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O J WATSON

Mr Oscar Watson, whose death occurred at his home at Annat, Canterbury, last week, was a well known breeder of standardbred horses, a club executive and farmer.

He came into trotting more than thirty years ago with a pacer named Country Jack, who was bred by the late M B Edwards. By New Derby from a mare by Jack Potts, Country Jack was a winner for Mr Watson.

Peggy Wood, a mare bred at Spreydon by the Rushton family, was bought by Mr Watson at 'hack' price (something around $100), and this mare, by Parkwood-Marywood, became the foundation of his Rosewood Stud, which was established more than 30 years ago. Peggy Wood, to Gamble, left a high class pacer in Lady Ngaio, a good winner for Mr Watson - Lady Ngaio took a two miles record of better than 4:18 more than 20 years ago. Unfortunately, she died young, and it was left to her unraced full-sister Rosewood to carry on the line that is now in the forefront of standardbred families.

From Rosewood and her daughters has sprung a prolific winning family, including Good Chase, Red Chase, Bluff, Adorato, Avante, Rosy Morn, Spring Chat and Garry Brigade, besides a number of good winners in Australia.

Oscar Watson and his sons John and Denis, who ran the Rosewood Stud, sent top yearlings to the National Sales over a number of years, and at the last sales their colt by Local Light from Torlesse (U Scott-Rosewood) set a new record for the sales when he was knocked down to Mr A Jones, of Sydney, at $9500.

Mr Watson a foundation member of the Hororata Trotting Club, was it's president for a number of years, and he was the Club's delegate to the NZ Trotting Conference on several occasions.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Nov68