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ANDREW RATTRAY - Club Administrator

There has never been a club administrator, before or since, to match the achievements of Andrew Innes Rattray. That is partly because he was one of the first and worked in an era when innovation, efficiency and the fight for respectability were paramount aims all of which Rattray achieved through sheer dedication.

His vision and especially his early "centralisation" activities were decades ahead of their time.

Rattray was the Secretary of the Heathcote Racing Club in the early 1880s when it hosted the first full trotting meeting in the South Island. He then became secretary of the body which would become the New Zealand Trotting Association. All southern (and later Northern) clubs, racing and trotting who wanted to hold trotting races, joined for a small fee and set out the dates. You could argue it was an early Racing Board model. With Rattray a driving force this became the NZ Trotting Conference in 1896 gaining the full and vital support of the Auckland clubs.

Soon afterwards Rattray was one of the leaders in the formation of Addington Raceway and the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. Even then, more than a century ago, Rattray handled the Canterbury, Lancaster Park, New Brighton and Plumpton Park clubs all centralised on his office as well as some Racing Clubs. Similar innovation around the country 60 years later would be hailed as a "major breakthrough" in administration.

Addington was a wilderness before it was transformed into a racetrack and Rattray's work, organisation and sometimes his own money, was vital to its growth. To match the surrounds of Riccarton the club spent thousands of pounds to make it a showplace on the Rattray "build it and they will come" philosophy. Within a few years the popularity of trotting in Canterbury the so-called "illegitimate" sport rivalled and then outdid crowds at Riccarton an incredible achievement in less than a decade and for which Rattray could take most of the credit.

Rattray even got Prime Ministers to tour every city trotting tracks during visits to Christchurch. He championed the tote, whose possibilities he had noted when it was introduced in 1880, to help pay for facilities (clubs got 10%) and hired off duty policemen to run bookmakers off the course. He often caught the dawn train to Lyttleton to check out horse arrivals so there would be no "ringers" at any of his meetings.

Rattray could be stern and set high standards for his assistants nearly all of whom were also administrators of high calibre. He was an ideal mixture of discipline, honour, discretion and aggression and his air of authority gave him added stature. He was incorruptible and gave trotting the leadership image it so desperately needed. Sometimes the secretary's office could be threatened with invasion by irate punters in the days before stipendiary stewards. It was a tough job.

True, he had many supporters but their is little doubt that Rattray was virtually the president, secretary, treasurer and organiser of the major clubs of that era. He was the secretary to the New Zealand Metropolitan Club for an incredible 41 years.

For many years his memory was honoured through the Rattray Handicap, a feature at the NZ Cup meeting before sponsorship eliminated the tributes to many outstanding trotting administrators such as he - more's the pity.


Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Aug 2016

STRIDES MADE IN HARNESS WORLD

Last Tuesday's NZ Cup field - and other fields for many years past for that matter - have been comprised of horses which are - or were - the acme of physical fitness and grace.

Seventy-odd years ago at any meeting you would have been confronted with the clumsy efforts of horses that, only a few days previously, had been earning their oats between the shafts of a butcher's, baker's or grocer's cart.

Yes, the progress of harness racing has been meteoric as to make one wonder where its limitations will cease, especially with night trotting for Addington practically here. For instance, when Bert Edwards drove that grand old trotter, Monte Carlo, to victory in the first New Zealand Cup, the stake was only 310sovs, and on a good track the winner took 4:44.4 to cover the two miles. By 1910 the value of the Cup had jumped to £1000; in 1913 it was £2000, and in 1929 it had gone up to £4000. At one stage it reached £7500, thereby making it the richest harness race in New Zealand or Austalia at that time.

