CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

CLUB HISTORY

PRESIDENTS: NZMTC

The first President of the Club was Mr G H McHaffie. He was elected to the Office following an alteration to the Rules passed at special meeting of the Club held on 9th August, 1903 which made provision for the election of a President, Honorary Treasurer and Committee of nine.

Prior to this date a Committee had been elected and they had appointed their Chairman. In late 1894 Mr V Harris was elected Chairman of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, a position he retained until the Club became the NZMTC. He relinquished the Chairmanship in 1903. He was an enthusiastic worker for the Club when the spade work was being done in the transfer to Addington.

In 1903 Mr G H McHaffie was appointed Chairman of the NZMTC and in 1904 became the first elected President. He retained Office until his death at the end of 1905. Mr McHaffie was a great enthusiast and one of the most far seeing Officials the Club had had up until that time. Following his death the Honorable Charles Louisson was elected President, an Office he held for 18 years. His term as President covered the period when great changes were made in enlarging the Addington grounds, erecting buildings and establishing the format for what we know today. One of his greatest services to the Club was the annual presentation for many years of a Cup which was presented to the owner of the winner of the New Zealand Cup Handicap. His name was perpetuated on the inside Public Stand foundation stone which he laid on 10th February 1910. His son, Dr M G Louisson, was a Committeeman and Steward of the Club for many years and was Vice-President from 1945 to 1948.

On the death of the Honorable Charles Louisson, Mr J H Williams was elected President, an Office he held for 16 years, during which time he rendered great service to the Club. As well as being President of the NZMTC he was President of the NZ Trotting Association for 14 years and a member of the 1921 Racing Commission. Following the death of Mr J H Williams in 1940, Mr F E Graham, who had been Vice-President since 1935 let his name go forward for election as President. He was opposed by Mr A L Matson who was successful at the ballot being elected President in 1940. Mr Matson brought youth and vigour to the position and put in a tremendous amount of work in re-organising the Club and bringing it increased popularity. As well as being President of the Club he was appointed to the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference in 1941 and was President in 1948, a position he held until 1955. At the Club’s 1946 AGM he was elected an Honorary Life Member and in 1955, following his retirement from the Presidency of the NZ Trotting Conference, both the Canterbury Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs elected him an Honorary Life Member in recognition of his services to Trotting. Mr Matson was the first person to be elected an Honorary Life Member of the three Clubs. Mr Matson’s son, Mr H D Matson was a Steward and Committeeman of the Club. Mr A L Matson was elected a Steward of the Club in 1929 and a Committeeman in 1937. Following his term as President he was elected Honorary Treasurer of the Club, an Office he held until 1952.

Mr C S Thomas was elected to fill a Steward’s vacancy by the Committee in August 1935 but his resignation as a Steward was received by the Committee at its following meeting.

Mr Thomas was elected to the Committee in 1938 and when Mr Matson was elected President he was elected to the Office of Vice-President in a ballot against the Honorable W Hayward, a Committeeman of long standing. Mr Thomas held the position until 1945 when he was elected President. He remained in Office until 1952 when he was elected Treasurer, an Office he held until 1970. Mr Thomas was a strong President and under his regime the standard of administration and the running of the Club was strengthened. He was a controversial figure and he stood by his principles, proof of which was born out in 1953 when he was a member of the Programme Committee. He could not support the changes that the other members of the Programme Committee proposed for the Cup Meeting in 1953 which included a reduction in the number of two mile races and the introduction of a 7 furlong race in the programme. Mr Thomas resigned from the Programme Committee. He was to the forefront of tree-planting projects at Addington and a number of magnificent trees are the result of his influence. Mr Thomas was President of the NZ Trotting Conference from 1957 to 1961 and played a prominent part in the introduction and establishment of the Totalisator Agency Board of which he became Chairman. He was a member of the Gaming Commission which investigated the establishment of an Off-Course betting system and involved him and other members of the Commission in a great deal of traveling throughout the country in the course of their enquiries.

The President following Mr Thomas was Mr C E Hoy who had a long association with Trotting in all phases. Mr Hoy was elected a Steward of the Club in 1939, a Committeeman in 1940, Vice-President in 1948 and President in 1952, an Office he retained for four years. Mr Hoy was a member of the Grounds Committee as a representative of the NZMTC from 1940 and when the Addington Trotting Course Ltd was established he was one of the Club’s original Directors, the other two being Mr D McCormick and Mr J Palmer. Mr Hoy was the first Chairman of Directors of Addington Trotting Course Ltd, filling the position on five different occasions. Mr Hoy was a member of the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference from 1961 to 1965 and from 1965 to 1970 was Treasurer of the Conference. He resigned as an Official of the “Met” in 1973. During Mr Hoy’s Presidency the Club was honoured by the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, this being the first occasion on which a reigning Monarch had attended a Trotting Meeting in New Zealand. This was a tremendous challenge to Mr Hoy and his Committee and reports of the Meeting expressed the opinion that it was an unqualified success and, and as many said, in true “Met” standard.

During Mr Hoy’s Presidency, Mr W M Ollivier was his Vice-President and in 1956 was elected President, an Office he held until 1960. He was elected a Steward in 1942 and a Committeeman in 1943. Mr Ollivier was a member of the NZ Trotting Association from 1943 until 1948 when he was elected Vice-President, a position he held until the Association ceased to operate in 1950 when its functions were taken over by the NZ Trotting Conference. Mr Ollivier was a member of the Conference Executive during its initial year. Mr Ollivier’s father, Mr C M Ollivier was associated with the NZMTC for many years and served as Vice-President from 1924 to 1935 under the Presidency of Mr J H Williams.

The eight President of the Club was Mr J K Davidson. He was elected an Honorary Steward in 1945 and a Steward of the Club in the following year. Mr Davidson was unique in that he did not serve as an elected Committeeman until after his term as Immediate Past President. He was elected Vice-President in 1956 and served in that position until 1960 when he was elected President of the Club, an office he held until 1965. During his term of Office major changes took place at Addington. On Show Day 1961 prior to the running of the last race, which was delayed for approximately half an hour, the main inside Public Grandstand which was built in 1910 was destroyed by fire and was a complete write-off, only the damaged concrete foundation remaining. It became imperative that a new stand be built as soon as practicable and Mr Davidson, accompanied by the Chairman of Directors of Addington Raceway Ltd, Mr L S Smart of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, together with the Secretary, Mr D C Parker visited tracks in the North Island at Tauherenikau, Feilding and Te Rapa to get some ideas for the type of Public Stand that should be built. On their return instructions were issued to the Architect, Mr C C Lamb, and a new stand was planned. It became necessary to re-site the horse stalls near Wrights Road as access from the existing stalls to the Birdcage would be obstructed by the new stand. In conjunction with the building projects it was decided the time was right to introduce Night Trotting at Addington. The contracts for the new stand and rebuilding of the horse stalls and the installation of track and ancillary lighting were let with all projects to be completed prior to Cup Day 1963. This goal was achieved with the inaugural Night Meeting being held on Wednesday 20th November 1963. During the latter part of this period discussions were held with the New Brighton Trotting Club who were faced with major maintenance costs and felt that the introduction of Night Trotting was an appropriate time for then to throw in their lot with the two Addington Clubs. They agreed to buy into Addington Raceway Ltd and conducted their first Meeting at Addington on the night of Saturday, 7th December 1963. At the conclusion of Mr Davidson’s term of Office he became Immediate Past President and it was not until the election of Mr G W Blaxall to the Presidency in 1968 that Mr Davidson became an elected Committeeman of the Club. Mr Davidson was appointed a Director of Addington Trotting Course Ltd in December 1960 following the resignation of Mr J Palmer, one of the original Directors representing the Club. Mr Davidson was Chairman of Directors for the years 1964-65, 1967-68 and 1970-71. He remained on the Directorate until 1975.

Mr R W Saunders was elected President in 1965 following his tem of office as Vice-President from 1960 to 1965. Mr R F J Powell, a Committeeman stood against Mr Saunders but was unsuccessful. Mr Saunders was elected a Steward in 1953 and a Committeeman in 1958 and during his term as President the Club was honoured with a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. This Meeting was held on 23rd April 1966 and was an unqualified success. In January 1968 Mr Saunders died and was the third President of the Club to die in Office.

Mr G W Blaxall, who was Mr Saunders’ Vice-President from 1965 to 1968, was elected President following the death of Mr A Saunders, an office he held until 1974. Mr R E Booker opposed Mr Blaxall for the office of Vice-President at the elections in 19650 without success. Mr Blaxall had been appointed Accommodation and Transport Officer to the Club for the 1951 Inter Dominion Championships and was elected a Steward in 1952 and a Committeeman in 1953. During Mr Blaxall’s term of office the Club conducted the Inter Dominion Championships in 1971 and although the final was marred by Junior’s Image , the winner of the pacing section, returning a positive swab and subsequently being disqualified, the Meeting was a unqualified success and a profitable one for the Club. Mr Blaxall, as well as being prominent in the administration of the Club, was a Director of Addington Raceway Ltd and also a member of the Executive of the NZ Trotting Conference. He was elected to the Executive in 1970 and Treasurer in 1974, a position he held until 1982.

Mr Blaxall’s Vice-President, Mr E T McDermott took office as President of the Club in 1974. Mr McDermott was elected an Honorary Steward in 1954, a Steward in 1956 and a Committeeman in 1962. He served as Vice President from 1972 until his election as President. His father Mr E C McDermott was a prominent owner, trainer and driver during the ‘30s’ and in 1934 drove Indianapolis to his first of three consecutive victories in the NZ Cup. Mr K C Meyers, who was Vice-President to Mr Blaxall from 1968 was unable to continue in office for health reasons and resigned in favour of Mr McDermott. Mr Meyers was elected a Steward in 1960 and a Committeeman in 1965. During Mr McDermott’s term the Club was honoured with a second visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first occasion when they had seen Trotting in New Zealand under the lights and the Meeting was a very successful one, although the number of patrons present was very disappointing. During his association with the Club, Mr McDermott was a prominent member of the Programme Committee and put forward many suggestions which resulted in the raising of the standard of the Club’s programming and the introduction of many feature races. He also represented the Club on the Directorate of Addington Raceway Ltd.

Mr M L Taylor, who was appointed a Steward in October 1968 and a Committeeman in 1970, was Vice-President during Mr McDermott’s term of office and succeeded to the Presidency in 1979, completing his term in 1984. Mr Taylor’s Vice-President was Mr D R McCormick. During Mr Taylor’s term the Club conducted its fourth Royal Meeting, on this occasion the quests being their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Kent. Following this visit H R H The Prince of Wales and H R H The Princess Diana were to be the Club’s guests at a Race Meeting on 27th April 1983 but due to inclement weather the Race Meeting was cancelled and His Royal Highness requested that members of the Committee and other quests attend a cocktail party at which their Royal Highnesses would be present.

Mr Taylor applied his business acumen to the administration and he and his Committee launched a major promotion policy involving sponsorships and other activities which should be of benefit to the Club.

In 1984 Mr D R McCormick was elected President with Mr P Andrews as his Vice-President. Mr McCormick’s father was a Committeeman of the Club and a representative on the Board of Addington Trotting Course Ltd from its inception in 1952 until 1963 when the representatives were reduced from three to two. Mr McCormick was elected a Steward in 1967, a Committeeman in 1973 and Vice-President in 1979 and completed his term as President in 1989.

Mr P Andrews who was elected a Steward in 1974, a Committeeman in 1979, Vice-President in 1984 was elected President when Mr McCormick finished his term in 1989. Mr Andrews father, Mr S Andrews was a long serving Committeeman of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club being its President from 1973 to 1976 and one of its representatives on the Addington Raceway Ltd Directorate from 1978 to 1980. Mr A R Abell is Mr Andrews Vice-President.



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

PRESIDENTS: NZMTC

Appendix No. One: PRESIDENTS

1894-99 V Harris (Chairman, Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club)

1899-1903 V Harris (Chairman, New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club)

1903-4 G H McHaffie (Chairman, New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club)

-o0o-

At the Annual General Meeting held on 6th July, 1904

the Rules were amended to

provide for the election of a President

-o0o-

1904-06 G H McHaffie (Died in Office)

1906-24 Hon. Charles Louisson (Died in Office)

1924-40 J H Williams (Died in Office)

1940-45 A L (Allan) Matson


1945-52 C S (Charles) Thomas

1952-56 C E (Jack) Hoy

1956-60 W M (Walter) Ollivier

1960-65 J K (Keith) Davidson

1965-68 R W (Roy) Saunders (Died in Office)

1968-74 G W (Gordon) Blaxall

1974-79 E T (Eugene) McDermott

1979-84 M L (Murray) Taylor

1984-89 D R (Dan) McCormick

1989-94 P (Peter) Andrews

1994-98 A R (Tony) Abell

1998 Amalgamated with CPTC & NBHRC to form a new Club

CHAIRMEN

1998-2000 B J (Barry) Cotton &
J F (John) Penney

2000-2004 B J (Barry) Cotton

2004-08 J F (John) Penney

2008-13 D H (David) Rankin

2013- B C (Barry) Dent

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

VICE PRESIDENTS

At a special General Meeting of the Club held on 12th June, 1906 the Rules were amended to provide for the election of a Vice-President.

Of the 17 who held this office between 1906 and 1989 only 6 were not elected President. They were Mr G Payling who was Vice-President from 1906-1909; Mr G B Ritchie, 1909-1915; Mr C M Ollivier, 1924-1935; Mr F E Graham, 1935-1940; Dr M G Louisson, 1945-1948; Mr K C Meyers, 1968-1972.

Mr F E Graham, who was Vice-President for five years, acted as Chairman from November 1938 until June 1940 as Mr J H Williams, through ill health was unable to attend Committee Meetings of the Club. Following Mr Williams’ resignation, Mr Graham allowed his name to go forward for the Presidency. He was opposed by Mr A L Matson, a Committeeman of the Club at the 1940 elections and the latter was successful.

Dr M G Louisson was Vice-President from 1945 to 1948. He stood against the sitting President, Mr C S Thomas in 1948 but was defeated at the ballot.

Mr K C Meyers, a Committeeman who was elected to the Vice-Presidency in 1968 under Mr Blaxall, terminated his association with the Club as an officer by tendering his resignation in 1972 for health reasons and Mr E T McDermott was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Mr M L Taylor held the Vice-Presidency from 1974-1979, Mr D R McCormick from 1979-1984 and Mr P Andrews from 1984-1989.

Mr A R Abell was appointed Vice-President in 1989 having been elected a Steward in 1973 and a Committeeman in 1979.



Credit: NZMTS: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

VICE PRESIDENTS

Appendix No. Two: VICE-PRESIDENTS

1906-09 G Payling

1909-15 G B Ritchie

1915-24 J H Williams

1924-35 C M Ollivier

1935-40 F E Graham

1940-45 C S Thomas

1945-48 Dr M G Louisson

1948-52 C E Hoy

1952-56 W M Ollivier

1956-60 J K Davidson

1960-65 R W Saunders

1965-68 G W Blaxall

1968-72 K C Meyers

1972-74 E T McDermott

1974-79 M L Taylor

1979-84 D R McCormick

1984-89 P Andrews

1989-94 A R Abell

1994-98 B J Cotton

1998 Amalgamated with CPTC & NBHRC to form a new Club



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

HONORARY TREASURERS

The first Treasurer of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club was Mr L Wilson who served from 1899 to 1906. Prior to this he had been Treasurer of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club from 1894 until 1899 and continued as Treasurer as the new Club. In July 1903 the Chairman ruled that under the rules of the Club its Treasurer did not have a seat on the Committee so in August of that year Mr Wilson declined to sign the Club’s cheques. He was asked to explain his reasons for his refusal and advised that in the meantime other arrangements for signing had been made. It was agreed that Mr Wilson should counter-sign the cheques as Treasurer and at the AGM in July 1904 steps were taken to amend the Rules to include the Honorary Treasurer as a member of the Committee and then Mr Wilson was re-elected Treasurer at the Annual Meeting and attended the first Committee meeting following his election.

Mr Wilson was followed by Mr T Marr who served for only two years, dying while in office. The third Treasurer was Mr G B Ritchie who served until 1909 when he was elected Vice-President in September of that year resulting in a vacancy for the Treasurership which was filled by Mr J Harris until 1911.

Following the death of Mr Harris in office, Mr G Treleaven was appointed and served for eight years. He was followed in 1919 by Mr J S Williams who held office until 1921. Mr Williams had a long association with Trotting being an original Member of the Canterbury Trotting Club which was established in 1887. He was one of the few at the first meeting held to found the NZ Trotting Association in 1888 and was President of that body in 1891 when the Government recognized the Association by authorizing it to approve all programmes before Totalisator Licences were granted to Clubs.

Mr F E Graham was the next Treasurer and held office until August 1935 when he was appointed Vice-President on the death of Mr C M Ollivier.

Mr G W C Smithson was then appointed to fill the vacancy caused through Mr Graham’s elevation and he continued as Treasurer for ten years, retiring in 1945. As well as being Treasurer, Mr Smithson was the Club’s Solicitor for many years.

Following his term as President of the Club, Mr A L Matson was elected Honorary Treasurer, an office he held until 1952 when Mr C S Thomas, the Immediate Past President of the Club was elected. Mr Thomas held the office of Treasurer until 1970 when he resigned in favour of Mr D E Dalzell. Up until 1981, Mr Thomas was the longest serving Treasurer in the history of the Club having acted for 18 years.

Before being Treasurer, Mr D E Dalzell was associated with the “Met” for many years being an assistant to Mr S P Godfrey who was Gate Supervisor and Financial Advisor to the Club. Following the death of Mr S P Godfrey, Mr Dalzell and his partners continued as Gate Supervisors until their resignations in 1963. Mr Dalzell was elected a Member of the Club soon after and was subsequently appointed Honorary Treasurer in 1970 an office he held until his resignation in 1983. Mr A R Corcoran who was elected to the Committee in 1977 succeeded Mr Dalzell.



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

HONORARY TREASURERS

Appendix No. Three: HONORARY TREASURERS

1894-99 L Wilson (Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club)

1899-1906 L Wilson

1906-08 T Marr

1908-09 G B Ritchie

1909-11 J Harris

1911-19 G Treleaven

1919-21 J S Williams

1921-35 F E Graham

1935-45 G W C Smithson

1945-52 A L Matson

1952-70 C S Thomas

1970-83 D E Dalzell

1983-98 À R Corcoran

1998 Amalgamated with CPTC & NBHRC to form a new Club

SECRETARIES & EXECUTIVE STAFF

Appendix No. Four: SECRETARIES/ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Lancaster Park Trotting Club (Ceased to Race 1893)

1886-87 C J Penfold

1887-89 A M Ollivier

1889-90 W P Brook

1890-93 A I Rattray

Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club

1893-95 J A Connell

1895-99 A I Rattray

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (Addington)

1899-1941 A I Rattray

1941-52 H E Goggin

1953-79 D C Parker

1979-89 T H Davis

1989-2008 M R Godber

2009-11 S M Gloury

2011-17 D A McKenzie

2017- P W Jensen

SECRETARIES & EXECUTIVE STAFF

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club which held its first Meeting on 15th May 1886 had for its Secretary Charles J Penfold who acted as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer until 1887. He was followed by Mr A M Ollivier, grandfather of a President of the Club, Mr W M Ollivier, and he acted as Secretary from 1887 to 1889.

Mr W P Brook, who had a short term as Secretary from 1889 to 1890 was charged and found guilty of embezzlement from the Christchurch Saleyards Company of which he was also the Secretary. He received two years’ hard labour. Following Mr Brook’s dismissal Mr A I Rattray was appointed to the position.

The Club which then raced at Lancaster Park, the new Amateur Trotting Club, had for its Secretary Mr J A Connell who resigned in April 1895. Mr A I Rattray was appointed Secretary of the Amateur Trotting Club and this was the start of his long association with the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. When the Canterbury Trotting Club and the NZMTC finally amalgamated Mr A I Rattray was appointed Secretary of the amalgamated Clubs as from 1st January 1901.

During its first 80 years the NZMTC was served by only three Secretaries. The first, Mr A I (Andrew) Rattray was Secretary from 1899 to 1941, just over 42 years; Mr H E (Harold) Goggin from 1941 to 1952, just in excess of 11 years; and Mr D C (Desmond) Parker from 1953 to 1979, over 26 years.

Mr A I Rattray who was aptly called ‘the Father of Trotting’ was born in 1855 and died in August 1941 following a short illness. At the time of his death he was still regarded as an outstanding personality dedicated to Trotting. Mr Rattray was a member of the staff of the Bank of New Zealand and in 1887 took over the Secretaryship of the Lower Heathcote Racing Club. He became associated with Trotting administration in 1888 when he was appointed Secretary to the newly formed Canterbury Trotting Club which was to race at the new Agricultural and Pastoral Showgrounds. In 1890 he was appointed Secretary of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club (a Proprietary Club) a position he held until 1893 when the Club ceased to race. Following the formation of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club and on the retirement of Mr Connell, Mr Rattray became Secretary and continued as such until the Club became the NZMTC in 1899. Mr Rattray was also Secretary of the Canterbury and New Brighton Trotting Clubs and Secretary of the Christchurch Racing Club which raced at Sockburn. This latter Club was abolished by the Racing Commission in 1910. In January 1893 Mr Rattray became Secretary to the Plumpton Park Club which raced at Sockburn and was later to become the Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

Mr Rattray was also the first Secretary of the NZ Trotting Association which was formed in 1888 and performed many great services to the industry in framing the Rules of Trotting, campaigning for the stamping out of “ringing in” which was very prevalent in those days, and obtaining Government recognition of the NZ Trotting Association. He was always out to create for his Club such a standard in integrity and prestige that anything which did not measure up one hundred percent in his opinion was scorned. He was an indefatigable worker and put in long hours when required. Mr Rattray did not confine himself to Secretarial work, he acted as Handicapper for several years and at odd times was Timekeeper and Starter. Having tremendous faith in the future of Trotting he backed it in every way, even to the extent of making interest –free loans to the Club to carry out capital works. His loyalty to the Club and to the staff was one of his greatest virtues and on one occasion a Club Steward had come to the Course without his entrance tickets and the gateman refused him admission. The infuriated Official demanded of Mr Rattray that the gateman be sacked. The reply he received was “that man is carrying out his instructions, if he goes, I go”. Mr Rattray and the gateman stayed. Mr Rattray was a stern disciplinarian but beneath his brusqueness was a kindly heart and a geniality which won him great respect.

The second Secretary of the Club was Mr H E Goggin who was born in 1890 and died, in office, in December 1952. Mr Goggin started with Mr Rattray in August 1904 at the age of 14 and served as a Clerk until the end of 1938 when he was appointed to manage the Club’s totalisator operations. Mr Goggin continued as Totalisator Manager until Mr Rattray’s death in 1941 when he was appointed Secretary. Mr Goggin, who had not enjoyed the best of health, died suddenly at his home in December 1952. While he only served as Secretary for 11 years he had, in total, 48 years association with the NZMTC in various capacities, the only break in his term being the three years he served overseas with the New Zealand Forces during the First World War. While he was away his salary was made up by the Club and he was presented with a watch prior to his departure.

Mr Goggin was an extremely capable Secretary and his loyalty to his employers was without peer. Mr Goggin had journalistic leanings and whenever asked to write an article he was always ready to do so. He contributed an appreciation of Mr Andrew Innes Rattray which was published in “Pillars of Harness Horsedom”. His article on the NZMTC and its progress appeared in “The New Zealand Turf” compiled by E G Sutherland. Mr Goggin was a man of regular habits and one could almost set a watch by his arrival time at the office in Armagh Street. He would walk to work leading his bicycle and always arrived at five minutes to nine. It was his failure to do this on the morning following his death that made members of his staff realize that all was not well. Mr Goggin was well trained by Mr Rattray and continued with the high principles established by Mr Rattray in the administration of the Club.

In June 1948 the first Trotting Secretaries’ Conference was organized by Mr Goggin and held in Christchurch on 26th August, 1948. The Committee of the NZMTC agreed that they would defray all expenses incurred in conducting the Secretaries’ Conference which proved an unqualified success and was the first of a number of such Conferences.

The third Secretary was Mr D C Parker FCIS who was born in 1913 and commenced working for the Trotting Club under Mr A I Rattray as a Clerk in December 1938. On Mr Rattray’s death in August 1941, Mr Parker was appointed Assistant Secretary under Mr Goggin and following Mr Goggin’s death was appointed Secretary as from 1st January 1953, a position he held until he retired on the 31st March 1979 after just over 40 years association with the NZMTC. He left the staff in June of that year following the completion of all matters connected with the 1979 Inter Dominion Championship Meeting. Following his retirement he was elected an Honorary Life Member in July 1979 in recognition of his services to the Club and both the Canterbury Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs elected him a Life Member I the same year. This was a signal honour as Mr Parker was only the second to be elected a Life Member of the three Addington Clubs. During Mr Parker’s Secretaryship, Mr J Rowley was Assistant Secretary from 1953 to 1960 when he resigned to take up a position with the NZ Trotting Conference. He was appointed Secretary to the Conference in 1961 and in 1979 his position was changed to that of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Rowley still holds this position.

