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Monte Carlo with Bert Edwards

MONTE CARLO

Monte Carlo was the winner of the first NZ Cup. Writing in "Pillars of Harness Horsedom" F C Thomas, who compiled the first volumes of the NZ Trotting Stud Book, wrote sporting notes for the Christchurch "Press" and "Weekly Press" for many years and was a racing and trotting handicapper, made the following observations.

"Of all the horses that passed through Bert Edwards hands, none gained such esteem in public estimation a did that grand old trotter Monte Carlo. Old "Monte" was owned by that fine old sportsman, Mr Tom Yarr, for whom Monte Carlo won the first New Zealand Trotting Cup, as well as many races from a mile to two miles, both in saddle and harness. In the writer's opinion "Monte" was the greatest all-rounder of his 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 straight-out trotters to have won the New Zealand Trotting 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 2 sec. Later in the same afternoon "Monte" came out and won the big two-mile handicap."


Credit: Pillars of Harness Horsedom: Karl Scott

1904 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP

The inaugural running of the NZ Trotting Cup was for a stake of £310, the greatest amount offered for a harness race in NZ to that time, the winner Mote Carlo, the 'hero of a hundred stubbornly-contested races,' received a wonderful ovation from the hundreds of admirers of the ever-green favourite. The record amount of £2637 was put through the totalisator on the race and the Met was delighted with it's record day's turnover of £13,468.

Norice (dam of Nelson Derby, Nelson Fame and Native King) was driven by D J Price into second place, and Durbar (A Pringle) was third. Monte Carlo's time was 4:44 3-5.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting

1904 NZ TROTTING CUP HANDICAP

Seventy-one years ago the youthful Metropolitan Trotting Club decided to upgrade its main event, the NZ Handicap to the NZ Cup Handicap with the prizemoney rising almost double to the mighty sum of $610.

That first Cup in 1904 has tremendous significance for such a great success was it that the future of the Cup was assured and much of its magic (particularly in Canterbury) stems from the extraordinary events of that sunny November day so long ago.

The first Cup was run on the last day of the traditional Metropolitan meeting and in 1904 it was on what is now Show Day. The field for the inaugural event was not a large one but it had considerable quality by the standards of the day and a crowd of nearly 10,000 turned up to see it run. On a population proportion basis that is equivalent to nearly 50,000 today. Eight races were run and the tote turnover was $37,000 compared with 1974's nearly $800,000, with that much again in TAB investments.

The warm favourite to win was the great imported mare Norice, who has since been a major influence in our breeding scene and was the dam of the outstanding racehorse and sire Nelson Derby. Norice tried to do a 'Gold Bar' in the first Cup, rush to the lead at the start and at one stage being 15 lengths clear of the field in the hands of that colourful adventurer Dave Price. But rounding the last turn, Norice was starting to feel the pinch and the veteran Monte Carlo overtook her and cleared out to win by eight lengths from Norice with Durbar, who was to win in 1908, third and Royalwood next. Royalwood was trained and driven by Lou Robertson who was later a famous racing trainer in Australia, among his wins being the 1937 Melbourne Cup with Marabou.

Monte Carlo, paying $8.80 to win, was given a tremendous reception by the crowd, one that has rarely been matched since. The ladies present showered him with roses and by the time the old gelding reached his stable half of his tail had been plucked by his elated fans. It is not hard to see why Monte Carlo was so popular for he was the veteran to end them all. Depending on your source, he was either 14 or 15 years old the day he won the Cup and had been on the tracks since the 1894 season. By Lincoln Yet, the first foal of the great Pride of Lincoln and an extremely successful sire (he figures in the pedigree of the Rustic Maid family among others), Monte Carlo was originally owned by J Brake and at his only start in 1894 he won a maiden event at the Christchurch Showgrounds by 60 yards.

The next year he had one win from four starts, winning at Lancaster Park by eight lengths after conceding a 22sec start (220m behind today) but failed to win the following season from a handful of starts. Sold to the Greenpark sportsman Tom Yarr, the following season he won once from 20 starts but did better in 1898-99, winning six, including two in succession one a mile and the second over two miles - they certainly made them tough in those days. He gained five wins over the next two years, taking a highly respectable mile time 2:22, and his New Zealand Cup win was his only victory for the 1904 season. Even at that age he was not finished. He raced for two more seasons, being unplaced in 16 attempts in 1905 and gaining one win from nine starts the following year, which was his swan song.

Winning races from 4 to 16 years of age is no small feat but his owner-trainer was a prominent sportsman at that time and he was driven in most of his wins by the great Bert Edwards. Monte Carlo was a straightout trotter and the only one in the first Cup field as pacers were gradually taking over at that time. Only one other trotter has ever won the Cup in the 70 years since Monte Carlo set the ball rolling.

The old trotter was a great favourite with the crowds and though it may be fashionable to look down on some of those old-time champions with their short pedigrees and strange actions, there is no doubt he was a most worthy Cup winner. Perhaps somewhere he is keeping an eye on the 1975 aspirants, quietly chuckling about their strange harness and gear. And if he knew the mana the New Zealand Cup has today, old 'Monte' could justifably say 'I certainly started something there.' He certainly did.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 6Nov75

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

1901 NEW ZEALAND HANDICAP

In 1901 the New Zealand Handicap, the forerunner of the Cup, was confined to horses that could do 5 min or better for two miles and according to "The Referee", "an excellent field of seven went to the post." Mr T Yarr's Monte Carlo, the outsider, won comfortably in 4:50 4-5 beating Albert and Victory.

The unplaced horses were Vickery, The Heir, What and All Day.

Monte Carlo by Lincoln Yet was trained and driven by B Edwards.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Oct44

1902 NEW ZEALAND HANDICAP

In 1902 the class for the New Zealand Handicap was tightened to 4:48, and though the stake had been increased to £200, there were only five starters, the presence of Ribbonwood no doubt frightened several out. This time it was run on the third day of the meeting. It was not an exciting race. Said "The Referee" chronicler: "After being disappointed in an attempt to get up on the rails in the back straight, Ribbonwood was pulled back and to the outside. Once clear he put in a brilliant run, and won comfortably by eight lengths in 4:43, equal to any previous Colonial record for the distant." Ribbonwood was owned, trained and driven by D J Price. Monte Carlo was second and Boldrewood third.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Oct44

1903 CHAMPION HANDICAP

In 1903 the New Zealand Handicap was renamed the Champion Handicap, and was won by Mr J A Buckland's St Simon, by St Louis, driven by C H Piper. C W Hammond's The Needle (owner) dead-heated with Monte Carlo (J Milne) for second.

The class was 4:48 and the stake £300.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Oct 44

TROTTING ANCIENT AND MODERN

How many of the thousands of people who will assemble at Addington on Saturday to witness the 43rd contest for the NZ Trotting Cup have any idea what trotting was like when first established in this province? In the coming race will be found horses which are the acme of physical fitness and grace. Sixty 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 this humbler racing sport has been as meteoric as to make one wonder where its limitations will cease. For instance, when Bert Edwards drove that grand old trotter, Monte Carlo, to victory in the first contest, the stake was only £300, and on a good track the winner took 4.44 2/5 to cover the two miles. In 1910 the value of the Cup had jumped to £1000; in 1913 it was £2000, and in 1929 it had gone up to £4000. Last season it reached £7500, thereby making it the richest stake ever given for a single light-harness race in the world. There has been a corresponding improvement in the times also. Monte Carlo's feat of going the journey in 4.44 2/5 was hailed as a great one at the time, but it looks insignificant when compared with Haughty's 4.13 3/5.

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. I wish that you enthusiasts who know trotting only as it is conducted at Addington today could journey with me to the Heathcote course as it was in the eighties. What a contrast you would notice. The old course was situated on the Sumner Road, just before you came to the bridge. All the arrangements were primitive.

My present concern, however, is more with those old-time trotters which, in their humble way, helped to lay the foundation as it is now. To a few present-day racegoers 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 Yaldhurst, Dick Mason owned Cock Robin and on one occasion rode him to victory in a race at Oamaru. The versatile Dick was just as finished an artist on the back of a trotter as in a galloper's saddle, and this particular win gave the ring a nasty jolt.

Amonst 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 up in the Heathcote River. Both he and his rider had cause to remember that mishap. Perhaps the cheekiest ramp ever attempted at Heathcote was engineered by a then well-known bookmaker with a mare, originally grey. She won several races at country meetings, but a coat of brown paint transformed her into an unknown quantity when she stepped out at Heathcote. She won alright but, unfortunately, it was a hot day. When she pulled up the brown paint had run and she looked more like a zebra than a racehorse. So the fat was in the fire and there was weeping and wailing in the camp of the wrong-doers.

Most of the races were run under the saddle, and it was no unusual thing to find a good horse giving away up to 60sec to 90sec 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 the 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. The Lower Heathcote Trotting Club died a natural death in 1893, but its memory lingers on.

When Lancaster Park was brought into being as a sports and cricket ground, difficulty was experienced in financing it. To help in this way a club known as the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was formed and held meetings on a three-laps-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 Amateur 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 Twiggers Estate at Addington. This meant that two clubs were racing side by side, separated 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 what is today the best-conducted and most influential club in all Australasia - the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.

Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 30Oct46

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

TROTTERS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER NZ CUP

For the first time since 1928, when the American stallion Peterwah was in the field, a trotter - or trotters - will have the opportunity, this year, of competing in the NZ Cup.

The race is for pacers on 4.23 and faster, and trotters on 4.30 and faster, and the only trotters who qualify at present are Dictation, Gold Horizon and Vodka. All are great stayers, and two of them, Dictation and Gold Horizon, are brilliant enough out of the barrier to be capable of adding a lot of interest to the race. If either of these great square-gaiters should go the early part of the race as fast as they have done in races among horses of their own gait, there will be little chance of any pacer slowing up the field and indulging in some of the leisurely first miles that have detracted from some of the leading handicap races of the past.

To this extent the presence of these class trotters will be welcomed; and they will also bring variety to the premier event.

In the meantime, no one will expect spectacular results from the Metropolitan Club's innovation - for an innovation it is under our present handicapping system - but old-timers will reflect nostalgically on the great performances in the past of trotters among the pacers and express a hope that this latest step may eventually bring to light a Reta Peter or a Monte Carlo both of whom won trotting Cups against fields of pacers; and, only in a slightly lesser degree, a Whispering Willie, a Hardy Wilkes, a Trampfast, Wrackler, Bellflower, Electrocute, Peterwah, Muricata, Submarine, or Moneyspider, all of whom defeated high-class fields of pacers at different periods. There were others.

The public, in the past, greatly enjoyed the exhilarating spectacle of a real trotter coming home at the head of a field of pacers. We have seen too little of this kind of sport of recent years, and the Metropolitan Club, we think, is deserving of bouquets and not brickbats, for its bold step in once again opening the gate to its top class races to the trotter; because, if the trotters play their part as well as many of us feel confident they will, their presence among the pacers in other races will naturally follow as a matter of course.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 22Sep54