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THE MILE RECORD

The first horse to break 2:10 in New Zealand was Ribbonwood, who set the mile mark at Addington against time in 1903. He was driven by his owner-trainer, D J Price.

This record stood until 1911, when a son of Ribbonwood, King Cole, lowered it to 2:08 3-5, also against time, and at Addington. King Cole was owned by Mr R O Duncan and trained and driven by N L Price.

By 1915 a champion mare, Country Belle, a great sprinter as well as a stayer, was sent against the watch at Addington. Owned and trained by Mr W J Morland, and driven by James Bryce, Country Belle clipped more than a second off the record by registering 2:07 1-5.

The following season the Australian-bred mare Adelaide Direct, owned, trained and driven by M Edwards, lowered the record to 2:06 2-5 at Auckland.

The 1920-21 season saw Our Thorpe, driven by his owner, A Fleming, attack the record at Addington and reduce it by a fraction to 2:06 1-5.

This stood until the 1922-23 season, when the Australian-bred pacer Happy Voyage, driven by her owner-trainer W J Tomkinson, registered 2:04 1-5, also against the watch, at New Brighton on April 14, 1923. This was also a world grass-track record. The files state that Happy Voyage was paced by War Bond (ridden by A D Chapman), and Olwyn (driven by J N Clarke).

The mile record was next lowered in a race. This was in the November Free-For-All at the 1924 New Zealand Cup meeting. Run from a flying start, the race was won byMr J R (later Sir John) McKenzie's Acron, trained by J J Kennerley and driven by A Butterfield, in the then sensational time of 2:03 3-5. The second horse, Realm, also fractured 2:04.

In 1934 two champion Australian pacers, Walla Walla and Auburn Lad visited New Zealand for match races. At a special matinee meeting at Addington both pacers were set against the mile record. Walla Walla, who was suffering from a cold, registered 2:03 4-5. Auburn Lad, driven by his owner-trainer, W McKay lowered the record by a considerable margin when he clocked 2:02 2-5.

The following season Indianapolis, also at Addington, was successful in his attack on the record, his time being 2:01 2-5; and two seasons later, in 1936-37, he made a successful onslaught on his own record when he registered 2:00 2-5, again at Addington. Indianapolis was owned by Mr G J Barton. In his first record run he was driven by E C McDermott, and in the second by J Fraser, Jnr. F C Dunlevey was his trainer.

Two seasons elapsed before the record was again attacked, and the perfect-gaited Australian unhoppled pacer Lawn Derby, owned by Mr J MacKenny, and trained and driven by W J O'Shea, made history by doing the mile in 1:59 2-5 at Addington in November, 1938. This was not only the first two-minute mile hoisted in the Dominion, but the first time such figures had been made outside the United States.

Gold Bar, 1:59 3-5 and Haughty 1:59 3-5, made valiant attempts to beat Lawn Derby's figures in the years between the retirement of Lawn Derby and the rise of Highland Fling.

At his first attempt on the record, a week after his second New Zealand Cup victory in 1948, Highland Fling went 1:59 2-5, thus equalling Lawn Derby's time; a few days later Highland Fling went again, this time putting up the sensational figures of 1:57 4-5, sensational because the usual procedure in trials against time is a strong warm-up and the assistance of a galloping pacemaker. L F Berkett, trainer-driver of Highland Fling dispensed with both! The spectacle of "The Flings" lone role was a thrilling one, and there the record has remained for 11 years.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18Nov59

MANNY EDWARDS

Manvers Burton Edwards(Manny) was a public horse trainer most of his adult life. Manny trained and drove Adelaide Direct to win the 1917 NZ Trotting Cup. Other known good horses he had and won races with were Little Dictator & Ribbonwood.

Manny was married to Nell, the youngest daughter of Alfred and Mary-Ann Berry. Among her brothers were Jim, George and Ern Berry

Manny Edwards had the registered racing colours of: White, Green sleeves and Cap






Credit: Lesley Glassey writing in the Edwards Family History

Fritz

RIBBONWOOD-FRITZ MATCH RACE

The date was April 11, 1903, the arena was the newly formed Addington raceway, the event was an 1100 sovereign match race, the horses Fritz, representing Australia, and Ribbonwood, from New Zealand. 1100 sovereigns, or pounds, was a considerable sum in those days. Six months earlier Ribbonwood had won the 200 sovereign New Zealand Handicap, which became the New Zealand Cup in 1903 for a stake of 310 sovereigns.

But it wasn't the money that saw a record 11,000 people jam into Addington on that fine, clear day - it was the spectacle. Undoubtedly the finest trotter and pacer seen in Australasia were to do battle that afternoon and nobody wanted to miss it. Not only were there thousands of visitors from all over NZ present but scores from Australia, and the NZ Premier Richard Seddon. How Christchurch catered for the influx is not understood, the last vacant hotel room was taken early the previous afternoon. Never before had a single sporting event in NZ created such enthusiasm, for this was the "People's Sport". Ribbonwood was a four-year-old and had already raced himself to an impossible handicap, while Fritz was 12 years old and returning from virtual retirement.

A striking black stallion bred by Gilbert Hamilton McHaffie, the second president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club between 1903 and 1905, Ribbonwood was owned, trained and driven by Dave Price, one of Addington's leading horsemen at the time. Known as the "little black demon", he was bought by the debonair Price as a two-year-old for £250 and was a sensation in his two year career under Price's guidance. Ribbonwood was initially owned by Jack Thompson and trained by "Manny" Edwards, and won two of his three starts for them as a juvenile. Within two starts as a three-year-old he was racing against the best horses in Canterbury, in fact giving away starts like seven seconds over a mile to them.

At Addington in November, Ribbonwood won a three-year-old event by what was officially known then as a "walk-over". All he had to do was complete the course to collect the stake, as nobody else even bothered entering a horse against him. Ribbonwood was beaten twice in eight starts that season, on the second day of the November meeting after giving the winnerWild Bill an eight second start over a mile, and then three days later, after winning the three-year-old event, he was beaten in an event against time, running a mile in 2:20 when required to beat 2:18.

In August of 1902 he had to be content with minor placings on three occasions, but then came eight straight wins, including two against time. Among them were the NZ Handicap in November, beating inaugural NZ Cup winner Monte Carlo by eight lengths after sharing the back mark with him, a similar event in February from scratch, beating Boldrewood (10 seconds), Harold C (15), Monte Carlo (6) and The Needle (8) by fifty yards in record time for two miles of 4:35 4/5, and a 50 sovereign event to beat Fritz's Australasian mile record of 2:13, in which he recorded 2:11 2/5. Under the handicapping system at that time, horses were penalised for winning times, thus Ribbonwood was never off the bit, asked to win the race and no more. With nothing able to live with Ribbonwood on the track, Price began looking for alternative challenges for his champion.

Exactly how the match race came about is a little clouded, some reports claiming Price put up 500 sovereigns for anybody to take him on, while Price himself was later quoted as saying he overheard a rather vociferous Australian claiming the greatest horse in the world was in Australia. Whatever happened, there was simply only one horse in Australasia considered worthy of stepping on to a racecourse with Ribbonwood, and that was the marvellous New South Wales trotter Fritz.

Fritz had reigned supreme as Australasia's champion for a number of years, that is, until the advent of Ribbonwood. He had already made three trips to Addington, endearing himself to the New Zealand public as much as in his homeland. In fact, in his day, Fritz was even more of a celebrity than Ribbonwood. However, no less well known was his owner, John Arthur Buckland, a wealthy New South Wales farmer who had made a hobby out of breeding standardbreds at his mammoth Wonbobbie Station about 350 miles west of Sydney. Buckland had entered the game after taking the advice of noted breeder Edgar Deane and purchased the unwanted American Stallion Vancleve for 55 guineas. Assembling a sizeable band of blue-blood mares, Buckland and his sons of Vancleve were soon dominating trotting meetings throughout Victoria and his home state. With 5000 head of cattle and over 100,000 sheep on the property, Buckland enlisted the help of the neighbouring Claude Piper to train his team, and it was a familiar sight to see Buckland and Piper fighting out finishes with the rest of the field only entering the home straight.

One of the mares Buckland had selected was Fraulien from New Zealand, who was by imported parents in Berlin and Woodburn Maid. Vancleve, Berlin and Woodburn Maid had been amongst the first imports from America by Robert Wilkin in 1882, his intention being to breed Berlin mares to Vancleve, or vice versa. It was therefore a great tragedy a few years later when Wilkin's health took a poor turn, forcing him to either sell or lease the horses he had imported. Vancleve had been leased to Andrew Town in New South Wales for two years when Wilkin passed away, leaving his ownership in the estate. After Town refused first offer and Vancleve had failed to attract a bid when sent to auction, Buckland stepped in and took the advice of Edgar Deane, who had originally advised Town to lease the horse but did not have the means himself to breed with him. Fraulien had been bought as a three-year-old in 1887 at Wilkin's disposal sale by Fraser Martin of New South Wales, who later sold her to Buckland when he was looking for mares to breed to Vancleve.

Thus it was Buckland who stumbled upon the remarkable results of crossing Berlin mares with Vancleve, as Fraulien's first foal was called Fritz. Fraulien was bred to Vancleve on six occasions, also producing two unraced fillies and good winners in their own right Franz, Frederick and The Heir. Like all of Vancleve's sons, Fritz was gelded by Buckland and brought into training as a two-year-old, and soon showed rare speed. Produced as a three-year-old, Fritz won his first two starts at Kensington so easily that when nominated in a strong field at the track, the handicapper placed him on the backmark of 400 yards, giving two stars at the time, imported J H and Ariel, a start of 100 yards. Despite this crippling handicap for the young trotter, Fritz finished second to the frontmarker Satan. At Kensington's next meeting, Fritz toyed with a free-for-all field but later in the day found the 430 yard handicap beyond him, finishing second to St Louis, who was owned by Buckland and trained and driven by Claude Piper. That was to be Fritz's last start in a handicap event in Australia. Buckland refused to start him when placed off even longer handicaps at future meetings. Fritz had highlighted the inadequacy of the handicapping system and was to spend the next two years in exile at Wonbobbie.

Suddenly free-for-all events had become extinct and nobody was foolish enough to take him on in a match race. However, in 1896, a special event was planned for the Moonee Valley grass track in Melbourne, bringing together the best trotters in Fritz's absence, Osterley, Mystery, St Louis and the former NZ mare Calista. Called the Inter Colonial Free-For-All, the event was run on a sweepstake basis, with £10 per starter and a £50 bonus to the winner. It was a meagre stake even in those days, but all Buckland wanted was a chance to race his champion again.

If the organisers were hoping for something out of the ordinary they certainly got it. A best of five series over a mile, Fritz won the first heat by 75 yards over Osterley, recording 2:19, which sliced five seconds off the Australian record. He won by a similar margin in the second heat, recording 2:16 2/5 in beating Calista, but Buckland was still only joking. In the third heat Fritz passed the winning post before the other four has even entered the straight and recorded 2:14 4/5, more than ten seconds faster than any other horse in Australia prior to that day. Not surprisingly, Fritz was to spend the next two years unchallenged as well. Periodically he was brought back into work and in later years Buckland was adamant Fritz could reel off miles in 2:06 any time of asking

During those exasperating years, Edgar Deane had suggested the NZ handicapper might be a little more lenient, and in the Autumn of 1898 Buckland arrived in Canterbury, bringing Claude Piper and a team of nine horses. At a Canterbury Trotting Club meeting, then held at the Addington Showgrounds, the stable made an auspicious debut, Piper winning the first event with Sunshine while Buckland won with Fritz and Viva. Fritz had been handicapped off the backmark of 100 yards, giving the local star of the time, imported Wildwood, a start of 50 yards in the two mile event. Fritz was untroubled to win. Fritz had his next outing in a free-for-all and won by such a wide margin over Monte Carlo and St Louis, handled by Piper, that officials had difficulty arriving at a margin.

Buckland returned home during the winter but was back later that year with Fritz and an even stronger team. At one Addington meeting he owned every winner on the programme. By now Fritz was on a virtually impossible mark in NZ as well. On Boxing Day 1898 the gelding lined up in a handicap event at Addington, giving the eventual winner, Rosewood, a 24 second start. After a false start, Fritz became unsettled and refused to begin for some time. However, on the second day, the Canterbury Trotting Club put up 100 sovereigns for Fritz to trial against the track record of 2:15. This he accomplished with ease, trotting the mile in 2:13, which bettered his own Australasian record as well.

A week later Buckland had Fritz in Wellington for their Summer meeting, but again he refused to leave the mark. Lining up in the Wellington Trotting Club Handicap, Frotz was giving half the field more than 50 seconds start, the equivalent of almost half a mile. There had been a considerable amount of criticism levelled at these events, many considering it unfair to ask the backmarkers to stand at the start and watch the rest of the field begin at intervals. Even the grand old trotter Monte Carlo, a noted beginner, had become wayward in his tendancies.

Fritz was reported to have returned to NZ in 1900, but the official "Turf Register" from those years shows no evidence of this.

Buckland was a regular visitor to Canterbury, making four trips between 1896 and 1900, while Piper became so impressed with the newly formed Addington Raceway, he settled in Christchurch and became one of the leading horsemen with Wonbobbie horses. During his first visit to Canterbury, Buckland not only established himself as a fine horseman but as a stirling sportsman. Buckland usually drove Fritz in harness, but on this occasion was riding him from his backmark. Also in the event was the pacer Weary Willie, who is believed to be the first horse in NZ raced in hopples, and was trained and driven by none other than Dave Price. After half a mile Weary Willie faltered and fell, leaving Price lying motionless on the track. In due course along came Buckland and Fritz, making up their handicap in great style. Without hesitation, Buckland turned Fritz around to help Price, and returned with the dazed driver to a rousing reception.