Mr Parker went into the Army on 19th March 1942 serving in the Home Forces for over 2½ years and during his absence his salary was made up by the Clubs and on leaving the Army he was re-appointed to his original position of Assistant Secretary.

During Mr Parker’s association with the Club a number of major events took place. As a casual totalisator employee he worked as a payout during the running of the 1938

Inter Dominion Championships. He was Assistant Secretary to Mr Goggin when the Club conducted the 1951 Inter Dominion Championships.

His term as Secretary was, to say the least, an eventful one. In 1954 the Club conducted the Royal Meeting, the first at which a reigning Monarch was present. On Show Day 1954, following the last race, the main outside Grandstand was destroyed by fire and the strong Nor’ Westerly carried the fire to the Showgrounds where some of their horse stalls were lost. In 1961 the Inter Dominion Championships were held at Addington and in November 1961, again on Show Day under Nor’ Westerly conditions, the main inside Public Grandstand was burnt down delaying the running of the last race for at least half an hour. On Cup Day 1963 the new Public Stand was opened and the inaugural night trotting meeting was held in the following week on Wednesday, 20th November. In 1966 the Queen Mother attended a Meeting charming all those fortunate enough to be presented to her. In 1977 Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh again were present at a Royal Meeting at Addington and in 1979 the Club conducted the Inter Dominion Championships for the fifth time. Other events of note which occurred during his term of Office were the introduction of the low running rail; the introduction of the Infield Indicator; the conversion of the Track lighting from incandescent to multi-vapour; the introduction of closed circuit television initially providing dividend indication throughout the stands in black and white, later adding a closed circuit in colour showing the races live and on replay; TV cameras also covering the Main Indicator and Infield Indicator; the building of a new Office block on the Course and the negotiations with the Ministry of Works and the start of the Motorway across the car parks and the replanning of those areas.

The fourth Secretary of the Club, Mr T H Davis, was born in 1924 and joined the staff in August 1960 as Assistant to Mr Parker. In June 1970 Mr Davis was appointed Racing Secretary, a position he filled most ably and on Mr Parker’s retirement he was appointed Secretary/ Manager as from 1st April 1979. Since Mr Davis’ appointment the pattern of development and change has continued. The major project has been the successful purchase of the Course by Addington Raceway Ltd; the establishment of the Integrated On and Off-Course Pay/Sell betting system; the sale of a section of the newly acquired land to the Totalisator Agency Board for the erection of the South Island Control Centre; the conversion of all heating from gas to electricity; the computerization of the accounts and Membership list and other major projects are in th pipeline.

A further major and probably the largest project during Mr Davis’ term was the demolition of the Stewards and Members Stand built in 1916 and its replacement in two stages by a new stand, with Stage One being nearly completed and operable for the Cup Meeting 1989. Mr Davis retired as from 30 November 1989.

Mr A J Lye was born in July 1947 and following an advertisement for anAssistant to the Totalisator Manager he was appointed to that position in October 1973. After two years in the Totalisator Department, at his request he was transferred to the Administration staff. In August 1978 the joint emergency committee considered the appointment of Mr Lye as Assistant Racing Secretary and this was approved and took effect as from the 1st of September 1978. He was appointed Racing Secretary in 1986. It was decided in August that as the Secretary/ Manager, Mr D C Parker would be fully committed to the Inter Dominion Championships Mr Davis be appointed instead as Secretary to Addington Raceway Ltd from the 1st August 1978, and Mr P J Roulston be appointed Assistant Secretary. The latter resigned from the administration staff shortly after the 1979 Championships.

In July 1985 the NZ Trotting Conference advised that the Executive had not agreed to relinquish Mr May to act in a casual capacity as this Club’s Promotions Officer during the period leading up to the 1987 Inter Dominion Championships. A sub-committee appointed to consider the matter recommended that a job specification and an advertisement be prepared for the position of Promotions Officer as early as possible. This was done through Knight Consultants who were asked to screen all initial applications. The successful applicant was Mr Barry Johnson formerly Assistant Secretary to the Canterbury A & P Association who was appointed Publicity Officer and commenced his duties on the 30th September 1985.

The fifth Secretary was Mr M R Godber who was born in 1953. Being selected from a number of applicants and previously employed as Secretary to the NZ Racing Authority for six years he commenced his duties as Chief Executive Officer as from 28th August 1989.



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

CARETAKERS

Mr J French, who was caretaker and custodian to the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club for many years, was appointed caretaker to the NZMTC when it was established ans was one of those people instrumental in the initial development of Addington racecourse. Mr French retained his position until his retirement in March 1921.

During an interval in the racing at Addington a number of officials of the Club met in the President’s Room to make a presentation to the caretaker Mr French who was resigning his position after 24 years service to the Club. The President, the Hon. Charles Louisson, said it was with great regret that they were parting with suc an old and well esteemed employee as Mr French. He had never found any cause for complaints and the Committee knew that they could leave all the work connected with the Club’s grounds to Mr French with full confidence that they would be properly carried out. Mr Louisson handed Mr French a cheque for 50 guineas accompanied by a letter from the Club expressing their regret at his retirement, extending their appreciation of his services and expressing the Club’s best wishes for his future welfare. Mr French in returning thanks, said the state of his health had made it necessary for him to retire from the position he had held since the Club was formed.

The second caretaker was Mr H Shirley who was appointed following Mr French’s retirement and was employed at Addington until May 1923. Mr Shirley was caretaker of the Canterbury Parks Trotting Club’s grounds at Sockburn and was responsible for many improvements carried out at Sockburn during his term. Following the CPTC taking over the lease of Addington from the Metropolitan Trotting Club, Mr Shirley was appointed caretaker of the NZMTC’s Riccarton property which was to be developed as a trotting course complex by the Club on landfronting Riccarton, Blenheim and Wharenui Roads. Mr Shirley retained his position as caretaker of the Riccarton property until October 1927, about the time it was decided not to proceed with the project.

As a vacancy for caretaker had occurred at Addington following Mr Shirley’s move to the Riccarton property the CPTC advertised the position and out of 200 applications Mr J Coates was appointed caretaker, a position he retained until November 1928.

The joint grounds committee of the Canterbury Park and NZMTC requested that the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Coates be filled and theCPTC appointed Mr J Highstead caretaker as from 10th December 1928 and he remained in that position until his death “on the job” in December 1944.

The fifth caretaker, Mr R G Cooper, who held a diploma in Horticulture was appointed gardener in July 1944 and following the death of Mr Highstead was appointed caretaker as from 1st January 1945 on three months trial. During Mr Cooper’s term considerable progress was made in raising the floral standards at Addington. Glasshouses were built and bedding plants raised for planting in the flowerbeds and a large range of pot plants was held in stock for the interior decorating of the Stewards Stand and certain public areas. This scheme was discontinued on the grounds of cost in 1965. Mr Cooper’s status was changed inMay 1947 to that of Course Superintendent and in October 1959 he tendered his resignation to take effect as from 31st March 1960. A suitable presentation was made to Mr Cooper to markhis retirement and as an appreciation of his long service.

Mr Cooper’s son-in-law, who was a member of the grounds staff ans Assistant Course Superintendent, became Course Superintendent from 1st April 1960 filling the vacancy caused through the resignation of Mr Cooper. He was Mr S A Harris and his employment terminated as from 23rd January 1964.

The seventh Course Superintendent, Mr C J Anderson, joined the Addington staff in January 1961 as a groundsman and was appointed Foreman in August of that year. Following the termination of Mr Harris’ employment Mr Anderson moved into the racecourse house and became Racecourse Foreman until March 1966 when he was made Course Superintendent, a position he still holds. During Mr Anderson’s term many major improvements have been carried out, many of them having been suggested and put into effect by him. Mr Anderson could be considered as a master of many trades from cabinet making to gardening having served his time in both these fields.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

CARETAKERS

Appendix No. Five: CARETAKERS/ COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS

1899-1921 J French

1921-23 H Shirley

1923-27 H Shirley (Riccarton Property)

1923-28 J Coates

1928-44 J Highstead

1945-60 R G Cooper

1960-64 S A Harris

1964-95 C J Anderson

1995- George Calvert
Cleaning Ltd

-2011 J W Denton