There has been a corresponding improvement in the times also. Monte Carlo's feat of going the journey in 4:44.4 was hailed as a great one at the time, but it now looks insignificant when compared with Johnny Globe's 4:07.6

Away back in the 'seventies, on almost any general holiday and sometimes on Saturdays, a band of sporting enthusiasts would meet on the New Brighton beach, near the present township. During the day about half-a-dozen events would be decided, some for trotters and some for gallopers. They were rough and ready meetings, and the prizes were usually of the utility order, such as a saddle, a bridle or even a whip. When the New Brighton Racing Club was formed these informal gatherings ceased. Mixed racing and trotting meetings were held on a new course for some years, but after a while the galloping element faded out and it was left to the New Brighton Trotting Club to carry on, which it has done successfully to this day.

It was the Lower Heathcote Racing Club, however, that did most to establish the light-harness sport. The old Heathcote course was situated on the Sumner Road, just before you came to the bridge. All the arrangments were primitive.

My present concern, however, is more with those old-time trotters which in their humble way helped lay the foundation of trotting as it is now. To a dwindling few present-day racegoers (all well into their 80's) the names of such ancient celebrities as Fidget, Shakespeare, Sapphire, Bobby Burns, Maid of Munster, Narrow Gauge, Cock Robin, Wait A While, Chanticleer, Victor, Young Irvington and Long Roper will conjure up memories of the so-called 'good old days'.

Mention of Cock Robin brings to mind the fact that even Gloaming's trainer was an active participant in the trotting sport. Before becoming associated with Gloaming, Dick Mason owned Cock Robin and on one occasion rode him to victory in a race at Oamaru. The versitile Mason was just as fine an artist on the back of a trotter as in a galloper's saddle, and this particular win gave the ring a nasty jolt. Amongst the regular competitors at Heathcote, was a pony called Jimmy Brown who, though blind, generally knew the shortest way to the winning post. Once Jimmy would not answer the helm and, swerving off the course, landed in the Heathcote River. Both he and his rider had cause to remember that mishap.

Most of the races were run under saddle (a pity there are now none of these events in Canterbury) and it was no unusual thing to find a good horse giving away from 60secs to 90secs start, and even that concession failed to put the cracks out of court. For a long time the handicappers never made less than 5secs between any division of horses, for which there was probably a good reason. Under the rules, when a horse broke its rider was compelled to pull it up and turn round before going on with business. When, as often happened, there were several that could not trot a furlong without getting 'in the air', the race savoured more of an equine circus or a Waltzing Matilda contest than a trial of speed. Just fancy a race at Addington with similar conditions prevailing!

The Lower Heathcote Trotting Club died a natural death in 1893, but its memory lingers. When Lancaster Park was brought into being as a sports and cricket ground, difficulty was experienced in financing it. To help in this was a club known as the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was formed and held meetings on a three-lap-to-the-mile course, the same as that on which the bicycle races were run. The venture did not serve its purpose and its operations were subsequently taken over by a more practical body known as the Lancaster Park Amatuer Trotting Club. Its meetings were well conducted and did much to popularise the sport.

Another club that had a rather meteoric career was the Canterbury Trotting Club, with headquarters at the Addington Show Grounds. In the meantime the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, finding its headquarters all too small to accommodate the ever-increasing crowds, formed a course on the Twigger Estate at Addington. This meant that two clubs were racing side by side, seperated only by a tin fence. Naturally, such a state of affairs could not go on, so eventually the Government forced the two bodies to amalgamate. It was a fortunate move, for out of the amalgamation grew the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

It was not until operations had been in progress at Addington for a few years that the New Zealand Trotting Cup was instituted. The field for the initial contest in 1904 comprised Monte Carlo, Norice, Euchre, Vickery, Factory Boy, Vascoe, Verax and Royalwood. Like so many of its successors, the first Cup did not give rise to much excitement. The American-bred mare Norice, went off at a great clip, but when it came to the real business Monte Carlo soon had her measure. In those times 'Old Monte' was held in just as much affection by racegoers as in latter years were Harold Logan, Johnny Globe, and now, Cardigan Bay. The victory of the American-bred Birchmark in 1905 was recorded on a very heavy track and under wretched conditions. There was nothing outstanding associated with the success of Belmont M., Marian, Durbar or Wildwood Junior.

