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PROUD RECORD OF METROPOLITAN CLUB IN ITS JUBILEE YEAR

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, which celebrates its jubilee on Saturday next, like most sporting institutions, developed from small beginnings. Strangely enough, it was started by a body of cricketers who were endeavouring to finance their new ground, Lancaster Park, and needed more 'grist for the mill.'

On May 29, 1886, the first meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held. The meeting had been fixed for May 15, but was adjourned owing to the heavy floods in Christchurch City. The usually peaceful Avon had risen four feet and at several points had overflowed its banks. Three feet of water prevailed at the Railway Station, and Ferry Road, near Lancaster Park, was one sheet of water.

The officers of the club for the first meeting were: Mr Justice Johnston (Judge), C A Culvert (Starter), A M Ollivier (Clerk of Course), C J Penfold (Secretary), and the stewards comprised Dr H H Prins, F Cotton, A E G Rhodes, A C Wilson, F Jones and C Hood-Williams.

There were 1100 persons present, £38 was taken at the gates, and £1512 was invested on the totalisator run by Hobbs and Goodwin. Prize money totalled £125 for five races, the principal event being the Lancaster Park Time Trot of three miles in saddle. The first prize was £40 and the result was as follows:-

FIDGET, B Edwards's, 50secs (ridden by owner) 1

ERIN, D O'Brien's, 45secs (ridden by owner) 2

MALVENA, P Howard's, 50secs (ridden by A J Keith) 3
Time: 9 min Dividend: £12/3/-

The other races were the Maiden Trot of three miles, Time Handicap, Time Handicap Pony Trot and Handicap Time Trot, each of two miles. The course was a third of a mile in length, and consequently the horses were in view of the public all the way.

The Lancaster Park Trotting Club had rather a varied history. Started by members of the Cricket Company, assisted by a few trotting enthusiasts, it struggled along for a few years, and the directors, satisfied with the £40 rental per meeting, were quite ready for any change that would relieve them of managing the trotting club. In due course, the shareholders of the Cricket Company, as such, 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 McClatchie, J Perkins, and L Wilson; secretary: A I Rattray; starter, C O'Connor.

Trotting continued at Lancaster Park util 1899, during which time at least four meetings a year were held. Those thirteen years at Lancaster Park had laid the foundation for something better. The meetings had progressed to a satisfactory degree, and it was realised by the committee that if they were still to go ahead something must be done to obtain their own grounds with better facilities for all concerned.

For some years the Lancaster Park Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club which raced at the show grounds, had been accumulating funds, as a result of their meetings, for the purpose of jointly securing a property of their own, the idea being to form an up-to-date track, with buildings and general surroundings in keeping with the latest American style. To secure the object in view, a joint committee from the two clubs was set up, and a representative of the Canterbury Trotting Club was commissioned to secure a piece of land adjoining the show grounds. The trustees of the property, however, declined to sell for trotting purposes, but subsequently put it up for auction, and a lengthy lease was knocked down to the President of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club at a price below the amount to which the clubs were prepared to go.

But when the grounds had been secured the Canterbury Trotting Club refused to join ownership, their main grievance being that the land was not freehold. Nevertheless, the Lancaster Park Club lost no time in going ahead with the new grounds and in laying what were then paddocks, subdivided by straggling fences, into the finest trotting track in the Southern Hemisphere, with expansive grounds, beautiful gardens, lawns and drives and splendid grandstands.

On moving to the new grounds, the name of the club was changed to the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, and thus was originated the organisation we know today. The first meeting on the new grounds was held on November 6th and 10th, 1899, the stakes for the two days being £2,140 and the totalisator investments £10,695. trotting immediately caught on at the new grounds and the committee tried all sorts of attractions to encourage people to attend.

In 1900, under pressure from the Colonial Secretary, and after a number of conferences with the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, the Canterbury Trotting Club agreed to amalgamate, the arrangement being that each club was to have six of its number on the committee and six stewards. This move strengthened the club considerably besides providing further needed funds. The men who were in charge of affairs in those days were undoubtedly men of great vision. Their faith in the future of trotting was amazing and all their moves were actuated by this faith. With so many natural advantages in the way of flat country and excellent highways, Canterbury, from its infancy led the way in everything appertaining to the breeding and development of the trotting horse.

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club has been particularly fortunate in the men who have been at the head of affairs during the 50 years of its existence. It has had only six presidents, viz: V Harris, 1899 to 1903; G H McHaffie, 1903 to 1905; Hon C Louisson, 1906 to 1924; J H Williams, 1924 to 1940; A L Matson, 1940 to 1945, and C S Thomas, from 1945 to the present time.

Mr Victor Harris, the first president was a great enthusiast and worker for the club when the spadework was being done in transferring to Addington and forming the new grounds. He raced a number of horses which were trained by D J Price, and did a good deal to bring about and finance the Ribbonwood - Fritz match which did so much to place the club on a sound footing.

Mr G H McHaffie, the second president, was also a great enthusiast and one of the most far-seeing officials the club ever had. He was a wholesale merchant in Cashel Street, and bred trotting horses as a hobby, the most notable of his bred being the famous Ribbonwood.

The third president was the Hon Chas. Louisson who held office for 18 years. He was a steward of the Lancaster Park Club when it was taken over from the Cricket Company in 1890, so that he acted as an official of the club for 34 years. His term as president covered the period when great changes were made in erecting buildings and enlarging the Addington grounds and forming it into what we know it as today. One of his greatest services was to make a present of the Cup for the NZ Cup Handicap annually for many years. His name is perpetuated on the foundation stone of the inside public stand, which he laid.

On the death of the Hon C Louisson, Mr J H Williams was elected president and held office for 16 years, during that time he rendered yeoman service to the club. He was an able counsellor on all matters appertaining to the administration of the sport, and was president of the NZ Trotting Association for 14 years. He was also a member of the Racing Commission in 1921. He was one of nature's gentlemen and was held in high esteem by all. He did a lot of very useful work in a quiet unostentatious way and was a tower of strength during the dark days of the depression.

The fifth president was Mr Allan L Matson, who was elected in 1940. He brought to the office youth, energy, ability and enthusiasm, and put a tremendous amount of work into reorganising the club and bringing it to its present popular position. Probably no president has been so universally popular as Mr Matson.

Mr C S Thomas, who has been president since 1945, is a man of very high attainments in the legal profession. He brought outstanding ability, drive and dignity to the position and has done a great deal towards promoting the high reputation and position of the club. He was leading counsel for the trotting authorities before the Gaming Commission, and his work in this direction was freely acknowledged as a masterpiece.

Perhaps the outstanding personality throughout all the years of the club's history was the late Mr A I Rattray, who was secretary of the club from 1890 to 1941. His great experience in all branches of the sport made him an authority on all matters pertaining to it. At various times he acted as handicapper, starter and timekeeper, and he was also the first secretary of the NZ Trotting Association. He did great service in framing the Rules of Trotting and in obtaining Government recognition of the NZ Trotting Association. He was intensly loyal to his club and was always out to create such a standard for it in integrity and prestige that anything which did not measure up 100% in his opinion was scorned. He was an indefatiguable worker and put in long hours when it was required. During the 54 years he was associated with trotting as a secretary, he won great respect and was well known throughout NZ. Undoubtedly his foresight, resolution and faith in the sport placed his club and trotting in Canterbury in the strong position it is in today.


Credit: H E Goggin writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 26Oct49

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

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.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

1892 LANCASTER PARK TROTTING CLUB

Of all the excellent meetings seen at Lancaster Park there never was a better one than that which took place yeasterday.The attendance was larger, the amount of speculation greater and the trotting for some of the events better than has ever been witnessed in Canterbury.

The Prince of Wales' Birthday Handicap saw Dakota, a son of Berlin, to great advantage, and Mr Winsloe's gelding lowered the two-mile winning saddle record to 5min 21sec, while Contractor, who is also a son of Berlin, was third, and he covered the two miles in 5min 13sec - a great performance. Over £1000 was invested in the race.

