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1892 PLUMPTON PARK TROTTING CLUB: SPRING MEETING

Handicappers, the Committee; Starter Mr H Piper

The annual spring trotting meeting of the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club came off yesterday, the weather after the decision of the second event coming over wet. The attendance was the largest seen on the new ground, quite 1500 people being present, and the sum of £3073 was passed through the totalisators. The trotting was not first-class, but several interesting contests were decided. The following are results:-

HANDICAP MAIDEN TROT (in saddle) of 20 sovs; second horse 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr H Fear's br g Vulcan, aged, 5sec (T Munro) 1.
Mr J S Lewis' b g Commotion (late Hilton), 4yrs, scr (Owner) 2.

Spec 5sec, Album 10sec, Gobo 10sec also started.

Vulcan took the lead in the first quarter of a mile, and, though he broke badly once, won by five lengths from Commotion. Time 6min 28sec. Dividend - £2 3s.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs; second horse 2 sovs. For ponies 14hds 1in and under. One mile and a half.

Mr J Dewey's b g Sambo, aged, 10sec (Owner) 1.
Mr W F Jackman's br g Chuznee, aged, 8sec (Edwards) 2.
Mr J Jardin's gr m Shela, aged, 10sec (Owner) 3.

Parnell scr, Ayrshire Lass 10sec, All Serene 29sec, Merivale 37sec also started.

Merivale led for three-quarters of a mile, when Shela and Chuznee passed him, but Sambo, catching them at the entrance to the straight, went on and won by five lengths from Chuznee. Time 4min 38sec. Dividend £4 6s 6d.

CANTERBURY CENTURY HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 100 sovs; second horse 10 sovs and third 5 sovs. Open to all horses with a 6.10 record or under, or its equivalent. Two miles.

Mr E Barry's b g Stonewall Jackson, 5yrs, 33sec (J Milne) 1.
Mr A McFarlane's br g Wakarara, aged, 40sec (Murfitt) 2.
Mr E Leaver's br g Hassen, 5yrs, 20sec (Wright) 3.

Contractor scr, Star Of Honour 10sec, J M 15sec, Lady Jane 20sec, Maid of Ulster 30sec, Regina 31sec, Rosewood 31sec, Paulina 33sec, Bridal Rose 33sec, May Queen 33sec and Mary 40sec also started.

Wakarara at once drew out and made the running until a quarter of a mile from home. Here Stonewall Jackson caught him, and, going on won comfortably by fifty yards from Wakarara, with Hassen, twenty yards away, third. Time 5min 47 1/2sec. Dividend - £9 9s 6d.

HANDICAP SELLING TROT (in harness) of 20 sovs. One mile and a half.

Mr W Fox's (ns) b m Snowdrop, aged, scr (Owner) 1.
Mr T Waddington's ch m Fairholm, aged, 4sec (Moorhouse) 2.

Fairholm remained in front until the straight was reached, when Snowdrop ran up to her, and drawing out, won by five lengths. Time 5min 10sec. The £1 on Snowdrop was returned. The winner was bought in at £9. Dividend: The money was returned to the solitary investor, no percentage being charged.

RICCARTON PLATE HANDICAP (in harness) of 25 sovs; second 2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

Mr A McFarland's br g Wakarara, aged, 36sec (Murfitt) 1.
Mr H Mace's br g Bedale, aged, scr (Stace) 2.
Mr J Bowes' b m Pride of Erin, aged, 30sec (Gosling) 3.

Lady Jane 17sec also started.

Wakarara travelled nearly as fast as the scratch horse for the first half mile, but at the end of the first mile Bedale broke when he had taken 15sec off his handicap. In the next mile he broke repeatedly, and only got up in time to beat Pride of Erin for second money, being 40yds behind Wakarara who won easily. Time, 6min 20sec. Dividend £3 2s 6d.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 35sovs; second 5 sovs from stakes. Two miles.

Mr T Waddington's b m May Queen, aged, 33sec (Moorhouse) 1.
Mr E Bowes' ch g Roy, aged, 2sec (Angus) 2.

Diana 24sec and Broomlands 26sec also started.

Roy had gained half his handicap in the first mile but tired and broke, and when within 4sec of May Queen broke again and was beaten a hundred yards. Time, 5min 8sec. Dividend £2 2s 6d.

MAIDEN TROTTING RACE (in harness) of 20 sovs; second 3 sovs from the stake. One mile and a half.

Mr F Magon's gr m Bonniveen, 5yrs, 5sec (Fox) 1.
Mr F Holmes' br g Oddfellow, aged, 5sec (Munro) 2.

Little Maid 9sec and Vixen 9sec also started.

Bonniveen got to the front at the end of a mile, and won easily. Time, 5min. Dividend £4 18s 6d.

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

Mr E Bowes' ch g Roy, aged, scr (Angus) 1.
Mr J Jardin's b g Unknown, 3yrs, 13sec (Owner) 2.
Mr E Barry's br g Stonewall Jackson, 5yrs, 9sec(5sec pen)(Milne) 3.

Jubilee II 13sec and Miss Irwell 14sec also started.

Won after a good race by five lengths, a neck between second and third. Time, 2min 50sec. Dividend £1 15s.



Credit: The Press 11Nov1892

CANTERBURY PROGRESS

In the early 'eighties, coursing was a very popular sport in Canterbury, and for some time it flourished at the old Plumpton grounds, situated near Hornby. Subsequently, race meetings were held on the same property, but they never took on with the public. This led to a change of venue to Sockburn, where a body known as the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club carried on for some years, with varying success. After some years the racing element dropped out, and then was formed the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, now known as the Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

Though its history is only a short one, no body in the Dominion did more to bring light-harness racing up to its present high standard than the Canterbury Trotting Club. In the year of its inception, 1888, meetings were held at Lancaster Park, Lower Heathcote, New Brighton and Plumpton Park. At that period totalisator permits could be had almost for the asking, and, indeed, there were more meetings then than there are at the present time. All these convincing-grounds, with the exception of Lancaster Park, were some distance from the city and not easy to access. Present-day racegoers who complain of the tedious transport to meetings do not know how well provided for they are. In the 'eighties the only public vehicles plying to the New Brighton course, for example, were drags, buses and carriers' carts most of which had seen better days. Packed in like sardines, the good-natured sportsmen made light of their troubles, even though these frequently included a breakdown in the treacherous bit of road leading from the Bower Hotel to the trotting ground.

To bring the sport nearer home a number of enthusiasts got together early in 1888 and resolved to utilise the Addington Showgrounds as a racing headquarters. That area was particularly well adapted for the purpose, as a small grandstand was available, and little trouble was experienced in laying out a half-mile track. So the Canterbury Trotting Club came into existence, and held its inaugural meeting on April 9, 1888.

A glance through the names of its officials should be instructive to those who retain the old idea that trotting had little standing in those times. That genuine sportsman Mr W Boag figured as president, with Mr J Deans and Mr J C H Grigg as vice-presidents. Prominent among the stewards were such well known men as Hon J T Peacock, Messrs George King, H Chatteris, A W Money, J T Ford, S Garforth, J Fergusson, and W Henderson. Most of these gentlemen were keenly interested in the welfare of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which owned the grounds. At that first meeting Mr George King acted as judge, and Mr F W Delamain as starter, and the handicapping was entrusted to Messrs A I Rattray and H Piper. Seven event constituted the day's bill-of-fare, and stakes of from £20 to £35, the total reaching only £160. What a difference the intervening years have made in prize money.

An auspicious start was made, for in the very first event the two handicappers had the satisfaction of seeing a dead-heat between J Baxter's Dexter and G Burke's Jane. As was customary, the dead-heat was run off later in the afternoon and Dexter made no race of it. The Akaroa-owned stallion Victor, driven by his owner, J Rodriques, scored an easy win in the three-mile saddle trot, from Oliff's Bluegown and W and C Kerr's Gipsy. The corresponding harness event, also run over three miles, went to E Young's The Rogue, who was followed home by W and C Kerr's Wait-a-While. It is estimated that over a thousand people were present at the gathering. Messrs Hobb's and Goodwin's totalisator handled £1484.

Bad weather mitigated against the Club's second venture, held a few months later, and as a result only about 400 patrons turned out, and £889 was the totalisator 'main.' Within the first year of its existence the new club held four meetings, which did much to establish it in popular favour. Its progressive officials were soon enabled to increase the stakes considerably, and eventually races confined to stallions and juveniles were instituted. So mixed were the competitors that enormous starts were necessary to bring the fields together. On one occasion Mr D Barnes's Richmond won the Association Grounds Cup from the 115sec mark, and such flyers as Victor and Young Irvington frequently were asked to concede up to 30sec in mile events.

The introduction of races for stallions in the early 'eighties did much to popularise the club's winter meetings. These brought out such well-known stallions as Specification, Brooklyn, Viking, Imperious, Electioneer, Kentucky, Wilkin, Berlin Abdallah, General Tracey and Emerson. Some years later the executive made another progressive movement by instituting a race for 2-year-olds, known as the Juvenile Stakes, with £200 attached to it. This was the first effort made by any club to introduce early speed, but results showed that it was a little in advance of the times. The first two of these races was won by Mr J A Buckland, with Valiant and The Heir, but it was quite apparent that few Canterbury trainers had sufficient knowledge to get their juveniles ready for 2-year-old racing.

After being in existence for 12 years the career of the Canterbury Trotting Club was brought to a conclusion in dramatic circumstances. Just before the present century opened, Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club decided to purchase a course at Addington, next door to the Showgrounds, and reconstituted itself as the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. When it was pointed out to the Minister of Internal Affairs that the two clubs intended to race with only an iron fence between them, he stepped in and insisted on an amalgamation. The wisdom of this action, though it was resented by many at the time, has since become most apparent. Several of the Canterbury Trotting Club's officials were elected to similar positions with the new body, and any resentment originally engendered soon wore off. That the amalgamation was fully justified is evidenced by the phenomenal success that has attended the efforts of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. Its present headquarters are easily the best appointed in the Southern Hemisphere, and on its track most of the Dominion's time records have been established. Some years ago the course had another change of ownership, as a result of a deal between the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. Both these clubs now race on it, and are likely to do so for many a year.

Undoubtedly the biggest lift ever given trotting was the elimination of proprietary interests. Many of those who had the management of courses in the early days were thorough sportsmen, whose chief aim was the betterment of the sport. Unfortunately, others were not quite as scrupulous, and this, to some extent, may account for the decline of such clubs as those that raced originally at Plumpton Park, New Brighton and Lower Heathcote. Under proprietary conditions, stakes seldom amounted to much over a century, while it was not uncommon to find horses racing for £25 stakes. Naturally, this did not make for the cleanest racing, and many owners depended more on what could be made out of the totalisator than on the stake money. This unsatisfactory state of affairs gradually disappeared as a result of judicious legislation by the NZ Trotting Conference and the NZ Trotting Association, two bodies that must be given every credit for bringing the conduct of trotting up to its present high standard. In club management there has been a corresponding improvement, which is reflected in the conduct of all present-day meetings. Nowhere in the world has trotting made such swift advancement as in NZ during the past quarter of a century.



Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 28Mar51

POPULAR NEW YEAR MEETING AT ADDINGTON

The old-established Canterbury Park Trotting Club will be the first in Canterbury to use the doubles totalisator. The unit for this innovation at the club's summer meeting on 31 December and January 2 will be of 10/-.

The Canterbury Park Club's meeting at New Year has always been a most popular fixture, and some of the best horses of both gaits compete here annually. Last season Highland Fling gave the public some great thrills when he finished third in the principal event on the first day and, from his long mark of 96yds in the Mason Handicap, of a mile and five furlongs on the second day, he ran Plunder Bar, 24yds, to a length. Dundee Sandy, Loyal Nurse and Knave of Diamonds were other high class pacers competing at the club's meeting last New Year, and this year's classes, with liberal prize-money, are again expected to attract some of the best horses of both gaits.

A semi-classic race that has become a big draw card for the Canterbury Park Club is the Charles Cross Stakes, named after a former president of the club. The Charles Cross Stakes is for three and four-year-olds, and this mile and five furlongs event never fails to attract most of the best horses of their ages in the Dominion.

The Canterbury Park Club's origins go well back into last century. In 1888 its sponsors organised dog racing. Later it ran mixed programmes for gallopers and trotters and finally concentrated on trotting meetings. From the modest £255 given in stakes at the first meeting, the total has grown to £15,100. In 1894 a committee of several men who made their mark in racing and trotting circles was appointed to the management. Among them were Messrs R J Mason, F Beverley, J L Carl, J Cresswell, A S Clarkson, J A Holmes, A Loughrey, G McKay, E W Roper, and C S Howell, the latter being chairman. The following year the club sought the services of Mr A I Rattray as secretary, and this distinguished and far-sighted pioneer was one of the finest investments the Canterbury Park Club and the sport of trotting in general ever made.

The club was for many years known as the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, the name of the property on which it raced. In 1920 the club changed its name to Canterbury Park. Two years later when the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club planned to move to a block of land it had purchased in Lower Riccarton (now an expansive state House settlement), the Canterbury Park Club purchased the plant and equipment at Addington for £15,000 and took over the lease of the Addington property. Eventually the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club abandoned its Riccarton project and has been a tenant of the Canterbury Park Club ever since.

As the secretary of the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs, Mr H E Goggin remarked after the recent record NZ Cup meeting, "trotting is in the people's blood," and the Canterbury Park Club has reason to look forward to a share in this ever-widening public appeal over the New Year period.




Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 14Dec49

May 7 - Canterbury Aviation Company (founded the previous year by Henry (later Sir Henry) Wigram) makes first flights from Sockburn Aerodrome, NZ's first airport. Previously the home of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club.

December 1 - As a contribution to the war effort 6pm closing of hotels was introduced. This legislation was to remain in force until 1967 when the licensing hours were extended to 10pm.

Conscription includes Maori for the first time.

The Sign of the Kiwi opens.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club conducted its inaugural meeting at the Addington Racecourse, now known as Addington Raceway, on Monday 6th November, 1899.

On Tuesday 22nd June of that year a resolution by the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club that the name of the newly formed Club be changed from the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club to mark the beginning of a new era in Trotting.

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.

In January 1888 the Canterbury Trotting Club was formed and conducted its Meetings at the new A & P Showground at Addington. This Club later amalgamated with the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. The original Metropolitan Secretary, Mr A I Rattray, was also Secretary of the Canterbury Trotting Club.

Most Clubs racing at this time were proprietary Clubs with the operating profits going to the promoters.

In 1888 there was a move by the Lancaster Park Cricket Company for the Trotting Club to assume a separate identity from the Cricket Company, to pay a rental for the use of the grounds and become a Club whose sole aim was the promotion of Trotting. The shareholders of the Cricket Company ceased to have any say in the management and in 1890 the Club was controlled entirely by Trotting enthusiasts. In that year (1890) the principal Officials of the Club were: Stewards, D Barnes, C Louisson, V Harris, G McHaffie, J Perkins and L Wilson; the Starter was C O’Connor and the Secretary, A I Rattray.

The new regime operated as a proprietary Club until March 1892 when the Cricket Company decided not to allow a proprietary Club the use of Lancaster Park for Trotting after the expiry of the existing arrangements. If Trotting was to continue at the Park the Company ruled it must be conducted by an amateur Club that would direct the profit towards stakes rather than towards the income of a few shareholders.

In October 1892 it was reported that the following proprietary Clubs were operating:

Lancaster Park Trotting Club racing at Lancaster Park

Plumpton Park Trotting Club racing at Sockburn

Lower Heathcote Racing and Trotting Club racing at Heathcote

New Brighton Racing Club racing at New Brighton

Matters came to a head in July 1893 when a strong new Club was formed and an application made to the Lancaster Park Ground Company for the use of the Park for four days per year at a rental of £40 per day. The Committee of the old Lancaster Park Trotting Club was very upset at being ousted and obtained a lease of Sydenham Park. To add to the confusion both Clubs applied to race on Friday, 10th November 1893. After much lobbying, approaches to the Colonial Secretary and the presentation of a petition to him the new Club was granted a Totalisator Permit by the Government just prior to the inaugural meeting on Friday, 10th November, 1893. The Club adopted the title of “Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club”. A newspaper report dated 28th December, 1893 stated that the old Lancaster Park Trotting Club had ceased to race. This was the beginning of the end of the proprietary Clubs. In August 1894 there was a protest meeting held to block the old Club racing four days a year at Sydenham Park. This protest was upheld and the old Club then approached the Lancaster Park Sports Committee and, it appeared, without success as the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club was credited with racing at the Park.

In February 1898 it was reported that the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club had each appointed sub-committees to meet and discuss the purchase of suitable land adjacent to Christchurch for the establishment of a Trotting track with facilities but the joint committee did not meet with any success. In July1898 the Lancaster Park Ground Company acquired more land and signified it was agreeable to the track being extended to a half mile if the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club would take up a five year tenancy. At the Annual General Meeting of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club held on 15th August, 1898, a Committeeman stated that more effort should be made by the joint sub-committee to find a new ground and that if they continued to be unsuccessful then the Club should enter into an agreement with the Lancaster Park Ground Committee. The Deans property at Riccarton had been explored as a possibility. It was advocated at the time that Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club and Canterbury Trotting Club should join forces provided there was no reduction in total permits now held by the two Clubs (Lancaster Park 4, Canterbury 6).

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 was confirmed. This resolution inaugurated the major step which established Trotting at Addington on a sound basis.



Credit: NZMTC Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

PROPRIETARY CLUBS
The Lancaster Park Trotting Club operated as a proprietary Club until March 1892 when the Cricket Company decided not to allow a proprietary Club the use of Lancaster Park for Trotting after the expiry of the existing arrangements.

In October 1892 the following proprietary Clubs were operating:

Lancaster Park Trotting Club racing at Lancaster Park

Plumpton Park Trotting Club racing at Sockburn

Lower Heathcote Racing and Trotting Club racing at Heathcote

New Brighton Racing Club racing at New Brighton

The new regime operated as a proprietary Club until March 1892 when the Cricket Company decided not to allow a proprietary Club the use of Lancaster Park for Trotting after the expiry of the existing arrangements. If Trotting was to continue at the Park the Company ruled it must be conducted by an amateur Club that would direct the profit towards stakes rather than towards the income of a few shareholders.

In October 1892 it was reported that the following proprietary Clubs were operating:

Lancaster Park Trotting Club racing at Lancaster Park

Plumpton Park Trotting Club racing at Sockburn

Lower Heathcote Racing and Trotting Club racing at Heathcote

New Brighton Racing Club racing at New Brighton

Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

An article in the NZ REFEREE dated 27th August 1902 stated:

“A meeting was held on Wednesday, August 20th 1902 between representatives of the NZ Metropolitan, Plumpton Park and New Brighton Trotting Clubs with representatives of the NZ Trotting Association in attendance to consider the problems arising over the allocation of dates during Cup week as there has been an outcry against too much racing and trotting in the one week. Mr P Selig of the NZ Trotting Association was voted to the Chair and after a somewhat heated skirmish between him and the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club an representatives of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, Mr Victor Harris of the Met said that over the previous five years the Plumpton Park Trotting Club had given £6,936 in stakes and their totalisator turnover had been £57,000. In the same period the Met had provided stakes amounting to £16,111 and the totalisator had handled £152,000. It was finally agreed between the delegates that the trotting dates during Cup week should be reduced and thatonly the NZMTC should race in that period.”

In September 1902 it was reported in the NZ REFEREE that Mr A I Rattray, who was acting as Secretary at a conference held between the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs, had forwarded to the NZ Trotting Association the recommendationds from the conference regarding dates which suggested that the NZMTC should have the August, November and Easter dates with a one off date, Plumpton Park TC Boxing and New Year’s Days and the Prince of Wales Birthday and the NBTC a day to be allotted in the second week of March.

The Club’s Spring Meeting held in November 1902 was the most successful Trotting Meeting ever held in New Zealand or any other country outside America it was reported in the NZ REFEREE. The very fine grounds at Addington could not possibly have looked better and favoured by fine weather the Club had received excellent patronage from the public and all previous records in totalisator receipts were bettered. During the three days of the Meeting £23,635 waspassed through the totalisator which represented an increase of over £6,000 more than the previous year. The racing was of a high class nature and no one present could fail ti be satisfied. Trotting under such conditions as could prevail at Addington showed trotting to be a truly great sport. The Premier, the Rt. Hon. R J Seddon, was present on Show Day and availed himself of every opportunity to associate with the sports and pastimes of the people. He spoke in terms of praise of the high standard of the sport provided at Addington.

An article appeared in the NZ REFEREE on 8th April 1903 regarding a trotting match said:

“Though for a number of years past trotting has occupied a prominent place among the sports of the people of New Zealand we have only become accustomed to its real attraction since the establishment of the NZMTC. The NZ Trotting Conference, by its good government, raised the standard of the sport quiteconsiderably and there is little doubt that this improvement led to the expenditure of a large sum of money in the erection of buildings and the preparation of the course by te NZMTC. There is not a finer trotting track outside America; indeed we have very good authority for saying that the track at Addington compares very favourably with the best American courses. As regards stands and other appointments these could not be surpassed so that trotting under the auspices of the leading trotting Club in Australasia has every opportunity to prosper. It is fitting therefore that the great match race to be decided on Saturday between the respective champions of Australia and New Zealand, Fritz and Ribbonwood, should be held at Addington. The contest marks an era in colonial trotting and it may even be said that matches of such importance have rarely been seen decided in America, the home of the trotting horse.”

In March 1904 as many improvements were being carried out at the New Brighton TrottingClub’s grounds and their course would not be available for racing, th Club made application to the NZMTC for permission to hold their Autumn Meeting at Addington. Their application being granted, the New Brighton Club launched out more liberally in the matter of stake money and the programme was reported to be a highly creditable one.

The NZ REFEREE of 22nd June 1904 reported, in a leading article, on the balance sheet of the NZMTC. The eport outlined the amount given in stakes, the various costs incurred and pointed out that assets were to the value of £8,217/14/11 and that there was not a single penny of liability. It was also reported thatduring the year a Peoples Stand, whichwas used during the season, had been provided at a cost of £1,127. The provision of this stand was greatly appreciated by the public who attended the Club’s Meetings in increasing numbers. The article concluded by giving the NZMTC full credit for the many things that it had done in the interests of the sport, prominent amongst these being the encouragement given to the highest class horses, a policy established by past executives of the Club and, if followed by the incoming Committee, would raise the sportsmens’ trust of the Committee of New Zealand’s leading Club.

Rough weather experienced during early August 1904 left the track in such a condition that it precluded any possibility of racing at Addington. The Club’s Stewards approached the Canterbury Jockey Club who forthwith gave permission for the Club to hold its August Meeting at Riccarton. In consequence of the change of venue an dates fresh arrangements had to be made for the closing time of acceptances. The Club was unfortunate in that the change to Riccarton was necessary as its own course was deservedly popular with its patrons but it was anticipated that with the up-to-date facilities available at Riccarton the Meeting would be a successful one. The thanks of all those interested in the humble sport was due to the Canterbury Jockey Club for its magnanimous action.

As early as 1904 the number of races held were the subject of comment and the NZ REFEREE of 7th September of that year stated that in reducing the programme for its Spring Meeting from eight to seven events the Ashburton Trotting Club took a step in the right direction and one that should be greatly appreciated by Christchurch viitors. The date of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s Meeting was 13th October 1904 and the value of the stakes for most events had been increased, notably the Langmor Handicap which was increased to 40 sovereigns.

The NZ REFEREE of 16th November 1904 reported as follows:

“Trotting in Christchurch has gone ahead by leaps and bounds since NZMTC obtained a ground of its own and at the present time there is no more popular sporting rendezvous than the well appointedracecourse at Addington. The sport has progressed in public favour and this was proved by the attendance at last week’s Meeting. Ll classes were represented and, cosmopolitan as a racecourse crowd always is, it must be admitted that Addington attracts people who a few years ago would never have dreamed of attending a trotting meeting. There is no doubt that the good conduct of the sport has had much to do with attracting the patronage of the upper classes’ who formerly were repelled by the unpleasant aroma connected with trotting but are now satisfied that the purification is permanent and effervescent. On th three days of the Cup Meeting there were a large number of visitors whose names were chronicled in the columns of the daily newspapers.There were several Ministers of the Crown, many other Parliamentarians so that altogether the attendance was as representative as present at Riccarton. Very pleasing too was the general high standard of the trotting. It would be idle to assert that there were no cases calling for some inquiry on the part of the Stewards and it may be just as well to suggest to the authorities that in the days of prosperity close attention is just as necessary as it was years ago. During the three days the large sum of £34,930 was invested on the totalisator, an increase of £6,051 when compared with the corresponding Meeting of a year ago. With more accommodation at the receiving and paying out departments this total would probably have been increased. I know the public are rightly blamed for delaying their investments until the very last moment but the arrangements that were adequate a few years ago are not sufficient now when the sport attracts nearly as many people as visit Riccarton. Fr the next big meeting the totalisator houses will have ti be considerably extended.”

In the NZ REFEREE of 24th October 1906 it was reported that the entries received for the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Exhibition Meeting included a thoroughly representative lot of horses. This Meeting was held during the normal Cup Meeting and it was to mark the occasion of the 1906-07 exhibition held in Christchurch in Hagley Park.

The tone of the articles in the REFEREE was the same as that appearing two years earlier and in the issue of 14th November 1906 the following appeared:

"The enterprise of the NZMTC in its endeavours to establish a record Meeting for the colonies was attended with more than gratifying success. High class horse representative of all parts of Australasia were attracted by the mammoth stakes offered and the correspondent said he was sure that the large amount of success that rewarded the visiting owners would be pleasing to all concerned. If it has done nothing else the fixture has shown that trotting, when rightly governed, has advanced to be a sport quite capable of arousing the liveliest interest and commanding the respect of its ever-growing patrons. Though interferred with by rain, both before the Meeting started and during its progress, the track was in first-class order and that no new records were established cannot be ascribed to any short-comings on its part or that of caretaker French. From first to last speculation was of a spirited nature, Friday’s total of £15,604 eclipsing any previous days turnover while the grand total for the Meeting of £48,428 was £9,602 in advance of the 1905 figure when the gathering was confined to three days. The 1906 Meeting, incidentally, was a four day one.”

It was further reported in the same issue of the REFEREE that several well-known visitors were present at the NZMTC’s exhibition Meeting and were interviewed by a representative of the REFEREE and one and all expressed surprise and pleasure at the excellent sport provided and the manner in which the Meeting was conducted. The President of the New South Wales Trotting Club, Mr J Moriarty, said “There is nothing to compare with Addington in Australia and the hole is a revelation to me.” Mr Barnes, a member of the Committee of the New South Wales Trotting Club, was equally emphatic and endorsed Mr Moriarty’s eulogistic comments. He went on to make comparisons between the working of the totalisator in New Zealand and the only medium of speculation in his own country, namely the bookmakers. In his opinion the totalisator with its straightforward working, its cash investment and the practical limit placed upon individual betting was a vast improvement on the system of wagering obtaining in New South Wales. From what he could see, under such beneficent methods, the sport must flourish.

In August 1907 the Committee decided that nominations and acceptances would close at 8pm instead of 10pm.

In 1908 the NZ REFEREE continued to give trotting a good coverage and on 1st July of that year it was reported that the Christchurch Trotting Clubs had had a remarkably successful season as shown by the published balance sheets. It said that if, a few years ago, people ventured to suggest that the poor man’s sport would obtain its present position they were regarded as over sanguineindividuals whose balance was a bit off. However, the most competent predictions came to pass and trotting in NZ at that time ran a good second to trotting in America. The REFEREE had all along maintained that under the sound control of the NZ Trotting Conference and the NZ Trotting Associationthe sport was bound to become popular with the grneral public. Good government had done a great deal for trotting and the establishment of the NZMTC at Addington had had much to do with the progress made in Canterbury during the last six years. Indeed with perfect justice the REFEREE said that the manner in which trotting had been placed before the people at Addington with good stakes, good tracks, clver handicapping and excellent accommodation for the public had played an important part in raising the standard of the sport throughout the country. The REFEREE continued:

“It must never be forgotten that when the establishment of a trotting track at the now famous grounds was first contemplated by the few pioneers who found or guaranteed the money required for the great undertaking there were many difficulties to surmount. It is to the credit of these men that success was achieved and it will be a credit to the trotting world of New Zealand if their services are ever remembered with gratitude. The position of the Metropolitan Club today is one of extraordinary prosperity. It has no liabilities while the assets, including £3,687/13/9 on fixed deposit and £2,846/1/8 cash in hand, are estimated at £14,031/15/5. Everything on the grounds at Addington after writing off £5,798 is valued at £7,489 nothing being now charged against tracks, ground improvements or asphalting. During the season stakes totalled £11,502 and the balance to credit after paying expenses is £2,846/1/8. It will be seen that the Club has over £6,500 in hand with which to start the new season, a position which must be entirely satifactory to Members and gratifying to the Committee. With such a fine balance owners may legitimately expect a big increase in stakes and I am sure it is the general desire that the leading Trotting Club in the country will in the coming season repair the neglect that has hitherto been shown to the pure gaited trotter. What I have written of the Metropolitan Trotting Club applies in less degree to the Plumpton Park and New Brighton Clubs, each has had a good reason and each has a substantial credit balance in cash. All round, the closing season has been one of great progress for the Christchurch Trotting Clubs and therefore all may confidently hope that the sport of trotting will be of a still higher standard during the 1908-1909 season.”

In July 1908 the NZ REFEREE reported that visitors to the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting in August would be agreeably surprised at the many improvements effected for their convenience. The comfort to outside patrons had been studied by the formation of nice graveled paths leading to the totalisator and stands while the bank near the track and the flat have been improved by a thick coating of fine metal. For some time past the Stewards Stand has been found much too small to meet requirements but when improvements are completed it should be eqal to any demands placed upon it. The building has been extended in an easterly direction to nearly twice its previous length and a good deal of the new portion is taken up by enlarged quarters for the Clerk of Scales and drivers’dressing rooms while the top portion is set apart as a stand for owners and trainers. This area is approached by a staircase leading from the weighing room and so keeps it entirely apart from the Press and Stewards Stands. An excellent room has been provided for the President’s use and many other conveniences for those who have the management in hand are included. Large additions have also been made in the tea house which is now nearly twice its normal size.

On June 1st 1910 it was reported in the NZ REFEREE that the Plumpton Park Trotting Club had on Saturday, May 28th 1910 conducted its first Meeting under its new name, the Canterbury Park Trotting Club and that the change of name was noted in the official Calendar on 8th June of that year.

In the issue of 3rd August 1910 the NZ REFEREE reported that the August Meeting of the NZMTC was to be held at the Canterbury Park Trrotting Club’s Sockburn Course instead of Addington but that it was anticipated this would make little difference to the success of that popular fixture. The suburban course was in really fine order and, although not so fast as the one at Addington, it had plenty of qaccommodation for even the largest fields.

The Committee decided that as from the 1910 Cup Meeting the charge for admission to the grandstand enclosure would be five shillings but that outside patrons would have the use of the two stands in their portion of the grounds for the one shilling that they paid at the entrance gates.

The NZ REFEREE of 4th January 1911 gave details of a racecourse riot in Auckland:

“Perhaps the most disgraceful occurrence which has ever taken place on a New Zealand racecourse marked the opening of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting at Alexandra this afternoon. As a result of the trouble only three of the eight races on the programme were run. The first two races were got of wellup to time and the starters for the Pony Cup, anevent for gallopers, ranged up to the barrier within a few minutes of the time advertised on the card. It was soon evident that the starter, who also officiated for the Auckland Racing Cluband several other important bodies, was going to have some trouble as several horses proved rather restive. Every now and again one of the animals would break away, one of them passing the stand six times. It was an hour after the advertised time of strating ther crowd raised the cry of “They’re Off!” and the ponies pounded passed the stand. That was the moment the real trouble started. Some ponies were pulled up while others hesitated long enough to be quite out of the race. The mob invaded the track in front of the Stewards Stand and began to shout ‘No Race! Run it again’. The white flag was hoisted calling the Stewards together and was instantly followed by a red flag indicating that a protest had been entered, a signal which was heralded by much cheering. The mob was highly excited and a serious fight took place between a maori and a pakeha, the police, of whom only a dozen were on the scene, forced a way into the crowd and both competitors were bodily removed amongst the jeers of the multitude. Then there was a wait broken only by occasional cheering and hooting and the music of the Garrison Band which plodded away cheerfully despite the uproar. At last a blue flag appeared, protest dismissed, and at once pandemonium broke loose. The police were powerless to stop the mob rushing the Stewards Stand and all kinds of orators made their appearance to harangue the crowd. One of those who attempted to restore order was Mr A E Glover, M P for Auckland Central, but either the disappointed punters did not hear what he said or they did not care, for his eloquence made no difference. Time continued to slip by without any other developments and the crowd amused itself meanwhile by pelting the Stewards Stand with turf until 5-30pm. By this time the totalisator had paid out on the declared winner of the disputed race and had booked many bets on the Trotting Club Cup for which the horses had taken the course. There was no hope however of getting a clear track so a notice was hoisted ‘Races Postponed Until 2pm Tomorrow. All Bets On Cup Stand.’ Subsequent arrangements were made for an extension of the permit until the following day.”

On 18th January 1911 the President and Treasurer interviewed the Manager of the Union Bank regarding an overdraft but were unsuccessful. An offer of an overdraft of £3,500 or more on 19th January made by the National Bank was accepted. Messrs A I Rattray and G B Ritchie (Treasurer) were the guarantors and the lease was handed to the Bank as security. To protect the guarantors up to £4,000 in debentures was issued at 6% with the right to repay at any time. By November, Half of the debentures had been repaid.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Club held in July 1911 it was pointed out that the total subscriptions received from Members amounted to £258 and that no less than £212 had been spent on luncheons. The Chairman said, in explanation, that a large part of this amount had been necessitatedby the entertaining of guests at the opening of the new grandstand.

An article in the NZ REFEREE of 27th December 1911 reported that trotting had made substantial progress in certain quarters but that there had been a regrettable falling off in the stakes given by the Metropolitan Club. It was believed that this economy was only a temporary one. The Auckland Trotting Club, the Forbury Park Trotting Club and the Otahuhu Trotting Club, who own the freehold of their courses made substantial improvements for the benefit of their patrons who provided the sinews of war. The Forbury Park Club had given stakes up to £500, a position entirely satisfactory to all concerned. In November of that year the Government’s cheque from the Metropolitan Club Meeting was £2,030 a very useful dividend for the Government to draw with little exertion.

A leading article published in the NZ REFEREE of 19th June 1912 stated:

“During the past few weeks the affairs of the NZMTC have been receiving quite an unusual amount of attention and the publicity which was thus given was responsible for the exceptionally large attendance at the special meeting of Members held last Wednesday afternoon to discuss certain motions of which notice in two forms had been given. As our readers may be aware, the movement which brought about last weeks meeting took definite shape at a meeting held a few weeks back in the rooms of the South Island Owners and Trainers Association at which the leading Club in the Dominion came in for some very free criticism. It was stated last Wednesday that the Association was in no way responsible for the special meeting of the Club, which was called in response to a requisition signed by ten members. To all intents and purposes the proposals brought forward formed a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the Club’s present executive. Regarded in that light the result of the meeting was a complete vindication of their policy for as will be seen by the report appearing in this issue each one of the proposals was defeated by an overwhelming majority. Indeed so far as the ‘Reform Party’, to adopt the title which was used by one of their leaders, was concerned they found themselves faced not merely with defeat but absolutely routed at every turn. In a meeting of some two hundred members the largest vote they could command was twenty two and the reverse sustained on the first motion evidently discouraged some of their supporters for on the later proposals their numbers were even less. It has thus been made evident that as far as the Club itself is concerned the discontent is confined to a very small section and that the vast majority of members have no sympathy for the agitation whichhas been raised of late and which has been responsible for a great deal of street corner talk of an undesirable character. At last weeks meeting some of the opponents of the Committee conveyed, by their remarks, some quite unworthy insinuations that certainly did not improve the strength of their case. We hold no brief for the Metropolitan Club but in ordinary justice the members o its executive must be given credit for the work they have done for the advancement of the sport. They have given not only time and thought to the Club’s welfare but have given practical proof of theirdevotion to trotting by making themselves responsible to the Club’s bankers for a guarantee for the sum necessary to meet liabilities incurred. If they made mistakes, and no body of men can claim infallibility, they have at least made them honestly and to that extent should receive the fair play which some of their critics would deny them. Perhaps after all last weeks meeting may have the beneficial effect of a thunder storm clearing the atmosphere and thus mark the beginning of a period of sunshine and increased prosperity for the Club whose development has been such a source of pride to those who have been associated with it .”

In August 1912 the REFEREE, in a write up of the August Meeting, stated:

“This year’s meeting lacked the glamour of last year’s August gathering. It has been aptly demonstrated that it is the good horses who attract the public and this point will no doubt appeal to the executive when framing their future programmes.”

“Entries for the New Zealand Cup, which closed on 21st Audust 1912 two and a half months before the Meeting would have been increased to twenty four had the new owner of Celtic been a little more prompt in sending along a telegram. The message was not received in Christchurch until after 8pm and so the entry had to be refused. Further to the above, entries for the NZMTC’s New Zealand Cup Handicap to be run on Tuesday, 5th November closed on Wedneday 21st August at 8pm with the first payment closing on Wednesday 16th October at 8pm and acceptances closing on Tuesday 29th October at 8pm.”

In March 1913 the H M S New Zealand was in port and arrangements were made for members of the crew to hold a sports meeting at the Addington grounds.

In the issue of 8th July 1913 the NZ REFEREE reported on the affairs of the three local Clubs as follows:

“The three Trotting Clubs which hold the large populace of Christchurch in their hands have held their annual meetings of members and in almost all ways things are as they were and perhaps that is as things should be in every well organized institution. There are however storms in the tea cup of the Metropolitan Club. At the annual meeting it was decided, practically unanimously, to have a stake of £2,000 for the next New Zealand Cup. Immediately after the annual meeting was over the committee of the Club met and confirmed the resolution of members to make Cup to the value of £2,000 and to add another £1,000 to the general stakes for the next spring meetihg making the programme worth £8,000 in all. In last weeks issue of the REFEREE we stated that we believed there had been an opportunity for the Metropolitan Club to obtain the freehold of it’s course and land on which the appointments stand. We are now authoratively informed that the Club had no such opportunity though it might have gone to the owners of the property with some £9,000 as a preliminary deposit. Is there any attempt being made now to obtain the freehold property? We suggested in last weeks issue that the present was an opportune time to establish a reserve fund for the purchase of a freehold course but there was so much hot air about the £2,000 Cup that discussion on more lasting improvements and necessities was neglected.”

In the issues of the NZ REFEREE in July 1913 reference is made to the salaries paid to the Secretary and Handicapper and the general feeling seemed to be that the Committee were not recognizing the efforts put in by these two gentlemen when it came to salary increases.

A resolution was passed by the Committee on 21st November 1913 that a land purchase reserve fund be established with an amount of £2,000. In July 1915, following a decision by the Annual General Meeting, the land purchase reserve was cancelled and the £2,000 was then paid into the current account to meet expenses incurred by land purchases around the Addington Course.

The President in his address to the Annual Meeting on 1st July 1914 said that the question of accommodation was being reviewed and it was necessary to provide more accommodation for the executive on race days. At present the four hundred members with their privileges required seating for about sixteen hundred to two thousand and the Committee, to avoid the great overcrowding, have decided not to elect any new members until the accommodation is enlarged. At present the members gor thirty six tickets during the season of nine days which was good value for their one pound one shilling subscription.

It was reported in October1914 that a proposal to make the Trotting Cup day one of the holidays of carnival week had been generally approved and many business places in Christchurch would be closed on that afternoon.

In the NZ REFEREE of 9th August 1916 it was stated that mile races at the August Meeting on Saturday, Wednesday and Friday would be started by the yards system and owners and trainers would be interested to learn that the necessary arrangements had been made to meet the altered condititions. The Course was surveyed and various handicap distances carefully marked off while at each distance post a Steward was stationed with a barrier which proved effective though simple. The change was being looked forward to with much interestand the Club’s starter intended to do all in his power to carry it out successfully.

In the following week it was reported that the mile races were watched with keenest interest under the new system and that the experiment was generally regarded as successful and further experience no doubt would see the standing start firmly established.

During August 1916 the NZ REFEREE, in a leading article, reported that there had been an interval of two months since the last trotting meeting and though the close of the season may find even the keenest enthusiast glad of a brief rest they are always anxiously waiting for the renewal of active operations for another year. The opening of the premier Club’s August Meeting gave the 1916-17 season a brilliant inauguration and if successes achieved on Saturday may be taken as an indication then the coming year may be regarded with the utmost confidence.

Further, it said that the August Meeting was notable because the Stipendary Stewards appointed by the NZ Trotting Conference were acting for the first time. Those who were expecting some radical action to follow at th first Meeting were perhaps disappointed that the week provided no sensations but the best work of the Stipendary Stewards will be the prevention of abuses rather than inflicting severe penalties for breaches of rules. It was felt that the new system would eventually prove of great benefit to the sport. It was further reported that on many occasions accidents to sulyies caused a delay at the start and in order to be prepared for such emergencies as this the Committee of the Metropolitan Trotting Club decided to procure two sulkies which were kept near the starting post on race days and were available in case of accidents. This provision rendered in unnecessary for a horse to return to the paddock and consequently saved a great deal of time.

In September 1916 the REFEREE reported that when the Metropolitan Trotting Club decided to make an experiment at its August Meeting and have the mile races each day handicapped and started by yards instead of seconds thechange was regarded rather doubtfully by some of the keenest followers of the sport. The experiment however proved so strikingly successful that the Club decided to have all races at its November Meeting dealt with according to the distance system and the example set by the leading Club was followed by several others in the Dominion.



Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

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 1886-7 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 1887-8 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 14, 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 culpable to pay the stake.

During the 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 approaced 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 William, 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 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 advertisment for a Plumpton Park Steeplchase 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 of 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 commented on the return of a Plumpton Park Club, recalling 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 & 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, 1892, offering increased stakes of £220.

On April 4, 1892, the first annual meeting of shareholders in the Plumpton Park Company was held. Mr T Quill was listed as chairman of directors and a profit of £62 was announced.

Mr Quill noted that during the last 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 1896-7 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 1895-6 the club made a profit of £212 and listed its assets at £433/1/4.

In 1896-7 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.

Credit: CPTC: Centennial History

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