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RACING HISTORY

PEOPLE

Mr Allan L Matson

MR A L MATSON

A former president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and one of the best-known stock auctioneers in the country, Mr Allan L Matson died in Christchurch last Sunday. He was 54 years of age.

Mr Matson who was a son of Mr Leicester Matson, was born in Christchurch, and was educated at Christ's College from 1916 to 1919, playing for the college first fifteen in his last year. He then joined the stock and station agency firm of H Matson and Company, and from 1930, after the death of his father, conducted the business with his brothers, Messrs Jack T Matson and L W Matson. In March of that year the business was merged with the New Zealand National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., but the identity of the Matson firm was not lost, clients continuing to deal with the firm under the old name, and Mr Matson remained in the business. The firm of H Matson and Company was built on the personality of the founder and his family successors, and Mr Allan Matson carried on the tradition. A cheerful man he had friends in all walks of life.

Probably every farmer in North Canterbury in the last 38 years knew Mr Matson, and he was a familiar figure at Christchurch wool sales for 25 years. He was no less well known on the trotting courses. For 28 years he was connected with trotting, first as an enthusiast and then as the youngest member to be elected to the committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club - that was 20 years ago, after being a steward for eight years - and from then on rising to the club's presidency and the presidency of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. He was also an owner, the last horses he raced being Scholarship (in partnership with C S Thomas, now president of the Trotting Conference) and Midday (in partnership with Mr Allan Holmes).

In 1940, Mr Matson became president of the Metropolitan Trotting Club and was appointed the club's delegate to the Trotting Conference. He was club president for six years, and on relinquishing this position he was appointed treasurer, a position he held for seven years. In July, 1947, Mr Matson, who had been treasurer, was elected president of the Trotting Conference in succession to Mr H F Nicoll, who had held office for 25 years. During his eight years as president many innovations were made for which Mr Matson was wholly or in part responsible.

Always a keen student of bloodstock, Mr Matson introduced the national sales of trotting and pacing bred yearlings in 1944, and throughout his association with the sport he was a keen advocate of more races and better stakes for straight-out trotters. He had a remarkable memory for trotting pedigrees, and was also an excellent judge of all classes of livestock. He was a past-president of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association. Mr Matson's reputation in the sport extended to Australia, for at one time he was president of the Inter-Dominion Trotting Conference and made many trips to Australia.

For the establishment of the Totalisator Agency Board, Mr Matson worked strenuously. He was appointed to the first Board, and sat on it continuously until the time of his death, being alternating chairman while president of the Trotting Conference.

He had many ideas on what he considered necessary for the progress of the sport, and with his drive and ability he succeeded in having them carried out. His work for trotting was recognised in his election to life-membership of the Metropolitan, Canterbury Park, New Brighton and Methven Trotting Clubs. He was also a member of the Canterbury and Midland Clubs.

Men like Mr Matson are hard to come by and his loss to trotting in no small one.

Mr Matson is survived by his wife, a son, Mr Donald Matson, and a daughter, Mrs Martyn Wellwood, of Christchurch.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Dec57

PEOPLE

MR W L PARKINSON

Mr W L Parkinson, a well-known figure in the light-harness sport in Canterbury over a lengthy period, died in Christchurch last week after a long illness.

Mr Parkinson took an early interest in galloping but changed later in trotting, in which department he met with considerable success. One of the best pacers to carry his colours was Clockwork, who held the mile and a half record for several years. Another outstanding pacer raced by Mr Parkinson was Ferry Post, who was considered by many to be the best horse he owned, but unsoundness cut short Ferry Post's career. In more recent years, Mr Parkinson raced the champion 2-year-old, Vivanti, who took almost everything before her at that age, including the NZ Sapling Stakes. Other pacers and trotters to do good service for Mr Parkinson were Steel King, Good Review, Kapeen and Beehive. On his Kaiapoi property, Mr Parkinson also bred several pacers and trotters.

Apart from his interest in trotting, Mr Parkinson was one of the best known stock dealers in the South Island and started dealing at an early age. Born at Saltwater Creek, Mr Parkinson started buying and selling cattle as a boy. By the time he went to World War I, he was a familiar figure at the Addington Saleyards. He celebrated his eighteenth birthday in Egypt and on his return from overseas he resumed his dealing in stock.

Mr Parkinson was one of the most popular figures on racecourses around Canterbury especially, and his delightful sense of humour endeared him to all who new him. Mr Parkinson was 59 and is survived by his wife.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 6Mar57

PEOPLE

J Bryce & R Morten after the 1925 NZ Cup

JAMES BRYCE

One of the greatest trainers of light-harness horses the Dominion has ever known, James Bryce has been retired from active participation in the profession in which he was such an outstanding success, for several years now; but his interest in the sport remains high and he still possesses a keen eye for a good horse.

Trainers of the calibre of James Bryce do not come along every day.

James Bryce is the head of a family of horsemen who have written their names, large and bold, on the pages of 40 years of the Dominion's light-harness history. Bryce trained the winners of six NZ Trotting Cups, an all-time record for the race, and twice as many as any other trainer before him or since.

The story was told in Glasgow that Bryce's father had a peculiar genius for a horse. James relates that even among Scottish horse-dealers his father was known as a 'hard man.' In all his long experience he has never seen his father's equal in doctoring up a horse. He would pick up a steed that looked as though it was ready for the 'boneyard' and after treating it for a couple of months or so, he would have it in condition that would make it unrecognisable by its original owner. He usually got four or five times what he paid for these horses, which were mostly draughts.

James Bryce rode his first winner in Glasgow when he was 18. By the time he was 20 he was established as a trainer in a modest way at Govan, just outside Glasgow. "In those days," he said with a reflective smile, "they used to start trotting races with a pistol, and I was getting left. So I made a study of the starter and the way he raised the pistol and fired it. In the end I got to know his ways so well that I could tell to a fraction of a second when the report was due. After that, I never got left," grinned Bryce.

Bryce was soon training some of the best horses in Scotland and England. Like NZ horses the ones in the Old Country were nearly all American-bred on one or both sides. Trotting did not make the progress Bryce had hoped for, however, and one day, after reading about trotting in NZ in 'The Referee,' and seeing some pictures of Addington in the 'Weekly Press,' he decided Maoriland was the place for him. And it was thus that the neat little man with the raw Gaelic accent came to be standing on the Wellington wharf on a dull, cheerless morning in 1913...friendless? Well, not quite. Gathered around him were his wife, his belongings and five children...A stranger approached. "Are you Mr Bryce?" - "Yes." "Well, I have some bad news for you. Your two horses have been shipwrecked, and are still in England." The day seemed even bleaker to the little man from Caledonia. Not a promising start in a new land. When he reached NZ after paying passages for himself and his family and freight for two horses, Bryce had £300 left. He did not know a soul in NZ.

He was waiting on the wharf, pondering the future, when he was told that the two mares, Our Aggie and Jenny Lind, both of whom he had seen safely shipped on the Westmeath, an old troop transport, a fortnight before he left England, were still in the Old Country. The vessel had gone aground in the Mersey, and had to put back to port, but they had been transhipped to the Nairnshire, and after a rough passage to the Dominion they arrived - strapped to the deck, after the mate had suggested putting them overboard.

Our Aggie and Jenny Lind arrived two months after the Bryce family, who had decided to go to Christchurch. When they arrived at Lyttleton and saw the hills there, 'Scotty's' first question to himself was: "Where could you race trotters?" The family was taken to a boarding-house in the city but left after his wife had discovered that the woman of the house drank 'phonic' which is the Gaelic for methylated spirits.

Bryce's first home in NZ was Woolston, where he received a horse called Little Arthur, owned by Mr Wm Hayward, to train. Bryce relates that Little Arthur was a poor, dejected animal, and that he turned over in his mind that if this was a fair sample of the horses he was going to get, the future looked pretty bleak. "But I misjudged him," he continued. "I discovered he was asthmatical. I then included in his feed cod-liver oil, beaten-up eggs and sweet milk, and this helped his lungs. He did well and won at the Met. He was my first winner in this country."

A few months after arriving in the Dominion, Our Aggie struck form and won several races. Years later she became the dam of Red Shadow, considered by 'Scotty' to be the best-performed horse he ever drove. Red Shadow won the Great Northern Derby in 1930, and the NZ Cup and Metropolitan Free-For-All in 1933, taking all four principal races at the Cup meeting. Red Shadow sired Golden Shadow, winner of the Great Northern Derby Stakes in 1943, and Shadow Maid who won the Auckland Cup in the same year.

After a short time at 'Coldstream Lodge,' Fendalton, Bryce shifted to 'Oakhampton Lodge,' Hornby, then an 'unkept, dirty place.' Hard work promptly put that right, and soon the stables - 20 stalls to begin with - were built. The amenities included hot and cold water, a swimming pool for the horses, shelter sheds, railed yards, etc; so grew up the most modern trotting establishment seen up to that time in this country. And from this faithfully-harnessed source came an ever- swelling stream of fast pacers and trotters. Out of 'Oakhampton's' stalls were led superbly-conditioned horses that put Bryce at the head of his field only two short years after his arrival from Scotland. For seven consecutive seasons, from 1915-16 until 1921-22 and again in 1923-24, Bryce was leading trainer - eight times in all. He was also leading horseman in the 1915-16, 1918-19, 1921-22, 1922-23 and 1923-24 seasons and his son James, Jnr headed the horseman's list in the 1935-36 season.

Bryce trained and drove the winner of almost every important handicap and classic event in NZ. His sons Andrew and James carried on the family traditions. Andrew drove the 1927 NZ Cup winner Kohara; in 1921 he drove Man o' War to victory in the Auckland Cup, and in 1928 and 1929 he won the same race with Gold Jacket. James, Jnr, has driven two NZ Derby winners in Double Great and Twos Loose, four Auckland Cup winners in Shadow Maid, Sea Born and Captain Sandy twice, a November Free-for-all winner in Plutus, a National Cup behind De Soto, a Dominion Handicap on Waikato Prince, two Timaru Nursery Stakes on Highland Scott and Shadow Maid, a NZ Champion Stakes and a Wellington Stakes on Gallant Chief, a Great Northern Stakes on Highland Scott, a Great Northern Derby on Golden Shadow, and hosts of other good races; he still brings home the odd winner.

Few very big dividends were paid by horses driven by 'Scotty' Bryce. That speaks for itself. "They soon tumbled to me," he explained naively. Way back in 1923, horses driven by the old master had earned more than £100,000 in stakes for their owners; his full total must be nearer £250,000. When verging on three score and ten he was still a skilled reinsman. Much of this skill was in Bryce's hands. Only as a last resort did the whip come into play on a good horse 'Scotty' was driving.

Bryce considers Cathedral Chimes the gamest horse he ever drove. Catherdal Chimes won the Auckland and NZ Cups in successive years. Taurekareka was the first horse in the Dominion to win the trotting (or pacing, as you will)'triple crown,' the NZ Sapling Stakes, NZ Derby and Great Northern Derby. Bryce still affirms that he was unlucky not win a second Cup with Great Hope and a third with Ahuriri. Ahuriri was interfered with by Padlock or, in Bryce's opinion he would have won instead of going down to Peter Bingen and Great Bingen in a blanket finish in 1928.

He also thinks Matchlight, with an ounce of luck, would have won the NZ Cup. "I had a lot of time for Matchlight," said Bryce. "He won the President's Handicap at Forbury Park giving Trix Pointer 60 yards start, and then won both the big handicaps at the Canterbury Park June meeting when that club raced at Sockburn. He won those three races on end. Author Dillon was a bit lucky to beat Matchlight in the NZ Cup," declared Bryce. "Hendriksen, who drove Matchlight for me that year - I broke a leg and was in hospital - admitted he made a mistake in the way he drove him. Next day Matchlight won the Courtenay Handicap easily from the backmark," said Bryce.

"I always feel I had two horses that could have beaten two minutes," continued Bryce. "Red Shadow, from a standing start went 2.04 4/5 for third. Ahuriri was the other. As a 2-year-old before the 1922 Sapling Stakes he worked a mile in 2.10, his last half in 62sec. That was good work for any 2-year-old," remarked Bryce, who went on to say that he did not like the idea of sending his horses against time because there was so little inducement to do so.

J Bryce's principal training successes were in the NZ Cup (Cathedral Chimes 1916; Great Hope 1923; Ahuriri 1925 and 1926; Kohara 1927 and Red Shadow 1933); Auckland Cup (Cathedral Chimes 1915; Admiral Wood 1916; Man o' War 1920 and 1921; Ahuriri 1927 and Shadow Maid 1943; NZ Sapling Stakes (Ahuriri 1922; Taurekereka 1923 and Kohara 1924); NZ Derby (Great Hope 1922; Taurekereka 1923 and Kohara 1925); Great Northern Derby (Chid 1916; Tuarekareka 1923, Red Shadow 1930 and Golden Shadow 1943); NZ Champion Stakes - Metropolitan (Queen Chimes 1918; Great Hope 1922; Taurekareka 1924 and Kohara 1925); Taranaki Futurity Stakes (Queen Chimes 1918; Lochnagar 1919 and Ratana 1922); NZ Trotting Stakes - Forbury Park (Katute 1926); November Free-For-All (Admiral Wood 1916; Cathedral Chimes 1917 and Red Shadow 1933); Dominion Trotting Handicap (Whispering Willie 1916; Whist 1919; Moneyspider 1928 and Waikato Prince 1937); National Handicap (Matchlight 1918; Man o' War 1921 and Alto Chimes 1923); Timaru Nursery Stakes (Shadow Son 1938; Shadow Maid, division 1940); New Brighton Challenge Stakes (Shadow Son 1938); NZ Trotting Gold Cup - Wellington (Taraire 1923); Canterbury Handicap (Cathedral Chimes 1918 and 1919); and Rowe Cup - Auckland (Bluewood 1919), a record unapproached by any other trainer, past or present.

James Bryce tells some good stories against himself. Can you imagine the worthy Scot trying to get over the fence at Addington? Bryce will tell you how he was caught in the act, and how he came to be on the outside looking in. Two days of the Addington Cup meeting had passed - this was in August, 1928 - and between the second and third days the Trotting Association fonally made a decision on Bryce's appeal against a term of suspension in connection with the much-fought Free Advice case. Bryce had to take his medicine. Thinking that all the suspension did was to prevent him from driving, he went on the third day with his team only to be told he was not allowed on the track according to the rules.

After being graciously allowed to pay his acceptance fees and to see that the stable boys knew how to gear the team, Bryce left. On an upturned bucket in Bill Tomkinson's yard, just across the road, 'Scotty' indulged in a little self-pity and sympathy for himself. "After a' the years a mon's been in the game, nae tae be alooed on the coorse," he soliloquised. Telling Claude Dunlevey, Tomkinson's head man, how anxious he was to see if Native Chief would stand on the mark for the umpteenth time, Claude told him that if he went through the motor paddock he could see the start over the gate. Away went Bryce, and before he reached the gate he saw a "mon wi' a bit o' timber" leaning against the tin fence having a free view, so Bryce joined him. But not for long. Soon appeared authority in the form of a gateman, who ordered the pair down, waxing sarcastic as he escorted Bryce through the motor paddock, at the same time delivering a homily about getting through the proper channels and paying his bob like a man. And once again Native Chief stood on the mark.

Bryce made a notable contribution towards placing training on a higher plane here. A fellow trainer of his pays him the compliment of saying that Bryce was years ahead of most NZ trainers in the conditioning and driving of horses in those days. "We must never lose sight of the fact," said this admirer of Bryce's methods, "that it took men like 'Scotty' to improve the spit and polish part of our training methods. He was as meticulous, clean and thorough as any trainer I've ever known. Detail was his second name. The horse had to be fit and healthy, inside and outside, and he was kind to his horses, was proud of the 'guid yins.' Those of us with any savy tried to copy him."

Bryce was a great believer in swimming exercise for his horses, especially unsound ones, and at "Oakhampton Lodge" he built a luxurious swimming pool, 18ft at its deep end, as part of his comprehensive training routine. Many a lame horse was kept fit or saved from early racing oblivion by this pool, which was availed of by other trainers in the district, men who continue to acknowledge the debt they owe to the many refinements of conditioning and gaiting, and to the profound horsesense that took James Bryce to the top of the ladder and kept him there year after year.


Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 14Aug57

PEOPLE

MRS E A BERRYMAN

The death occurred in Wellington last week of Mrs E A Berryman, who had a long association with trotting. For many years she had a number of horses in work with the Belfast trainer C S Donald, who won many important races for Mrs Berryman.

Included among the many good trotters and pacers raced by Mrs Berryman were Wahnooka, Captain Bolt, Great Way and Kempton, four of the best trotters racing at that time, and Red Hussar, Dundas Boy, Superior Rank, Top Hand and Lee Berry.

Mrs Berryman was always a lover of the trotter, and in more recent years she met with considerable success with Great Belwin, who won the trotter's section at the Inter-Dominion Championship series at Addington in 1951. Trained by the late J Young, Great Belwin won £9720 in stakes.

Mrs Berryman also owned a half share in a grand trotting mare in Mistydale, who is the dam of Highland Glen, winner of the NZ Trotting Stakes last season. Mrs Berryman raced Highland Glen, in partnership with Mr J Palmer, of Christchurch.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 6Mar57

PEOPLE

F J BEER

Mr F J Beer, Chief Stipendiary Steward to the NZ Trotting Conference, will retire from that position on July 31, the end of the present season. Mr Beer stated last week that after his 29 year's service as Chief Stipendiary Steward he felt he should tender his resignation.

In the 1920's prior to becoming Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr Beer was the central figure in tracking dowm a number of 'ring-ins.' It was mainly through his untiring efforts that those people connected with these 'ringers' were brought to boot. "I never had any illusions about being a Sherlock Holmes," said Mr Beer. "I was just an ordinary, garden variety investigator put on to this job after another detective had no luck tracking down the people behind all these ringing-in cases."

Mr Beer was born in Christchurch in June, 1890. Soon after that his family moved to Wrights Road, which is on the southern boundary of the present Addington course. Mr Beer can remember seeing the whole of the present grounds being sown in wheat. Mr Beer's father was a flour-miller, but was keen to become a farmer. In 1896 he moved to Southbrook. When the Waikakahi estate was cut up at Morven, his father drew a section. Mr Beer finished his schooling at Morven and worked on his father's farm until 1910. In 1911 he went to Matamata and worked on a dairy farm.

Mr Beer joined the Police Force in 1913 and after three months in the training depot at Wellington, he was transferred to Dunedin, where he remained until 1928. For 13 years he was in plain clothes in the detective branch. Just before he resigned to take a position as a stipendiary steward with the NZ Trotting Conference, Mr Beer was transferred to Invercargill in charge of the detective office. One year after joining the Conference staff, Mr Beer was promoted to be Chief Stipendiary Steward.

On two occasions he was a member of special detective staffs which accompanied Royalty on NZ tours: the visit in 1920 of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and now the Duke of Windsor); and of the Duke of York (later King George VI) and the Duchess in 1927.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 6Feb57

MESCELLANY

Les Purvis, Len Butterworth, George Kelly & Neill Escott

LEN BUTTERFIELD

The recent death of Len Butterfield, a highly-respected former Chief Stipendiary Steward, revived memories of the infamous whip slashing incident at Addington in 1957. Butterfield, who was appointed Chief Stipendiary Steward for the NZ Trotting Conference that year, suspended driver Cecil Devine and Jack Litten for six months over the affair.

Butterfield chaired the three-person panel - it also included another stipendiary steward and a club steward - which laid the charge, conducted the inquiry and imposed the penalty. Harness racing adopted the thoroughbred racing system of judicial control in 1997, with stipendiary stewards acting as prosecutor only and a Judicial Control Authority person and panel assessing the evidence and imposing penalties. One member of the JCA in now the norm for all except the major racemeetings, when two are appointed.

Devine and Litten struck at each other with their whips about 250m from the finish of the NZ Flying Stakes on the fourth day of the Cup Meeting. Devine was driving Don Hall with Litten (False Step) on his inner. The pair were fighting out second and third placings in a gap behind Caduceus, then a stablemate of False Step in the Litten stable. Caduceus, driven by Tony Vassallo, won the mobile start race by five lengths, posting his 29th win. False Step finished second with a length to Don Hall in third.

A Press Association report in the "Times" read:
"It is understood Devine and Litten slashed at each other outside the furlong post. Inside the furlong, Litten turned and hit at both Don Hall and Devine. As the horses were pulling up, half a furlong past the finishing point, Litten slumped in the sulky holding the left side of his face. He was still obviously in pain, with his left eye closed on returning to the birdcage, where he and Devine were greeted with boos and cat-calls from many hundreds of people both on the inside and outside enclosures. The payment of place dividends on False Step and Don Hall was delayed until proceedings concluded three hours after the race. The inquiry was adjourned to call additional witnesses."

False Step, who won the 1955 NZ Derby for Litten, and six races as a 4-year-old, did not win at five and was transferred to Devine in 1958. He won the NZ Cup that year, and again in the following two years. Butterfield and Devine had numerous clashes which developed into a feud.

Butterfield ordered the removal of a neck pricker from False Step on the second day of the Inter-Dominions at Addington in 1961. The gear, blunted tacks attached to the inside of the neck band to prevent a horse veering out at the start of a race was illegal. False Step had set a world record for 13 furlongs when he finished second to Diamond Hanover fron 48yds on the first day wearing the pricker. He ran outsider Massacre to a nose in the Final. Massacre who had won four races, scraped into the Final after placings in two heats.

Butterfield, who began work with the Trotting Conference in 1946, was Chief Stipendiary Steward for 21 years until he retired at 65 in 1978.

Hopple shorteners are now accepted gear for pacers but Butterfield disallowed their use briefly in 1968 at the Inter-Dominions, causing controversy. Trainer-driver Dick Benger was barred from using shorteners on the Australian pacer Lord Setay. The horse fell in the opening round of heats and the gear was permitted for the remainder of the series after representations from the Australasian Council of Kindred Associations to the Inter-Dominion Conference.


Credit: Taylor Strong writing in HRWeekly 1Sep99

MESCELLANY

TRIPLE DEAD-HEAT

After an exasperating series of experiences in the last two years when bad weather almost ruined three days racing, the Westport Trotting Club achieved sudden and sensational fame right at the close of its meeting last week, which was postponed fron Thursday to Friday, 27th December, when three horses crossed the line together in the President's Handicap to proved the first triple deat-heat in NZ trotting history. The horses who could not be separated were the bracketed pair Night Owl (G Cameron) and Wimpy (J H Butterick), and Keff (M C Flaws).

With Glengallan, the trotter, they sorted themselves out about 60 yards from home. Glengallan only weakened to fourth in the last few strides to finish half a length away. It was anyone's pick when the other three returned to the birdcage, and it was some time before the judgw (Mr J P McEnaney) could give the clearance for his assistant (Mr P Colvin) to frame the top numbers.

When No.9 (Keff) appeared first in the frame there was a loud cheer from her supporters, and G Cameron, the driver of Night Owl, went to drive away only to see the two numbers 2 inserted in the frame. All three drivers were uncertain of the result. Cameron was not optimistic about his own chances. Flaws felt that he had been beaten by Night Owl, and Butterick thought that Wimpy had broken on the line and lost the advantage. The camera cleared up all other augument.

The result proved a windfall for the Westport Club, as Photo Finishes of Australia Ltd, the firm operating the camera, has offered £1000 to the first club in NZ which staged a triple dead-heat. The operator of the camera received a bonus of £20 from the firm.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 1Jan58

INTERDOMINIONS

PERTH - RADIANT VENTURE
Radiant Venture, a six year old black gelding from Port Pirie in South Australia, secured for £150 as a 2yo and trained in the evenings because his owner-trainer and his regular driver both ran milk rounds, was the hero of the 1957 Inter Dominions in Perth. Radiant Venture beat Robert Sheen, Precipitation and Caduceus.

HORSES

ADIO STAR - Classic Winner Producing Mare

Adio Star (1957 Captain Adios-Loyal Guest) USA family of Brown Lancet, 2:10.6, $1,560; 3 wins; 15 foals, 13 to race for 10 winners and three qualifiers. Breeder: W F (Frank) Woolley. Foals bred by Alastair Kerslake (Loyal Adios); Francis Woolley (Colonel Adios, Adios Wren, Bachelor Star, Garrison Adios); Francis Woolley/Betty Kerslake (Adios Bachelor, Telstar, Main Adios, Supreme Adios, Main Star); Alastair/Betty Kerslake & Francis Woolley (Game Adios, Bionic Adios, Main Win, Star's Legacy).

Adio Star's sire Captain Adios was imported into NZ by Sir Roy McKenzie as a 4yo in 1956 having won the Fox Stakes and Review Stakes at two in USA. He was a son of Adios from the well-performed mare Shy Ann, dam of Adios Betty and fourth dam of Beach Towel. After three years at stud, he died prematurely suffering a broken thigh bone and a twisted bowel. Captain Adios left 49 winners, several successful sires and dams as well as four NZ Derby winners. His winners included Jay Ar, named after Sir Roy's father (ID Pacers Grand Final), Great Adios (NZ Cup, NZFFA, Easter Cup), Deft (dam of Champion juvenile and sire of Noodlum) and damsire of NZ Derby winners - Bachelor Star, Game Adios, Main Adios, Noodlum plus Main Star (GN Derby)[all except Noodlum were out of Adio Star], Leading Light (AK Cup), Olga Korbut (NZ Championship-2), Via Veneto (GN Oaks).

Dam Loyal Guest was a sibling of Margaret Hall, Paramount and GypsyBelle from grand producer Tondeleyo (Wrack-Estella Amos). Apart from Adio Star, Loyal Guest left True Guest (5 wins), dam of New Guest (dam of Hilarious Guest - Sapling, NZ Championship at 2, NZ Derby, NZ & GN Oaks, Messenger, NZ Breeders Stakes; Speedy Guest - GN Derby, Messenger). The Loyal Guest branch of Tondeleyo includes recent stand outs Village Hero, Champagne Princess, Lancome, Estella Rose, Fiery Falcon.

Adio Star was from the family of Brown Lancet who was discussed under Margaret Hall.

Adio Star's race career spanned three seasons hindered by unsoundness during which she recorded three wins (5yo - Timaru, Hororata; 6yo - Westport) before commencing her broodmare career. She was an immediate success being rewarded with the NZ Broodmare of the Year title (1978). Adio Star has the unique distinction of producing four Derby winners - Bachelor star, Game Adios, Main Adios and Main Star. All of her progeny were raced by Alastair and Betty Kerslake of Lauriston together with Frank (Alistair Kerslake's father in law) or Francis Woolley (brother-in-law), one time Hamilton motelier. Frank Woolley passed Adio Star onto his son Francis and daughter Betty in 1969 after breeding Garrison Adios.

Adio Star's male progeny included:

Adios Bachelor, placed at two before his only success at three (Waikouaiti Stakes at 3). He sired Bachelor Creed (Marlborough Winter Cup) among his 23 winners (28 as a broodmare sire).

Bachelor Star, nine-win horse with 2yo wins at ATC Scotchman and Thames Juvenile Stakes. His five wins at three included the New Brighton Stakes, NZ Derby (4th in GN Derby) and ATC Epsom Hcp-3/4. Placed at four, he won twice from three starts at five (Addington- Spring & Smithson Hcps). Bachelor Star retired following a solitary start at six, placing in New Brighton's A E Laing Hcp. At stud, he sired 44 winners including Dundas (Oamaru & Ashburton Cups; damsire of 53 winners (Lady Franco; Cambridge Gold Cup, Morrinsville Breeders; My Hanover Nugent: Bathurst City Cup).

Bionic Adios, winner of seven (Ashburton, Rangiora[2], Methven, Forbury Park [2], Waimate Cup); sire of eight winners including Aratika (Rangiora Winter Cup).

Colonel Adios, five race winner during three year career. Placed at three, before his first two wins at four (Methven, CPTC Cressey Stakes). At five, winner at Forbury Park, NBHRC Raceway Stakes and Masterton Cup.

Game Adios, won eight beginning with placings at two. His initial win came in the First Canterbury Stakes at Addington, the first of seven 3yo wins - Forbury Park, Addington -3 (Metropolitan Show Day Stakes and NZ Derby), Hutt Park (Cardigan Bay Stakes) and Alexandra Park. Game Adios finished second in the Champion (Ashburton) and Balance (Wanganui) Stakes at three. His final victory was in the Ribbonwood Hcp at Addington in August 1980 and never placed from a further 12 starts over the next four seasons.

Loyal Adios, 7 career wins with 4 at age 3 (CPTC Pioneer Stakes and two other 3yo CPTC wins). His lone 4yo victory was at Addington before two successes at five (Addington - Wildwood Hcp, Timaru - South Canterbury Hcp).

Main Adios, 9 wins over three starting with four juvenile age group wins at two (Hosking & Roydon Stakes at Wellington , Forbury Juvenile, New Brighton Festival Stakes), also placed second in the Golden Slipper Stakes. At three, Main Adios's 3 wins included the Flying Hcp on NZ Cup Day and $19,000 NZ Derby (same night Kerslake won the Spring Time Stakes with Watbro Trick and the Harold Logan Stakes with In Or Out - NZ Oaks & Breeders Stakes). He finished second in the Champion Stakes. Main Adios' final season at four, saw 2 Addington wins from 5 starts, Ribbonwood Stakes, ans appropriately the Final Hcp in his last start on the 4th day (Night) of the NZ Cup meeting. He sired 22 winners and was the damsire of 20 (Young Whiz - Raith Memorial).

Main Star, eight race winner starting with a win at Alexandra Park at two and placed third in Timaru Nursery Stakes and NZ Championship and fourth in Welcome Stakes. A seven-win 3yo career brought victory at Addington(4) - New Brighton 3yo, Cross & Air NZ Stakes, NZ Championship; Alexandra Park (GN Derby & Derby trial) and Hutt Park (Cardigan Bay Stakes), also placed third in the Champion and Timaru Challenge Stakes. His only placing of significance at four & five was second to Miss Pert in the New Brighton Cup. At Stud, Main Star sired 17 winners (Rainbow Patch - Hororata Cup); damsire of 12 (Twinkle John - Ashburton Flying Stakes & Kurow Cup).

Adio Star's fillies included:

Adios Wren, two unplaced runs at three in NZ before being exported to Australia, producing Wrengari, among first 100 2:00 pacers in Australia (Geelong 2:00TT, 1981).

Stars Legacy, winner of RM Cameron Stakes (Ashburton), dam of a winner.

Bionic Star, winner of 8 of 23 starts in a career impacted by unsoundness (tendon problems) starting with a sole 3yo win at Addington. A dual winner at Forbury, then Addington before winning the Waikouaiti Cup in four successive starts before a further win at Addington was the fifth of her 4yo career. Two further Addington wins at five completed her career successes. Bionic Star was the dam of 10 foals for seven winners led by the outstanding race mare Bionic Chance (NZSS at 2 against the boys, Leonard Memorial, Golden Slipper, Kindergarten & Timaru Challenge Stakes, Wellington Cup, NZ Breeders Stakes, Hannon Memorial, Premier Mares Championship. 2yo filly and 4 mare pacer of the year; died of a ruptured bowel, January 1993). The fastest of Bionic Star's progeny was Bionic Raider who posted 1:56.2 in the US.

Supreme Adios, unraced, dam of 16 foals, 7 winners including:
. Oh So Fair, WA breeders Stakes
. Supreme Dream, granddam of Ballindooley (Invercargill Summer Cup, NZ Championship)
. Supreme Holmes, granddam of Supreme Mach (Redcliffe Derby)
. Most Happy Star, WA triple Crown-2f; dam of:
1. Windshield Star (Leonard Memorial 2f; dam of U Legend (GN Breeders Stakes-4m, NZSS SI 4&5m), Top Of The Line (WA Gold Bracelet-2f); granddam of Antares (Morrinsville Juvenile, NZSS NI Graduate-2)
2. Classic Speed, dam of Motu Speedy Star (Waimate & Kurow Cups)
3. star Rider, dam of Double R (Hororata Cup)
. Smokey Tabella, Morrinsville Breeders, dam of;
1. Rocket Warrior, TAS Guineas
2. Willie Walker, Bendigo Guineas & Derby, Geelong Guineas
. Supreme Knight, unraced, dam of;
1. Supreme Award, Cheviot & Wellington Cups.
2. Supreme Chip, Triple Crown Classic-3f; granddam of Caesar Supreme, 36 wins in Australia to date.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Aug 2015

HORSES

SEA GIFT

The death was reported recently of the grand trotting mare in Sea Gift.

Sea Gift was champion trotter of her era; she raced with conspicuous success for eight seasons and she took a record of 4.21 2/5 for two miles which was a record for some years. One of her greatest performances was at Forbury Park on November 28, 1936 when she downed a good field of pacers in the President's Handicap, the principal event. Sea Gift won by three lengths and returned the good time of 4.26 for the two miles. Included in the field were such pacers as Gunfire(2nd), Grace McElwyn(3rd), Iraq(4th), Pot Luck, Rocks Ahead and Bonny Azure.

Sea Gift was bred by the late H F Nicoll, Ashburton when the depression was at it's height; horses were a liability, even the good ones, and Sea Gift went under the hammer at a Durbar Lodge dispersal sale at the gift price of 6gns. Her purchaser was Mr D McNeill, but she made her first race appearance in the ownership of J Bryce, who also trained her. Foaled in 1929, Sea Gift was by Wrack (who sired innumerable high-class trotters), from an un-named mare by Paul Huon. This un-named mare was also out of an un-named mare by Franz and nothing more in known about the pedigree of Sea Gift.

Sea Gift commenced racing as a 3-year-old in the 1932-33 season and at her first start she finished third in the Longbeach Handicap at Ashburton on June 10, 1933, when trained by J Bryce and driven by A Bryce. She was unplaced at her next attempt but quickly made amends in the Foxhill Handicap on the second day of the Nelson meeting in June, the same season. This was Sea Gift's third and last start as a 3-year-old and she won by a length, beating Alf Parrish and Sister Mary.

At four years, Sea Gift started 15 times and gained four wins and three places. At her fifth start at that age - in the ownership of Mr T Smith - she won the Summer Handicap at Greymouth, beating Wahnooka by three lengths, Worthy Star being third. By this time Sea Gift was being trained by the late E J Smith, who drove her in the Summer Handicap. Sea Gift's other three successes that season were in the Peninsula Handicap at Forbury Park, the Winter Handicap at Wellington and the Progressive Handicap at Canterbury Park. These three wins were gained in succession and Sea Gift had passed into the ownership of the late Mr C M Archer and Mr D McFarlane, for whom she was still being trained by E J Smith. She was driven at Forbury Park by M Holmes, but E J Smith held the reins in her other two wins.

The 1934-5 season was a very succesful one for Sea Gift. In all, she won seven races and was placed once for £1049 in stakes, a small reward on today's standards. Her most important successes that season were in the Autumn Handicap at the Metropolitan Easter meeting and in the Elevation Handicap at Canterbury Park. In the later event, Sea Gift started from 72 yards and beat Explosion, who was on 60 yards, by a length, and ran the two-mile journey on a heavy track in 4.40 2/5. Teviot Downs, driven by J Fraser, Jnr was third and Standby was fourth.

As a 6-year-old in the 1935-6 season, Sea Gift won the Steward's Handicap on the first day of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club's August meeting and followed this success with a clear-cut win by two lengths in the Dominion Handicap. This event was then run over one mile and a half and Sea Gift, driven by her trainer, E J Smith, started from 36 yards and won by two lengths. Runner-up to Sea Gift was Stanley T(24 yards), who was driven by R Young. Lough Guy(Limit), driven by owner R Townley was third. Sea Gift was also placed on two occasions that season, finishing third to First Wrack in the Middleton Handicap, from 84 yards and third in the High Class Handicap on the second day of the Easter meeting at Addington.

Her first appearance in the 1936-7 season as a 7-year-old resulted in a win for Sea Gift. This was in the Steward's Handicap at the August meeting at Addington. She started from 84 yards behind and beat Teviot Downs by a short head, running the mile and a half journey in 3.37 on a holding track. Sea Gift was now forced to race from long marks against those of her gait and her chances were becoming fewer and fewer. At her third start for the 1936-7 season she was beaten into second by Wrackler in the Addington Handicap and she then took on the pacers in the James Buchanan Handicap at Forbury Park. This was her first attempt against the pacers and she was beaten into second place by a good pacer in Willow Wave, driven by O E Hooper.

Despite her good showing in this event, Sea Gift was allowed to go out 8-7 in the betting in the President's Handicap on the second day, which she won by three lengths. Her next two starts resulted in two third placings and in the latter she beat all but Lucky Jack and Village Guy in the Timaru Handicap, trotting the two miles in 4.29 3/5. Sea Gift's last success as a 7-year-old was in the Halswell Handicap at the Addington Easter meeting. A field of high-class pacers lined up for this event, including Morello, Rongomai, Pot Luck, Big Author and Rocks Ahead. Trotting in her best style, Sea Gift beat them all, having a neck to spare from Morello at the post with Rongomai in third place. She ran the two-mile journey in 4.27 3/5.

This gallant little mare had 17 starts as an 8-year-old and although she failed to win a race, she was placed four times. She finished third to King's Play and Nervie's Last in the Canterbury Handicap at Addington, third in the Burwood Handicap at New Brighton to Pot Luck and Isabel Derby, second to Parisienne in the Lyttleton Handicap at Addington and second to Isabel Derby in the Timaru Cup. It was no disgrace for Sea Gift to have to go under to pacers of the calibre of those who beat her that season.

Sea Gift was nine years old in the 1938-9 season and 'father time' combined with a busy career was beginning to catch up on her. She was not a spent force however. At her second start for that season, she took her place in the National Challenge Stakes, run on the second day of the August meeting at Addington. This was a special event for trotters and pacers and was run over two miles. The field comprised King's Warrior, Sea Gift, Wahnooka, Peggoty, Waikato Prince, Ginger Jack, Lucky Jack and War Buoy. The trotters in the field started from the limit and the pacers were handicapped on 72 yards. Sea Gift trotted a gallant race and led into the straight from Wahnooka, Peggoty and King's Warrior. In the run to the judge, King's Warrior, driven by the late F J Smith, proved too good and he beat Sea Gift by two lengths with Wahnooka in third place.

Two more minor placings came Sea Gift's way that season before she managed to run home a winner. She finished fourth to Logan Derby, Southern Smile and Morello in the President's Handicap at Forbury Park and fourth in the Forbury Handicap at the same meeting to Logan Derby, Morello and Renown's Best. Before the season closed, Sea Gift returned to winning form in the James Memorial Handicap at Forbury Park, a race in which she beat Marsceres and Marlene, in the smart time of 4.24.

Sea Gift started three times at the age of 10 years, but her only glimpse of form was her fourth placing behind Marsceres, Horsepower and Silver Guy in the Queen Mary Handicap at the Addigton August meeting.

Sea Gift's record against the pacers must rank as one of the best compiled by one of her gait. She met and beat high-class pacers on three occasions and was placed nine times when racing against them. In all, Sea Gift won 18 races and was placed 21 times for £3889 in stakes. Of course stake money was microscopic then compared with 1952.

Retired to stud, Sea Gift produced Trade Wind to Lusty Volo in 1940. Trade Wind failed to win a race but on being returned to Lusty Volo, Sea Gift produced Sea Glory, who took a record of 3.58 for one mile and five furlongs as a trotter. Volo's Gift, also by Lusty Volo, was the 1942 foal of Sea Gift. He was also a useful trotter who took a record of 4.45 1/5. In 1945, Sea Gift produced Sandan to U Scott. Sandan was a good winner as a pacer in NZ, having a record of 3.18 1/5 for one mile and a half, and she has been a good winner in Australia as a trotter, where she is a record holder.


Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 17Apr57