| STARTERS & STARTING |
YEAR: 1965
MOBILE START CONTROVERSY
It will be heartening news to advocates of the mobile barrier that the NZ Metropolitan TC has included two such events on it's Easter programme - and top class features to boot.
The primary objective of practical supporters of the mobile barrier in maintaining their enthusiasm for the moving start is a fear that the standing start (ie the standing start alone), is bogging down our progress and seperating us permanently from world speed standards. And they will certainly take heart from the Metropolitan's return to the mobile barrier, especially since our leading club has done so in the face of relentless and, at times, virulent criticism from some quarters.
The Metropolitan's two mobile races will be the Flying Mile on the first day - Saturday, April 3, and the Rothschild Stakes on the second day - Saturday, April 10. The Flying Mile, worth £1500, is for horses assessed at 2.11 or faster (free-for-all conditions), and an additional stake will be paid to the winning horse at the rate of £100 for every one-fifth of a second it records under 1.59, with a maximum of £500. The Rothschild Stakes, also a £1500 race, to be run over one mile and a quarter, is for 2.11 and faster horses under free-for-all conditions; and here an additional stake of £500 will be paid to the winning horse if it breaks the world record of 2.29 3-5 for the mile and a quarter at present held by the American pacer Irvin Paul.
No one expects that all races should be started from the mobile barrier - in the meantime, anyway! But let the critics be fair enough to concede that programmes will be none the poorer for a little variety; that there is no real evidence to support much of the criticism levelled at the Canterbury Park starting gate from time to time. Canterbury Park has persevered with the gate and has no intention of curtailing its use - neither it should have after the perfect start to its 2-year-old race last week. Never in this writer's experience has there been a better despatch to a juvenile race in this country than that effected by the mobile barrier in the January Stakes. It was a smooth bussinesslike start, and not one of the youngsters looked the slightest bit perturbed or looked like doing anything wrong.
Danger lurks in any kind of race, but the proposition that the mobile barrier is dangerous, with the underlying implication that the standing start is not so dangerous, is untenable, in fact preposterous. In passing, it is recalled that C C Devine, on his return from America, said he saw hundreds of races from the mobile barrier there, and not one accident. There has been no accident behind it here, either.
And what is the yardstick of public interest? If it is investments on the totalisator, the mobile barrier is more than holding it's own. For years the best betting races at Canterbury Park meetings have been mobile barrier events, and the Metropolitan Trotting Club had a similar experience when it last used the gate in 1962. The biggest on-course betting at the Metropolitan National Meeting, 1962 (both days), was on races from the mobile barrier. On the first day the £11,982 invested on the Lightning Free-for-all, and the £9815 on the Templeton Stakes, were the largest betting pools; and on the second day the £11,639 wagered on the Farewell Stakes was by far the biggest total. A reminder - all were mobile races.
The 1962 NZ Cup Meeting, with only the odd race or two from the starting gate: one of these, the NZ Free-For-All, drew the largest on and off-course betting on the second day. The investments on the NZ Trotting Free-For-All, on the third day, were not the highest, but they were relatively good; and in the only mobile race on the fourth day, the Smithson Free-for-all, a surprisingly good total was invested on a small field with an odds-on favourite in it - Cardigan Bay (Lordship was scratched).
The Metropolitan Trotting Club's return to the gate has at least arrested the imminent danger that the mobile barrier would founder on the opinions of much the same brand of grizzlers who could find nothing favourable to say about Addington's new hub rail; the mobile barrier has run the gauntlet of similar prejudice and half-baked "facts" - all overdue for a thorough examination.
Mr Keith Davidson, president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, went on record in 1962 as saying: "The Canterbury Park starting gate, built under the direction of the president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club (Mr L S Smart) was an unqualified success when first used in May. There has been criticism of the gate, but surely from the point of view of the confidence of the betting public, that all starters have an equal opportunity of getting away, it cannot but help trotting in general." It is suspected that Mr Davidson had a battle on his hands persuading the programme committee to give the gate another trial. Some of us now feel confident our leading club is again headed in the right direction.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 3Feb65
YEAR: 1957
 |
| The original mobile barrier |
A mobile barrier - the first to be used in the South Island - will be used to start the field of ten entered in the New Zealand Flying Stakes, one of the feature races on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Cup meeting at Addington on Saturday, November 23.
The apparatus, which is attached to a utility vehicle, arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday. It was brought south by Mr Ross Corrigan, who will drive it at Addington. A similar mobile barrier was used for the first time at Hawera last April and, according to northern reports, it was most satisfactory.
Some weeks before this, a flying start event was run at Addington, but no barrier was used and the start was far from successful. There were several reasons for the failure at Addington, the main one being the lack of instruction given drivers before the event. Another was the fact that the field was sent back only about 72 yards from the starting point and the horses had insufficient chance to get in line before reaching a fast pace.
Nothing will be left to chance for this month's race. There are a number of dufficulties to be overcome, the main one being the difference in the speeds of the horses on the inside and those on the outside at the starting point, which is in the middle of the bend into the straight. When the mobile barrier was used at Hawera, the horses had a straight run to the starting point. The barrier was travelling at about 30 miles an hour by the time it reached the starting point. It then drew away from the field.
It will be impossible for the barrier to travel at this speed at Addington. The track at the mile start is 70ft wide and it is expected that if the inside horse paces at a 2:10 gait the outside horse will have to race at nearly two-minute speed to keep in line. So that the driver of the barrier will know what speed to maintain it is intended to have a trial run with four motor-cars behind the barrier. The motor-cars will have synchronised speedometers and it is hoped to work out a satisfactory speed at which to drive the barrier. Once this is known the trainers and drivers of horses engaged in the race will have several opportunities to try their horses behind the barrier. These trials will probably take place on Tuesday and Thursday before the race but no definite decision had been made when this went to press.
The barrier will not stretch right across the track. The arms are each 23ft long, with a short rubber extension on the end in case it should hit anything. Fully extended the barrier will extend slightly more than 50ft, leaving about 10ft at each end. The club intends starting 10 horses, the maximum allowed at the mile start. It seems probable that the two inside and two outside horses will come up to the starting point without the aid of a barrier.
As well as the driver of the barrier, the vehicle will carry the official starter (Mr R Carter), a stipendiary steward, and one other person to advise the driver when to increase or decrease his speed. Mr A J Corrigan, of Hawera, who made arrangements for the gate to be brought south, or Mr C L Rhodes, of Christchurch, will carry out this latter duty.
The gate will probably remain in Canterbury after the meeting. It is to be used a fortnight later at New Brighton and again at Gore on December 26.
Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Nov57
YEAR: 1974
MOBILE STARTING BARRIER
The CPTC developed a mobile starting barrier and in October 1974 the NZMTC 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 NZMTC 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
YEAR: 1957
 |
| Start of the New Brighton Flying Mile 7 Dec 57 |
Nothing short of a sensational performance was returned by Lookaway to win the New Brighton Flying Mile.
At the half mile Caduceus had a substantial break on his nearest rival and Lookaway at this stage was at the rear, and was experiencing difficulty getting clear. His task of getting anywhere near Caduceus looked hopeless when his driver, M Holmes, pulled him back to get a run as the three furlong peg was reached.
Once clear Lookaway unwound a brilliant run and was rapidly closing on the flying leader, Caduceus, turning for home. Halfway down the straight it became apparent that he had the measure of Caduceus, and Lookaway actually won going away by two lengths. Lookaway's performance was even more remarkable when it is realised that the first half mile was run in 58secs.
A grand start was made behind the mobile barrier, the horses all being in perfect line. When the starting point was reached the gate was a trifle slow in moving away, and one or two horses near the outside appeared to be inconvenienced as they were all ready to move off at top. It appeared as though Lookaway had to be restrained a little with the result that he was slow to get going.
From the middle of the field, Caduceus made a brilliant beginning and he was in front leaving the straight. He was followed by Light Nurse, Ricochet, Our Kentucky and Don Hall with False Step next, then came Lookaway and Tactician. Racing to the six furlongs, Caduceus was two lengths clear of Ricochet with another length and a half to Light Nurse and a similar distance to False Step, with Our Kentucky, Tactician and Lookaway following. At the six furlongs Lookaway was experiencing anything but a happy run and Caduceus had increased his lead to five lengths. Once Lookaway worked clear he set out to bridge the gap, and the manner in which he did so brought unstinted praise from the crowd. He was given a fine ovation on his return to the birdcage.
Form worked out well as Caduceus, False Step and Don Hall, who finished in that order behind Lookaway were first, second and third in the New Zealand Flying Stakes at Addington. No excuses could be made for the beaten division but Caduceus was not disgraced in having to be content with second place. He set out to assure a solid pace and this told at the finish. Only a horse of the calibre of Lookaway could have beaten Caduceus on the day. False Step ran his usual honest race and the same could be said of Don Hall but the remainder were outclassed.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 11Dec57
YEAR: 1962
MOBILE GATE: Introduction
The Canterbury Park Trotting Club, through the energetic promotion of its president, Les Smart, was responsible for the introduction of the mobile starting gate at Addington.
The gate was first used at the Canterbury Park's winter meeting on May 26, 1962 and the honour of winning the first race went to Doody Townley driving Carina Star, trained by Lou Thomas, to win the Maiden Pacing Stakes over 9½ furlongs in 2:41 on a heavy track by four lengths.
But the mobile gate was the subject of considerable debate and agitation between clubs, horsemen and public and was not introduced (or accepted) without a great deal of effort by its advocates.
Hawera owner-trainer, Alex Corrigan began the great debate when he produced New Zealand's first mobile gate in the late 1950s. He spent £2,500of his own money converting a Land Rover, using boosters and hydraulically-operated barrier arms. His big day came at Hawera on April 23, 1957, when the first mobile start racewas run and won by Brahman (Ces Donald). Ironically the runner-up was Mr Corrigan's own horse, Earl Marie.
Mr Corrigan then began a nation-wide campaign with his gate, travelling throughout New Zealand seeking club converts to the American-style starting system. The Land Rover was then seen in action at Addington, Stratford, Waikato, Cambridge, Pukekohe, New Brighton and Tauranga and its detractors pointed to the slowness of the vehicle to pull away from the fields, especially on grass tracks or on softish all-weather tracks.
The anti-mobile faction seemed to have won when Mr Corrigan found he was pursuing a lost cause, and stopped his campaign. But the Canterbury Park Trotting Club responded to the many requests from horsemen who had seen the mobile in action in America and with Les Smart as its most ardent advocate, a new mobile gate was constructed. It was given a couple of trial outings, which proved successful, and performed well when tried at the first totalisator meeting.
However, a year after its debut, the controversy continued. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club decided not to have any more mobile starts. Club official Bernie Wilks desribed the gate as "dangerous" and "not wanted by the public" when speaking at an annual meeting of the NZMTC.
Top horsemen George Noble and Cecil Devine were quick to defend the mobile. Noble claimed the mobile would help overthrow an antiquated handicapping system which was framed in the 1940s. Devine claimed the mobile would "take four of the worst strains out of trotting: 1) strain on the horses at the barrier; 2) strain on the drivers; 3) strain on the starter; 4) strain on the punter.
Trotting Calendar editor, Karl Scott, produced betting figures which proved the largest betting pools at Canterbury Park meetings had been on mobiles and he produced similar figures for NZMTC meetings.
The original mobile barrier was still in use at Addington until 1984. It was than sold to the North Canterbury OTB Association and is still in use at Rangiora trial meetings.
Credit: Centennial History Canterbury Park TC
YEAR: 1985
LESLIE SMART
Leslie Smart, a prominent administrator of harness racing in Canterbury since the early 1940s, died recently in Christchurch. He was 87. Mr Smart became a steward of the Canterbury Park Club in 1946, was appointed vice-president in 1958 and president in 1960.
Later on he served on the Addington Board of Directors. He was made chairman in 1963 and held that position until 1966. He was made a life member of the Canterbury Park Club in 1968 and an honorary steward in 1971.
Mr Smart was one of the directors who favoured introducing the hub rail at Addington in 1963, which was a controversial decision at he time. He was also instrumental in introducing mobile starts to Addington and his own club led the way when the used the mobile barrier for the first time in the South Island in May 1962.
Mr Smart was a member of a family of contractors who built many roads in and around Christchurch when draught horses were still being used as the main source of power. The Smart family used a big team of draught horses and Mr Smart's son, Lewis, who is the current president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, said that his father had been badly kicked by one of his favourite draught horses once when he was feeding them. The kick dislodged one of Mr Smart's teeth which ended up in his lungs, where it remained for 30 years before he eventually decided to have it removed. However, as it turned out, surgery was not necessary because, just prior to the operation, Mr Smart coughed up the troublesome tooth.
Mr Smart was an accomplished horseman. He kept a number of show horses, saddle horses and ponies and was a successful exhibitor and judge. He was also a prominent owner of standardbreds and raced a number of good horses - mostly trotters - including Ali Bey who was trained for him by the late George Noble, Lady Baffelan, Cappy Rowan, Supervise, Superway and Super Cloud, all of whom were trained for him by Wes Butt.
Mr Smart also breed the fine mare Smart Lass (by U Scott from Lady Baffelan), whose daughters, in particular Moods (dam of Master Mood among others) and Smart Doll (dam of Smarty Pants and others), are now making their mark as broodmares.
Mr Smart is survived by two daughters, Mrs Marie Spears and Mrs Julie Jamieson, and two sons, Lewis and Kevin.
Credit: Shelley Caldwell writing in NZ Trot Calendar 23Jul85