RACING, TROTTING

Though the sport of trotting had been under way in New Zealand for some time prior to 1896, it was not until July of that year that some overall control was set up at a meeting held at Wellington. Out of this came the decision to draw up a set of rules for the whole country. The meeting also decided that there should be two associations – one for the South Island and one for the North Island. The associations were replaced in 1899 by the New Zealand Trotting Association, whose nine members were elected by the affiliated clubs. This one association remained in force until 1950, when it was abolished, its duties being taken over by the New Zealand Trotting Conference, which, prior to that time, had been more of an administrative and legislative body.

Thanks to the early studmasters and breeders of trotting horses, some well bred stallions and mares were imported from America. These greatly improved the stamina and speed of the country's horses. In 1882 Robt. Wilkin imported the stallions Berlin and Blackwood Abdallah and the mares Blue Grass Belle, Fannie Belle, Jeanie Tracey, Messenger Maid, Queen Emma, and Woodburn Maid. These mares later passed to other breeders and many were foundation mares for their studs. A year or two later John Kerr, of Nelson, also imported several horses from America. Other studmasters followed this practice and most of the Dominion's horses can be traced to this early stock.

Growth of the Sport

The sport has grown steadily. During the season ended 31 July 1899 the totalisator investments were £122,869 and the stakes £15,665. For the season ended 31 July 1965 the totalisator figures were: on course, £7,833,723; off course, £9,657,860; a total of £17,491,583. The stakes were £556,647. During the same season 1,626 horses started in races and there were 1,021 licensed trainers and drivers. There were 121 race days, compared with 45 in 1899. The number of totalisator permits issued over the years has varied. At one time there did not appear to be any limit. In 1890–91 it is possible to trace 21 permits, while in the next season there were 44. Up to the present the total is more than 120. The number of clubs has also greatly increased – from 18 in 1899 to more than 40 totalisator clubs and a number of non-totalisator clubs at the present time.

Administration

The administration of the sport is in the hands of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, with headquarters in Christchurch. The Conference, which is an association of clubs allowed to use the totalisator, has an executive consisting of president, North Island vice-president, South Island vice-president, treasurer, and 10 members. The executive meets several times a year to conduct the business of the conference. Each club is represented at an annual conference, which has the sole right to amend rules, issue totalisator licences, and allocate racing dates. The conference can only issue the number of licences available under the 1908 Gaming Act and its amendments. The Act has to be amended before more can become available.

The conference has been in existence since 1896, the only variation in control being the establishment of the New Zealand Trotting Association in 1899 and the abolition of this association in 1950.

All trotting clubs are non-proprietary. In the early days some clubs were proprietary, but under pressure from the Government these clubs were compelled to treat owners and trainers more liberally, with the result that they have ceased to exist. Today the only paid officials are those fully employed in administration or specially engaged on race days. All others, from the president down, are honorary members. In fact, in many of the smaller clubs the officials do all the work without charge to the club. If it were not for such services there would be fewer minor clubs. Few clubs show large profits these days and many depend on grants from the Totalisator Agency Board.

Today the larger clubs provide courses which are equal to, or even superior to, many in other parts of the world. The stands of the major clubs are impressive and commodious. Most races are on courses of between 4 and 6 furlongs. Since night trotting was introduced there has been a tendency to reduce the size of the tracks, but in no case to less than 4 furlongs. Many of the smaller clubs use racing-club courses or courses owned jointly by racing and trotting clubs. These tracks are usually about a mile in circumference. A grass track is generally used, but some clubs have laid down a clay track, while those racing at night have used limestone or shell, which are better reflectors of light. The number of horses permitted in any one race varies according to the track. The maximum is 24, though some clubs, principally those racing at night, have reduced the number to 14. A maximum course number and a maximum number for each start are fixed by the conference.

Trotting races are handicapped on the yards system on the basis that a horse's racing speed is an average 12 yards in a second. Thus horses start on scratch, 12 yards, 24 yards, etc. There is a variation in the faster classes, when a distance of 6 yards or half a second is used. This system has been used since 1929. Before this the handicapping was either a yards system or by seconds.

Since 1926 races have got under way from standing starts behind barriers – unless permission is given for a flying start. A flying start is permitted in a race against time, in a match, or, more recently, where a mobile starting barrier has been used. The mobile barrier has a limited scope in New Zealand, as it can be used only when all horses start from the front handicap mark. It cannot be used where handicap races start from various marks.

Stipendiary stewards were introduced in 1917. Till 1945 these stewards attended meetings and supervised the racing, reporting any matters arising from a race to the judicial committee of the club concerned, who would then make a decision. In 1945 the rules were amended to give stipendiary stewards sole power of controlling the racing and, together with one representative from the club or body holding the meeting, they deal with all matters concerning the racing. In all inquiries they hear the evidence and give the decision, which, except in the case of minor penalties, can be appealed against. The case is then heard and decided by three persons appointed as appeal judges, whose decision is final.

Night trotting was introduced on 31 December 1958 by the Auckland Trotting Club. The club now holds all its meetings under lights. All major clubs have now adapted their courses for night trotting, which is proving increasingly popular. A comparison of returns of the Auckland Trotting Club shows just how successful night trotting has proved. The club had a total turnover for the 1958–59 season for day racing of £1,626,739. Night racing in the 1960–61 season gave the club a turnover of £2,547,309. Gate receipts in the latter season – at £43,072 – were £37,439 better than in the 1958–59 day-racing season.

Race times have improved greatly in the last 50 years.

The first New Zealand Cup of 2 miles was run in 1904, the winner's time being 4 min 44.4 sec. Fifty years later Johnny Globe won the cup in 4 min 7.6 sec. Similar time improvements have been made in races for unhoppled horses. In 1912 the Dominion Trotting Handicap of 2 miles was won in 4 min 52.5 sec, and in 1958 in 4 min 17.6 sec.

Records

New Zealand horses hold a number of world records. The most recent list is:

Mile Records

The first horse in New Zealand to run a mile in faster time than two minutes was Lawn Derby, an Australian free-legged pacer who, in 1938 at Addington, paced the distance in a trial against time in 1 min 59.4 sec.

Other horses to have run 2 min or under in New Zealand are:

Leading Stake Winners

Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay's American earnings in his first seven starts exceeded 100,000 dollars.

Caduceus

With his earnings from races in America, Caduceus won more than £100,000.

False Step

False Step also earned more than 52,500 dollars in races in America.

Johnny Globe

This is the greatest sum ever earned by any galloper or pacer raced solely in New Zealand.

Highland Fling

As well as the above, Captain Sandy won more than £40,000 in New Zealand and Australia.

Outstanding Achievements

There have been many outstanding achievements in the history of trotting in New Zealand. Here are a few:

Only two horses have won the New Zealand Cup three times in succession – Indianapolis in 1934–35–36 and False Step in 1958–59–60.

The greatest handicap from which a horse has won the New Zealand Cup is 60 yards – Harold Logan in 1932 and Highland Fling in 1948.

Wrackler, a double-gaited horse, won the New Zealand Cup in 1930 as a pacer and in 1932 won the Dominion Handicap, the main race for straight out trotters. Also, as a trotter, he once beat a high-class field of pacers.

M. Holmes, 11 times a leading driver, is credited with more than a thousand winners in his career as a professional horseman and has driven the winner of the New Zealand Derby 11 times in the 46 contests held so far.

Caduceus, in winning more than £100,000, joins the Australian gallopers Tulloch and Sailor's Guide as the only horses bred in Australasia to have achieved this distinction.

Lordship, a son of Johnny Globe, in the 1959–60 season became the greatest two-year-old winner of all time.

The champion stallion, U. Scott, had 26 seasons at the stud. He has had over 350 individual winners in New Zealand and the stake earnings of his progeny in this country alone total over £1,000,000.

Blue, the world-record-holder yearling, was sold by auction at the Standard Bred Yearling Sales in 1957 for a record 4,500 guineas.

C. S. Donald and the late J. Bryce have each been leading trainers on eight occasions. C. S. Donald, who has been a licensed trainer for 40 years, had trained 761 winners up till the end of the 1960–61 season.

Lordship and Lookaway, as four-year-olds, are the youngest horses to have won the New Zealand Cup.

Haughty is the only mare in the Southern Hemisphere to have broken 2 min for the mile.

Reta Peta, a trotter, is the only horse to have beaten the pacers in the New Zealand Cup two years running.

The greatest juvenile trotter ever seen in New Zealand was Certissimus, whose 1½-mile record, put up in 1941, still stands.

Cardigan Bay and War Buoy are credited with the greatest number of consecutive wins – 10.

Worthy Queen, one of the fastest trotting mares of all time, made in 1934 a mile record of 2 min 3.6 sec, against time.

Johnny Globe has won the greatest number of free-for-alls in New Zealand – 15.

Brahman, a son of the New Zealand Cup winner, Haughty, by another New Zealand Cup winner, Gold Bar, ran 2 min 2.2 sec for a mile against time at Addington in 1953. He beat the previous Australasian record of 2 min 8.8 sec made in Sydney in 1951 by Convivial. Brahman's time was 1.8 sec slower than the then world record for a two-year-old pacer.

Some Little-known Facts About Trotting

A trotter races free legged. He has a diagonal gait; that is, the near foreleg and the off hind leg work in unison, as do the off foreleg and the near hind leg.

A pacer races in leather hopples and has a lateral gait. Both near-side legs move together as do the off-side legs.

There is no weight restriction for horsemen driving in sulkies, but in saddle events they cannot carry less than 10 stone.

The width of sulkies cannot be more than 4 ft 3 in.

A whip cannot be longer than 4 ft in a harness race, or 2 ft 6 in. in a saddle race.

Personalities

The outstanding development of trotting in New Zealand has been helped by many well-known personalities. Notable among these are:

H. F. Nicoll. An Englishman, Nicoll came to New Zealand to further his banking career, but after a short while started in business as an exporter of frozen meat. He was president of the Conference for 25 years and also sat on many local authorities. The sport made great progress during his presidency and he was responsible for extra permits, compulsory standing starts, the present handicapping system, and stipendiary control. He was president of the Ashburton Trotting Club for many years and his interest in establishing classic events is reflected in the progress of this club. He raced both gallopers and trotters and established an outstanding stud, known as Durbar Lodge. A son, A. J. Nicoll, is the president of the Ashburton Trotting Club and is a member of the Executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference.

A. I. Rattray. Known as the “Father of Trotting”, Rattray came to New Zealand from Scotland at an early age and, after a career in commerce and banking, became secretary of his first club in 1887. He was the first secretary of the Canterbury Trotting Club, founded in 1888, which later merged with the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. He was secretary of this club and the Canterbury and New Brighton clubs till his death in 1941 when 87 years old. He was the first secretary of the New Zealand association and did great service in framing rules, stamping out “ringing in” of horses, which was prevalent in those days, urging the abolition of bookmakers, and winning Government recognition of the association. He did much to develop the Addington course.

Sir John McKenzie. Business magnate and philanthropist, Sir John was treasurer of the now defunct New Zealand Trotting Association and was also a leading owner and breeder. Established in 1927, his Roydon Lodge Stud has become the biggest in New Zealand. The stud was the home of the leading imported stallions, U. Scott and Light Brigade, and its collection of American-bred mares is probably the finest outside the United States. Since Sir John's death the stud has been taken over by his son, R. A. McKenzie, who has been a leading owner since 1956. His horses have won more than £100,000.

A. L. Matson. Managing director of a stock and station company and a well-known auctioneer, Matson was president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference for eight years. He was a sound club administrator and the founder of the Standardbred Yearling Sales.

Chas. S. Thomas is a nationally known legal counsel who has been an owner and prominent club official. He was president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference from 1957 to 1961. He acted as chief counsel for the conference on the Royal Commission on Gaming. The final establishment of the Totalisator Agency Board is a tribute to his outstanding efforts.

Dr M. G. Pezaro was an outstanding North Island administrator who, after many years as vice-president of the conference, was president from 1955 to 1957. During his term routine swabbing was introduced. As well as being a prominent owner, Pezaro was president of the Auckland Trotting Club for 15 years.

Outstanding Trainers and Drivers

The Holmes Family: Headed by Free Holmes, known as “the grand old man of trotting”, the Holmes family figured either as leading trainers or horsemen from the early 1920s onwards. In his younger days Free Holmes rode gallopers on the flat, over hurdles, and steeplechasers' and trained and owned thoroughbreds. He was immediately successful in trotting, training and driving many winners. He was the leading trainer in 1922–23. His sons, F. G., Maurice, and Alan have also distinguished themselves in the sport. F. G. was the leading horseman in 1927–28, Maurice has been a leading horseman 11 times since 1930–31 and Alan was equal leading horseman of the 1945–46 season. Alan owned, trained, and drove Gold Bar, a cup winner and one of the fastest horses to race in New Zealand. All three sons have trained many winners.

The Bryce Family: James Bryce, his wife, and five children arrived in New Zealand in 1913 from Scotland, where he had been a trainer and driver. He brought two horses with him and settled in Christchurch. Recognised as one of the greatest trainers this country has known, James Bryce trained the winners of six New Zealand Cups. When he was established he built the most modern stables in the country at that time, including a swimming pool for the horses. In all he was eight times a leading trainer. His two sons, Andrew and James, have driven many winners. Andrew was the trainer of Jewel Derby, the idol of the Alexandra Park Raceway. Jewel Derby won eight races before being sent to America.

J. S. Shaw: A leading driver and trainer both of gallopers and of trotters, J. S. Shaw was a stipendiary steward for the New Zealand Trotting Conference for nine years. He was the trainer of the champion galloper Beaumaris and made history by being the first New Zealander to take a horse and race it in America. This was the trotter Vodka, in 1956.

F. J. Smith will always be remembered as the most immaculate driver in trotting history. Born in England, he came to New Zealand in 1929 and brought with him an American-bred trotting mare. He was soon established and became a leading trainer-driver in the 1932–33 season. He had been a leading trainer in England and spent some time in America studying methods there before coming to this country. During his 18 seasons in New Zealand he was the leading trainer six times and the leading driver seven times.