged, 40sec (Owner) 3.

Shamrock II 20sec(W Fox), Vanity 30sec(C Kerr), Logie 30sec(H Brown), Mountain Maid 35sec(Douglas) also started.King Billy went off at a good pace and led for two rounds, the rest constantly changing places. in the last round Apology went off to the front and won by about a lengths and a half. Time, 6min 24sec. Dividend £3 4s.

ADDINGTON PLATE (in saddle) of 60 sovs. Two miles.

Mr C Kerr's br m Cygnet, aged, 15sec (Owner) 1.
Mr J W Horner's b m Wanda, aged, 17sec (Owner) 2.

Primrose scr(Murfitt), Mount Joy 5sec(Butler), Farewell 23sec(Douglas), The Duke 25sec(Wright), Fragment 30sec(Moorhouse), Regina 33sec(Munro), JM 33sec(Harold), Fairchild 35sec(Whitehead), Shrewsbury 40sec(Hammill), Biddy 45sec(Price) also started.

Shrewsbury broke early when in the lead, and Regina got to the front, and led nearly three rounds. Wanda then caught and passed her, and Cygnet got up almost on terms when she broke. Wanda then led, Regina being second. Cygnet gaining ground again passed Regina, and went after Wanda, and inch by inch got up, and, pressing her closely, Wanda broke a few yards from the post, and Cygnet won a fast race by half a length, the others pulling up. Time, 5min 25sec. Dividend - £8 9s.

MAIDEN STAKES HANDICAP of 25 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. Two miles.

Mr H Mace's b g Berlin Abdallah, 4yrs, 4sec (Wright) 1.
Mr H Nankeville's b g Ragamuffin, aged, 10sec (Owner) 2.
Mr C Rosson's b g Logic, aged, 8sec (Brown) 3.

Oddfellow 4sec(Holmes), Spec 4sec(Hamilton), The Joker 6sec(Marsh) and Clearwell 8sec(Horner) also started.

Ragamuffin led for nearly a mile, when Berlin Abdallah, trotting in grand style, got in front, and the race was never afterwards in doubt. Time, 6min 44sec. Dividend - £1 7s.

ASSOCIATION GROUNDS CUP (in harness) of 75 sovs; second horse 10 sovs, third 5 sovs. Four miles.

Mr H Mace's b g Bedale by Blackwood Abdallah, aged, 27sec (Wright) 1.
Mr C Adcock's blk m Hippias, aged, 80sec (Hammond) 2.
Mr Barns'b m Zealandia, aged, 30sec (Owner) 3.

Primrose scr(Murfitt), HRH 55sec(Munro), The Major 55sec(Brown), Springfield 57sec(Hammill) also started.

Hippias led till the second to last round, when Bedale got to the head of affairs and won cleverly by 100 yards. Zealandia, who had given Bedale all his work to pass her in the first three rounds of the journey was eased up, finishing third. Time, 11min 44 1/2sec. Dividend £2 5s.

ELECTRIC STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle) of 25 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One mile.

Mr C Kerr's blk m Cygnet, aged, 3sec behind scr (Owner) 1.
Mr W O'Neill's b m Annie Laurie, 6yrs, 19sec (Moorhouse) 2.

Connemara 6sec(Priest), Victoria II 7sec(Devane), Pan-kon-che 8sec(Hamilton), Ada II 8sec(Merson), Regina 10sec(Munro), Maori 12sec(W Kerr), Lady Jane 12sec(Murray), Shrewsbury 13sec(Hamill), Biddy 15sec(G Harold), Blackberry 15sec(Bowes) also started.

Annie Laurie led till entering the straught, when Cygnet, who broke once, caught her and won by twenty yards. Time, 2min 47 1/2sec. Dividend - £5 6s.

PONY HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs; second 3 sovs from the stake. Height, 14h 1in or under. Two miles.

Mr J Hill's br g Bobby Burns, aged, 30sec (J Hill) 1.
Mr T Waddington's b m May, aged, 50sec (Owner) 2.
Mr W J Gilmour's b m Norah, 6yrs, 50sec (Owner) 3.

Sambo 30sec(Dewey), Molloy 30sec(R Hill), Maybud 30sec(J Wright), Dick 50sec(Mariton) also started.

Bobby Burns led at the end of a mile and a quarter, and from thence out came right away from his field and won easily. Time, 6min 16sec. Dividend - £1 5s 6d.

LINCOLN PLATE HANDICAP (in harness) of 30 sovs, second 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr F Vaile's b m Berlin Maid, 5yrs, 26sec (C Kerr) 1.
Mr J Dixon's b m Butterfly, aged, 6sec (Owner) 2.
Mr H Jones' b g Timbuc, aged, 30sec (Owner) 3.

Oddfellow 25sec, JM 28sec(Gaskin), Strathallan 35sec(Rowe), Waterbury 35sec(Johnston), Colonial 35sec(Barns) also started.

Berlin Maid got to the front early, and was never caught, though Butterfly was within a length and a half at the post. Time, 6min 12sec. Dividend £2 13s 6d. A protest was entered that the judge had left the box before the race finished, but was dismissed.

Credit: The Press 24 Oct 1891

LOWER HEATHCOTE RC: TROTTING MEETING


Judge Mr R Brown. Starter Mr Rattray.

The Lower Heathcote Racing Club's annual March trotting meeting was held yesterday in fine weather. The attendance, however, was small, and speculation limited.

The course was in fair order, and freer from dust than usual. The fields were very good, and some of the competitors shaped very well. Inferno, the winner of the principal race in saddle, was made a better favourite than anything else, and performed fairly, though Primrose displayed a good turn of foot, and her second was meritorious. Kitty also went well.

In the handicap maiden trot Victory got home by a couple of lengths from Stranger, Wakanui also being handy. In the three mile harness trot Young Irvington once more demonstrated his ability to travel in harness, and Mr Free's useful horse stalled off the challenges of Richmond, and won comfortably.

Sunlight had a lucky victory over Primrose in the two mile harness race, in which Primrose went lame.

The following are the results:-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs for horses that have never started in any Trotting Race. One mile.

Mr P Moorhouse's b m See-saw, 5yrs (Owner) 1.
Mr J Campbell's b g Ashton, aged, (Owner) 2.
Mr T Webb's b g Master George, 4yrs (Henry) 3.

Billy, Invalid and Little Benny also started.

See-saw led throughout and won easily, though at five furlongs Master George was on level terms, when he mixed his paces and broke, and was passed by Ashton in the straight. Time 3min 26sec. Dividend - £2 6s

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in harness) of 15 sovs; height 1 1/2h 1 in or under, to be measured before starting. Two miles.

Mr F Hill's b h Whisper, aged, 30sec (J Jardin) 1.
Mr A McRae's b m Farewell, aged, 20sec (Owner) 2.
Mr J Dewey's blk g Sambo, aged, 20sec (Owner) 3.

Taradale 20sec, Minnie 25sec, Dorothy 33sec, Meg 42sec and Daybreak 45sec also started.

Whisper was in front at the end of half a mile, and going on, won very easily by about 100yds from Farewell, Sambo a poor third. Time 7mins. Dividend - £7 16s.

HEATHCOTE HANDICAP (in saddle) of 45sovs; 5 sovs from the stake for second horse. Two miles.

Mr H Mace's b g Inferno, aged, 37sec (J Wright) 1.
Mr J Smith'sg m Primrose, aged, scr (H Murfit) 2.
Mr T D Manton's b m Kitty, aged, 2sec (Owner) 3.

Inferno drew away from Maid of Orleans, was never headed, and finally won, after breaking several times, by about 100yds, Primrose being thirty yards ahead of Kitty, most of the others pulling up. Time, 6min 6sec. Dividend - £3 18s.

HANDICAP MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. One mile and a half.

Mr J Hill's r m Victory, aged, 8sec (Owner) 1.
Mr P J McGregor's g g Stranger, aged, 12sec (W Kerr) 2.
Mr C Harrold's b m Wakanui, aged, scr (Owner) 3.

Rebecca, Balance, Adam, Fermanagh, Pastime, Fairchild, Kitt II, Cass, Lord Lynn 8sec each, Starling 10sec.

Victory passed Stranger before they had gone far, and led until well into the straight, when Stranger came again, and Wakanui, also made up ground, and a close finish was witnessed, Victory winning by a length and a half, Wakanui the same distance away third. Time, 4min 37sec. Dividend £2 5s.

HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 40 sovs, 5sovs for second. Three miles.

Mr T Free's br h Young Irvington, aged, 40sec (Owner) 1.
Mr D Barnes' ch g Richmond, aged, 37sec (Owner) 2.

Potatau scr, Berlin Boy 22sec, Cygnet 30sec, Maud 48sec, Bedale 50sec also started.

Young Irvington got to the front early, and always maintained his advantage over Richmond, whom he beat by three lengths. No others finished. Time, 9min 8sec. Dividend - £8 0s 6d.

HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 25 sovs; 5 sovs for second. One mile.

Mr O Burgess' b m Kitt II, aged, 17sec (E Price) 1.
Mr W Hamilton's br g Pan-Kan-Che, 4yrs, 7sec (Harvey) 2.
Mr H Mace's b g Inferno, aged, 12sec (Wright) 3.

Darkie 5sec, The Maid 12sec, Apology 15sec, Fermanagh 17sec, Tom 22sec.

The leading horses kept breaking, and when Pan-Kan-Che had reached Kitt II, he broke badly, and could not get up again. Time, 3min 6sec. Dividend - £6 10s 6d.

A protest was entered against Kitt II on the ground she had not tried in the Maiden Handicap, but it was dismissed

HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 35 sovs; 5sovs for second horse. Two miles.

Mr H Mace's b g Sunlight, 10sec (Wright) 1.
Mr J Smith's g m Primrose, 4sec, (Murfit) 2.
Mr J Farrar's b g Burwood, aged, 20sec (Owner) 3.

Butterfly 15sec, Home Rule 15sec, Farewell 18sec, Pan-Kan-Che 18sec, Silverstream 18sec, Breadalbane 23sec, Violet 25sec, Lord Lyons 23sec Madge 30sec, Kangaroo 32sec.

Pan-Kan-Che got to the head of affairs early, but broke, and gave place to Burwood, who led to the last half mile, where Primrose and Sunlight got on terms, and the latter, trotting very freely, won eventually by four lengths from Primrose, who was ten lengths in front of Burwood. Time, 6min 13sec. Dividend - £20 2s.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs. Two miles.

Mr J Robertson's b m May, 5yrs, 25sec (W Kerr) 1.
Mr J Dewey's blk g Sambo, aged, scr (Owner) 2.

Parnell 11sec, Fedora 17sec, Bobby Burns 25sec also started.

Won easily, all but Sambo pulling up. Time, 6min 50sec. Dividend - £4 14s 6d.

Credit: The Press 18 Mar 1891

CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB: Winter Meeting

President - Mr H McIlraith. Vice-President - Mr W Boag. Stewards - Mr H McIlraith, G W McRae, A L Myers, C Amyes, J S Williams, W Boag, W Tonks, G King, Jas. Jackson, Jos. Perkins, E Blake, MHR. Judge - Mr W Boag. Hon. Treasurer - Mr Geo. King. Time-Keeper - Mr D Barns. Starter - Mr H J Derrett. Clerk of the Course - Mr F Mulholland. Clerk of the Scales - Mr J Kerr. Secretary - Mr F Mills. Handicapper - Mr J Heslop.

A heavy mist hung over the Show grounds yesterday till the day was well advanced, but it cleared, and by the time the first race started the sun was shining, and though a cold wind was blowing during the afternoon, and some little inconvenience was experienced thereby, the afternoon's sport was so really good that visitiors were sent home highly pleased.

The attendance was the largest we have seen on the Show Grounds at any of the Canterbury Trotting Club's meetings, and speculation was very brisk, no less a sum than £2647 being put through the totalisators by Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin.

The fields were large, and the trotting on the whole of a most interesting character, and few more exciting races have been witnessed than that for the Association Ground's Cup, in which Kentucky, the standard bred son of Berlin and Jenny Tracey, covered himself with glory by lowering the New Zealand record for four miles in harness from 11min 17sec to 10min 57sec. This was not a winning record, but the actual time made by this brilliant young horse, and great was the enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered him lustily as he came back to the judge's box. To be beaten a half length by a horse to which he was conceding a minute and thirty-three seconds start was no disgrace, when it is taken into account too that one of the tires of the sulky he was driven in came off in the early part of the race.

The concluding event of the day, unfortunately, was not brought off so satisfactorily as could have been desired. Director won the race, but Bedale and Billy were coming very fast at the finish, and Bedale was certainly interfered with by the crowd, and to an extent that he probably lost the race through it. The Stewards were appealed to, but after giving due consideration to the appeal they decided to award the stake to Director, at the same time expressing their sympathy with Mr Mace in his misfortune, a misfortune that could not have happened had the advice tendered in these columns to the Club to keep the crowd back from the running track been adopted. With this exception everything passed off pleasantly enough.

Results:-

MAIDEN STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle)of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr J Brake's gr m Polly, 6yrs, 34sec (Owner) 1.
Mr T Webb's br m Victoria II, 6yrs, 30sec (E Price) 2.
Mr F Whitehead's b g Fairchild, 3yrs, 34sec (Owner) 3.

Ruth 20sec, Shrewsbury 26sec, Stable Boy 28sec and Pansy, aged, 28sec(coupled), Juno 28sec and Skipper 28sec(coupled), Little Fred 28sec, Hassan 28sec, Graham 28sec, Turk 28sec, Haricot 28sec, Kitty O'Shea 34sec, Ashton 38sec, Ribbonwood 38sec, Maxey Cob 38sec, Connemara 38sec and Balance 38sec also ran.

Polly assumed the lead at the start, and getting further ahead every round was nearly a round ahead of Victoria II at the finish. Time, 6min 5sec. Dividend - £2 18 6d.

HANDICAP SELLING TROT (in harness) of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr Jas Johnston's b g Waterbury, aged, 45sec (Owner) 1.
Mr E Price's b m Minnie, aged, 26sec (Owner) 2.

Silverstream 26sec, Sir Robert 26sec, Dorothy 30sec, Mountain Maid 36sec, Dick Turpin 36sec also started.

All except the two placed horses pulled up before half the distance was completed. In the two rounds Minnie rapidly overhauled Waterbury, but was not able to get quite up, a couple of lengths separating them at the finish. Time 6min 40sec. Dividend - £8 18s. The winner was sold for £13 10s for the owner. Johnston was fined £1 for disobedience.

ADDINGTON PLATE HANDICAP (in saddle) of 70 sovs; second horse 10 sovs and third 5 sovs from the stake. Two miles. (Handicap limited to 40sec)

Mr P Howard's blk g Shamrock, by Berlin, 6yrs, 40sec (Hamill) 1.
Mr H Mace's b g Inferno, aged, 40sec (Wright) 2.
Mr C Kerr's blk m Cygnet, aged, 40sec (Kerr) 3.

Victor scr, Joe 18sec, Butcher Boy 39sec, Pan-kan-che 40sec, Captain Russell 40sec, Medjidie 40sec also started.

Inferno was the quickest to get into his stride, and was at the head of affairs for the first round, but after going some distance broke and was passed by Cygnet and Shamrock. The latter, trotting in fine form, soon established a long lead, and won very easily by fifty yards. A poor third Cygnet close to Victor fourth. Time 5min 35sec. Dividend - £15 5s.

PONY HANDICAP TROT of 20 sovs; second horse 3 sovs from the stake; height 14.1 or under. Two miles.

Mr T Stewart's rn g Vanity, aged, 10sec (C Kerr) 1.
Mr A McRae's b m Farewell, aged, scr (Owner) 2.
Mr P White's b m Little Beauty, aged 50sec (Owner) 3.

Sambo 15sec, Eulalie 20sec, Cockney 20sec, Cliquot 20sec, Tamborine 35sec, Bobby Burns 35sec, Little Duck 40sec also started.

Little Beauty led for three rounds, when Vanity, who trotted well from the start, got in front, defeating Farewell, who passed Little Beauty in the last lap, by five lengths. Time 6min 36 1/2sec. Dividend - £18 1s 6d.

ASSOCIATION GROUNDS CUP (in harness) of 75 sovs; second horse 10 sovs, third 5 sovs. Four miles.

Mr A Goslin's b m Diplomacy, aged, 95sec (D Manton) 1.
Messrs Jardine and Sunderland's b h Kentucky, 5yrs, scr (Farrar) 2.
Mr A Duncan's blk g Black Hawk, 3yrs, 33sec (Owner) 3
Mr S Goodman's b g Joe, aged, scr
Mr H Mace's b g Sunlight, aged, 11sec
Mr W Hamilton's blk g Pan-Kan-Cha, 4yrs, 48sec
Mr McDonnell's b g Springfield, aged,70sec
Mr A Nicholas's br m HRH, 6yrs, 100sec.

HRH led off, but before completing a circuit was passed by Diplomacy, who had gone more than one lap before Kentucky and Joe were let off their marks. Kentucky soon passed Sunlight, travelling at a very rapid pace, and fairly surprising the spectators. In the second or third round one of the tires of the sulky came off, and this appeared to hamper the son of Berlin, who, however, passed his opponents one by one, and raised the hopes of his backers to the highest pitch as he sped on his way. Black Hawk was seen to be going well also, and in the fifth round there were only three horses left on the track. Diplomacy had a slight lead of Black Hawk, who was closing up, and Kentucky was as yet some distance away, but going well. The excitement ran high as the horses closed up, and on turning for home it looked doubtful what would win. Here Brown Hawk tripped, and Kentucky flew past him, and in a few more strides was up sides with Diplomacy, who amidst the greatest excitement got home by a half length, Brown Hawk between two and three lengths away third. Time, 12min 29sec: Kentucky's time 10min 57sec. Dividend - £6 8s 6d.

ELECTRIC STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle) of 20 sovs. One mile.

Mr Jos. Hicks' b h Miss Purau, 6yrs, 42sec (Lynskey) 1.
Mr P Howard's blk g Shamrock, 33sec (Owner) 2.
Mr J Brake's g h Polly, 6yrs, 37sec (Owner) 3.

Rebel 38sec, Tommy II 42sec, Timbuc 44sec, Parnell 44sec, Fairchild 44sec, Maxey 44sec, Fermanagh 46sec.

Miss Purau got to the front early, but Shamrock, after decreasing the distance, broke and after this the race was never in doubt, and though Shamrock and Polly both showed a good turn of speed, Miss Purau won by fifty yards. Dividend - £2 16s.

LINCOLN PLATE HANDICAP (in harness) of 30 sovs; second 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr R Brown's b g Director by Berlin, aged, 44sec (Moorhouse) 1.
Mr H Mace's b g Bedale, aged, 26sec (Wright) 2.
Mr J Farrar's b g Billy, aged, 22sec (Owner) 3.

Berlin Boy 17sec, Ellen 22sec, Capt Russell 32sec, Pan-kan-che 32sec, Stableboy 36sec, Nilreb 36sec, Ada II 38sec, Diplomacy 38sec, Ribbonwood 50sec also started.

Director was soon in front and was never headed, but Bedale, who went in places at a very fast rate, but who broke many times, came with a great run, and Billy also came fast at the same rate, and were close to the winner when the post was reached, and it is probable that but for the crowd having pressed in on the track Bedale would have won. Time, 6min 24sec. Dividend - £5 1s 6d.

Credit: The Press 15 August 1891

The monthly meeting of the Trotting Association was held last night, at the Empire Hotel. Mr Quill, the delegate for the Geraldine Racing Club, moved — "That the name of the Association be altered from the Canterbury to the New Zealand Trotting Association." This was seconded by Mr H. Mace (New Brighton), and carried. It was also decided that Rule 143, referring to the operation of the new rules, be suspended till the next meeting. Mr J. S. Williams and Mr A. I. Rattray were unanimously elected President and Secretary respectively of the new Association. The following Clubs were then accepted as affiliated to the Association, namely :— Southland, Cromwell, Heathcote, New Brighton, Lancaster Park (Trotting), Canterbury (Trotting), North Canterbury, Geraldine, Timaru (Trotting), Ohoka and Eyreton, Tinwald, Hororata, Waimate, Little River, Ellesmere, South Canterbury, Greymouth (Trotting), Auckland (Trotting) Nelson (Trotting). It was decided that each Racing Club should be entitled to send one delegate, and each Trotting Club two delegates to the Association. Several other clubs wrote for particulars as to the mode of affiliation.

Credit: Star 4 Jun 1890

CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB
In January 1888 the Canterbury Trotting Club was formed and conducted its Meetings at the new A & P Showgrounds at Addington.

Also 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.

Most Clubs racing at this time were proprietary Clubs with the operating profits going to the promoters.

A trotting match for £5 a side took place at Ashley yesterday morning between Mr F. Croft's Skipper and Mr Booker's Jack. The course was from Sefton to Ashley, a distance of about four miles. Jack took the lead from the first, and won by nearly a quarter of a mile.


Credit: Star 21 Sep 1886

PLUMPTON PARK JOCKEY CLUB

In the month of February, 1885, the Plumpton Park Jockey Club had on its card a trotting event worth 30 sovs, with 5 sovs to the second horse from the stakes, distance about three miles.

The event was won by a bay mare, named Daisy, owned by Dr W E Hacon. She won easily in 8.58. Cock Robin, Princess, Warrior, Raddle, Energy, Rambler, Curley Kate and Creeping Jack also started

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 10 Jan 1945

THE 1881 CLASH BETWEEN NATIVE CAT AND OUR PONY

It is 1881 and there are no standardbred stallions in New Zealand, no trotting clubs in the South Island, no races for top horses. The stakes in the races which were part of gallops programmes were pitiful and influenced the amazing "rorts" which haunt trotting to this day. Yet 1881 produced one of the most dramatic and most publicised trotting races never mentioned in our past.

One of the two runners went on to earn a unique place in our harness history. Native Cat, named after his odd grey and white flecked coat, was the first New Zealand trotter to win a feature race in Australia - in 1882 four years before the first full trotting meeting was even held in Christchurch.

Owners of good horses then could only make real money through "matches", backing their horse against all comers, usually on the roads. They became as common as race meetings are today. Some were for sums as small as £5 or to forfeit the losing horse to the winning owner. A few were for sums up to £1000. None compared with that between Native Cat and a little horse accurately named Our Pony in a special match at Forbury in January, 1881. Both owners, Billy Kirkwood and William Philip put up £500 (it appeared a Mr Gloyden actually owned Native Cat) and with betting reliably reported at over £3000 this was trotting with a profile never seen before. The stake was more than twice that Princess won in trotting's first feature meeting eight years later, and wasn't equalled for over 20 years.

Kirkwood was a Wanganui publican who had assembled a strong team of pony trotters - horses less than 14hh. He won Our Pony in a forfeit match in Christchurch involving another of his ponies Titokawaro, named after the Maori chief who terrorised Wanganui during the Maori Wars. Kirkwood, who died in Rotorua in 1913, later moved south and started a boom in pony trotting in Canterbury.

Native Cat was from further south and regarded as unbeatable in match races. When the syndicates put up their stakes excitement about the trotting match far exceeded anything the sport had experienced previously. Once again it was the Dunedin Jockey Club - which later promoted the historic 1889 meeting where Princess became a star - organising the race. Canterbury Jockey Club officials of the day would probably have rather been seen bathing nude in the Avon than advancing the cause of the "illegitimate" sport. Small wonder some trotting fans have never to this day forgotten!

However the erudite local racing editor Joe Chadwick, gave it plenty of space (he later claimed to have had a share in Our Pony earlier in its career) and he had been the handicapper for the first trotting club in New Zealand in Wanganui. Our Pony, which had won several lucrative matches in Wanganui (Kirkwood once unwisely also backed himself against the rival owner in a 100 yard foot race as well as the foot race. His opponent, J H Pollock, was a near champion sprinter and gave Kirkwood 20 yard start, and still beat him) and was an utterly reliable betting horse on the big day. By Ake Ake, a respected sire of road trotters then, she was ridden at Forbury by Harry Goodman, later a famous New Zealand gallops trainer.

However the betting men of Dunedin, flush with their goldmine funds, thought Native Cat, who towered over his 13,2hh rival would do the same on the track. The race was part of the Otago autumn carnival and a record crowd fronted up for the momentous occasion. Native Cat's record meant he was required to give five seconds start. As it happened the race was a non-event. Native Cat turned on a rodeo act breaking several times during the race, which was out of character. Little Our Pony, foolproof on such occasions, drew out to win easily. There were a lot of empty wallets in Dunedin that night.

With no other big stakes in the wind Native Cat was sent to Australia and at the Sydney Driver's Clubs meetings, beginning in 1882, he won several feature events against the best trotters in Australia. For a time he was trained by Frank Balwin, an American who had emigrated to Australia and was the leading professional of his time Balwin once described Native Cat as "an exceptionally kind and obedient animal". For much of his later career the grey was trained by Bill Kelso, who went on to become a famous Australian thoroughbred trainer, as was his son.

Our Pony posted another milestone as a winner at the first trotting meeting held in Canterbury, at Heathcote in 1886. She should have won two races but at a somewhat shambolic meeting, two horses which had dropped riders carried her off the course. Soon after she foaled to Balderdash in 1890 she was kicked by another horse and had to be put down.

Oddly, Native Cat met an untimely death the same year. Used out hunting, he took what seemed an easy jump over a small tree, fell and broke his neck trying to recover. His owner was distraught and the honest and kind horse's demise was of sufficient stature to find its way into Australian newspapers.

It is easy to dismiss iconic events like the Native Cat versus Our Pony events as too long ago to bother with compared to the "star of the week" achievments of today. Wrong. They took us from where we were and did not want to be to another level. Horses like Native Cat and Our Pony played a pivotal role on the harness highway and were as well known as horses like Smolda are today. Actually, to be honest better known. Halls of Fame, where are you?

Credit: David McCarthy writing in HRWeekly 13Jun2012

WANGANUI WAS CRADLE OF DOMINION TROTTING

It was the Wanganui Trotting Club which pioneered the light-harness sport in NZ, the first meeting being held in the town by the river in 1877.

Where did they get their horses, and what led up to the formation of the club? One may be forgiven for querying. There were no trotting-bred horses in the then colony, even though trotting was a sport well underway in America, and surely they must have been slow movers and bad breakers. To say where they got the horses from is not difficult, the Maori War being responsible to the greater extent for the class required being in the country. When the native risings had been practically settled, the Imperial troops stationed in Wanganui and surrounding districts possessed some particularly attractive and well-taught mounts who were educated to trot as well as gallop. While the English thoroughbred was well represented, some of the more splendid horses were of pure Arab descent.

The troopers, particularly the officers, being of the opinion that nothing was too good, acquired several at the Cape of Good Hope on the way out. Of these, many passed into the hands of the settlers, and they and their progeny were responsible for the institition of racing at a gait. Of course they had never been tried against time, but with training they developed speed, and one was pitted against the other in match racing.

One of these outstanding matches against time that caused quite a flutter was brought about by the late Mr Tom Hammond, a member of the well known family which occupied York Farm, near Marton, saying he was training a mare who could trot 16 miles within the hour. Several bet against him. Millie was his representative's name, and she was a mare of doubtful parentage. The course was from Oroua Bridge to the Club Hotel, Palmerston North and back, and the conditions were 'tug and go' or in other words if she broke the mare had to be pulled up and started at the trot again. Mr Hammond was a first class rider, and he made good time. Arriving in Palmerston, he quaffed a shandy and started on the return trip.

The full distance was accomplished in about four and a half minutes inside the hour. This was a great performance for the mile record in America for a 4-year-old was 2.19 in 1882, that being some years later, and held by Jay-Eye-See, while the 15-mile record of 1874 was Girdler's 47 minutes 20 seconds, registered in San Francisco. Of course these were in harness, a solid type of sulky being drawn, but all the same Millie's effort, all things considered, was quite comparable, for under saddle in the States Great Eastern's record in 1877 was 2.15¾. Millie later went to Christchurch, where she was matched with Black Boy, a good horse, on the Yaldhurst Road. Owing to the straps on a breast-plate cutting into her shoulder, she was beaten. Later she raced well in wagon with a horse called Marmion, and also served in the Marton coach.

It was matches such as these which promoted the forming of a club, and the races were decided over various distances and in various parts of the town. Conditions then were laughable, for the heats were decided in saddle, and if a horse broke it had to be pulled up and started again, while another method was to tug them to a stop and make a complete turn. Still, the rules served the purpose.

Some time after the inauguration of the club, the late Mr Frank Evans, of Bulls, and of the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui, on the premises of which some solid wagering took place, made a trip to America, and on his return certainly made history by bringing back a high hickory, steel-supported sulky, and a four-wheeled specially-constructed trotting wagon, all the rage at the time in the United States and the first to be brought to these shores. These were the pride of the town, and when not in use were stored in the loft. Unfortunately, the loft and everything in it went up in smoke some time afterwards. Still, the sulkies served a useful purpose for the introduced team racing, and to compete with the American invention the opposition, not to be out-done, beseiged a local wheelwright to remove the bodies from four-wheeled buggies and construct small seatson the front axle.

Imagine be-whiskered gentlemen so perched, driving two horses in actual racing in such weird contrivances. Yet they were the ones who laid the foundation of what has become a great light-harness sport. Driving tandem was another fashionable mode of competition, and this and waggon racing was then unknown in any other part of NZ. With the advancing of time, as the horses improved so did the sulkies, until they are now practically perfect.

The art of driving was learned in a hard school, one of the experts and hardest workers for the club was Mr Charles Chavanness. He was connected at the time with Cobb & Co's coaching firm, doing an extensive business between Wellington, Wanganui and Taranaki and it was on the tortuous road between Hawera and New Plymouth that he became famous throughout the land as a champion reinsman. His dexterity at handling the ribbons stood him in good stead in competitive events, and he won many races. He was also a polished horseman over obstacles and on the flat. Of those connected with the early days of the sport he was the greatest all-rouner.

Another prominent official and successful all-rounder who witnessed the club come into being was the late Mr Joseph Chadwick. He was one of three handicappers who made the adjustments for the early meetings, and his wealth of old-time stories and reminiscences would command a ready sale if put into book form. He it was in after years who was instrumental in sending the first American ball-bearing pneumatic-tyred low-slung cart to the South Island. That was in 1894. Mr Joseph Henrys also met with success on a grey mare at the early meetings. Another keen follower of the sport, Mr W (Kopeke) Tuck, was another trotting pioneer. The late Mr William Wilson bred a trotter called Inferno in after years that was credited in cutting out 27 miles on a metalled road in an hour and a half, a rather heavy type of sulky being used. This one's dam, by the way, was Iniquity, by the thoroughbred Traducer. The Higgie family, with Castaway, and Messrs Keith, Powell and Lingard were others all well to the fore.

The early handicapping was by yards and later by seconds. Some competitors were called upon to give away anything up to 600 yards. One of the programmes issued in 1882 for the sixth meeting is interesting to read. The principal event, the Wanganui Handicap, was in saddle, and over three miles. The stake was for £65, and green horses, or those with no public performances, were limited to 50secs start. Ten yards in those days were considered equal to one second. The backmarker in this event was Castaway on a 58sec mark. There was also a race for ponies, of 13 hands or under. Boy riders were allowed, but they had to be approved by the committee. The handicappers were Messrs Chadwick, Jun, J Pollock and A Higgie, and the first mentioned pair acted as starters.

Credit: 'Old-Timer' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 7Apr48