The race of 1910 however, will be long remembered for the series of mishaps associated with it. Just after the field had been sent on its two mile journey Walnut swerved across the track and collided with Manderene, both horses losing their drivers. Then King Cole ran into El Franz, whose driver was thrown out of the sulky. In the meantime, Manderene had practically taken charge of the track. Careering around at a mad gallop he forced the other competitors to get out of the way as best they could. One of the few to escape trouble was the previous year's winner, Wildwood Junior. Cleverly driven by his owner-trainer, William Kerr, the handsome son of Wildwood got an almost uninterrupted passage and had no difficulty in defeating Bright and Ribbons.

Of all those early winners, Wildwood Junior stood out in a class by himself. Either he or another of Wildwood's progeny in the sensational Ribbonwood, would have equalled the performances of some subsequent winners had the track conditions and training methods under which they raced been equal to what they are nowdays.

Credit: 'Veteran' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 12/11/63

In December 1900 Mr G H McHaffie, who was not only a Committeeman of the NZMTC but also a member of the NZ Trotting Association, expressed the view that the three Trotting Clubs around Christchurch should combine to form one strong central body racing at the Metropolitan’s course at Addington. He was of the opinion that a great deal would depend on the attitude of the Colonial Secretary but that if Plumpton Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs were to throw in their lot with the Metropolitan Club such centralization could only be of gain to the sport. An amalgamation of the three Clubs would rub off all the corners and place the Metropolitan Club in a sound financial position and enable it to make many improvements which would be of direct benefit to the public.

In February 1905 it was reported that the popular Trotting Club Secretary, Mr A I Rattray, had married Mrs Mace, widow of Mr H Mace soft-drink manufacturer of New Brighton. Mr Mace was a Committeeman of the Canterbury Trotting Club and was prominent in the affairs of the New Brighton Trotting Club and its course.

Without doubt history has a habit of repeating itself as in January 1906 a report stated:

“The lot of a caretaker of a Trotting ground is not a happy one and Mr French, the hard-working and painstaking custodian of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s grounds, is just now finding this out. He has gates open from five in the morning until nine at night and does everything he possibly can for the convenience of the trainers who are still not happy. Trainers pay about seven pence a week licence fee for training on the Metropolitan grounds and such a very modest cost for such great facilities ought to make them deeply grateful instead of discontented.”

A report in the NZ REFEREE of 31st July 1907 stated that Messrs T H Davie, M H R Hood-Williams and C Hood-Williams waited on Sir Joseph Ward in regard to Trotting and the Gaming Bill. They pointed out to the Premier that the Bill as originally drafted made no provision for Trotting and the deputation asked that he include Trotting in the next measure. It was also pointed out that if the clause that no racecourse should be less than six furlongs was adhered to, Trotting would not be possible on the Metropolitan Club’s Course which was only five furlongs in length. In reply to the deputation the Premier promised to look into the matter and give it his best consideration.

In August 1911 a deputation representing the NZ Metropolitan, Canterbury Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs waited on the Hon. D E Buddo, Minister of Internal Affairs, to protest against the reductions imposed on those Clubs by the findings of the Racing Commission. The Hon. Charles Louisson pointed out that of the eleven days by which Trotting had been reduced throughout the Dominion eight had been taken from the local Clubs and the Ashburton Club. The Minister said that the protest made by the deputation would be recorded but he was personally unable to do anything in the matter as the Commission had been set up by Parliament. Referring to the deputation the media expressed the view that the three Clubs were not well-advised to be continually worrying about the reduction of their days as together they had seventeen days racing, the Metropolitan Club having nine days and Brighton and Canterbury Park four days each. It was pointed out that of the fifty one days trotting for the whole of New Zealand the three Christchurch Clubs had no fewer than seventeen and that in spite of this they were still not satisfied. It was pointed out that the people were paying more for their sport at Addington than they did in the previous year and that judging from the decrease in stakes they were not getting such good sport for their money. The article went on to say that the Metropolitan Club had spent a large amount of money provided by the public in making a grand place for the sport of trotting but the Commission had pointed out that the tenure was unsatisfactory and recommended that the Club should acquire the freehold or the right to race permanemtly on the present ground at a fixed rental. Instead of asking for the moon, the article continued, the Hon. Charles Louisson and his fellow Committeemen should see whether they cannot obtain some fixture of tenure and secure for the people a permanent right to the enjoyment of the grounds an buildings which have been improved and erected at a cost of some £40,000 which money has been provided by the public.

In the NZ REFEREEof 15th November 1911 it was reported that Mr A I Rattray, Secretary of the NZMTC bred Cleveland, the sire of Clive which dead-heated with Quincy in the Dominion Handicap at Addington.

In October 1912 it was reported that Mr H E Goggin, the clerical assistant to Mr Rattray at the office of the NZMTC, returned to Christchurch after a holiday spent in Australia, mostly in Sydney and Melbourne.

A report in the NZ REFEREE of 9th April 1913 stated that a very well deserved tribute was paid to Mr A I Rattray, Secretary of the three trotting clubs of Christchurch, when on the first day of the NZMTC’s Easter Meeting at Addington he was presented with a handsome silver tea and coffee service and salver as a mark of the Clubs’ appreciation of his services to the sport. The Hon. Charles Louisson, President of the NZMTC, in making the presentation said that as most of those present were aware Mr Rattray had recently taken a trip to America for the benefit of his health and they were glad to see he had returned fully restored. It is largely due to Mr Rattray’s efforts, he continued, that the sport of trotting had reached the high standard it now held and the Clubs felt that the present was a good opportunity to show how they valued Mr Rattray’s work. Mr Howell, President of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club and Mr Archer, President of the New Brighton Trotting Club also spoke briefly of their appreciation of Mr Rattray’s services. Mr Rattray in his reply expressed his thanks for the kindness which had been shown him and said that what he had done for the sport had been done as a labour of love.

In August 1913 it was reported that Mr E C McDermott had joined the professional ranks and scored a couple of good wins with Rosalie which had won two of the Trotters’ races at he Augus Meeting.

In March 1914 in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, a claim by Clifford Tasker against the NZMTC for £750 damages in respect of injuries sustained by the trotting horse Michael Gillander was heard before Mr Justice Dennison and a special jury. Tasker also claimed £40 damages being the sum paid the Veterinary Surgeon in connection with the horse’s injuries. Tasker stated that while training his horse around the track he saw a draught mare coming towards him at a gallop and the mare hit Michael Gillander on the left side near the shoulder knocking him over. His horse fell on top of the witness who had been flung from the sulky and then scrambled to its feet and galloped around the track. In the opinion of the jury the gates were insecurely fastened thus allowing the draught mare to get onto the track and it found the Club liable on various counts and granted damages of £200.

Under the heading of “Athletics” in the NZ REFEREE of 19th August 1914 it was reported that

“C S Thomas, the Dominion half-mile champion, ran third in his heat in the A A A Championships at Stamford Bridge when, by breaking the standard time, he won a bronze medal.”

The Chairman of the Auckland Trotting Club, Mr John Rowe, attended the NZMTC’s 1915 Cup Meeting and afterwards said that he had been much impressed with the Course, its facilities and the class of trotting presented. The way the public supported the sport had been an eye opener to him. This was his first visit to Addington and he freely recognized that the standard of trotting in Christchurch was quite phenomenal.

In the NZ REFEREE of 23rd January 1918 it was reported:

“At eleven o’clock last Thursday morning when the NZ Metropolitan track was practically deserted by trainers an unexpected visit was paid to the grounds by Mr C M Hill the well-known aviator of Sockburn who, owing to engine trouble at an altitude of 2000 feet, found it necessary to descend to the Grounds. As the trouble could not be repaired on the spot the machine was later taken to Sockburn by lorry to receive attention.”



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker