This is the first in a series of four articles on the commentators at Addington Raceway..
For many years now racegoers at Addington Raceway have been fortunate to be blessed with superb callers, two of whom were long term servants and a current incumbent who could easily remain in the job for as long as he likes. The names of Clarkson and Murtha are synonymous with Addington while McNamara has made giant strides in people’s estimation.
Before we review the careers of those behind the microphone at Addington, let’s have a look at the background to race calling in New Zealand. The first reported race broadcast from Addington Raceway was the 3 June 1926 meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club (King’s Birthday meeting). The first caller was Alan Allardyce on private radio 3AC and later 3YA – local national programme station in Christchurch.
After the Addington broadcast, the Canterbury Jockey Club refused to allow broadcasting of the Grand National meeting of August 1926. Allardyce however called races from a haystack which was situated outside the racecourse, using an extension cable from the microphone to the telephone of owner/trainer Jack McComb whose home backed onto the course. Although positioned 3½ furlongs from the finish, it was reported that all calls were accurate!! Following this first ever race call, the CJC banned Allardyce from calling thereafter. However sometime later Allardyce was provided with a seat in the stand from which to broadcast although the crowd in front of him proved problematic interrupting his view. 
In August 1927, the Forbury Park Trotting Club (FPTC) club considered a suggestion that race results be included in radio broadcasts. In September 1927, an application was received from Mr JW Webb, station director of the Radio Broadcasting Company of NZ in Dunedin requesting permission to broadcast races from Forbury Park (FP). This was readily agreed to and arrangements were made for suitable accommodation to facilitate this. From the spring meetings of 1927 (25/26 November), FP races were broadcast live to an ever expanding radio audience (extract from an unpublished history of trotting in Dunedin, courtesy of FPTC).
Debate continued concerning race broadcasts for a number of years until the NZ Racing Conference agreed broadcasting was a good thing in 1932, broadcasters agreed to pay £1000 for the privilege of doing so. Early race callers included “Wang” McKenzie, Frank Jarrett Timaru 1936 at local meetings, while David Clarkson took over Timaru in 1940 and Riccarton meetings just prior to WWII. Frank Jarrett preceded Clarkson as race caller at both Addington and Riccarton (1935). He later went onto become judge at both courses, including being judge at Addington when the photo finish was introduced in 1946, the year Integrity won the NZ Trotting Cup (also some handicapping). Another caller in the Mid – South Canterbury area in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s was Alec Stanley. Reon Murtha advises that Stanley had told him of calling Johnny Globe winning a non tote event against current champions of the era. Stanley was judge at Forbury Park for the 1965 Interdominions when Jay Ar and Robin Dundee dead heated in a dramatic Pacers Grand Final. He was also thoroughbred handicapper for the South Island for many years through to the 1970’s.
Fans throughout New Zealand have been ably served by their race callers, who have provided great entertainment with their vivid race descriptions, especially thrilling for radio listeners in the days before recorded or live pictures were available courtesy of TV. No less today where pictorial coverage has reached saturation point, callers need to ensure they maintain high standards. Among many important attributes is an ability to read a race, recognition of horses and breathing, timing, rhythmical voice with tone important and correct pronunciation. A good vocabulary to enable each call to have its point of difference is required and the right tempo and delivery so that the voice stays even especially in close finishes is essential. Not much to ask of a caller!! It is obvious that the better callers have all or many of these attributes (and often more).
The majority of the earlier race callers were part timers with a passion for their “calling” but it is interesting to note the longevity of many of our best callers – at Addington : David Clarkson 33yrs (1938-1971), Reon Murtha 35 yrs (1971 – 2006) plus in the North Island Syd Tonks (northern gallops close to 40 yrs; Auckland Racing Club 1947 – retired 1983; racing journalist for Best Bets, racing reporter for NZ Herald, handicapper 1961); Peter Kelly (Central Districts gallops/occasional Manawatu trots, auctioneer 30+ yrs) and Reg Clapp (northern trots 47 yrs). A later article in this series includes a brief review of a number of other New Zealand race callers.
Since the late 1930’s, the state owned NZ Broadcasting Corporation/Radio New Zealand (RNZ) had a monopoly on race broadcasts. RNZ maintained its high profile in racing by providing excellent coverage until 1990, catering for all sporting and cultural tastes and overwhelmingly favouring the racing audience. All meetings were broadcast by provincial radio stations with major events networked by over 30 stations, all at no cost to the Racing industry. RNZ decided to withdraw its race coverage due to a combination of low poll ratings for racing, high costs and no financial input by the racing authorities despite being offered a multi station exclusive radio network (ala current Radio Trackside service).
In the early 1980’s private station Radio Pacific showed considerable interest in providing race broadcasts. In the 1981/82 season Pacific’s racing director Jim Smith gained support from the Racing Conference to provide broadcasts. Pacific provided full meeting coverage, introduced opening betting markets and impacted on increased TAB turnovers. RNZ and Radio Pacific provided a healthy competitive service over the next decade. Television coverage was quite good through the 1970’s and 1980’s, although only major races were covered live. Major provincial events were regularly shown on locally produced sporting TV programmes. Mainstream TV coverage faded away entirely in later years to the extent that only TV3 provides any mainstream channel live coverage each year, that being the NZ Trotting and Galloping Cups.
In 1991, RNZ ended its 53 year association with providing race commentaries to New Zealanders.. This left Radio Pacific to provide a nationwide service with a $2 million injection of funding from the TAB. Eventually total coverage was provided of all three codes by Radio Pacific (now Radio Trackside) and Trackside Television was established in 1992, celebrating its twenty year anniversary in November 2012 (now two channels – initially Trackside free to air and TAB Sky Channel but since 2014 both channels are accommodated on pay to view SKY TV). The New Zealand Racing Board exercises control over the Trackside channels, Radio Trackside and the appointment/employment of all race commentators.
Considered the doyen of NZ race callers and essentially the original pioneer of radio race broadcasts, David Bruce Clarkson (known as Dave) was named Commentator of the Century in 1974 and was a life member of the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame. Christchurch born and bred, Clarkson was an old boy of Christs College.
He made his first race call for the Banks Peninsula Racing Club at Motukarara on 20 October 1937. David Clarkson was the voice of Addington Raceway and Riccarton in the early days of radio. He commenced calling at these two courses just before the commencement of WWII (1937 – Riccarton; Addington – NZMTC National meeting of 10 August 1940; Canterbury Park TC 1 January 1941 and New Brighton TC on 12 September 1940. His last call at Addington came in the last race at the 1971 Interdominion carnival – Pacers Third Consolation, race eight on Saturday 27 February 1971. He had been in the Addington commentator’s position for over 30 years before retiring in March 1971. He became commentator throughout the Canterbury area for both codes e.g. at Ashburton, he was race caller between 1945 and 1970 before Freeman Holmes filled in briefly prior to Reon Murtha’s appointment in 1971.. David Clarkson also called race meetings at Trentham from at least June 1944 until he was succeeded by Peter Kelly in 1956. He was also the first commentator to be acknowledged in the race book. The ace Christchurch caller’s commentating spanned 34 years from 1937 – 1971. Like his first call, he made his final call from the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s course at Motukarara on Saturday 6 March 1971.
All told, he had called 2,186 races for NZMTC, 1,011 for New Brighton TC and 951 for Canterbury Park TC, a total of 4,148 races called for the three major Trotting Clubs. David Clarkson retired from race calling having broadcast 14,852races during the third of a century he had been behind the microphone. The three Addington clubs marked his retirement at a special function held by them in March 1971.
David Clarkson was recognised as a world class commentator, he made race calling an art, his commentaries always gave the appearance of and generated excitement. This included his famous starting phrase “This time…. “, together with classic phrases in tight finishes like “flying down the outer”, “neck and neck”, “stride for stride” to enhance and enliven his calls made before the days of television monitors. This may also explain some comments indicating that some of his calls were not always as accurate as is required from commentators with TV scrutiny today. Freeman Holmes, a popular and competent trotting racecourse and radio announcer filled in for David Clarkson at Addington.
David Clarkson was involved in many aspects of the racing industry – professionally as a well known auctioneer. Initially working for H Matson & Co – auctioneers, grain and seed merchants from February 1940 or earlier. In 1947, he was appointed bloodstock manager and auctioneer for PGG, remaining with them until his retirement in 1978. Clarkson was an auctioneer at the National Yearling Sales (thoroughbreds) at Trentham for 25 years, commencing in 1949 with Charlie Robertson and Bill Paterson (Wright Stephenson bloodstock manager). Robertson retired after the 1954 “Royal” sales. Clarkson and Paterson were joined by Peter Kelly in 1961. Clarkson/Paterson retired from the Trentham sales in 1973 after sharing the rostrum for 25 years. David Clarkson was instrumental in establishing the South Island Thoroughbred Bloodstock sale (now held during August Grand National carnival week in Christchurch), which is approaching its 50th anniversary.
The annual New Zealand national sale of standard bred yearlings was originally handled by H. Matson & Co. in conjunction with Wrightson, Stephenson & Co. Ltd – their first sale at Addington Raceway was held on 3 November 1944. David Clarkson was an auctioneer at these annual sales together with special annual sales of pacing and trotting stock in 1957, 1963 and 1972, spending considerable time travelling throughout NZ inspecting yearlings.
Privately David Clarkson was on the Committee for his local Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Society (A&P Show)in the early 1940‘s; an owner (see Just A Rebel below); served as judge at Riccarton for the Canterbury Jockey Club for about five years after which he became a steward of the club and was later elected an honorary steward. Three weeks before his death he was elected President of the Banks Peninsula Racing Club.
A few years after retiring from race calling, David Clarkson raced the good galloper Just A Rebel with Riccarton trainer Dave Kerr. This 1977 gelding (Weyand USA/ Fully Tested NZ) was bred by JA Herkess and AV Webster. He had a career record of 23 starts : 7 – 5 – 2 – 1- 2, $46,330. Just A Rebel won his first three starts as a 2yo including the 1980 CJC Champion Stakes at Riccarton. His biggest win came in the 1982 CJC Easter Classic, a C1 event over 2000m for $40,000. In this race he defeated good gallopers Noble Boa and The Dimple in recording his fifth victory at Riccarton (two were at Rangiora). Just A Rebel followed this up with a sixth in the 1982 Winter Cup before being off the scene for 15 months between November 1982 and February 1984. He had his last start at Wingatui in the 1984 James Hazlet Cup over 1600m..
In 1982, David Clarkson finally retired completely after having spent forty plus years as a commentator, judge or steward. He died in Christchurch on 8 August 1983, aged 70 after a long illness. He was survived by his sons David (past CJC Board member) and Duncan (Dannevirke, North Island), both keen racing men, now deceased.
The second in the Voices of Addington series will look at Reon Murtha’s career.
Peter Craig
Date 18 February 2016
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