| RICCARTON PROPERTY |
YEAR: 1923
 |
| Plans of the proposed development |
In the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 5th February, 1919 it was reported that the Metropolitan Trotting Club had effected the purchase of a large area of land in the Riccarton district covering some eighty seven acres at a cost of £21,000. The new site comprised seventy acres previously owned by Mr T W J Shand, seven acres by Mr W Robinson and two smaller blocks of six acres. The property fronted Riccarton, Blenheim and Wharenui Roads and with the exception of one or two small sections covered the whole block opposite Puriri Street within a stone’s throw of Dean’s Bush and not more than two miles from the city. The article went on to say that the Club’s Addington property, though quite up to the standard of any trotting grounds in Australasia, had the distinct disadvantage of being held only on lease with certain conditions attached which restricted the Club’s scope for expansion. In its desire to cater for the public the Club realized that the appointments at Addington were not ideal an that if the sport continued to advance, as in the past few years, the outside accommodation would be absolutely inadequate.
The new property was served by the Riccarton Tram with the rear of the property being in close proximity to the Addington and Middleton Railway Stations while the Riccarton Railway Station was not more than ¾ of a mile away. The closeness of transport would enable country patrons to be well served in their travelling arrangements.
The article mentioned that the Club’s lease of the Addington Course had only seven years to run and it was anticipated that racing would be in full swing at the new venue before that period elapsed. It was the Club’s intention for the new grounds to be up-to-date in every respect and to take full advantage of the natural beauty of the property and to make its surroundings the most picturesque of any racecourse in New Zealand. Plans for a six furlong track had been drawn up and it was proposed that the work of establishing the new racecourse be treated with the utmost urgency.
At the Annual Meeting held in June 1920 the Chairman stated that all liabilities on the land at Riccarton had been liquidated and the property was now freehold. In November 1922 Mr Hill of Auckland was employed to prepare the layout of the grounds in consultation with Luttrell Brothers. Three months later Mr Hill met the Committee and was asked to furnish a plan and a report as early as possible.
A leading article appeared in the REFEREE of 1st March 1923 and stated
“Although it will probably be a couple of years before the Metropolitan Trotting Club finally removes its headquarters from Addington to its new grounds at Riccarton, the plans for the equipment of the property are now receiving careful consideration. It is impossible for any work to be undertaken at present as the land is leased to tenants whose term of occupancy does not expire until May.
The first work to be undertaken will be the formation of the six furlong grass track which is to be a chain and a half in width with two straights of eleven chains each and the turns being nineteen chains. It need hardly be said that special care will be taken to make this new track provide as perfect a racing surface as possible and by having it put in hand early it will be given a chance to set properly before it is required for racing. The work for laying out the grounds and for providing the necessary equipment will require careful consideration but with expert advice and past experience to guide them the Club’s Executive may be relied upon to provide a trotting ground that will be the last word in general completeness and efficiency. The operations in connection with the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s new grounds belong more or less to the future as plans have not yet been decided upon.”
In May of that year Luttrell Brothers and the Secretary were authorized to deal with the residents and secure their rights over undedicated roads so they could be closed.
Mr Hill’s fee foe planning the layout of the new grounds was 100 guineas.
The following August a deputation of representatives of the Riccarton Borough Council was received by the Committee and the deputation outlined the various works that would be carried out around the property if the Club would consent to join the Borough. The works proposed were to consist of roading and channeling and the Council also undertook to urge the occupiers of the sections in Euston Street to consent to the closing of undeclared roads. In view of the offer made by the Council the Committee decided to join the Borough. In October two Committeemen were authorized to sign a deed petitioning the Government to transfer the Club’s property from the Waimairi County Council to the Riccarton Borough Council.
On Saturday, 28 June 1924 a Commission chaired by Mr E D Mosely, SM, sat in Christchurch to consider whether of not a large area of ground owned by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and a small area owned by H Mayne on Riccarton Road should be transferred from the Waimairi County to the Riccarton Borough. The Club now owned 91 acres, 3 roods and 7 perches of the total area of the block which was 92 acres, 2 roods and 1 perch. The District Health Officer said it would be better to transfer the land to the Borough in order that a suitable drainage system could be carried out which was essential with the large crowds that would attend trotting meetings. After hearing evidence from the Secretary of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and the Mayor of Riccarton, the Commission reserved its decision.
At the annual meeting of Members the Chairman in referring to the new course said that the grounds had been bought and paid for but the construction of the course and the erection of new buildings would be a very expensive matter and he was not prepared to say when the work would be undertaken. A Member mentioned that reports stated that a trotting course could not be formed on the new property. The Chairman asked the Member where he obtained that information and the Member said it was heard frequently. The Chairman said that the rumour was incorrect.