Such was the character of John Arthur Buckland, and it was these qualities that lead to the greatest match race of the time, which turned out to be only a sporting gesture on Buckland's part and no more. Fritz was virtually in complete retirement when Price's challenge came under Buckland's notice. The 12-year-old had not been worked for several months and right from the start everything went wrong for Buckland. With less than six weeks until the big event at Easter, they began preparing, but miserable weather in the district saw Fritz hardly benefit from any work. After a rough passage across the Tasman, Fritz arrived in Christchurch, only to be boxed in his stall for several days, as Canterbury weather was no better than at home. Thus, what was thought to be a great match race, was actually a disastrous mismatch. Despite Piper openly expressing his reservations about the race, Buckland was determined not to let the NZ public down.

The big day came around and Addington was bursting at the seams. The grounds were less than half the size they are today. Price and Ribbonwood moved onto the track to a champion's reception, but it was nothing compared to the greeting accorded Fritz. The conditions of the event were for a best of five heats, each run over a mile from a moving start. After a considerable amount of manoeuvring at the start, which Price was entirely responsible for, Ribbonwood and Fritz got underway with the young star quickly showing the way. Fritz kept in touch until the last quarter, where Ribbonwood easily spurted clear to win by five lengths. Time 2:14 1/5. Fritz drew the inside for the second heat and held his own, keeping Ribbonwood parked for three quarters of the mile, before the stallion ran clear to win by two lengths. Time 2:13. Ribbonwood had not been off the bit so far, but Price let him stretch out in the final heat, with embarrassing results. Well clear passing the grandstand for the first time, Ribbonwood gradually increased his lead to eventually cross the line 80 metres in front of Fritz. Time 2:10, which bettered his own Australasian record.

In an after match ceremony, where Ribbonwood and Fritz were paraded and speeches were heard from Price, Buckland, Canterbury Trotting Club president Victor Harris and the Right Honourable Richard Seddon, Buckland was his usual sporting self, paying tribute to the new champion. "Personally, I don't mind being beaten, but I don't like to see the old horse beaten," said Buckland. "However, if Fritz cannot do it, then I hope to have a try with another one," he added.

But that was to be Buckland's last visit to NZ. He had already sold Wonbobbie Station around the turn of the century and bought Pine Ridge Station, where he continued to breed on an extensive scale. With the death of Vancleve in August 1904, however, his days in the limelight were numbered and he later sold Pine Ridge and moved to the 500 acre Marsden Park in the Richmond area. Buckland and Fritz have long since passed away, and one can only hope that their deeds will never fade into obscurity. They loomed as large in our history as any horseman or standardbred since.

At the after race function Price had been quizzed by Vic Harris on how fast he thought Ribbonwood could go. To Harris's surprise, Price claimed Ribbonwood had never been extended during the match race, and happily accepted to time trial his horse on the third day of the meeting for a stake of 100 sovereigns. A large crowd again turned up to witness the trial and after a first half in 64 seconds, Ribbonwood completed the distance in 2:09. On returning to the birdcage this time, Price challenged Harris to a further trial, but any thoughts on this being entertained were later that day squashed

Only a few weeks earlier W Rollitt, secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association, had been appointed the first stipendiary steward. After the sixth race Price was called before Rollitt and charged with "foul" driving, and disqualified for six months. Price continued to train for a while from his Riccarton stables, winning a number of races with the outstanding imported mare Norice. He also stood Ribbonwood at stud in the spring, the little black producing 18 foals, all of whom were later winners. Among them was King Cole, who eight years later, under the guidance of Price's brother Newton, reduced Ribbonwood's mile record to 2:08 3/5.

However, Price was becoming discontented with the financial returns of being a leading horseman in Canterbury, and early in 1905 he moved to Victoria, where he became a leading trainer of thoroughbreds. With him went Ribbonwood, who was soon sold to the New South Wales sportsman A D Playfair, who immediately placed him at stud. New Zealand's most famous sons had been adopted by Australia. Ironically, Ribbonwood soon displaced Vancleve as the leading sire in Australia, producing 258 winners, including Realm, who campaigned in NZ and reached the tightest mark. Ribbonwood was also the grandsire of Roselawn, dam of Australasia's first 2:00 horse Lawn Derby (TT 1:59 2/5) and another champion Van Derby. Ribbonwood died in 1920, but his memory has lived on in recent decades with the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club staging the Ribbonwood Handicap at its National Meeting in August this year. The event has been renamed the Moores Dry Cleaners Handicap.

Price, a few years before his death in the 1940s, was interviewed by an Australian journalist and spoke of his champion. "Ribbonwood was foaled in Christchurch in 1898. He was by Wildwood, who was bred by the famous Palo Alto Stud in the United States, out of a mare by Young Irvington, by Irvington (imp). As a two-year-old he was a little fellow, full of quality. When trotting authorities found that the system of handicapping was driving horses such as Ribbonwood out of the harness sport when at their peak, they created limit races. Ribbonwood rose to great heights as a pacer because he had intelligence as well as speed. All I had to do was talk to him. With a 'Come on laddie' he was into his stride in a flash. A slight tightening on the rein and he would increase his speed. 'Whoa laddie' was all that was required to get him to slaken speed. He raced with ears cocked like a hare. He knew every word I spoke to him. Ribbonwood knew when it was race day as well as I did. Many of my friends got amusement out of seeing Ribbonwood play his most famous trick when called on to do the last furlong. His ears would be back flat like a hare in full flight at a given signal. He waited for that command when nearing the end of a race. I have no hesitation in saying that Ribbonwood could have paced a mile in 2:05. With tracks as they are today he would have done a mile in 2:00. He was the gamest thing on four legs. He didn't know the taste of a whip and, although booted for protection, he was never known to put a mark on the boots. Now, would you not be proud and inclined to boast a little, if you were the owner of a horse such as Ribbonwood?" Price concluded.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Dec83

RIBBONWOOD

"Horse Of The Year"? Ribbonwood was the horse of a decade! Good as horses like Lunar Chance, Easton Light and Captain Harcourt are, there would have been little hope of their being in contention for the "Horse Of The Year" award had such a prize existed in 1903.

That was the year of Ribbonwood, one of the greatest pacers ever bred in this country and one of the most successful stallions ever to stand in Australia. Only a little fellow, he possibly achieved more in his short career in advancing the popularity of trotting here than any other champion who followed him, with the possible exception of Cardigan Bay.

Bred at New Brighton by Mr Gilbert McHaffie, a prominent administrator at the time, Ribbonwood was by the imported Wildwood from Dolly, a Young Irvington mare of disputed parentage tracing to a thoroughbred source. Wildwood was bred in California and was imported by Mr Henry Richardson of New Plymouth who passed him on to the Kerr brothers of New Brighton for £500 which was not exactly pocket money in those days.

Trained at two years of age by Manny Edwards, Ribbonwood attracted the attention of Dave Price the owner of Prince Imperial and also in earlier times of his dam Princess. Price paid out £250 for Ribbonwood which was easily a record price for a racing proposition in the trotting world of those days. Although Ribbonwood was not much more than a pony, Price was right on the mark with his buying. Ribbonwood quickly established himself as the fastest pacer in NZ and by the 1902 season, when a 4-year-old, he was being handicapped out of many of the big races. In the 1902-3 season he won nine races with one second placing and two fourths. His first two wins were at the November Addington meeting in which he won the NZ Handicap (£200: then our richest race) by eight lengths and the free-for-all by nearly the same margin.

In February 1903 at Addington he won the feature event by fifty yards in Australasian record time for two miles of 4:35.8. Later the same afternoon, he smashed the Australasian mile record held by Fritz, recording 2:11 2-5. Two Australasian marks on the same day must be a unigue feat.

In April of that season, Ribbonwood took part in the celebrated match races with the Australian champion trotter Fritz who was brought over from Australia by his owner J A Buckland. The match was over three heats for £500 a side. Huge crowds attended and the Prime Minister, Dick Seddon presented the trophies. Fritz had been over the Tasman before (in 1899) and was a tremendous favourite with the NZ crowds who supported him strongly on the totalisator, though many were backing from their heasts and not their heads. Fritz was then 12-years-old and well past his best, but Mr Buckland was a sportsman of the old school and refused to let Dave Price's challenge to pass.

Ribbonwood won the first heat by five lengths, the second by a length and a half and the third by eighty yards. In the last heat he again lowered the mile record, this time to 2:10 and he later lowered it again to 2:09 where it stayed for some years. After his exhibition mile of 2:09 on the final day of the meeting, Ribbonwood never raced in NZ again due largely to the six months suspension Price received during the meeting. He took his champion to Australia but there Ribbonwood was sold for stud duties before he raced.

In latter years Price regretted selling his little champion. He parted with for £1000 and the son of Wildwood earned nearly that much for his new owner in his first stud season. Before leaving NZ, Ribbonwood was lightly used as a stallion between races. He left 18 foals here and has the unique siring record of getting 18 winners or a 100% record. But even this paled beside his Australian record and the claim was made some years ago that only Globe Derby has left more winners across the Tasman than the New Brighton-bred stallion.

One of his most successful sons was Realm who was brought over to this country by Bill Tomkinson in 1921. A little black horse like his sire, Realm was enormously popular here as Ribbonwood had been before him and he also held the mile record of 2:03.8 for a time. It was a NZ son of Ribbonwood who had lowered the champion's own time. This was King Cole (2:08.4) who features in the pedigrees of many of our fastest pacers, particularly those bred by Ben Grice. Realm also had success at stud as did Blue Mountain King, a successful racing son of Ribbonwood imported to this country in the late '20s.

Down through the years Ribbonwood blood has continued to have some say in fast mile times. His full-sister Manuka never amounted to anything on the track but she was the fourth dam of Tactician the first NZ horse to break two minutes in a race in NZ and Ribbonwood's son Childewood, a very successful sire, sired Roselawn who was the dam of Lawn Derby the first horse to break two minutes in Australasia. His son King Cole is in the pedigree of Mt Eden, and Ribbonwood appears on both sides of the pedigree of the Australian speedster Reichman who recorded 1:58 on a three furlong track. There are numerous other top horses who carry Ribbonwood blood including Ribands, Apmat, Avian Derby, Dale's Gift, Thelma Globe and the wonderful Harold Logan to name but a few.

Ribbonwood died at twenty years of age. It is said Price sold him in Australia for stud duties because support for him in this country was lukewarm. If so, we encouraged the loss of one of the greatest sires ever bred here.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 5Aug76

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club commenced its Spring meeting on Tuesday last in fine weather. After the second race a high wind sprang up. The track was in excellent order, and there was a very large- attendance. The New Zealand Trotting Cup, which has for some considerable time been the chief topic, reached its zenith when the horses went on to the track.

Of the 14 contestants, Cathedral Chimes, Author Dillon, Adelaide Direct and Agathos looked the best, all stripping fit enough to run the race of their lives. Enthusiasm was high as the horses did their preliminaries. Speculation was keen when the machine closed. Jarden's trio were better backed than Boyes's reps. The start was good, John Dillon broke up badly, and Hardy Wilkes put in a skip and lost ground. At the end of two furlongs Moneymaker was in charge from Soda, Agathos, Evelyn and Adelaide Direct, with the favorites making up their ground in good style. Passing the stand Moneymaker was just in front of Soda and Agathos with Adelaide Direct, Evelyn and Hardy Wilkes next, as they wheeled into the back stretch Moneymaker and Soda were just clear of Agathos, Evelyn, Adelaide Direct and Hardy Wilkes, with the favorites still improving their positions. On reaching the mile post, Moneymaker and Soda drew out a length from Agathos with Adelaide Direct, Evelyn and Hardy Wilkes in close attendance. Passing the stand the field bunched, the favorites being close up, racing down the back Evelyn ran to the front from Moneymaker and Agathos but three furlongs from home Adelaide Direct ran through and opened up a gap of two lengths from Agathos, Evelyn, Cathedral Chimes and Author Dillon. Rounding the top turn. Adelalde Direct increased her advantage, and turned into the straight five lengths clear of Agathos. In the run home Cathedral Chimes and Author Dillon challenged, and the greatest of all trotting Cups ended in a struggle between Cathedral Chimes, Agathos and Author Dillon for placed honors. Adelaide Direct won amidst great applause by five lengths from Cathedral Chimes, who finished a neck in front of Author Dillon, with Agathos a head further away fourth, with Evelyn fifth and Hardy Wilkes sixth.

King William was sent out favorite for the Spring Handicap for unhoppled trotters, two miles, under saddle. He began smartly and soon obtained a big lead which he held to the finish, he was well ridden by "Manny" Edwards, who trains him. King William should win again. Parkfield with his owner aboard trotted well and should be in the money before the meeting is concluded. Mushroom went a very solid race. He is short of work so should annex a stake when ready. Lady Patricia did not go too well. She is more at home in harness. Craibwood showed some of his old form. It will be hard for him to win a race, as the time against him for second money will tighten him up in the handicap. Wood Drift is very erratic. He might fluke a race. Bridgewood is an improved horse. He is very solid and stays well over two miles.

Stormy Way broke badly and lost all chance m the Empire Handicap. She did the same thing at Oamaru. Zara cost the public further money. She is not worth following. Rorke's Drift went a solid race but could not muster up enough pace over the concluding stages of the Empire Handicap. He finished fourth. Pita Roa is inclined to loaf. Had Jarden taken a whip out with him he would have been closer to the leaders. A mile and a half is more to his liking. Harold Direct broke at the start of the Empire Handicap, and lost a lot of ground. He showed a phenomenal burst of speed. Had he gone away kindly he would have walked in.

Brown Bell had every chance in the Riccarton Handicap, but broke up badly and finished fifth. Karryrie has a great burst of speed. At the end of a furlong in the Riccarton Handicap she broke and nearly stood on her head. Bryce got her going again with the result that she soon gathered up the field, and going to the front three furlongs from home, she won easily from Lady Rothsoon, who tired badly over the concluding stages. Frandocia ran his best race for some time past. He does not put any vim into his work. Lady Rothsoon has always been troublesome. At the start her tactics cost her a good deal of ground. At the start of the Riccarton Handicap had she began kindly she must have won. She is nothing more or less than a bundle of nerves.

Truganini has been very sore in her work. She trotted a surprisingly good race when she won the Middleton Handicap. Gay Wilkes broke up badly in the Middleton Handicap and lost all his handicap. Louie Drift refused to go away in the Middleton Handicap. Norval King still fades out badly at the end of two miles. Michael Galindo broke badly in the Middleton Handicap. He came very fast over the last half mile and finished fourth. Eruption was backed by his connections in the Middleton Handicap, but he broke up badly at the start, and refused to trot. At the end of two furlongs Franks pulled him up and joined the spectators. Kaikanui is hitting out freely in his work. He has always raced best under saddle. Red Bell is on the improve, and is one that should soon land a stake.

Imperial Crown goes good in saddle and stays well. King- Lear would try the patience of Job. It's a shame to waste good time with him. Miss Audrey is now trained by H. Gasken at Anerley. Marietta is still going with a hop behind. She is a nice trotter when right. Reter Peter is striding along very pleasingly at Addington. Ringleader is none too sound, and cannot be regarded as a great stake earner. Lady Linwood is one of the best maiden trotters seen out this year. She is worth owning. J. H. Wilson, the trainer of Admiral Wood, is slightly amiss and will not be at his best for November engagements. Moneymaker will be a winner at the Carnival fixture. The Christchurch Handicap perhaps.

Wallace Wood is coming back to his best form. On Thursday of last week he ran out a couple of miles m approved style. Emilius sustained a slight injury to his knee and in consequence was scratched for all engagaments at the Metrop. flxture. Michael Galindo is training on very satisfactorily. Commander Bell is m great buckle, and must soon replenish the oatbin. Antonio is under a cloud. His old legs are showing the worse for wear. Hardy Wilkes ought to deliver the goods in the Dominion Trotters Cup. Harold Direct does not look ready. The much inbred son of Harold Rothschild is a good horse when right. Denver Huon refuses to do his best in a race, and must be regarded as a past number. Winn All is showing glimpses of his best form. He still breaks badly.

Macwood is back with Pat De Largey for whom the erratic trotter went good. Gemma will catch a race before Spring Carnival is concluded. Sherwood is certain to collect a stake at the Spring Carnival. Steel Bell is at her best just now, and will be hard to keep out of the money.

The champion pacing mare, Emmeline has produced a colt foal to Wildwood Junr. and her full-sister, Aileen, a colt to Logan Pointer. Both mares are this season to be mated with Brent Locanda.

Willie Lincoln is very fast over a mile and a quarter. Lord Roanchild is in great buckle, and should be one of the hardest to beat in the two mile trotters events at the Metrop. Law Chimes has been doing attractive work. She takes a lot of heading over a mile in saddle.

Credit: The Toff writing in NZ Truth 10 Nov 1917

Once more Succory was made favorite, and once again he dropped his backers. He is not steady enough in a race to punt on. In the Spring Handicap he was in the air half a dozen times. Beeswing is a greatly improved, mare. She hit the front very early in the Spring Handicap, and never once put a foot wrong, being only caught in the last fifty yards by Treasure Seeker. Just when Chub looked like getting to Beeswing for second money in the Spring Handicap, he left his feet. He had trotted a fine race all through.

Schnapps never went better in his life than in the Empire Handicap. He never put a foot wrong at any stage, and had the race won a long way from home. Peter Mac went a great race in the Empire, and finished well in second place. Mahinga was up second at the end of a mile and a half in the Empire but she then began to tire and though second into the straight, she was beaten out of a place. Commander Bell put in a skip three furlongs from home in the Empire or he might have been second. Watch Scottish Queen for a two mile race.

There was no semblance of luck about Author Dillon's Cup win. Half a mile from home he had it won, and then went to the front. From that out it was just a matter of how much he would win by. Nothing finished better in the Cup than Matchlight. Sungod ran a surprisingly good race. He and Moneymaker were in front till Author Dillon touched them off just after passing the half-mile peg. Sungod still hung on and it was only in the last fifty yards that Matchlight cut him out of second money.

The big disappointments of the Cup were Cathedral Chimes and Sherwood. Neither ever looked to have a winning chance. Cathedral Chimes seemed slow to get away, and he was a long way behind Admiral Wood. When they went off he was only giving the Admiral two seconds from the outset and it could be seen, that Bryce's champion, had no chance. Emilius did not settle down into his stride quickly and lost a lot of ground, but he showed a lot of pace when he did get going and will be handy later on.

The Riccarton Handicap was a disaster. Piteroa went out in front two and a half furlongs from home, and looking all over a winner fell and then Tamarisk came over him. Then, in quick succession Vice Admiral, Cora Dillon, and Irvar crashed into the fallen mass. General Link, who was then running some distance behind the field, went right on the outside and avoiding the mass of horses and sulkies came on to win. M. Edwards extricated himself from the mass and getting back in his sulky, drove Vice Admiral into second place. No others finished. The Cup carnival at Addington will be brought to a close on Friday.

Credit: Waimangu writing in NZ Truth 9 Nov 1918

KERR BROTHERS

There is no getting away from the fact that Canterbury has always stood as the birthplace of trotting in the Dominion. Though the sport is now firmly established in most parts of the country its followers turn instinctively to this province for leadership. Like any other newly-established sport, light-harness racing had plenty of difficulties to contend with. One of the strongest of these was the contempt with with it was treated by racing clubs.

That prejudice was gradually overcome and it is a tribute to its improved management and rapidly growing popularity that the two sports now go practically hand in hand. One no longer hears the taunt that trotting is for 'nondesript horses' attached to 'little carts' and 'tradesmen's prads.' Once the sport had overcome its initial mismanagement it commenced to attract the attention of an improved following of trainers and drivers. These included names that have become historical in the progress of the sport.

Hark back to the days when its stalwarts included such as the brothers Willie and Charles Kerr, Jos Farrar, Jim Munro, Chris Harold, Jack Milne, Bert and Manny Edwards, Ted Murfitt, Jim Wright and Charles Stace. Later the increased stakes attracted several American horsemen of whom Geo Starr, M Albaugh, and the redoubtable Bob McMillan did much for the sport especially in training methods.

Of all these the name of Willie Kerr stands out as the greatest all-rounder in the role of owner, trainer and breeder. Willie and brother Charlie frequently won half the races on the card and their appearance behind any horse was sufficient to ensure its favouritism. At that time many amateur horsemen crossed swords with the 'pros' and occasionally they had the better of the fight. In the nineties races confined to stallions were an attractive feature of the Show Ground programmes. On one occasion the field for the sires' race included such well-known stallions as Kentucky, Berlin, Abdallah, General Tracey, Lincoln Yet and Emerson, all of whom helped to improve the quality of light-harness stock. There was also a despised outsider in the Arab stallion Blue Gown, the only competitor handled by an amateur - one Mr Oliffe. Kentucky, though giving away 35secs (just fancy, 420 yards under the present system) was looked on as a certainty. But the good thing came undone. For once Blue Gown took it into his head to do the right thing with the result that his supporters received what up to that time was a record dividend.

Yet another incident of an amateur downing the professionals was witnessed at Lancaster Park in 1890. Of the eight starters in the Maiden Trot all carried support with the exception of Mr J Hill's Kangaroo. Even his owner, who rode him, had not a single investment on his representative, and all the money had to be returned to the backers.

But to return to Willie Kerr. Great as were his deeds on the track, it was as a breeder that he earned undying fame. And the foundation of his stud, situated on the New Brighton road, were the stallion Wildwood and the broodmare Thelma.

In the early eighties one of Canterbury's keenest authorities on light harness blood was Mr J Todd, of Lincoln. In his small stud was a mare called Pride Of Lincoln, who was about three parts thoroughbred. Being on the look-out for something good to carry his colours, Willie Kerr was greatly taken by a daughter of hers named Thelma, and purchased her. She won several races for her new owner, but her turf career was neither lengthy nor brilliant. Early in the century she joined Kerr's studfarm where Wildwood, who had just concluded a brilliant career on the tracks was the leading stallion. Thelma's first foal to the American sire was a very promising colt, but he broke a leg when running with his dam. In 1903 from the same union came Willowwood, a very speedy pacer, who won races and subsequently earned some fame as a sire. Next year came Wildwood Junior, winner of two Trotting Cups and one of the greatest racehorses of all time. Thelma's later contributions included Marie Corelli, Authoress (dam of Author Dillon), Adonis, Lady Sybil, Cameos, Waverley, Aristos, Neil Denis, The Pointer and Azelzion. Truly Thelma can be classed as 'the gem of the Trotting Stud Book.'

Nor was she the only matron to bring fame to Kerr's stud. Most notable of them was Gertie, an American-bred mare imported to Sydney by Messrs Trestrall and Burns in 1900. Two years afterward she joined the Wildwood Stud, which she enriched with 11 colts and fillies. Amongst these were such prominent winners as Storm, Calm, Breeze, Lexwood and Stormlet. All her foals were by Wildwood, or his son Wildwood Jnr. I have Willie Kerr's assurance that Calm was the speediest young horse he ever trained. As a matter of fact, his home trials eclipsed those of Wildwood Jnr and Admiral Wood.

The Kerrs were somewhat fortunate in acquiring Wildwood, the king pin of their establishment. The handsome son of Good Gift was one of four horses imported from America by Mr H Richardson, Taranaki. They were subsequently sent down to Canterbury for sale, and, on the advice of my old friend, Joe Chadwick, the Kerrs purchased Wildwood. Two years afterwards the American faced a racecourse crowd for the first time in a race at the Show Grounds, and though asked to concede from 4 to 10 seconds start, he was backed as a certainty. A little-fancied candidate in the Ashburton-trained Prince Imperial brought about his downfall. It was this race that led up to the famous match between Wildwood and Prince Imperial, over which big sums of money changed hands. Patiently driven by Willie Kerr, Wildwood never gave Prince Imperial a look-in, winning two straight heats.

It was over 60 years ago that Willie Kerr made his debut in the saddle. At that time on many Saturdays and public holidays impromptu meetings were held on the New Brighton Beach. At one of these Dick Sutherland had a mare racing called Maud S and it was on her that the youthful horseman won his first race. The prizes were of the utility order - a bridle, a saddle or even a whip. And showing his versatility, young Kerr also won a hurdle race on the beach on a mare named Patience.

Some years later the New Brighton course was formed. Along the back straight the track had been cut through a sandhill and for about 50 yards the horses could not be seen from the stand. So many non-triers were pulled up in this stretch that it became known as the 'standstill.' The New Brighton course was a lucky one for the Kerr brothers, who on several occasions between them won half the programme. Lower Heathcote was another happy hunting ground for Willie Kerr, as were Lancaster Park, Plumpton Park, and the Show Grounds. Occasionally he raced successfully at Tahuna Park and Forbury Park, but was not a great patron of meetings outside Canterbury

It is many years now since Willie Kerr last donned racing livery, most of his later activities being devoted to light-harness breeding, and in this department his name is just as strong as it had been on the tracks. For some months the octogenarian's health has not been the best, but as he is on the improve he looks forward to being present at Addington to see the next Trotting Cup.


Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 2Oct46

FINAL MEETING AT NEW BRIGHTON

The New Brighton course would now become Queen Elizabeth II Park and in 20 years time or so it could develop into the Hagley Park of the seaside suburb, said the Deputy Mayor of Christchurch (Councillor H P Smith) who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the club at its final meeting on its own course on Saturday. Cr. Smith said the New Brighton Club's gesture in offering the property to the City Council at much below the sub-divisional value was a magnificent one. The 'City Fathers' would be 'just as jealous of every square yard of it' as they were of Hagley Park, he continued. People would be able to enjoy recreation on the new park "for time immemorial".

The crowd of nearly 10,000 which attended on Saturday far exceeded expectations, and the £104,625 handled by the totalisator on-course was £32,000 more than last year. The main event, the A E Laing Handicap, carried a £50 trophy presented by Mr Laing, a former president who has been in hospital for some weeks. Five other presidents are still active officers of the club and races were named after them on Saturday's programme. They are Messrs W E Desmond, O Hutchinson, A G Jamieson, A McDonald and S J Moore.

Mr W F Stark, the president, in introducing the Deputy Mayor, thanked the public for their generous support in the past and extended to all a warm welcome to the club's future meetings at Addington. Queen Elizabeth II Park would be "real value for posterity" he said , and he was thankful that sub-division of such a fine place had been avoided. Officers of the club gathered in the birdcage for the ceremony, at which 'Now Is The Hour' and 'Auld Lang Syne' were sung.

A long list of champions, notable among them Wildwood Junior, Reta Peter, Adelaide Direct, Willie Lincoln, Agathos, Onyx, Peter Bingen, Great Bingen, Harold Logan and Josedale Grattan, were trained, at one time or another, on the New Brighton track. Between 25 to 40 years ago New Brighton was one of the busiest training centres in NZ, and trackwork was covered by the Christchurch daily papers - particularly when there were two morning and two evening papers - just as fully and prominently as the training activities at Addington.

Back in the late 1920s J N (Jim) Clarke trained a large team from Brooklyn Lodge (now occupied by George Cameron), and Peter Bingen, Great Bingen and Willie Lincoln were among the horses who occupied stalls in his stable. Contemporaries of Jim Clarke who come readily to mind included A J (Alf) Wilson, who trained and drove Reta Peter, twice winner of the NZ Cup; W (Bill) Warren, N L (Nelson) Price, J D (Doug) Smith, H (Harry) Frost, H(Harry) Aker, G (George) Robinson, A E (Arthur) Bussell and E R (Ernie) Husband.

Much earlier, the brothers W (Bill) and C (Charlie) Kerr, won renown with Wildwood Junior, Admiral Wood and others; M (Manny) Edwards took Adelaide Direct to the top; C Channing's Agathos was among the top flight of pacers in the early 1920s and Onyx, trained by J (Jack) Messervy, was the champion mare of the Dominion about the same period. Much later Pot Luck, trained by his owner H (Bert) Stafford, was a headline pacer trained at New Brighton, and F J ('Wizard') Smith used to quarter his team there on his regular visits to Christchurch meetings - Josedale Grattan and Nell Volo were among his great ones who had their final trials ay Brighton before important wins at Addington. W ('Tiger') Barron, was a prominent seaside trainer of over 30 years ago with horses owned by Mr D Rodgers.

There were others, many of them: the Jardens, the younger Kerrs and Smiths and Messervys, R (Dick) Motz and his son Arnold, E F C (Ernie) Hinds, D (Dan) Mahoney, E (Ernie) Hawtin, T H (Tom) Gleeson, G L (George) Mitchell, L C (Lester) Frost, F R (Fred) May, L (Lester) Davidson; and coming right down to the present day G (George) Cameron and A (Alf) Rhodes are among those still holding the fort along with A Richards, A Kendall, G Tisch, A L Mugford, W Ireland and a few others.

New Brighton at one time was as fast as any track in the country - Happy Voyage's 2.04 1/5, which stood as the NZ and Australian mile record for a season, was established on the track in 1923. In 1925 the champion mare Onyx, a lovely piece of horseflesh, went 3.13 against time for a mile and a half, which stood as a NZ and Australian record for a number of years. And on more than one occasion the peerless Harold Logan broke records from long handicap marks there - his 2.36 3/5 in winning the mile and a quarter Avon Handicap from away back on 84 yards (then a 'world's winning race record') will live on in the writer's memory as one of the greatest displays of good manners, brilliance and courage ever seen anywhere.

According to the late F C Thomas, a well-informed trotting historian of the early days, New Brighton is one of the oldest courses in NZ used solely for trotting meetings, and it is now more than 90 years since the first trotting event was held in the district. The New Brighton Club did not exist in those early days and was not formed until about 1890. For some time before that the New Brighton Racing Club held trotting meetings and mixed galloping and trotting meetings on the course. The New Brighton Trotting Club did not hold it's first meeting until 1895, when £190 was paid in stakes and totalisator turnover amounted to £1648.

Anyone prepared to dispute this statement is referred to the NZ Turf Register, 1894-95, which details the "New Brighton TC Inaugural" meeting, Saturday, March 16, 1895, "weather fine, going rough". The first race was won by J Gallagher's Swinton by "300 yards" in 6.01 for two miles. The mile Dash Handicap and the two miles Avon Handicap went to T Walker's Mistake in 2.54 and 5.54 1/2 respectively. The New Brighton Handicap, run over two miles in saddle, was won by H Mace's FB in 5.34. Other winners were J P Martin's Toby II(two races) J Barrett's Lily, and W Kerr's Felix.

The property was at that time owned by Mr Henry Mace, who with the club's first president (Mr H McIlwraith) and secretary (Mr A I Rattray) first gained Government recognition of trotting through the old NZ Trotting Association, which had been formed in Christchurch in 1888. On the death of Mr Mace in 1902, the course became the property of Mr H Button, who had a stud and trained thoroughbreds from the Brooklyn Lodge stables. The club continued to prosper and bought about half the present block containing the track from Mr Button in 1909, the same year in which the club's first course superintendent (Mr R Davidson) was appointed. Mr Davidson's son, L Davidson, has trained horses on the New Brighton course until recent months.

The course was very rough in the early days, but it gradually improved under Mr Davidson's care until he retired in 1924. He was succeeded by Mr W Stevenson, whose son, Mr T Stevenson took over in 1936. Mr T Stevenson will complete 27 years as course superintendent on September 27, and will remain on the course when the Christchurch City Council takes over on October 1.

The club did not secure the remainder of the property until the early 1930s.

-o0o-

Vanderford had to be good to win the A E Laing Handicap. He made his usual fast beginning and was quickly up near the leaders. Vanderford followed Kingsdown Patch, one out, till rounding the turn into the straight. At that stage Kingsdown Patch could do no better, and it appeared as though Vanderford's driver, M Holmes, was forced to make a forward move earlier than he would have liked. Vanderford had to race very wide turning for home, but shaken up a little, he soon collared the leaders, and once he did the result was in safe keeping. Vanderford won going away by a length, to record his fifth success on end, and his fourth for the season. He now requires only one distance win to become eligible for the NZ Cup. Rustic Lad was second, Flying Blue third and Avante fourth.

-o0o-

To the consistent Master Alan went the honour of winning the last race on the New Brighton course, and his success was a popular one. Earlier in the season Master Alan had been runner-up to Cardigan Bay at Hutt Park and second to Doctor Dan at New Brighton a fortnight ago. Master Alan raced in about the middle of the field until the turn and joined the leaders about the furlong. Master Alan responded in grand style to record 2.08 4/5, the last half being run by the leaders in 1.02 4/5, the final quarter in 31 2/5 secs, on a track which was not fast. Junior Royal paced a little roughly early in the race and was doing his best work in the concluding stages. Robin Dundee paced a sound race and made up ground for third. Doctor Dan was next, followed by Lordship, who had every chance. He is obviouslt not at his best.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Sep63

EARLY SULKY DEVELOPMENTS

Recently the writer paid a visit to Bryant & Co's workshop in Dalgaty Street, Christchurch, in search of information on early sulkies. The above firm is now carried on by Mr W B(Bill) Cooper, and his son Russell.

Mr Cooper was unable to clear up the question as to who used the first real sulky in a race, but old records of the firm, dating back to 1890, show who were the first men to use the first sulkies manufactured by Bryant & Co. In 1890 the firm built the first high-wheeled sulky used in Christchurch. This vehicle had four-foot diameter wheels with solid iron tyres. A similar cart, of the same design, but with heavier wheels, was used for racing by Mr H('Soda Water') Mace in 1890. A Mr H Reece also used the same type of cart. In 1892 Mr J G Grigg, of Longbeach, purchased a high-wheel sulky. He bred many trotters from the imported mare Jeanie Tracey. A Mr Lascelles and a Mr McLean, of Hawkes Bay, were also the owners of this build of sulky about the same time as the Longbeach owner.

The first pneumatic tyred sulky built by Bryant & Co appeared in 1893, and it was owned by a Mr Jack McGregor. This cart was somewhat similar in design to the ones used today, the main difference being that the seat was set much higher. The hubs for this sulky were imported from America, and the wheel was built around the hub. The spokes and rim were made of wood, and the pnuematic tyre - tubeless - was bolted onto the rim. In 1894, Bert Edwards purchased one of these Sulkies from Bryant & Co, and no doubt he used it for racing, as also did M(Manny) Edwards who ordered on the same year.
A horse called General Tracey, who set a three miles record of 8min 15 1/2 secs back in the 1890s, pulled a sulky of this type.

These are only a few of the names of the earlier school of owners, trainers and breeders which appear in the records of the firm. Bryant & Co built carts of all types, and many of the high wheeled carts were only put to private use. However many of them were pulled by high-spirited trotters, and the owners were not averse to challenging one another in trials of speed on the roads.

During the 1920s - earlier and later - the wide, short-shafted American type of sulky made it's appearance, and all of these were not imported from America. Bryant & Co built a number of this design, but as fields increased in size, the wide sulky went out of favour. The last time the writer saw one on a racetrack was when the trotter When went against time at Rangiora just before her departure for America. The vehicles used almost universally in NZ today - for years past for that matter - are traditionally known as speed carts.

The firm of Bryant & Co was established in 1872, in Papanui Road, Christchurch: "fine carriages, dog carts, gigs, pagnal carts and racing sulkies" were among the special merchandise built by the 'old firm'. Records kept by Bryants from the eariest days embrace, over more than 70 years of production, such well known names as Bert Edwards, Manny Edwards, Jack McGregor, Andy Pringle, W J Doyle Snr, Geo Murfitt, A Kerr, H W Kitchingham, Alf Wilson, Free Holmes, Thos Roe, Dave Price, Ben Jarden, W J Morland, James Bryce, Tom Fox, Roy Berry, J J Kennerley, W J Tomkinson and D A Withers. There are legions more.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 29Apr64

Ravenschild & trainer-driver Newton Price

1913 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The three-day meeting, scheduled for November 11,13 and 14, 1913, was initially in jeopardy. The club held a special committee meeting on November 5 to consider a postponement because of the national waterside strike that had gripped the country. However, the club decided to keep faith with all the horsemen who had already made the long trip to Addington, and proceeded with the meeting. As it transpired, the strike did not prevent any horse from competing, or, apparently, any person from attending.

Ravenschild won the race in hollow fashion from the Australian pacer Denver Huon, with Calm, the race favourite and unbeaten in three starts, a fair third.

The winner, who had been runner-up the year before, gave his sire Rothschild his third Cup success. Such was the large stake offered that Ravenschild was the season's leading earner with £1130, all but £30 coming from his Cup win. The stake for the 1913 New Zealand Cup reached 2000 sovereigns for the first time, the qualifying time was tightened to 4:38, and for the first time a prize for fourth place was offered. Ravenschild's share of the stake was 1100 sovereigns, Denver Huon 400, Calm 300 and Manderene 200. Total stakes offered by the club over the three days were 8000 sovereigns. The Canterbury Jockey Club, which had been in existence more than 50 years, also had a 2000 sovereign stake for it's traditional November New Zealand Galloping Cup. The Metropolitan Club, in just nine years, had raised the stake of it's prestigious race from 310 socereigns to the equal of its more illustrious provincial companion.

Totalisator turnover on Cup Day was a record £42,558, and the Cup betting of £7257 10s was also a record. For the first time the turnover eclipsed the Canterbury Jockey Club's betting on its Cup Day, held as usual three days before the Trotting Cup. The three-day Addington turnover reached a record £124,362, up £25,185 on the previous year.

The club received 23 nominations for the Cup, and only Bell Metal and Princess Louise were withdrawn, which left an over-capacity field. Twelve horses started from the front line of six seconds and from that mark Ravenschild was quickly into the lead for Newton Price. Passing the stands for the first time, Lord Dillon headed Ravenschild, who was followed by Manderene, Little Tib, Aberfeldy, Stop It and Calm. Well rated by his trainer-driver, Ravenschild regained the lead shortly after and by the time the straight was reached was going too well for the others. He finally won by eight lengths in 4:35.6.

Denver Huon, the Australian champion from Sydney, came to the meeting with a reputation for exceptional speed, and from his handicap of two seconds ran a fine race. He had to make his way through the big field, and was timed at 4:33.4. Denver Huon was under the care of Manny Edwards, who had migrated to New South Wales and set up a stud farm and training establishment. Edwards' horses arrived by sea via Melbourne, Hobart and Bluff. The trip was a rough one and Denver Huon, in particular, lost condition. As a result he had worked poorly before a good final trial on the Sunday before the Cup, which convinced his connections to continue with the race.

As expected with such a big, unwieldy field, the start was unsatisfactory. The horss paraded past the stands and then walked to the starting point. They began racing some lengths before reaching the post, getting off in straggling order. Again, Andy Pringle bore the brunt of the disorder and was tipped from the sulky of Glendalough. King Cole, Medallion and Gold Bell broke hopelessly and took no part in the contest.

The Wildwood Junior-Gertie six-year-old Calm, who started from the front, lost his unbeaten record after a slow start. Passing the stands the first time, Bill Kerr's pacer was six seconds behind the leading division. He gradually moved up and, starting the last lap, had moved into third place. Calm chased Ravenschild into the straight and broke, allowing Denver Huon to pass him.

King Cole (out of retirement) had broken Ribbonwood's mile record in 1911, registering 2:08.6. He shared the scratch mark with his co-Australasian mile record-holder Emmeline, who recorded her mile time in the 1912-13 season.

Andy Pringle gained some compensation for his bad luck in the Cup when he rode and drove three winners - Win Soon, Country Belle and Gianella - on the second day. Albert H returned to form, winning the Canterbury Handicap from Red Mac and the trotter Muricata. His winning time of 4:33 equalled the New Zealand record set by Wildwood Junior in 1910.

The third day blonged to the four-year-old trotter Michael Galindo, from the Cliff Tasker stable. After an early break, he made up ground in grand styleand won the Dominion Handicap from Muricata and Quincey.

The most significant newcomer amongst the trainer-drivers at the meeting was James "Scotty" Bryce. The litle man had landed in Wellington from Scotland with his wife and five children earlier in the year. His rise to fame and fortune was repid. Both his sons - James Junior and Andrew - followed him into harness racing and thr Bryce family won every honout there was to achieve in the sport. Scotty Bryce won the national premiership for trainers eight times and he headed the driver's premiership five times. Despite his poor debut with King Cole in 1913, the big races in later years - the New Zealand and Auckland Cups - were easy prey.

Bryce family members were associated with six New Zealand Cup and 11 Auckland Cup victories. Only the Holmes family, Free and his three sons - F.G., Allan and Maurice - who between them won the New Zealand Cup seven times, can boast a better family achievement at Addington. (F.G. was always known by his initials because his first name was the sae as that of his father).

Cecil Devine equalled Scotty Bryce's six New Zealand Cup training successes when Lord Module annihilated the 1979 field. Later still, Roy Purdon, with his two sons, Barry and Mark, produced their sixth victory between them in 1996 when the brilliant Il Vicolo won his second New Zealand Cup.

Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup