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EDWARDS: BERTRAM

In the very early days of trotting in Canterbury there were two families that stood out in a class by themselves - B and M Edwards and W and C Kerr. For many years these four horsemen won the major portion of events decided at New Brighton, Heathcote, Lancaster Park and Plumpton Park, but, whereas the Kerrs did little campaigning outside Canterbury, the Edwards Brothers won races in almost every centre where trotting meetings were held.

Bert Edward's record on the tracks was a remarkable one, and, from a versatility standpoint, suggest him as being 'the daddy of them all.' There are a number of achievements that seem to make good this claim:-

Won races at the inaugural meetings at Lancaster Park and Auckland.
Rode the first horse in NZ to get within American standard time.
Owned the first pneumatic sulky ever made in NZ.
Won the first NZ Trotting Cup.
Held trainer's, rider's and driver's licences continuously from the time they were first issued (over forty years) without trouble with any club.

It was away back in 1887 that Bert owned his first trotter - a grey gelding callet Fidget, by the thoroughbred horse Diomedes. A love of horses was evidently inherited by the two brothers from their father who bred many horses in England. These he schooled and hunted them to follow the Suffolk hounds. Naturally Bert and his brother Manny were riding as soon as they were big enough to sit on a horse. On one occasion the former happened to mention to Mr W Philpott, a Christchurch grain merchant, that he would like to get a trotter to beat Edwards senior's grey mare mare, Kitty. Mr Philpott said he had just such a one in mind, a grey called Fidget, who had just won a high jump at Little River and had run third in a hurdle race there. This will give present day owners some idea of the material those old-time horsemen had to work on. To test Fidget's ability as a trotter, a match was made between him and Kitty, and, over a course from Christchurch to New Brighton, Fidget won easily. This induced Edwards to buy him and brought about his entry into the racing game.

There were no harness races in those days, nor was a boot of any sort obtainable. Many of the races were over three miles or more. Every time a horse broke he had to be turned round, towards the inside of the track, so as not to interfere with the other competitors. Later, when harness races were instituted, this break and turn rule had to be wiped out as unworkable. At some of the meetings the starting was on the yards system, while at others the time method was in vogue.

Fidget's first start was at Heathcote, where he won, and his next on the New Brighton beach, over two miles. In the latter he was defeated by a horse called Sly Sam, on whom only one investment was made. Shortly afterwards the New Brighton Trotting Club held a meeting on its newly opened course. Fidget won a race there over three and a half miles, being followed home by Cock Robin, ridden by Charlie Kerr. When Lancaster Park was opened as a trotting course, Edwards won the first race with Fidget on the three laps to a mile course. It must be remembered that in those days trainers knew nothing about booting, gearing and gaiting horses. If a horse was inclined to pace heavy shoes were put on him, also 9oz to 10oz toe-weights to keep him at the trotting gait.

None of these ancients had a single strain of trotting blood. Most of them came from Banks Peninsula where the hill country had a lot to do with making them trot. The stallion Victor, owned by Mr Roderiques, Akaroa, begot many winners, and they were great road horses. Another stallion standing in the Akaroa district was Touchstone who left a lot of good horses and whose blood strains can be found in the pedigrees of many present-day winners.

After a lengthy stay in Canterbury, the brothers Edwards shifted their headquarters to Auckland where trotting was well established. At one of the first meetings held there Bert had three representatives and though the hope of the stable, Black Hawk, went lame, he won races with Fair Nell and the pony Chuznee. Shortly afterwards Edwards purchased a horse named Rarus, by the imported sire Fitz James, who made Turf history. In his first start for Edwards he won a champion race at Auckland, and then Bert decided to try out the best that Christchurch could produce. During the trip Rarus won several races, including one at New Brighton in which he went 5.38, thereby reducing Kentucky's two mile record of 5.40.

Edwards is among several who claim to have introduced the pneumatic sulky. On one occasion he was in the shop of Baston Brothers, coach-builders of Auckland, and was shown an illustration of a pneumatic-tyred sulky just to hand in an American publication. Being taken with the vehicle, Edwards had one built, and, as there was a meeting about to come off shortly at Auckland, the builders managed to get it finished for that fixture. Bert ran second in the Auckland Cup with Fairy in a high-wheel cart. Later in the afternoon Fairy was engaged in another harness event and Edwards decided to try her out in the pneumatic sulky. Its appearance created a lot of interest, one spectator remarking that they were going to see a horse run in a 'bike.' During the preliminary a spindle bar broke and Edwards had to take Fairy back to the paddock and hitch her to a high-wheel wooden cart, but even so she won. The pneumatic sulky was repaired for the second day of the meeting. Hitched to it Fairy won the Glasgow Handicap, and this, Edwards claims, was the first occasion on which a pneumatic sulky was used in NZ.

Then followed another trip to Christchurch, and Fairy was the first to introduce the innovation to southern tracks. She won at her first start, defeating Stonewall Jackson in a race at the Canterbury Club's meeting. Another of Edward's early good ones was the Australian-bred Yum Yum, by Childe Harold, who had been brought over to win the Auckland Trotting Cup. She was taken to Christchurch, and won a mile saddle race, giving away 25sec. She won easily going the mile in 2.27 1/5 and, by distancing the field, got all the prize money. Yum Yum covered the mile in 2.27 1/5, being the first horse in NZ to get within the American standard time of 2.30.

After a while the brothers returned to Christchurch where the stakes and racing conditions were much better than in the north. Bert took over an establishment at Upper Riccarton where he trained many good horses, and brother Manny, then 17, won his first race on a horse of his brother's called Madcap, at Heathcote. This was the start of a brilliant career, that in later years eclipsed that of his elder brother.

The importation of many American stallions and mares continued to improve the sport and the class of competitors. The use of hopples and pneumatic sulkies also played a big part in raising the standard of the light-harness sport. Of all the horse that passed through Bert's hands, none gained such esteem in public estimation as did the grand old trotter Monte Carlo. Old 'Monte' was owned by that fine old sportsman, Mr Tom Yarr, for whom Monte Carlo won the first NZ Trotting Cup, as well as manny races from a mile to two miles, both in saddle and harness. In the writer's opinion 'Monte' was the greatest all-rounder of all time. When he won the Trotting Cup his popularity gave rise to a remarkable demonstration at Addington. Ladies showered bunches of flowers on the unconcerned veteran and before Edwards could get him back to his stall half the hairs had been plucked from his tail as souvenirs. Monte Carlo and Reta Peter share the honour of being the only free-legged horses to win the Cup.

In 1898 the Lancaster Park Club offered a prize for any horse that could lower the two-mile Australasian record of 4.55, held by Mr Buckland's champion, Fritz. Several horses were entered for the event but Monte Carlo was the only one to continue with his engagement. Paced by Free Holmes on the galloper Salvo Shot, the veteran trotted the journey without a mistake in 4.53, thereby getting within Fritz's time by 2sec. Later in the same afternoon 'Monte' came out and won the big-two-mile handicap. Another great trotter owned by Mr Tom Yarr was Jessie Palm, one of the speediest mares of her day. At one Metropolitan meeting she won both mile saddle races, and at a later date, at Addington she won a two-mile saddle race in 4.43, a record for trotters that stood for several years. Jessie Palm set the seal on her fame at a later Metropolitan meeting, when, starting from scratch, she ran second to Vasco, who went 2.27. As Jessie Palm was conceding the Australian 11sec, and had 20 horses to pass, her performance of going the mile in 2.16 1/5 was a remarkable one. It must be remembered also that most of the Rothschild mare's races were run against pacers. When at the height of her career Jessie Palm was accidentally killed when running out in a paddock at Fendalton. The last notable horse Bert Edwards drove was Mr H Mace's Almont, who was the undisputed champion of his day.

Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 26Feb47

TROTTING AT LANCASTER PARK

How many of the thousands of people who pack the stands and the embankment of Lancaster Park to watch football matches realise that there was a trotting course there many years ago?

It was in 1887 that the Lancaster Park Amatuer Trotting Club was formed. For 22 years it carried on. Then in 1899 the Lancaster Park, Heathcote and Canterbury Trotting Clubs amalgamated, and became the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.

One of the earliest competitors in trotting races on the ground now given over to football, cricket, hockey and other athletic sports was the late Bert Edwards, noted trainer and driver. A story which he once told of a race at Heathcote may be mentioned. Those were the 'break and turn' days of trotting in Canterbury, when every horse that 'broke' had to be turned round before it was allowed to trot on. The first horse that Bert Edwards owned was Fidget. This was his story:-

"I nominated my new purchase for a trotting race that was to be run on the Heathcote Racecourse. The race was won by a horse called Conger, ridden by Alf Keith, a grey horse, Erin, ridden by George Burke, being second, and the stallion, Victor, ridden by Johnnie Rodriques, was third, with Fidget fourth. The race was a regular fiasco. The first horse, Conger, was disqualified for having won a race at the head of the Bays, which was not put on his entry form. Erin was disqualified for turning the wrong way when he broke and Victor was disqualified for galloping along the back of the course and failing to pull up and turn. I finished fourth on Fidget, and had the only ticket on my horse on the totalisator. As there was only first and second money, I did not weigh in and so the race was declared null and void, all moneys being returned, less 10% to the investors. One of the Stewards, the late Mr Barney Hale, came to me, and said,'Well my boy if you had weighed in you would have got the lot.' That was not a very good experience for a kick-off, was it?"

Edwards continued:-"Somewhere about this time the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club was formed, and came out with a programme. It's track was a very small one, being three laps and 40 yards to the mile. I entered Fidget for the principal race, which was a three-mile one. This race he won, going the three miles without a break, the time being 9mins dead. The grey horse, Erin, ridden by the late Dan O'Brien, finished second. Alf Keith, who at that time was considered the champion rider of trotters, was third on a bay mare called Malvina. Fidget, by winning the big race at the Lancaster Park Amateur Club's inaugural meeting, can I think, claim to be the first winner of an open race this club held. The club's first race was a maiden event, all off the one mark, and was won by the late David Barnes, with a bay mare called Winnie. Later, I sold Fidget to George Burke, now of Melbourne. Some years later Burke rode him three miles on the Show Grounds, Christchurch, winning the race in 8mins, which was a NZ record for that distance for some years.

"Shortly after the start of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, a new club was formed at Addington, called the Canterbury Trotting Club - that used to race on the Show Grounds. Of this club I was one of the first members. Three of the stewards were appointed to frame the handicaps: W Kerr, Tom Walker and myself. We made such a good job of it that none of us won a race, whereupon we all decided that we would not take it on again. At the next meeting of the club, two of the stewards were appointed: Mr Alex Duncan and Mr H Brinkman. Later, Mr Duncan fell out of it for business reasons, but Mr Brinkman continued to become a leading handicapper.

"A year or two later, the Lancaster Park Club put on a free-for-all - it was not so designated in those days - of two miles off the one mark. The three best horses in Christchurch then were Wait-a-While, Daisy and Plunger. Wait-a-While was trained by the late C Kerr, Daisy was owned by Alf Dunn, and Plunger by myself. The conditions of the race were for three horses to start or only half of the stake to be paid. On entry night C Kerr and I met Alf Dunn. He said that he had no chance and did not intend to enter. Kerr and I each thought we could beat Daisy, and as we wanted the full stake, we tried hard to get Dunn to nominate. At last he said,'Well, if you like to pay up for her, I will put her in.' We did so. The track was three laps and 40 yards to the mile, and was very heavy because of recent rains. Alf Dunn with Daisy, drew the inside position, and Wait-a-While second, Plunger being on the outside. The inside going was much the best. The outside, which recently had been banked up with soil, on account of the small turns, was very heavy; my horse was going in almost to his fetlocks. Well, Daisy went to the front and, although tiring badly, won by half-a-length from Plunger, and got the race. It is needless to say we did not pay up any more for other peoples horses. This Daisy was a great trotting mare and later went to Melbourne. Wait-a-While and Plunger were both by thoroughbred horses. Wait-a-While being by Albany, and Plunger by Wrangler. Wait-a-While was a speedy horse and a great stayer.

"Somewhere about this time there was in Christchurch a crack bike rider - I think his name was Webb - hailing from Australia, and a discussion arose as to which would win a match: Trotting horses against a bicycle. The match was duly fixed up to take place on Lancaster Park over 10 miles; the trotting horseman to have two horses. The race eventuated, the two horses being ridden by Alf Keith, who was considered on of the crack riders in those days. His horses were Wait-a-While and a bay mare called Malvina. He rode the horses five miles each and beat the bike by over a lap. The 'bike' was one of the old-fashioned high-wheelers.

"The Lancaster Park track being so small, was very confusing, as in some of the three-mile races the limits were as much as 75sec from the scratch horse. The horse on the limit would often be once around before the back-marker started; so you can just imagine how confusing it was. A bell would ring when the leading horse entered on his last lap. Some of the old-time trotters that were running in those days were the late F Mulholland's grey gelding, Doctor, R Sutherland's Cock Robin, and Kirkwood's Our Pony, later named Betsy. This pony, which came from Wanganui, was a champion and could hold her own with all comers. A little previous to the time I am talking about, this little mare was matched, for a good sum, to trot Native Cat, which was the best horse they had down south in those days. Our Pony, ridden by W Thompson, won the match."

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 8Nov44

A newspaper report of 16th April, 1886 stated that several leading sportsmen, Mr H P Lance prominent amongst them, agreed to band together to conduct Trotting Meetings at Lancaster Park in an endeavour to finance their new ground, that is Lancaster Park, for cricket. The locality was handy to town and supplied an attraction for sporting men who were at a loss on Saturday afternoons. The first Meeting was advertised to be held on Saturday 15th May, 1886 and the programme contained five races, three in saddle and two in harness, with added stakes totaling 125 sovereigns. A journalist, who inspected the grounds and facilities stated “a good course has been staked off round the grass, and with a little alteration in the fencing to the west of the grandstand a tolerably commodious saddling paddock will be adequate for the comfort of officials, jockeys, etc and altogether the facilities for the comfort of visitors will be up to the average.”

The track was a third of a mile in length or under three furlongs (600 Metres).

The inaugural meeting was not held on the day set down as there were two postponements. The first postponement was due to heavy floods in Christchurch, the Avon River having risen four feet and Ferry Road, near Lancaster Park, being one sheet of water. The second postponement was due to the death of Mr H P Lance who was a devotee of racing, one of the founders and a Steward of Lancaster Park Trotting Club. The Meeting was finally held on Saturday 29th May, 1886 when there was an attendance of over 1,100 and reports state that the arrangements made for the Meeting were excellent. £38 was taken at the gate. £1,512 was invested on the Totalisator run by Hobbs & Goodwin. The advertised Officers of the Club for the first Meeting were: Judge, Mr H P Lance, but he was replaced following his death by Mr Justice Johnson; Starter, C A Calvert; Clerk of the Course, A M Ollivier; Handicapper, B J Hale; Secretary, C J Penfold; and the Stewards, Dr H H Prins, F Cotton, J B Gresson, F Jones, H P Lance, A E G Rhodes, A Cracroft-Wilson and C H Williams.

The principal event was the Lancaster Park Time Trot of three miles in saddle. The first prize was 40 sovereigns and the result was:

1st: B Edwards “Fidget” 50 seconds Rider: Owner

2nd: D O’Brien’s “Erin” 45 second Rider: Owner

3rd: P Howard’s “Malvena” 50 seconds Rider: A J Keith

Time was 9 minutes and the dividend paid on the Totalisator was £12/3/-. The Addington Workshops Band provided a musical programme.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club conducted seven Meetings in its first season between 29th May 1886 and 27th June 1887.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

TROTTING AT LANCASTER PARK

After two postponements the inaugural meeting was finally held on Saturday 29th May, 1886. For the first meeting, on a course three laps to the mile, five races - one at three miles and four at two miles - were held before an attendance of 1100. The tote handled £1,512 ($3024)while total prize money was £125 ($250). The main event of the day was won by Fidget, ridden by Bert Edwards from Dan O'Brien's Erin in a time of nine minutes for the three mile journey.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club conducted seven Meetings in its first season between 29th May 1886 and 27th June 1887. This Club was formed to help boost the finances of the Lancaster Park Cricket & Athletic Sports Company which was formed in 1880 and wanted to acquire Lancaster Park.

STRIDES MADE IN HARNESS WORLD

Last Tuesday's NZ Cup field - and other fields for many years past for that matter - have been comprised of horses which are - or were - the acme of physical fitness and grace.

Seventy-odd years ago at any meeting you would have been confronted with the clumsy efforts of horses that, only a few days previously, had been earning their oats between the shafts of a butcher's, baker's or grocer's cart.

Yes, the progress of harness racing has been meteoric as to make one wonder where its limitations will cease, especially with night trotting for Addington practically here. For instance, when Bert Edwards drove that grand old trotter, Monte Carlo, to victory in the first New Zealand Cup, the stake was only 310sovs, and on a good track the winner took 4:44.4 to cover the two miles. By 1910 the value of the Cup had jumped to £1000; in 1913 it was £2000, and in 1929 it had gone up to £4000. At one stage it reached £7500, thereby making it the richest harness race in New Zealand or Austalia at that time.

There has been a corresponding improvement in the times also. Monte Carlo's feat of going the journey in 4:44.4 was hailed as a great one at the time, but it now looks insignificant when compared with Johnny Globe's 4:07.6

Away back in the 'seventies, on almost any general holiday and sometimes on Saturdays, a band of sporting enthusiasts would meet on the New Brighton beach, near the present township. During the day about half-a-dozen events would be decided, some for trotters and some for gallopers. They were rough and ready meetings, and the prizes were usually of the utility order, such as a saddle, a bridle or even a whip. When the New Brighton Racing Club was formed these informal gatherings ceased. Mixed racing and trotting meetings were held on a new course for some years, but after a while the galloping element faded out and it was left to the New Brighton Trotting Club to carry on, which it has done successfully to this day.

It was the Lower Heathcote Racing Club, however, that did most to establish the light-harness sport. The old Heathcote course was situated on the Sumner Road, just before you came to the bridge. All the arrangments were primitive.

My present concern, however, is more with those old-time trotters which in their humble way helped lay the foundation of trotting as it is now. To a dwindling few present-day racegoers (all well into their 80's) the names of such ancient celebrities as Fidget, Shakespeare, Sapphire, Bobby Burns, Maid of Munster, Narrow Gauge, Cock Robin, Wait A While, Chanticleer, Victor, Young Irvington and Long Roper will conjure up memories of the so-called 'good old days'.

Mention of Cock Robin brings to mind the fact that even Gloaming's trainer was an active participant in the trotting sport. Before becoming associated with Gloaming, Dick Mason owned Cock Robin and on one occasion rode him to victory in a race at Oamaru. The versitile Mason was just as fine an artist on the back of a trotter as in a galloper's saddle, and this particular win gave the ring a nasty jolt. Amongst the regular competitors at Heathcote, was a pony called Jimmy Brown who, though blind, generally knew the shortest way to the winning post. Once Jimmy would not answer the helm and, swerving off the course, landed in the Heathcote River. Both he and his rider had cause to remember that mishap.

Most of the races were run under saddle (a pity there are now none of these events in Canterbury) and it was no unusual thing to find a good horse giving away from 60secs to 90secs start, and even that concession failed to put the cracks out of court. For a long time the handicappers never made less than 5secs between any division of horses, for which there was probably a good reason. Under the rules, when a horse broke its rider was compelled to pull it up and turn round before going on with business. When, as often happened, there were several that could not trot a furlong without getting 'in the air', the race savoured more of an equine circus or a Waltzing Matilda contest than a trial of speed. Just fancy a race at Addington with similar conditions prevailing!

The Lower Heathcote Trotting Club died a natural death in 1893, but its memory lingers. When Lancaster Park was brought into being as a sports and cricket ground, difficulty was experienced in financing it. To help in this was a club known as the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was formed and held meetings on a three-lap-to-the-mile course, the same as that on which the bicycle races were run. The venture did not serve its purpose and its operations were subsequently taken over by a more practical body known as the Lancaster Park Amatuer Trotting Club. Its meetings were well conducted and did much to popularise the sport.

Another club that had a rather meteoric career was the Canterbury Trotting Club, with headquarters at the Addington Show Grounds. In the meantime the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club, finding its headquarters all too small to accommodate the ever-increasing crowds, formed a course on the Twigger Estate at Addington. This meant that two clubs were racing side by side, seperated only by a tin fence. Naturally, such a state of affairs could not go on, so eventually the Government forced the two bodies to amalgamate. It was a fortunate move, for out of the amalgamation grew the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

It was not until operations had been in progress at Addington for a few years that the New Zealand Trotting Cup was instituted. The field for the initial contest in 1904 comprised Monte Carlo, Norice, Euchre, Vickery, Factory Boy, Vascoe, Verax and Royalwood. Like so many of its successors, the first Cup did not give rise to much excitement. The American-bred mare Norice, went off at a great clip, but when it came to the real business Monte Carlo soon had her measure. In those times 'Old Monte' was held in just as much affection by racegoers as in latter years were Harold Logan, Johnny Globe, and now, Cardigan Bay. The victory of the American-bred Birchmark in 1905 was recorded on a very heavy track and under wretched conditions. There was nothing outstanding associated with the success of Belmont M., Marian, Durbar or Wildwood Junior.

The race of 1910 however, will be long remembered for the series of mishaps associated with it. Just after the field had been sent on its two mile journey Walnut swerved across the track and collided with Manderene, both horses losing their drivers. Then King Cole ran into El Franz, whose driver was thrown out of the sulky. In the meantime, Manderene had practically taken charge of the track. Careering around at a mad gallop he forced the other competitors to get out of the way as best they could. One of the few to escape trouble was the previous year's winner, Wildwood Junior. Cleverly driven by his owner-trainer, William Kerr, the handsome son of Wildwood got an almost uninterrupted passage and had no difficulty in defeating Bright and Ribbons.

Of all those early winners, Wildwood Junior stood out in a class by himself. Either he or another of Wildwood's progeny in the sensational Ribbonwood, would have equalled the performances of some subsequent winners had the track conditions and training methods under which they raced been equal to what they are nowdays.

Credit: 'Veteran' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 12/11/63

1888 NEW BRIGHTON RACING CLUB: TROTTING MEETING

[Per the "Star's" Pigeon Express]

Starter and Handicapper - Mr S P Andrews.

The Trotting Meeting of the New Brighton Racing Club was held today. The weather in the morning was overcast, and a drizzling rain falling before the commencement of the proceedings, the attendance was very small. The course was in capital order, and the arrangements as good as usual. The following are results received up to the hour at which we went to press:-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. No weight under 10st. About two miles.

Mr J Munro's ch m Kelsie, aged (Owner) 1.

Mr J P Horner's b m Gipsy's Warning (Owner) 2.

Mr T Lynskey's b m Banshee, 6yrs (Owner) 3.

Scot and Welcome Jack also started.

Kelsie went to the front immediately the word was given, and never being headed won by 300 yards.

Time 6min 53sec. Totalisator - Inside (£1 tickets) £37 16s; Outside (10s tickets) £7 4s.

HANDICAP TIME TROT (in harness) of 30 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. About three miles.

Mr J Farrar's b g Billy, aged, 40sec (Owner) 1.

Mr D Barnes' ch g Richmond, aged, 30sec (Owner) 2.

Mr H Piper's ch m Lioness, aged, 25sec (Owner) 3.

Nana 50sec also started.

HANDICAP SELLING TIME TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. The winner to br sold by auction after the race, and the proceeds to go to the Club. No weight under 10st. About two miles.

Mr R Sunderland's gr m Sedgemere Lass, aged, 30sec (Farrar) 1.

Mr Farrar's ch g Dick, aged, 40sec (Hammel) 2.

Mr G Duke's br m Blind Kate, aged, 45sec (Pearce) 3.

Emulation 35sec, Hero 40sec, Minnie 40sec and Locomotive 40sec also started.

HANDICAP SELLING TIME TROT (in harness) of 20 sovs. The winner to be sold by auction after the race, and the proceeds to go to the Club. About two miles.

Mr J Munro's rn m Quida, aged, 30sec (Owner) 1.

Mr H Mace's ch m Kate, aged, 30sec (Milne) 2.

Mr R Sunderland's gr m Sedgemere Lass, aged, scr (Mehan) 3.

King Billy 20sec and Cobweb 30sec also started.

CONSOLATION HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 10 sovs. About two miles.

Mr B Edwards' br g Lunatic, aged, scr (Owner) 1.

Mr D Barnes' ch g Richmond, aged, 25sec (Owner) 2.

Dick 40sec, Nana 40sec, Minnie 50sec and Tandy 60sec also started.

Won by four lengths.

Time 6min 45sec. Totalisator - Inside (£1 tickets) £2 3s; Outside no investors.

Credit: Star 25 & 26 Sept 1888

1888 CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB JUNE MEETING

The third meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club was held at the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's grounds, Addington, this afternoon. There was a fair attendance, and the track was in good order.

The following are results received up to the hour at which we went to press. (NB - The handicaps are behind scratch):-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. About two miles.

Mr A Grimmer's blk g Mosquito, aged (F Angus) 1.

Mr F Horner's w m Snowball, aged (Owner) 2.

Shuttle, Lady Emma, Kitty, Bachlieu, Guida, Anger, Wildacre, Sutton, Emulation, Jack, Midge & Pat also started.

Midge and Bachlieu led for three rounds alternately, Emulation looking dangerous. At the fourth turn round Mosquito came out and won very easily by several lengths, the rest pulling up.

Time 6min 18sec. Dividend - £5 3s.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs. Height, 14h 1in. About two miles.

Messrs W & C Kerr's blk m Tiny, aged, 18sec (C Kerr) 1.

Mr J Keith's b m Emily, aged, 27sec (Owner) 2.

Mr H McBratney's blk m Maori Maid, 8sec (Owner) 3.

Fedora scr, Little Nell 5sec, Dad 8sec, Hero 10sec, Farewell 10sec, Brown Joe 20sec and Queenie 35sec also ran.

Tiny soon went to the front, Emily and Maori Maid next in attendance. Emily looked dangerous coming up the straight, but broke and was beaten by four lengths, the mare a fair third, the rest beaten off.

Time 6min 33sec. Totalisator dividend - £4 7s.

HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 35 sovs; second hors to receive 5 sovs from the stake. About three miles.

Mr A Grimmer's blk g Mosquito, aged, 11sec (Angus) 1.

Mr T Marr's b m Waikari, 5yrs, scr (J Milne) 2.

Mr D Barns' ch g Richmond, aged, 23sec (Owner) 3.

HANDICAP NOVEL RACE (in harness) of 20 sovs. The winner to be sold immediately after the race, the whole of the proceeds to go to the funds. About two miles.

Mr H Kibblewhite's b g Big Ben, 5yrs, 8sec (Farrar) 1.

Mr J Campbell's rn g Seldom Fed, aged, 5sec (Walker) 2.

Mr C Crooks' b m Midge, aged, 10sec (Owner) 3.

HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 30 sovs. About three miles.

Mr T Marr's b m Waikari, 5yrs, 3sec (Owner) 1.

Mr J Barker's br g Dexter, aged, 30sec (Cox) 2.

HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 20sovs. About two miles.

Mr B Edwards' br g Lunatic, aged, 47sec (Owner) 1.

Mr J Barrett's ch g Bachlieu, aged, 15sec (Owner) 2.

Mr A Grimmer's blk g Mosquito, aged, 20sec 3.

HANDICAP NOVEL TROT (in saddle) of 20sovs. The winner to be sold immediately after the race, the whole of the proceeds to go to the funds. About two miles.

Mr R Sunderland's gr m Sedgemere Lass, aged, 27sec (Farrar) 1.

Mr V Harris' b g Emulation, aged, 20sec 2.

Mr F Lee's b m Kitty, aged, 20sec 3.



Credit: Star 23 & 25 June 1888

1888 LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING

[Per the "Star's" Pigeon Express]

The Autumn meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held today. The weather being fine, there was a good attendance. The course was in good order except at the turns, where the recent banking improvements have hardly consolidated. The following are results:-

MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr C Dixon's gr m Patience, 6yrs, (Day) 1.

Mr G Burke's b m Jane, 4yrs, (Owner) 2.

Mr J Dewey's b g Jimmy, 5yrs (Edwards) 3.

Hero, Physic, Hard Times, Esau, Lioness, Blossom and Pet also started.

Patience and Jane trotted together for half a mile, when the former began to draw gradually away, and won easily by ten lengths.

Time - 6min 24 1/2sec. Totalisator - £3 10s 6d.

HANDICAP TIME PONY TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. Height 14 hands or under. Two miles.

Messrs W & C Kerr's blk m Tiny, aged, 30ses (W Kerr) 1.

Mr W Horner's gr g Shakspere, aged, scr (Day) 2.

Mr G Mitchell's b g Toby, aged, 30sec (C Kerr) 3.

Billy, Yankee Tom, Miss Polly, Bantam and Nelly also started.

LANCASTER PARK HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 50 sovs; second horse to receive 5 sovs out of the stake. Three miles.

Mr C Hammond's b g Jumbo, 5yrs, 25sec (A Cox) 1.

Mr J Farrar's b g Billy, aged, 35sec (Owner) 2.

Messrs W & C Kerr's b g Wait-a-While, aged, 10sec (W Kerr) 3.

Cock Robin 15sec, M N 40sec, Tommy 40sec, Jenny Cook's 40sec, Jenny Clements' 45sec, Bess 45sec, Money cannon 55sec and Whalebone 60sec also started.

SELLING TROT (in saddle) of 25 sovs. Selling allowances. Two miles.

Mr B Edwards' ch m Madcap, aged, 20sec (Edwards) 1.

Mr W Cavanagh's blk m Black Bess, aged, 20sec (Owner) 2.

Mr Joseph Parkin's ch m Jess, aged, 20sec (Owner) 3.

Never Mind 20sec, Physic 20sec, Jubilee 20sec, Tomboy 20sec, and Fidget 20sec also started.


Credit: Star 31 March & 2 April1888

1892 CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB: WINTER MEETING

President, Mr Hugh McIlraith. Vice-Presidents, Messrs William Boag and Edwin Blake. MHR Stewards, Messrs G W McRae, W Tonks, A L Myers, Jos Perkins, Jas Jackson, H McIlraith, E Blake, MHR, Wm Boag, C Amyes. Judge, Mr Wm Boag. Hon.Treasurer, Mr H McIlraith, Time-keeper, Mr H Reynolds. Starter, Mr H J Derrett, Clerk of the Course, Mr F Mulholland. Clerk of the Scales, Mr J Kerr. Handicapper, Mr J Heslop. Secretary, Fred Mills.

The sou-west rain of Friday night made the track heavy and slippery for the Canterbury Trotting Club's Meeting. Though the day was bright there was a cold wind blowing, and this, no doubt, kept many people away. There was, however, a fair attendance.

Before the races started Mr Friedlander applied to be heard with reference to his nominations, but the Committee decided that they had been insufficiently addressed, and consequently they objected to allowing his horses to start. Mr Friedlander put in a claim to be allowed to start them notwithstanding the decision of the Stewards present.

The trotting throughout was of a rather mixed order. Owing to the breaking of Coronella and Spinaway in the Maiden Erin's Hope probably owed her victory. In the Handicap Pony Trot May failed to show form she has previously done, and Parnell, who was dressed in his best, travelled throughout faster than any one of his bigger opponents, and won easily. Berlinda and Tennessee, daughters of Berlin, finished first and second respectively in the Telegraph Handicap in harness, and Blue Gown secured third place on sufferance.

The Addington Plate Handicap, in saddle, proved the foregone conclusion it was voted for Nilreb, who had Marahuna caught at the end of a mile. The most interesting event of the day was the three-mile harness race, won by Sonny, who, with JM, had all their work cut out to make up their ground on some of the leaders, though Sonny had the race won half a mile from home. An exciting finish between Coronella and the Auckland pony Shamrock III, wound up the afternoon's sport.

Following are the results:-

MAIDEN STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle), of 20 sovs. Two miles.

Mr J Breslin's br m Erin's Hope by Berlin, 5yrs, 12sec (Johnston) 1.
Mr A Scott's b m Coronella, 4yrs, 10sec (Scott) 2.
Messrs J & J Murray's b m Spinaway, 6yrs, 10sec (Jas Murray) 3.

Idaho scr(C Kerr), Alyth 7sec(McDonnell), Oaklands 7sec(Mitchell), Orizabo 7sec, Vixen 10sec, Apprentice 15sec(King) also started.

Erin's Hope went to the front early, and kept the lead all the way, though twice closely pressed by Coronella, who broke up and spoilt her chance, and finished four lengths away. Spinaway, who broke repeatedly at the early part of the race, 70yds away, Idaho fourth. Time, 6min 28 1/2sec. Dividend - £3 11s 6d.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs; second pony 2 1/2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

Mr R Ray's blk g Parnell, aged, 10sec (Owner) 1.
Mr F Whitehead's b m Taradale, 8sec (Owner) 2.
Mr T Williams' b g Scotty, 12sec (Turton) 3.

May 1sec, Belle 17sec, Hickory 20sec also started.

Won very easily. Time, 6min 23 1/2sec. Dividend - £1 11s.

TELEGRAPH STAKES HANDICAP (in harness) of 25 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. One and a half miles.

Mr H Mace's b m Berlinda by Berlin, 5yrs, 34sec (Milne) 1.
Mr J Murray's b m Tennessee, 5yrs, 30sec (Vallance) 2.
Mr W T Oliff'sb h Blue Gown, aged, 16sec (Oliff) 3.

Sandgate 6sec(Edwards), Venus 15sec(Hamil), Colonial 23sec(Barns), Alyth 32sec(McDonnell), General 32sec(J Munro), Kentucky Wilkes 34sec(Needham), Miss Sligo 34sec(Moorehouse), Lincoln Yet 36sec(Jackson), Vulcan 36sec(Seaton), Daphne 38sec(Douglas).

Berlinda got to the front early and was never headed, winning by 20yds; a poor third. Time, 4min 57 1/2sec. Dividend - £4 5s.

ADDINGTON PLATE HANDICAP (in saddle) of 55 sovs; second 5 sovs from the stake. Two miles.

Mr W Kerr's b g Nilreb by Berlin, 4yrs, 24sec (W Kerr) 1.
Mr T Whitehead's b m Marahuna, 40sec (Owner) 2.
Mr H T Brewer's b g Rover, 28sec (M Edward) 3.

Bob II 30sec(Linskey), Highfield 36sec(Wright) also started.

After they had gone a mile Nilreb went to the front and won easily by 60 yards, pulling up the last part of the journey; a poor third. Time, 6min 3 1/2sec. Dividend - £1 8s.

HANDICAP DISPOSAL STAKES (in saddle) of 15 sovs. Two miles.

Mr J Filson's br g Pegasus, aged, 10sec (Owner) w.o.

Pegasus was sold for £4 10s to Mr McGregor.

STEWARDS' PLATE HANDICAP (in harness) of 55 sovs; second 5 sovs from stake. Open to all horses that have put up a harness record of 9min 30sec, or its equivalent either as first, second or third. Three miles.

Mr C Bridson's ch g Sonny, aged, 22sec (Munroe) 1.
Mr J Gaskins' g m JM, aged, 30sec (Gaskin) 2.
Mr T Walker's b m Elsie Gay, aged, 40sec (Walker) 3.

Venus 32sec(Hamil), Diplomacy 52sec(Goslin), Shela 52sec(Jarden), Timbuc 58sec(Jones).

Timbuc led from the first to the end of the third round, when Shela drew level, and first one and then the other was in front, but both broke in the fourth round and let in Elsie Gay, who, after a fair trial of pace with Timbuc, shook him off. JM and Sonny in the fifth round closed on Elsie Gay, and Munroe, who drove very patiently, then took Sonny to the front and won finally by fifty yards, JM who was not handled in the same workmanlike manner as the winner, after a good set-to just beat Elsie Gay for second place. Timbuc fourth. Time, 9min 8sec. Dividend - £1 14s 6d.

ELECTRIC STAKES HANDICAP (in saddle) of 25 sovs; second 5 sovs from the stake. One mile.

Mr A Scott's br m Coronella by Lincoln Yet, 4yrs (Brake) 1.
Mr M Edwards'blk g Shamrock III, aged, 16sec (B Edwards) 2.
Mr J Jarden's b g Unknown, 4yrs, 17sec (Jarden) 3.

Coronella went away in capital style, and soon overtook Unknown and Jess II, and led the last half a mile. Shamrock III who began rather badly, finished up the straight in good style, and only failed by the shortest of heads; a poor third. Time, 3min 1 1/2sec. Dividend - £7 7s 6d.

A protest was entered against Coronella on the ground that she had shown a reversal of form on her maiden effort. It was argued that a change of riders, the improved state of the track, and an alteration in shoeing had contributed to Coronella's success, and the stewards rightly disallowed the protest.

£1354 was passed through the totalisator.

Credit: The Press 6 June 1892

1893 LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING

Handicappers - The Committee; Starter - Mr H J Derrett.

The weather is fine for the Autumn Meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club, and the attendance is large. The following are details of the racing:-

HANDICAP MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. One mile.

Mr H Meeson's blk g Empire, 4yrs, 12sec (B Edwards) 1.

Mr F Johnston's ch m Lina, 6yrs, 10sec (Owner) 2.

The Duke 5sec, August 5sec, Glengarry 8sec, Lady Linton 8sec, Peerswick 8sec, Moonlight 8sec, Luna 8sec, St Elmo 8sec, Moor Lad 8sec, Opossum 8sec, Acrobat 8sec, Elsie 10sec, Milly 10sec, Bilbah 10sec, Rena 12sec and Silver Grey 12sec also started.

Lina took command in the first quarter of a mile, and led until two hundred yards from home. Here, however, she broke, and Empire going on won by fifteen yards.
Time 3min 7sec. Dividend £4 14s.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. One mile.

Mr G King's b g Apprentice, aged, 25sec (Owner) 1.

Mr C Kerr's gr m Meliora, aged, 21sec (Owner) 2.

Mr A Guy's blk m Miss Irwell, aged, 10sec (Owner) 3.

Bide-a-Wee II 14sec, Empire 16sec, Miss Sligo 18sec, Taradale 18sec, Uncle Tom 19sec, Lady Maud 19sec, Lily 19sec, Sefton 21sec, Tit 21 sec, Toby II 23sec, Nona 23sec, Lulu 23sec, Nipper, Princess May 28sec also started.

Apprentice made all the running and just lasted long enough to win by ten yards from Meliora. Time 3min 8 1/2 sec. Dividend - £40.

AUTUMN HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 75 sovs. Two miles.

Mr R Hill's br m Newlyn Maid, aged, 46sec (Owner) 1.

Mr J Marsden's ch g The Joker, aged, 46sec (J Hill) 2.

Mr J Adcock's blk m Hippias, aged, 41sec (C Kerr) 3.

Victor scr, Maid of Ulster 28sec, Bonniveen 30sec, Eos 32sec, Westleigh 34sec, Billy Buttons 39sec, Le Corbeu 41sec, Gentle Annie 46sec and Ballance 46sec also started.

Gentle Annie made the running for one round, when The Joker took command and went on in front until 200 yards from home. Here Newlyn Maid and Hippias joined the leader and a great finish resulted in Newlyn Maid winning by a head from The Joker, with Hippias a similar distance aay third. Time 5min 49 3/4sec Dividend - £65.

STALLION HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 50 sovs. Two miles.

Mr H Mace's br h Berlin Abdallah Walk Over.

INITIATORY HANDICAP CLASS TROT (in harness) of 50 sovs; second hrse 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr W Kerr's ns br g Ringwood, aged, 19sec (Owner) 1.

Mr T Roderigue's blk h Victor,aged, scr (Owner) 3.

Young Irvington 11sec, Nilreb 13sec, Shamrock 13sec, Lady Warbeck 27sec and Regina 27sec also started.

Ringwood got to the front in the second round, and going on won by ninety yards from Victor. Time 5min 25sec. Dividend - £1 19s 6d.

LANCASTER PARK HANDICAP TROT (in harness) of 50 sovs; second horse 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr A G Holmes' b h General Tracy, aged, 17sec (C Harrold) 1.

Mr W Jardine's gr m Belle Mahone, aged, 21sec (Munroe) 2.

Time 5min 52sec. Dividend - £2 12s.

HANDICAP SELLING TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs. One mile.

Mr J Hanna's b g Wangaloo, aged, 17sec (E Murfitt) 1.

Mr H Skiffington's fn m Commodore, aged, 20sec (Owner) 2.

Time 2min 59sec. Dividend - £7 3s. The winner was bought in at £16 10s.

FINAL HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 25 sovs; second horse 2 1/2 sovs. One mile.

Mr B Edwards' blk g Raven, aged, 10sec (Owner) 1.

Mr J Adcock's br m Hippias, aged, 12sec (C Kerr) 2.

Time 2min 51sec. Dividend - £2 8s.

Credit: Star 1 Apr 1893