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CLUB HISTORY

FIRES & THEIR PREVENTION

At a meeting of the Grounds Committee in December 1951 the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade stated in a letter that nine small fires had occurred on the stands on the third day of the Cup Meeting and he raised the question of the installation of a sprinkler system. This was referred to the Committees of the two Clubs.

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

THE BEGINNINGS

PROUD RECORD OF METROPOLITAN CLUB IN ITS JUBILEE YEAR

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, which celebrates its jubilee on Saturday next, like most sporting institutions, developed from small beginnings. Strangely enough, it was started by a body of cricketers who were endeavouring to finance their new ground, Lancaster Park, and needed more 'grist for the mill.'

On May 29, 1886, the first meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held. The meeting had been fixed for May 15, but was adjourned owing to the heavy floods in Christchurch City. The usually peaceful Avon had risen four feet and at several points had overflowed its banks. Three feet of water prevailed at the Railway Station, and Ferry Road, near Lancaster Park, was one sheet of water.

The officers of the club for the first meeting were: Mr Justice Johnston (Judge), C A Culvert (Starter), A M Ollivier (Clerk of Course), C J Penfold (Secretary), and the stewards comprised Dr H H Prins, F Cotton, A E G Rhodes, A C Wilson, F Jones and C Hood-Williams.

There were 1100 persons present, £38 was taken at the gates, and £1512 was invested on the totalisator run by Hobbs and Goodwin. Prize money totalled £125 for five races, the principal event being the Lancaster Park Time Trot of three miles in saddle. The first prize was £40 and the result was as follows:-

FIDGET, B Edwards's, 50secs (ridden by owner) 1

ERIN, D O'Brien's, 45secs (ridden by owner) 2

MALVENA, P Howard's, 50secs (ridden by A J Keith) 3
Time: 9 min Dividend: £12/3/-

The other races were the Maiden Trot of three miles, Time Handicap, Time Handicap Pony Trot and Handicap Time Trot, each of two miles. The course was a third of a mile in length, and consequently the horses were in view of the public all the way.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club had rather a varied history. Started by members of the Cricket Company, assisted by a few trotting enthusiasts, it struggled along for a few years, and the directors, satisfied with the £40 rental per meeting, were quite ready for any change that would relieve them of managing the trotting club. In due course, the shareholders of the Cricket Company, as such, ceased to have any say in the management, and in 1890 the club was controlled entirely by trotting enthusiasts. In that year (1890)the principal officials of the club were stewards: D Barnes, C Louisson, V Harris, G McClatchie, J Perkins, and L Wilson; secretary: A I Rattray; starter, C O'Connor.

Trotting continued at Lancaster Park util 1899, during which time at least four meetings a year were held. Those thirteen years at Lancaster Park had laid the foundation for something better. The meetings had progressed to a satisfactory degree, and it was realised by the committee that if they were still to go ahead something must be done to obtain their own grounds with better facilities for all concerned.

For some years the Lancaster Park Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club which raced at the show grounds, had been accumulating funds, as a result of their meetings, for the purpose of jointly securing a property of their own, the idea being to form an up-to-date track, with buildings and general surroundings in keeping with the latest American style. To secure the object in view, a joint committee from the two clubs was set up, and a representative of the Canterbury Trotting Club was commissioned to secure a piece of land adjoining the show grounds. The trustees of the property, however, declined to sell for trotting purposes, but subsequently put it up for auction, and a lengthy lease was knocked down to the President of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club at a price below the amount to which the clubs were prepared to go.

But when the grounds had been secured the Canterbury Trotting Club refused to join ownership, their main grievance being that the land was not freehold. Nevertheless, the Lancaster Park Club lost no time in going ahead with the new grounds and in laying what were then paddocks, subdivided by straggling fences, into the finest trotting track in the Southern Hemisphere, with expansive grounds, beautiful gardens, lawns and drives and splendid grandstands.

On moving to the new grounds, the name of the club was changed to the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, and thus was originated the organisation we know today. The first meeting on the new grounds was held on November 6th and 10th, 1899, the stakes for the two days being £2,140 and the totalisator investments £10,695. trotting immediately caught on at the new grounds and the committee tried all sorts of attractions to encourage people to attend.

In 1900, under pressure from the Colonial Secretary, and after a number of conferences with the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, the Canterbury Trotting Club agreed to amalgamate, the arrangement being that each club was to have six of its number on the committee and six stewards. This move strengthened the club considerably besides providing further needed funds. The men who were in charge of affairs in those days were undoubtedly men of great vision. Their faith in the future of trotting was amazing and all their moves were actuated by this faith. With so many natural advantages in the way of flat country and excellent highways, Canterbury, from its infancy led the way in everything appertaining to the breeding and development of the trotting horse.

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club has been particularly fortunate in the men who have been at the head of affairs during the 50 years of its existence. It has had only six presidents, viz: V Harris, 1899 to 1903; G H McHaffie, 1903 to 1905; Hon C Louisson, 1906 to 1924; J H Williams, 1924 to 1940; A L Matson, 1940 to 1945, and C S Thomas, from 1945 to the present time.

Mr Victor Harris, the first president was a great enthusiast and worker for the club when the spadework was being done in transferring to Addington and forming the new grounds. He raced a number of horses which were trained by D J Price, and did a good deal to bring about and finance the Ribbonwood - Fritz match which did so much to place the club on a sound footing.

Mr G H McHaffie, the second president, was also a great enthusiast and one of the most far-seeing officials the club ever had. He was a wholesale merchant in Cashel Street, and bred trotting horses as a hobby, the most notable of his bred being the famous Ribbonwood.

The third president was the Hon Chas. Louisson who held office for 18 years. He was a steward of the Lancaster Park Club when it was taken over from the Cricket Company in 1890, so that he acted as an official of the club for 34 years. His term as president covered the period when great changes were made in erecting buildings and enlarging the Addington grounds and forming it into what we know it as today. One of his greatest services was to make a present of the Cup for the NZ Cup Handicap annually for many years. His name is perpetuated on the foundation stone of the inside public stand, which he laid.

On the death of the Hon C Louisson, Mr J H Williams was elected president and held office for 16 years, during that time he rendered yeoman service to the club. He was an able counsellor on all matters appertaining to the administration of the sport, and was president of the NZ Trotting Association for 14 years. He was also a member of the Racing Commission in 1921. He was one of nature's gentlemen and was held in high esteem by all. He did a lot of very useful work in a quiet unostentatious way and was a tower of strength during the dark days of the depression.

The fifth president was Mr Allan L Matson, who was elected in 1940. He brought to the office youth, energy, ability and enthusiasm, and put a tremendous amount of work into reorganising the club and bringing it to its present popular position. Probably no president has been so universally popular as Mr Matson.

Mr C S Thomas, who has been president since 1945, is a man of very high attainments in the legal profession. He brought outstanding ability, drive and dignity to the position and has done a great deal towards promoting the high reputation and position of the club. He was leading counsel for the trotting authorities before the Gaming Commission, and his work in this direction was freely acknowledged as a masterpiece.

Perhaps the outstanding personality throughout all the years of the club's history was the late Mr A I Rattray, who was secretary of the club from 1890 to 1941. His great experience in all branches of the sport made him an authority on all matters pertaining to it. At various times he acted as handicapper, starter and timekeeper, and he was also the first secretary of the NZ Trotting Association. He did great service in framing the Rules of Trotting and in obtaining Government recognition of the NZ Trotting Association. He was intensly loyal to his club and was always out to create such a standard for it in integrity and prestige that anything which did not measure up 100% in his opinion was scorned. He was an indefatiguable worker and put in long hours when it was required. During the 54 years he was associated with trotting as a secretary, he won great respect and was well known throughout NZ. Undoubtedly his foresight, resolution and faith in the sport placed his club and trotting in Canterbury in the strong position it is in today.


Credit: H E Goggin writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 26Oct49

CANTERBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB

POPULAR NEW YEAR MEETING AT ADDINGTON

The old-established Canterbury Park Trotting Club will be the first in Canterbury to use the doubles totalisator. The unit for this innovation at the club's summer meeting on 31 December and January 2 will be of 10/-.

The Canterbury Park Club's meeting at New Year has always been a most popular fixture, and some of the best horses of both gaits compete here annually. Last season Highland Fling gave the public some great thrills when he finished third in the principal event on the first day and, from his long mark of 96yds in the Mason Handicap, of a mile and five furlongs on the second day, he ran Plunder Bar, 24yds, to a length. Dundee Sandy, Loyal Nurse and Knave of Diamonds were other high class pacers competing at the club's meeting last New Year, and this year's classes, with liberal prize-money, are again expected to attract some of the best horses of both gaits.

A semi-classic race that has become a big draw card for the Canterbury Park Club is the Charles Cross Stakes, named after a former president of the club. The Charles Cross Stakes is for three and four-year-olds, and this mile and five furlongs event never fails to attract most of the best horses of their ages in the Dominion.

The Canterbury Park Club's origins go well back into last century. In 1888 its sponsors organised dog racing. Later it ran mixed programmes for gallopers and trotters and finally concentrated on trotting meetings. From the modest £255 given in stakes at the first meeting, the total has grown to £15,100. In 1894 a committee of several men who made their mark in racing and trotting circles was appointed to the management. Among them were Messrs R J Mason, F Beverley, J L Carl, J Cresswell, A S Clarkson, J A Holmes, A Loughrey, G McKay, E W Roper, and C S Howell, the latter being chairman. The following year the club sought the services of Mr A I Rattray as secretary, and this distinguished and far-sighted pioneer was one of the finest investments the Canterbury Park Club and the sport of trotting in general ever made.

The club was for many years known as the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, the name of the property on which it raced. In 1920 the club changed its name to Canterbury Park. Two years later when the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club planned to move to a block of land it had purchased in Lower Riccarton (now an expansive state House settlement), the Canterbury Park Club purchased the plant and equipment at Addington for £15,000 and took over the lease of the Addington property. Eventually the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club abandoned its Riccarton project and has been a tenant of the Canterbury Park Club ever since.

As the secretary of the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs, Mr H E Goggin remarked after the recent record NZ Cup meeting, "trotting is in the people's blood," and the Canterbury Park Club has reason to look forward to a share in this ever-widening public appeal over the New Year period.




Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 14Dec49

FIRES & THEIR PREVENTION

A fire in the Members Stand at the Cup Meeting 1949 prompted the Committee of the NZMTC to ask the CPTC Committee to reconsider their decision not to proceed with the construction of a ramp from the top floor of the Members Stand. This Suggestion was fully investigated and plans prepared but the proposal was not proceeded with.

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

MESCELLANY

C S HOWELL HANDICAP

This race, which is run at the CPTC's New Year meeting, perpetuates the name of one of the most honourable and respected men in the early days of trotting.

Chas. Selby Howell ran a saddlers shop in Tattersall's building in Cashel Street, Christchurch. Later he handed the business to his sons, who in turn sold it to Messrs Trist and Small. Mr Howell was one of the founders of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club in 1891, and acted as its honorary secretary until 1895, when the late Mr A L Rattray was appointed to the position. In 1897 he was appointed president of the Club, a position he occupied until his death in 1921, with the exception of an interval of three years. He was always in the forefront in anything appertaining to the advancement of trotting.

He was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire and was educated at the parrish school, known as Red Coat School (some dozen boys only wearing scarlet coats and vests, a benefaction left by some ancient hunting squire for that purpose) of which his father was schoolmaster and parrish clerk for over 50 years.

It was he who circularised clubs in the Canterbury district stating that as there were now so many clubs springing up in the district, he felt some controlling organisation was necessary, and he was influential in forming the Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association, of which he was president for some years and did yeoman service while acting in that capacity. He was one of a committee which framed the constitution and rules of the Association, the name of which was later changed to the South Island Trotting Association. Later he was instrumental in bringing about the amalgamation with the North Island Trotting Association, and thus was initiated the present NZ Trotting Association.

During the time Mr Howell was president of the Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association, they were fighting for Government recognition of the sport and a proper allocation of racing days. In 1896 he sent the following circular to all clubs:

"162 Cashel Street, Ch-Ch.
June 15, 1896.

To Secretary,-

The Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association having had under consideration the advisability of all the trotting clubs in NZ moving in the matter of securing their proper allowance of trotting meetings for each province, on the basis proposed for the years 1895 and 1896.
The Racing Conference meets in Wellington during the month of July (date not yet fixed), and endeavour to obtain an interview with the Racing Conference, by a delegate from each of the trotting clubs, and at the same time to act on the advice of the Colonial Secretary to see him a few days before the Racing Conference meets.
That, if possible, each trotting club to be represented by a delegate, and each club to pay their delegate's expenses to Wellington. That a united and energetic effort be made to secure the just and common interest of all trotting clubs in NZ, by obtaining their fair share of the totalisator permits, so that the strongest combination of the clubs is required. The interest and influence of all members of the Legislative Council, and House of Representatives, of each Electorate where trotting meetings are held, would have to be solicited for their assistance in this matter to secure our rights.
Any matters, other than the above, in the interest of trotting could be discussed by the delegates at the same time. Your prompt reply in assisting this will be obvious.

I have the honour to be, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully, CHAS S HOWELL
President, CMTA"

Thus Mr Howell became the convener and also chairman of the first NZ Trotting Conference and acted in that capacity for several years. A set of rules was drawn up and these form the basis of the present rules. Mr A I Rattray was the first secretary of the NZ Trotting Conference, and though he soon relinquished the position, the effect of his good work remains.

In 1908, in recognition of the wonderful work done for his club and trotting generally, the club commissioned Mr Sydney L Thompson to execute his protrait, and this was later presented to him. On his death the family handed it back to the club, and now it hangs in my office. About 1910 Mr Howell decided to take a trip to England, and prior to his leaving, a dinner was tendered him as a mark of respect and goodwill.

Chas Selby Howell undoubtedly deserved the compliment paid him in the naming of this race.

Credit: H E Goggin writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 28Apr48

MESCELLANY

WILKIN HANDICAP

For many years now the Wilkin Handicap has appeared on the Easter programmes of the NZMTC, but I wonder how many know why the race is so named?

It is to commemorate 'the father of trotting turf' Robert Wilkin.

Robert Wilkin was a merchant in Hereford Street, Christchurch, and had his stables at the corner of Holmwood and Garden Roads, Fendalton. Prior to 1882 there were no clean-bred trotting sires in the Dominion. With the idea of remedying this want, Robert Wilkin commissioned an American trotting authority to send him a collection of three sires and six brood mares. These duly arrived, the sires being Berlin, Blackwood Abdullah and Vancleve, and the brood mares Messenger Maid, Blue Grass Belle, Fannie Belle, Jeannie Tracey, Queen Emma and Woodburn Maid.

These horses did more to improve the type of light-harness horse in the Dominion than any who have arrived since. Vancleve, of course, went to Australia and later was a wonderful success at the stud of Mr J A Buckland, and exercised a great influence on the trotting breed in Australia. Berlin was an immediate success as a sire, his progeny being noted for their stamina and gameness. Two mares by him were also a great influence at the stud, namely Fraulein and Puella.

All the other importations left their mark on the light-harness breed and laid the foundation for the wonderful breed we have today.

Credit: H E Goggin writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 21Apr48

NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB

IMPROVEMENTS AT NEW BRIGHTON

A three-storied tower housing the photo-finish equipment, the judge, and the commentator, has been built in the centre of the New Brighton Club's stewards' stand and will be in use at this weeks meeting. Other additions to the stewards' stand include a casualty room, a room for police officials, and a small cafetaria, which will serve the needs of the officials.

The whole space under the grandstand, which was originally used as the members' luncheon room, has been turned into a public cafetaria, three huge cylinders providing an abundant hot water service.

The course broadcast system has been extended so that picnickers in the car park will be able to follow the racing.

For some time the club has received complaints that the glass in the ends of the stands distorted the view, and plate glass has now been substituted.

At the first two meetings, spectators found it difficult to see the horses as they paraded at the new mile and a quarter starting post, but they should have no difficulty this week as a white painted iron fence has been erected and it should provide an effective background.

Other improvements include the provision of more accommodation in the women's rooms, bitumen floors in the horse stalls, and the erection of turnstiles at the carpark. Special provision has been made for the handling of cars and there should be no traffic jams at the meeting this week.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 8Dec48

NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB

New Tote Annex

RETURN TO NEW BRIGHTON

Spic and span with a brand-new £3000 coat of paint, the New Brighton Trotting Club's stands, totalisator houses and rails will present a beaming front to the thousands of old and new patrons expected to throng the roomy seaside course when the club, next month, holds the first meeting on its own grounds for more than six years; the last meeting held at New Brighton was in February, 1942.

The 'new look' manifests itself on all sides. The transformation from the drab dilapidation left by years of military occupation, to the clean, neat orderliness of today is a shining example of what faith in a tradition, loyalty to a cause and an appropriate admixture of sentiment can do. After all, it is only two years since the club decided to go back to New Brighton rather than race permanently at Addington, and in that short time, even though confronted with many difficulties and shortages of materials, it has worked wonders.

Not the least of these is the remodelling of the mile grass track, which has been banked, regraded and top-dressed and a new mile and a quarter start put down. This new starting point will give fields racing over the main sprint distance a straight run of over two furlongs before a bend is encountered. Previously races over this distance were started on a bend. The track at present bears a beautiful sole of grass, and it has never been in better heart. This opinion is giving it something to live up to, because a number of records were broken on it years and years ago.

In 1925 the great mare Onyx, against time, paced a mile and a half in 3.13, then a world's pacing record, and two years previously Happy Voyage, also against time, had set the NZ main for a mile at 2.04 1/5. A superlative performance registered at New Brighton was Harold Logan's 2.36 3/5 in winning the Avon Handicap, of a mile and a quarter, from 84yds in October, 1934. That was then a world's race record, and, from such a long mark, it still ranks as one of the greatest sprints of all time. About that time the claim was made that the New Brighton track was the best grass track in the Dominion, and racing may not be resumed on it for very long before such a claim is reaffirmed.

Training facilities at New Brighton are first class. The late F J Smith could never understand why there were not more stables in the New Brighton area; the easy sandy nature of the soil and training tracks greatly appealed to him and he always finished off the preparation of the teams he brought from Auckland at the New Brighton course.

The main totalisator house has been renovated throughout and now boasts a spruce annex of 13 new selling windows. These, it is hoped, will assist in handling the greatly-increased crowds now attending trotting meetings compared with 1942.

New Brighton is not the oldest trotting club in NZ - that distinction belongs to Wanganui - but trotting races were held on the New Brighton beach in the early 1870s. Later the New Brighton Racing Club conducted its meetings on a property owned by the late Mr Tom Free. Trotting races were introduced to help the club along, but the New Brighton Racing Club was eventually wound up and the ground leased to the Canterbury Sports Co Ltd, for athletics. This body also went into liquidation and the property purchased by the late Mr Henry Mace, who established 'Brooklyn Lodge' a breeding and traing establishment.

The New Brighton Trotting Club became tenants of the grounds in 1890, and from that year went on from success to success, ultimately purchasing the property from the Button family, who had bought it after the death of Henry Mace. Wise conduct of the club's finances resulted in New Brighton becoming the only freehold racecourse in Christchurch. It is quite unencumbered.

A red-letter day in the history of the club was March 15, 1927, when the other two Christchurch trotting clubs conceded it the privilege of holding the Royal Meeting at Addington in honour of the visit of the present King and Queen, then the Duke and Duchess of York. Great Bingen, a big public favourite at the time, rose to the occasion by winning the York Handicap from 108yds and putting up the then world's record of 4.21.

Not a few trainers, and a big section of the public, have a warm spot for the seaside course. New Brighton's carnival spirit, its public atmosphere, did much to popularise the club's meetings in the past. The present officials are alive to their rich heritage; if teamwork gets results, the future of New Brighton is A1 at Lloyds.



Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18Aug48

FIRES & THEIR PREVENTION

In August 1944 an undertaking was received from the Christchurch Fire Board that in the event of a fire the whole of their resources would be available at Addington Racecourse provided no major fire was burning in the City at the time.

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES
In November 1938 a sub-committee of NZMTC and Canterbury Park waited on the Hospital Board for an extension of the lease.