The Wilkin Stakes, called after the late Mr R Wilkin, who imported many of the best Yankee bred horses, was most fittingly opened, and seldom has such a contest been witnessed in or out of this colony. Tommy, the Timaru gelding, an aged bay, son of Blackwood Abdallah, and Dakota, an aged son of Berlin, driven respectively by C Kerr ans W Kerr, fought out one of the greatest races ever seen. Dakota, who had 5sec start, was prevented from getting through in the early part of the horses in front, and thus Tommy gat a show of placing himself almost on terms, and round after round was covered with Tommy keeping close to the wheel of Dakota's sulky, the latter tripping within thirty yards of the post. More excitement has perhaps never been witnessedin a race on a trotting track before. The winner, C Kerr, receiving a tremendous ovation, as also did his brother W Kerr, who was beaten, and the rival aadmirers of the Berlins and Blackwoods were in a great state of ferment over the result, the harness recordsof Kentucky and Rarus having been lowered by both Tommy and Dakota. The latter later on covered a mile in 2min 40 1/4sec. The sum of £4758 was passed through the totalisator.

The following are details of the racing up to the time of our going to press:-

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

Mr G Keats' b m Miss Molly, 6yrs, 8sec (Owner) 1.
Mr A Scott's br g Spreydon Led, 4yrs, 8sec (Moorhouse) 2.
Mr A Hope's b g G O M, aged, 7sec (Hume) 3.

Ouida 4sec, Orizaba 4sec Wangaloa 6sec and Bess 8sec also started.

Miss Molly led all the way, and won by two lengths from Spreydon Lad. Time 3min 7 1/2sec. Dividend - £9 9s 6d.

HANDICAP PONY TROT (in saddle) of 15 sovs. 14.2 or under. One mile.

Mr E Bowe's br g Bobtail, aged, 14sec (C Kerr) 1.
Mr W F Jackman's br g Chuznee, aged, 6sec (Edwards) 2.
Mr J Morrison's b m Ayrshire Lass, aged, 8sec (Hill) 3.

Alice Gray 15sec, Nona 16sec, Apprentice 19sec, Merivale 23sec, Merlinda 23sec, Tite 25sec, Maritana 25sec also started.

Tute led for one round, when he bolted and Bobtail, taking command in the second round, won by five lengths from Chuznee. Time 3min 12sec. Dividend - £1 18s.

THE PRINCE OF WALES' BIRTHDAY HANDICAP TROT (in saddle) of 100 sovs; second horse 10 sovs and third 5 sovs. Two miles.

Mr J G Winsloe's b g Dakota by Berlin, aged, 30sec (W Kerr) 1.
Mr F McCafferty's br m Rosewood, 3yrs, 35sec (Harrold) 2.

Mr R Sutherland's b m Paulina, aged, 36sec (Needham) 3.

Contractor scr, Tommy (Moore's) 15sec, Tennessee 28sec, Victoria II 30sec, Maid of Ulster 30sec, Tommy (Henricksen's) 35sec, Wakarara 36sec, Spec 44sec also started.

Pauline led for a mile, when Dakota passed her and, drawing right away won by one hundred yards from Rosewood who was therefore distanced. Time 5min 21sec. Dividend - £1 19s.

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

Mr T Waddington's ch g Fairholm, aged, 23sec (Moorhouse) 1.
Mr M Taylor's b g Jubilee, aged, 10sec (M Edwards) 2.

Zetland 16sec, Bobtail 18sec(2sec pen), Miss Molly 16sec(5sec pen), Broomlands 21sec, Tinker 21sec, Icicle 23sec, Apprentice 25sec.

Won easily by twenty yards. Time, 3min 5sec. dividend £1 15s.

THE WILKIN STAKES, a handicap in harness of 50 sovs; 5 sovs from the stake for second. Open only to horses that have American strains of trotting blood either on the sire or dam's side. Two miles.

Mt W Moore's b g Tommy by Blackwood Abdallah, aged, 15sec (C Kerr) 1.
Mr J G E Winsloe's b g Dakota by Berlin, aged, 20sec(10sec pen)(W Kerr) 2.
Mr J Shaw's b g Contractor by Berlin, 6yrs, scr (Allen) 3.
Mr J Sleightholme's blk m Diana by Blackwood Abdallah, aged, 33sec (Edwards) distanced.

After going once round, Dakota assumed command, being temporarily checked, however, by the leaders. This gave Tommy a chance of getting up, and on entering the second round he was within a length and a half of Dakota. In the next round he had got within half a length, and at every stretch of straight struggled hard to get up amidst the greatest excitement. In the fourth round he got almost on level terms, but again Dakota responded and was fully half a length to the good. Entering on the final round Dakota was a length to the good, and the shouting and cheering seemed to cause the horse to strain every effort. As they turned for home, with Dakota only a neck in advance, the cheering increased. At this stage the inner wheel of the sulky in which Dakota was driven caught the grass and he broke, and Tommy just got home by a bare half length, the greatest enthusiasm being shown, the others pulling up. Time, 5min 30 3/4sec. Dividend £2 10s.

PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP (in saddle) of 40 sovs; 5 sovs for second. Two miles.

Mr O Digby's b m Josephine, 6yrs, 35sec (Digby) 1.
Mr C Harold's b m Miss Cave, 6yrs, 25sec (Owner) 2.
Mr A G Holmes' ch g Bridal Rose, 4yrs, 29sec (Price) distanced.

Tom 10sec, Magpie 25sec, Maid of Ulster 27sec, Fairchild 27sec, Gipsy's Warning 28sec, Parnell 28sec, Peppermint 32sec, Louie 33sec, Factory Girl 35sec, Lightning 37sec, Rosewood 40sec also started.

Josephine went to the front and stopped there throughout. At the end of the first mile Parnell was second, but Miss Cave then passed him and made up a few seconds on her handicap, but could not get up, Josephine winning by about ten lengths, Bridal Rose distanced. Time, 5min 37sec. Dividend £19 12s.

LANCASTER PARK HANDICAP (in harness)of 40 sovs; 5 sovs for second. Two miles.

Mr A Jardine's b m Dorothy, 44sec (Farrar) 1.
Mr A G Holmes' b m Lady Jane, 20sec, distanced.

Contractor scr, Wakarara 30sec(10sec pen), Hippias 33sec, Pride of Erin 33sec, Boulanger 42sec, Chaos 42sec, Spec 44sec, Lena 44sec also started.

Dorothy soon forged ahead and never gave her opponents a chance, winning easily, Lady Jane failing to come within the distance, Contractor being within two lengths of Lady Jane. Time, 6min 5sec. Dividend £3 2s.

THE FINAL HANDICAP (in saddle) of 25 sovs; 5 sovs for second. Two miles.

Mr J G E Winsloe's b g Dakota, aged, 8sec(5sec pen)(W Kerr) 1.
Mr F Wright's br g Le Corbeau, aged, 22sec (Owner) distanced.

Madcap 6sec, Jess II 9sec, Miss Cave 12sec, Josephine 13sec, Coronella 12sec, Unknown 13sec, Factory Girl 18sec, Orizaba 18sec, Miss Irwell 19sec, Lightning 19sec, Vulcan 20sec, Locket 21sec, Broomlands 22sec.

Le Corbeau went strong all the way, but Dakota, who travelled fast, caught him in the last half lap, and won cleverly by over 60 yards. Time 2min 40 1/4sec. Dividend £2 6s 6d.

-o0o-

Star 12 Nov 1892

Handicappers, the Committee; Starter, Mr H J Derrett.

The Spring Meeting of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club was held yesterday, and was one of the most successful gatherings organised by the Club. The attendance was a best on record, while Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin, who worked the totalisator, passed the large sum of £4758 through the machines during the afternoon, and the racing was exceptionally interesting.

The Wilkin Stakes, for horses bred from American strains on either the sire's or dam's side, produced a magnificent struggle between Tommy and Dakota, and the former, most patiently handled by C Kerr, just got up in the straight and won by half a length.

The management, under the watchful eye of Mr A J Rattray, left little to be desired, and the authorities deserve a word of commendation for ejecting a defaulter who was found on the course, and thus setting an example that other institutions would do well to follow.


Credit: The Press 12 Nov 1892