It was reported in the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 31st July 1924 that the Christchurch Presbytery had forwarded through Mr George Witty, MP, to the Minister of Internal Affairs a resolution passed by the Presbytery protesting against the establishment of a trotting course I close proximity to the Riccarton Presbyterian Church. The Hon. R F Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, informed Mr Witty that the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, which up to the present, had been racing on leasehold property at Addington purchased the property referred to three years previously with a view to making a new trotting course and had since disposed of its interests of the leased ground at Addington to the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. The Minister stated that he had no statutory powers to prevent the NZMTC from forming a new racecourse on its property at Riccarton.
In the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 7th August 1924 an article stated:
“In connection with the recommendation of the Commission recently announced to add the Metropolitan Trotting Clubs new grounds at Riccarton to the Riccarton Borough the Mayor of Riccarton, Mr A D Ford, when interviewed by a representative of the “REFEREE” stated that the inclusion of the Club’s grounds in the Borough was what his council desired.
Mr Ford said that both Mr Mayne and the Club had petitioned the Governor for the land to be added to the Borough and the Riccarton Council supported the request. Mr Ford said that the Riccarton Council desired to carry out substantial improvements in this locality and to put certain roads in order. The Borough boundary was along the whole eastern side of the property, right along the north side and half way down the western side and most of the roadways and paths were thrown into the Borough originally with the boundary line along the Club’s fence instead of the centre of the road as usual. This threw into the Borough the roads and paths, or most of them, and prevented the Borough from getting the benefit of the rates from the block. When asked as to how the district would be affected by the opening of the land as a trotting track Mr Ford said that the first desires of a Council are always the cutting up of large blocks into building sites and for such sites to be built on. In the present case this of course would not come about and therefore the establishment of a trotting track was as good as the next best thing. If the area had been cut up it would have produced about 78 acres net for rating purposes whereas now the whole 92½ acres would be rateable. As the Riccarton Borough rated on unimproved value it would be seen that the difference between rates on 78 acres and 92½ acres would be a fair sum. Mr Ford stated that the Club’s ground was first class good heavy land out of which a very fine racecourse could be made. There was ample road provision on the east side to lay the necessary tram tracks as well as several cross streets running eastward which would provide numerous outlets for any amount of traffic and thus prevent congestion after the races were over each day. Access could be had from four sides for both vehicles and pedestrians and this should greatly assist in handling large crowds. Mr Ford said he hoped later on to approach the trotting club with a request to allow the centre open space, that is inside the track, to be used by the public for recreation. If this could be done then Riccarton would be provided with a very fine ground which would answer the purposes of a park.”
In August 1924 a sub-committee was set up to go into the question of proceeding with the new grounds and in October of that year they submitted a favourable report on the drainage of the property.
In November the Club agreed to give a strip of land half a chain wide to allow Wharenui Street to be widened. In exchange the Club was to receive the freehold of unformed streets within the property. In June 1925 it was pointed out that the annual report of the Club made no reference to the Committee’s proposal in regard to its Riccarton property and it was suggested that it could be presumed that the question of the removal of the Club’s headquarters to the new ground had been deferred indefinitely. It was mentioned that it would be a costly business to equip the new grounds as an up-to-date trotting course and the Club was proceeding on cautious lines in deferring the work until it has accumulated funds that would justify the undertaking.
In July of that year Mr D McCormick offered three acres adjoining the Club’s property and fronting Blenheim Road and it was agreed to purchase the land for £1,500. In March 1926 the Club’s Solicitor was instructed to communicate with the Riccarton Borough Council regarding the closing of the roads and to ascertain the current position. Letters from the Solicitor regarding this matter were received in April but no information was minuted.
In February 1927 authority was given to terminate Mr Shirley’s position as caretaker if it was deemed necessary and in the middle of that month he was given three months notice.
In April 1928 the Riccarton Borough Council requested the Club to connect their properties to the sewer. Mr F W Freeman, surveyor, was asked to submit a sketch plan showing the subdivision of the Riccarton property similar to that proposed by the late Mr Shand. Later in the month Mr Freeman was asked to prepare complete plans for a subdivision.
In May it was reported in the REFEREE that Mr H Shirley had been appointed caretaker of the Napier Park Racing Club’s course and that he was well known in Canterbury having been caretaker of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s Sockburn grounds for nine years. When Mr French resigned his position as caretaker at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s grounds at Addington Mr Shirley was his successor and remained there for about four years. The Canterbury Park Club then acquired the Addington grounds and the Metropolitan Trotting Club placed Mr Shirley in charge of its new property on Riccarton Road which he supervised for about four years. As there did not seem much likelihood of the Club racing on its new grounds, and Mr Shirley being anxious to secure a position on a property that was being used as a racecourse, he applied for the Napier Park position and secured the appointment from over 100 applicants. It was reported that during the time Mr Shirley was in charge at Canterbury Park and at Addington his maintenance of the grounds was of great value especially in the provision of good tracks, one of which was grass and the other dirt.
In July 1928 Tonks, Norton & Company and Jones, McCrostie & Company were asked to report on the planned subdivision, the best method of its disposal and to place a value on the sections. A sub-committee was appointed in November to investigate the subdividing of the property with power to act. No record can be found as to the reason for disposing of the Riccarton property but it probably can be assumed that it was a question of finance which lead the Metropolitan Committee to make the decision to dispose of the Riccarton Property. In December 1928 the land agents reported that they were unable to obtain an offer for the selling of the property as a block and it was then decided to ask the surveyor to complete the plans for its subdivision.
In April 1929 the Riccarton Borough Council was pressed to complete the roading works associated with the loan which was raised especially for that purpose, and during that month the subdivision sub-committee reported that 4½ acres at the Blenheim Road end of the property had been offered to the Riccarton Borough Council for a reserve at £500 per acre. The next report minuted was to the affect that in October 1932 four sections were sold.
In August 1934 arrangements made with Tonks, Norton & Co. to collect the rents on the various properties on the Club’s behalf were cancelled and the collecting became the responsibility of the Club’s administration.
In May 1935 the Riccarton Borough Council was requested to proceed with the extension of Wainui Street and in July 1937 it was reported that a block of 78 acres, 3 roods and 17.8 perches was offered to the government for £14,000. As most of this area is now devoted to state housing it can be assumed the Government accepted the offer.
In April 1941 three properties were still owned by the Club. 91 Wainui Street was let to Mr C W Ayers at a weekly rental of £1/6/0 and this property was sold in December 1970 for a net return of $5,744. 95 Wainui Street was let to Miss Henery at £1/2/6 and this property was sold in September 1941 giving a net return to the Club of £793/8/9. The third property at 97 Wainui Street was let to Mrs J Russell at £1/4/0 per week and after she had vacated the property was sold in June 1970 for a net return to the Club of $5,930.
The selling of these properties brought to a close the Club’s ambitious project of establishing its own freehold Racecourse in the Riccarton Borough.
Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker
YEAR: 1986
The Canterbury Park Trotting Club traces its origins to the Plumpton Park Club, which raced on a 74 acre course at Sockburn centred on the present Air Force Museum. The early history of the club was fairly chequered and, for three seasons, it went into recess.
On Feb 2, 1884 the CANTERBURY TIMES advertised the "inaugural" meeting of the Plumpton Park Racing Club would be held on March 11, 1884.
Seven races were held including one Trot. The totalisator, operated by Hobbs and Goodwin, handled £1,300.
Club stewards for that first meeting were: B J Hall, E R Deacon, J B Hill, W Attwood, A McDonald, S Bailey, W H Porter, T H Ranger, T Acland & Captain Bell. The treasurer was W G Judge (also the chairman of the directors of the Coursing Club in 1886) and the Secretary was Mr E S B Bell.
The trot was won by the mare, Formosa, which was also owned by Mr E S B Bell, who is shown in the bookmakers' settling lists a few days later as being paid £28.
The trot also revealed a rather amateurish ring-in attempt. The CANTERBURY TIMES recorded thus:
"The handicapper having no knowledge of a brown mare called Kathleen, put her on 55 secs. But it became known that the mare resembled strongly a grey mare called Peggy, which had won the Dunedin Trot in 1882.
During the day the mare sweated and white patches on her tail became apparent. A steward ran his hand through her tail and it covered in a brown, sticky substance.
The horse was quickly removed from the course. She holds nominations at New Brighton and Lancaster Park meetings, but is unlikely to be seen again on a Canterbury racecourse."
The Club ran five meetings in the 1884-5 season, all with the same format. In 1886-87 there were four meetings and the following season Plumpton Park reverted to five meetings. At the February and April meetings the club ran two trots on the programme instead of the customary one. The last meeting of 1887-88 was held in July and in August the Canterbury Times reported there appeared to be a problem with successful owners not being paid out.
It transpired the meeting had been run solely by Mr E S B Bell who was now adjudged bankrupt. Quite a scandal erupted and investigations revealed that Mr Bell's licence to run the meeting under the name of Plumpton Park had been granted by the Canterbury Jockey Club which, for no apparent reason, had refused a similar request from a Mr M Taylor. Stewards of the Club in those days were liable for the payment of stake-money but Mr Bell was found to have advertised his meeting without including the names of the stewards or other officials on the day.
The owners and public had contributed some £160 to Mr Bell and there should have been enough to pay out the Stake-money and still leave some £40 over. Mr Bell appears to have dropped out of sight, but the scandal continued. On September 143, 1888, the Canterbury Times reported a court case involving Mr C Hood Williams, owner of Sultan, a winner at the meeting and to whom £28/10/- was due. Mr Williams sued a Mr P Campbell, who had been listed in the official race book as a steward and thus was culpable to pay the stake.
During the court case it was learned that Mr Bell, secretary also of the Plumpton Park Coursing Club and the Island Bay Racing Club in Wellington (it was in recess at the time) had approached Mr Campbell to act as a steward on the day. Others in that capacity were a Captain Bell, Mr E S B Bell and Mr George Cutts.
On September 20 Judge Beetham found against the owner, Mr Williams, and ordered him to pay costs of £6/7/-, saying he had no claim against Mr Campbell. "You entered into an agreement with Mr Bell, not Mr Campbell, and you did so with your eyes wide open," said Judge Beetham. The judge's decision aroused considerable controversy and the Canterbury Times was moved to comment: "It is a pity Judge Beetham was not better acquainted with the customs of the racing world in such matters."
The Plumpton Park Club then went into recess. It did not operate at all in the seasons of 1888-89,1889-90 or 1890-91.
Then, on July 9, 1891, the Canterbury Times carried an advertisement for a Plumpton Park Steeplechase meeting to be run on August 1. The club was granted a "conditional permit" by the Canterbury Jockey Club to run four steeplechase events and, at the time of advertising, still did not have a totalisator licence. Stewards for the club were given as: D O'Brien (also the judge), E W Roper, F Beverley, J A Holmes, C S Howell, J B Hill, T Quill, A S Clarkson (also hon. secretary), A Loughrey and R J Mason. It was known officially as the Metropolitan Plumpton Park Company.
The Canterbury Times commenting on the return of a Plumpton Park Club, recalled the debacle of 1888 and claimed there was "no known club racing at Plumpton Park." The steeplechase meeting was moderately successful. The Canterbury Times, on August 6, noted the club had now changed its name to the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club and this is confirmed in a report from the New Zealand Trotting Association.
On October 8, 1891, the Canterbury Times advertised the "inaugural meeting" of the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club to be held on November 12. It was to be the club's first full trotting meeting with eight races. Stewards were listed, the same as for the meeting on August 1, but the treasurer was Mr C S Howell, the secretary, J A Connell and the starter, H J Derrett. Nominations were taken at the Scotch Stores Hotel. The meeting was a great success, the totalisator handling £2,409, and the honour of winning the first race went to Mr J Gaskin's grey mare J M, which also won the last race.
Encouraged by that meeting the club held another on January 1, 1922, offering increased stakes of £220. On April 4, 1892, the first annual meeting of share-holders in the Plumpton Park company was held. T Quill was listed as chairman of directors and a profit of £62 was announced. Mr Quill noted that during the previous 12 months the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club had operated as a separate body, having taken over the course and grandstands at cost price plus £25 per annum rental.
The Plumpton Park Club continued to operate successfully, mixing full gallop and trot meetings until 1896-97 when its two meetings that season were strictly for trotters. The meetings were split into four days and were known as the spring and autumn meetings.
In 1898-99, for the first time, the club was officially known as the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, having dropped the word "Racing" at its annual meeting. In 1898 Mr F Beverley was elected president. Until that time Mr C S Howell had been recognised as the chairman and he was voted president in 1899. In 1895-96 the club made a profit of £212 and listed its assets at £433/1/4. In 1896-97 it made a profit of £390/6/7 and listed assets of £2,625 which included the freeholding of the Plumpton Park course at £2,400.
Around this time it was decided to move the club's offices to the Duncan's Buildings, which were also the home of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club.
The name of the club was changed to the Canterbury Park Trotting Club in October, 1909. The club continued to race successfully following the 1909 change of name, but this did not influence the 1920 Racing Commission chaired by Mr Fred Kent KC.
The Commission was ordered to make recommendations on the racing and trotting permits to be used after August 1, 1921, the total available to trotting being 78. In its report the Commission recommended that Canterbury Park be one of those clubs ordered to surrender its permits, another being the Otahuhu Trotting Club, whose permits were absorbed by the Auckland Trotting Club.
Canterbury Park officials used every means to apply pressure on politicians to gain their support for the retention of their permits and went as far as meeting with the Premier.
About that time the Metropolitan Club was making endeavours to develop its own racecourse in Riccarton and it purchased more than 90 acres in an area bounded by Riccarton Road, Blenheim Road and Wharenui Street. Eventually Canterbury Park won its right to retain its permits and this was immediately followed by an approach to purchase the buildings at Addington, take over the lease held by the Metropolitan Club and race on its own when the last-named club shifted.
The closure of Plumpton Park was widely criticised, particularly by trainers who ha properties close by. The club felt that it was unable to face the expenditure needed to upgrade the course, and this decided the issue. Canterbury Park paid £15,000 for the purchase of the lease and buildings and held its first meeting at Addington at New Year, 1923. The two-day meeting proved highly successful and the financial returns fully justified the decision of the committee to make the big change from Plumpton Park.
It was in 1928 that the Metropolitan Club decided that the development of its Riccarton property could not be proceeded with and in May of that year entered into an agreement with Canterbury Park to become a tenant of the course. The alliance between the two clubs continued, rather uneasily at times, with Canterbury Park being approached in 1936 by the Metropolitan Club to sell back its lease of Addington of to amalgamate. There is no record of this being developed further.
An approach by a deputation of the Metropolitan Club was made in December, 1943, to buy the course, but once more Canterbury Park applied the veto. Two years later the two clubs met to consider the formation of a holding company to run the course, but Canterbury Park came back with a suggestion that they should sell to the Metropolitan Club provided they could race permanently at Addington.
Discussions between the two clubs continued year after year, with accountants and solicitors closely involved. Finally, after the Valuation Department had valued Canterbury Park's interest in the course at £80,000, it was reported in August, 1951, that arrangements for the control of the grounds had been finalised, but general meetings of the clubs had to be called. It took until May, 1952 before the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Addington Trotting Course, Limited, were signed by the two clubs. The company is now known as Addington Raceway, Limited.
It was not long before the company became involved in a bitter argument with horsemen when oil was applied to parts of the clay track surface. Eventually an all-weather surface was laid down, again not without criticism from some quarters about the size of the material used. With improved screening methods these problems have been overcome today and now Addington Raceway has a surface equal to anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
The low running rail, too, had its critics when it was first used - but they were quickly overcome when persons and horses involved in accidents were tossed to the inside of the course, something which could not had occurred when the old, higher running rail was in place.
In the late 1950s the Canterbury Park Trotting Club introduced its policy of attempting to secure a better deal for trotters, in particular trying to introduce more racing for three-year-olds, and later began non-totalisator events for two-year-olds. This was done at a time when many were urging the Metropolitan Club to drop the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, then the only classic for three-year-old trotters, as the race more often not had developed into a procession and had frequently been a disaster as a betting medium.
The Canterbury Park club persevered with its encouragement for young trotters and on June 6 1981, it ran the first totalisator race restricted to first-season horses. This was the New Zealand Two-Year-Old Trotting Stakes won by the Westport filly, Game Countess, trained and driven by Wally Forsyth. The race is now recognised as the main race on the calendar for young trotters and it has been granted Group 2 status by the Trotting Conference.
In the past 25 years or so the club has provided racing for the top pacers and trotters and in 1973 it introduced the New Zealand Standardbreds Breeders Stakes, a mile race for mares and fillies. From a lowly start this race has grown rapidly in stature with most of their time competing. Bonnie's Chance gained fame when she won the race in three consecutive years from 1982, recording the race record time of 1:57.7 in her second success. This time was lowered to 1:57.3 by Hilarious Guest when she won in 1985.
After trying a series of races for four-year-old pacers at its October meetings, the club in 1983 introduced the Lion Brown Three-Year-Old Series, which was won by Logan Dryham, with Naval Officer being promoted to second upon the disqualification of Roydon Glen. This series has proved popular with the public, owners and trainers alike. Thanks to generous sponsorship the final this season carried a stake of $30,000, with a further boost to $50,000 planned for 1987-88.
The club has for some years now been in the top six in New Zealand as far as stakes paid and totalisator turnover are concerned. In 1985-86 the club paid out a record $444,260 in stakes, giving it an average of $63,465 at its seven meetings. On-course betting averaged a respectable $469,227, while the off-course average was $1,052,550. In 1986 the club was granted a permit for an on-course totalisator meeting and this was scheduled to have been run on December 11 of that year.
Credit: CPTC: Centennial History 1986
YEAR: 1899
NEW ZEALAND METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB
At a meeting of the Committee of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club held on 9th May, 1899 consideration was given to the purchase of 35 acres of the Twigger’s estate adjoining the Canterbury A & P Association Showgrounds at Addington for the purpose of preparing a Trotting track with facilities. The Trustees of the property, however, declined to sell for Trotting purposes but subsequently put it up to auction and a 21 year lease was knocked down to the President of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club at a price below the amount that the Clubs were prepared to go. At a meeting of the Club held on 19th May, 1899 the President’s action in purchasing the lease. At the winding up of the Twiggers Estate the ownership of the land was transferred to the Charitable Aid Board and the Hospital Board.
At a meeting of the committee of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club it was decided to have plans prepared for the necessary grand stands, buildings and fencing on the grounds at Addington. It was also decided to instruct a surveyor to lay out a five furlong track, and to call for tenders at once for the work. The committee decided to change the name of the club to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club conducted its inaugural meeting at the Addington Racecourse, now known as Addington Raceway, on Monday 6th November, 1899.
This followed the amalgamation of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club (previously raced at Lancaster Park) and the Canterbury Trotting Club (previously raced at the A&P Grounds next door).
RICCARTON PROPERTY
In 1918 the Club approached the owners with a proposal to purchase the Addington property as the then current lease had only seven years to run however this proposal was unsuccessful.
In 1919 Metropolitan Trotting Club had effected the purchase of a large area of land in the Riccarton district covering some eighty seven acres at a cost of £21,000. The new site comprised seventy acres previously owned by Mr T W J Shand, seven acres by Mr W Robinson and two smaller blocks of six acres. The property fronted Riccarton, Blenheim and Wharenui Roads.
In 1935 the land was disposed of to the Government to be used for State Housing
CANTERBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB
The Canterbury Park Trotting Club traces its origins to the Plumpton Park Club, which raced on a 74 acre course at Sockburn centred on the present Air Force Museum. The early history of the club was fairly chequered and, for three seasons, it went into recess.
On Feb 2, 1884 the CANTERBURY TIMES advertised the "inaugural" meeting of the Plumpton Park Racing Club would be held on March 11, 1884. The Club ran five meetings in the 1884-5 season.
An article appearing in the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 7th September 1922 reported that it had been announced that as a result of negotiations between the NZ Metropolitan and Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs the latter body would transfer its operations from Sockburn to Addington and take over the course when the Club moved to its Riccarton property. The article stated that on sentimental grounds some people would regret the departure of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club from the Course with which it was for so long associated both under its present name and under its former title of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, the name chosen when the Club was established. The article further said that the property had had a long connection with sport of various kinds and had been used for coursing and galloping as well as trotting. When the Club was renamed the Canterbury Park Trotting Club a new era began at Sockburn and it quickly established itself as one of the most flourishing institutions in the Dominion. Its solid financial position had been a striking testimony to the efficiency of its management.
Following the passing of Notices of Motion by the Members of Canterbury Park and Metropolitan Trotting Clubs in April 1952, the body originally known as Addington Trotting Course Ltd was established to control the Course. Back in March 1953 the capital of Addington Trotting Course Ltd was increased from £36,111 to £225,357 NZMTC holding 156,016 £1 shares or nine thirteenths of the share capital, while Canterbury Park held 69,341 shares. The 9/13 and 4/13 basis related to the number of Racedays each Club conducted.
NEW BRIGHTON TROTTING CLUB
By the 1880s arrangements had been made for the running of horse races at New Brighton. But the venue was not the Queen Elizabeth II Park site - it was the beach. The beach racing club ran under very primitive conditions, an exceptionally high tide would delay the start of proceedings, and it was sometimes quite dark before the last event was concluded.
Eventually the beach was abandoned, Tom Free, licensee of the Bower Hotel, having laid out a 3/4 mile course at the Queen Elizabeth II Park property. There was then a mixed trotting and racing programme, and the first race on the site was held in 1886. At first conditions were only marginally better than on the foreshore. The judge had to carry out his duties from atop a beer barrel. And the grass having not yet consolidated the sandy soil, the latter could "wander at its own sweet will, and the majority of the visitors retuned to town half hidden in a canopy of dust." But worst of all was the mountainous sand-hill which stood in the centre of the paddock.
The New Brighton Club did not exist in those early days and was not formed until about 1890. For some time before that the New Brighton Racing Club held trotting meetings and mixed galloping and trotting meetings on the course. The New Brighton Trotting Club did not hold its first meeting until 1895, when £190 was paid in stakes and totalisator turnover amounted to £1648. The property was at that time owned by Mr Henry Mace, who with the club's first president (Mr H McIlwraith) and secretary (Mr A I Rattray) first gained Government recognition of trotting through the old NZ Trotting Association, which had been formed in Christchurch in 1888.
The New Brighton body weathered the depression years of the 1930's very well indeed, and although it was forced to give up its popular course during World War II and for some years afterwards.
In October 1962 the members of the New Brighton Trotting Club endorsed their Committee’s recommendation that shares in Addington Trotting Course Ltd be purchased, that the Club race at Addington and that Day and/or Night Meetings be held. The Club purchased sufficient shares to hold 4/17ths of the Capital, and they paid 4/17ths of the cost of the lighting installation.
The New Brighton track was sold to the Christchurch City Council in 1963 and the last meeting was held in September 1963.
FIRES
Over the years there have several major fires at Addington. In 1916 on Cup Day, the almost new Stewards and Members Stand burned to the ground. In September 1926 the Public Stand burned down. After the last race on Show Day 1953 the old Public Stand (replaced by the Twiggers Stand) was destroyed. Perhaps the most famous fire was on Show Day 1961 immediately prior to the running of the last race – the NZ Free-For-All. This race continued while the stand was ablaze, the crowd watched the race and cheered Cardigan Bay home, before turning their attention to the fire.
GOLD CUP
The present gold cup presented to the winner of the NZ Cup was first presented in 1956. At the time of purchase it was insured for £850.
TWIGGERS STAND
Opened on Cup Day 1960
NIGHT TROTTING
Introduced on the first night of the 1963 Cup Meeting
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
The administration office was transferred the central city to Addington in 1966. The building on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Armagh Street for over 40 years was sold at auction for £38,500
CATERING
In September 1985 a lease was signed to relocate P Burke & Co to Addington. Burke’s had been catering at Addington since 1900.
LAND PURCHASE
1987
METROPLITAN STAND
Opened in April 1990 as a cost of $7.6m
AMALGAMATION
In 1998 the NZ Metropolitan TC, Canterbury Park TC and the New Brighton TC amalgamated under the name of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.
NEW STABLING BLOCK
Opened on 15 May 2009 at a cost of $7m
EARTHQUAKES
2010 & 2011
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
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
In July 1921 it was reported that a satisfactory working arrangement had been entered into with the Canterbury Park Trotting Club for the use of the grounds.
In August 1922 as the plans for the development of the Riccarton property were being proceeded with the Committee agreed to offer the lease of the Addington property to the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. This offer included the freehold property, except that purchased from De Rigo, together with buildings and improvements but furniture, plant and the starting barrier were excluded. The price asked by the Club for the sale of the leasehold was £17,500. Within two days the President of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, Mr H J Otley, met the Committee and offered to purchase the lease and buildings for £15,000. In October the Club’s Committee decided to accept the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s offer.
An article appearing in the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 7th September 1922 reported that it had been announced that as a result of negotiations between the NZ Metropolitan and Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs the latter body would transfer its operations from Sockburn to Addington and take over the course when the Club moved to its Riccarton property. The article stated that on sentimental grounds some people would regret the departure o the Canterbury Park Trotting Club from the Course with which it was for so long associated both under its present name and under its former title of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, the name chosen when the Club was established. The article further said that the property had had a long connection with sport of various kinds and had been used for coursing and galloping as well as trotting. When the Club was renamed the Canterbury Park Trotting Club a new era began at Sockburn and it quickly established itself as one of the most flourishing institutions in the Dominion. Its solid financial position had been a striking testimony to the efficiency of its management.
The disappearance of the mile grass track was not expected to be appreciated by all but the arguments in favour of the change far outweighed the disadvantages. The expenditure necessary to bring the equipment at Sockburn up to present day requirements would have been enormous and when the opportunity was offered to secure the Addington property at a reasonable figure the Canterbury Park Executive was commended for its wisdom in clinching the bargain. The Addington course on which the Metropolitan Club had expended something like £100,000 was considered the best trotting property in the Dominion and it was satisfactory that it was to be retained for the sport which had become so popular with New Zealanders. It was reported that with their experience at Addington to guide them the Metropolitan Club’s Executive could be depended upon to make their new Riccarton course perfect in every detail and the final result of the change would be of great benefit to the two Clubs and to trotting generally.
The lease at the time of its purchase by the Canterbury Park Trotting Club had nine years to run and it was not anticipated that the Club would have any difficulty in securing its renewal. It was estimated that as the development of the Riccarton property would take approximately two years the Metropolitan Club would remain at Addington in the meantime.
It was reported in December 1922 that the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s grounds at Sockburn would be closed from early in the new year which proved to be a great set back to the large number of trainers in that area. The article went on to say that the decision by the Canterbury Park Trotting Club to transfer its headquarters from Sockburn to Addington proved to be a wise one in view of the increased attendances and totalisator turnovers that were recorded at its New Year Meeting on 1st and 2nd January 1923.
In January 1923 the agreement between the Metropolitan Club and Canterbury Park foe the transfer of the lease was completed and a sub-committee was appointed to dispose of the land purchased from De Rigo.
It was reported in the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 22nd November 1923 that at the Land Sales Rooms of H Matson & Co acting under instructions from the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, H Matson & Co in conjunction with Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd offered for sale by public auction the property known as Canterbury Park Sockburn. The property consisted of just under 82 acres and was offered as a whole with all buildings erected upon it. There was a fairly large attendance of the public with bidding starting at £5,000 and advancing by £500 bids to £6,500. After this figure had been reached an offer by the auctioneer to take £250 bids found no response and the property was passed in.
In accordance with the agreement the Canterbury Park Club advised the names of its representatives on the Grounds Management Committee and they were Messrs J Lester and R Wallace. The Metropolitan Club’s representatives on the Management Committee were Messrs E Fox and W Hayward.
The Chairman reported to members at the Annual Meeting in June 1923 that the course leasehold had been sold to the Canterbury Park Trotting Club at a satisfactory figure, the sale being made in anticipation of the Club’s move to Riccarton and that pending the completion of the new course the Club would carry on its operations at Addington.
The Chairman of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club in reporting to his members at the Annual Meeting said that the Committee had gone carefully into the question of carrying out repairs and improvements at Sockburn which would cost in the vicinity of £50,000. Not wishing to involve the Club in such heavy expenditure the proposition was put forward by the Metropolitan Trotting Club offering their interest in the Addington grounds for £15,000 was considered by the Committee and accepted.
By early 1928 it became obvious that the development of the Riccarton property could not be proceeded with and in May of that year arrangements were entered into with the Canterbury Park Trotting Club for the Club’s tenure of the Addington course to be as a tenant. In July a deed of agreement with the Canterbury Park Trotting Club was completed.
In June 1932 the Club’s Solicitor advised that the arrangements between the Club and the Canterbury Park Trotting Club regarding racing at Addington was not a lease but only a licence to race on certain days.
In December 1936 the CPTC was approached to sell its interest in the Addington course lease to the Met or to amalgamate. There is no record of this being developed further at the time.
In December 1943 the Committee appointed a deputation to approach the CPTC to enquire if it would be prepared to sell the course back to the Met but the following month CP advised that it was not prepared to do this and at the same time advised that the rental payable to the North Canterbury Hospital Board had been increased to £1,500 per annum.
In March 1945 a sub-committee was appointed to meet representatives of the CPTC regarding control of Addington. It was decided that its Committee should be informed of the Met’s proposal that a holding Company be established but this was not acceptable to the CP Committee who made a counter proposal to sell their interests to the Met provided they could race at Addington permanently. The CPTC was asked to make an offer and submit terms for their right to race. In May of that year the CPTC offered to sell its interest in Addington for £27,000 with the proviso that they be granted the permanent right to race at a rental of 1 and a quarter % of their On-Course turnover. At that point it was agreed that the Club’s sub-committee investigate the matter further.
In December 1947 with the object of reaching an agreement between the two Clubs the Met appointed Mr S P Godfrey its Investigating Accountant, to confer with the CPTC’s Accountants and bring down a joint report with the object of establishing a basis of tenure which would benefit each Club. In the following February the CPTC advised that Hicks & Ainger, its Accountants, would confer with Mr Godfrey regarding the tenure of the Addington Course. The following month Canterbury Park advised that its Accountants were not ready for further discussions as its Solicitor, Mr H P Smith, had advised them that the discussions should not be held until a settlement on the representatives on the Board of Trustees was agreed upon. In August the sub-committees of the two Clubs met regarding the control of the course and the CPTC asked for equal representation with the Chairman being appointed by each Club in alternate years.
In September 1950 concern was expressed by the Club for what appeared to be undue delay in the completion of the documents regarding the tenure of the Addington grounds and the Club’s Solicitor was asked for an immediate report on the matter.
In January 1951 it was reported that the Valuation Department valued the Canterbury Park Club’s interest I the course at £80,000, the Stamp Duty on which was £800. The question of Gift Duty then arose and this it was stated could amount to thousands.
In August 1951 it was reported that the arrangements for control of the grounds had been finalized but that a general meeting of members would have to be called. In September it was reported that the Stamp Duty on the transfer of the grounds to the Trust Board was £865/14/0 and that a Memorandum and Articles of Association were being prepared by the Solicitor. In the following months the Solicitor advised the Committee that he considered the delay in the completion of the documents governing control of the course was unreasonable. In December it was reported that the papers for the Trust Board had been drawn up and when finalized by Mr H P Smith, Solicitor to Canterbury Park, were being referred to Mr L J Hensley, an authority on Company Law for his perusal. In March 1952 the Memorandum and Articles of Association having been checked at a conference between Mr Hensley, Mr Twyneham, the Metropolitan Solicitor and Mr H P Smith were placed before a general meeting for ratification. In May of that year copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Addington Trotting Course Ltd were presented for execution and were signed by Messrs C S Thomas and C E Hoy on behalf of the Club.
At a Special General Meeting held in April 1952 the minutes recorded the following Notice of Motion:
“That this Meeting approves the proposal for the taking over control of the Addington Trotting Course by a separate body representing the NZ Metropolitan and the Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs and authorizes the Committee of the Metropolitan Trotting Club to execute all documents considered necessary to carry the proposal into effect”.
In August 1956 the draft of a proposed agreement (Licence to race) between the Club and the Company was not acceptable to the Committee and it was passed to the Club’s Solicitor for redrafting. The amended draft was subsequently approved by the Committee but with reservations by Me C S Thomas.
In March 1957 the licence to race between the Club and the Company was finalized and the document executed. The original licence to race was stamped in April 1957, the duty being 15 shillings. The Stamp Duties Department later considered that an error had been made in assessing the duty which should have been £70/19/6. The extra charge would not have been made in all probability if both the original and counterpart had been stamped at the same time.
The Committee held over the view that the Company should establish a fund with the object of having a reserve which could be used for the purchase of the property. In July 1960 it was reported that, after consultation with a representative of the CPTC, it was doubtful if that Club would agree to the setting aside of £1,000 per annum in a sinking fund as being mandatory. The Club advised Canterbury Park that in the interests of both Clubs it was necessary that no less than £1,000 be set aside each year. This was eventually agreed to.
The CPTC developed a mobile starting barrier and in October 1974 the Club was advised by Canterbury Park that its mobile starting gate would be available to the Club for its Cup Meetings at $100 per day or night.
In December 1983 the Club suggested that the replacement of the CPTC’s mobile barrier should be undertaken by Addington Raceway Ltd. In February 1984 the CPTC advised that they had purchased a suitable vehicle on which the starting gate could be mounted and that they were prepared to discuss the ownership with the Directors. In June 1985 Addington Raceway advised that the CPTC had offered to sell the gate to the Raceway at cost price less the subsidy received from the NZ Racing Authority and that the Raceway had the option to purchase the gate for $19,704. The gate had cost Canterbury Park $33,809 to manufacture and the Racing Authority had reimbursed the Club $14,105 from the Amenities Fund. The Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s offer was accepted.
Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker