The presence of royalty at harness racing meetings in NZ occupied a period of fifty years during the twentieth century (1927 – 1977). During these visits – usually aboard the Royal Yacht ‘Britannia’, the time span allowed for a wider range of activities. Modern air travel has reduced royal visits to a shorter time line thus inhibiting the opportunity to attend race meetings.
Visits by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in June 1901 (later King George V and Queen Mary) and the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in 1920 did not engender visits to a trotting meeting. Following the visit of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, a name change was effected for the Auckland Trotting Club’s course at Epsom from Potters Paddock to Alexandra Park. This was in honour of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII and sister of George V.
However, the month long 1927 (22 February – 22 March) visit by the Duke and Duchess of York brought the first regal presence at a NZ harness racing track. The future King George VI and Queen Mother attended a Royal meeting conducted by the New Brighton Trotting Club at Addington on Tuesday 15 March 1927. The eight race programme included the York Hcp, a feature race worth 800 sovereigns. This 2 mile event was won by JR (later Sir John) McKenzie‘s Great Bingen (trained/driven by Drum Withers). Undaunted by his 108 yard handicap, he defeated front marker Trenand by a head with a further head back to Loganwood, 24yds in a time of 4:24.0. The beaten brigade included good class horses such as Logan Chief (36), Kohara (48), Jack Potts (72).
During the six week long visit (15 December 1934 – 29 January 1935) of Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, the NZMTC held its Royal Complimentary meeting at Addington on Saturday 19 January 1935. The Duke arrived to the national anthem being played by the New Brighton Municipal Band. The day’s race card was printed in purple with a print of HMAS Australia on its cover.
The feature race of seven was the third, the Royal Hcp, £500 over 2 miles won by Wellington sportsman J McDonald’s ‘Glenrossie’ (36yds), trained/driven by Lou Thomas, then stationed at Hutt Park. Placed second two lengths adrift was Mountain Dell (36) with a further half length to Sunny Morn (24). In what was to become something of a tradition for male members of royalty, the Duke acted as starter for the major trotting race, Sussex Hcp which was won by Todd Lanzia.
Indianapolis provided the days highlight when he time trialed for trainer Claude Dunlevey and driver Eugene McDermott in a new NZ/Australasian mile record of 2:01 2/5. He then went out and won the final event over 1¼m in 2:38.0 winning by six lengths from Harold Logan and Roi L’Or. The Duke also attended thoroughbred racing at Trentham in December 1934.
The first time recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II (Coronation 1952) attended a harness racing meeting in NZ was on Thursday 21 January 1954 at Addington (NZMTC). Her 6 week visit with Prince Philip formed part of the first long Commonwealth tour of her reign (23 December 1953 – 30 January 1954). It is possible that trotters had been previously seen in action in Europe but pacers would have been a new experience.
The Royal party arrived in time for the second event on the card, the Jellicoe Hcp. The Woolston Brass Band played while many thousands sang the Anthem as the Queen and Duke alighted near the Stewards Stand. Greeted by NZMTC President Mr.C.E. Hoy and Mrs Hoy, Prime Minister Sid Holland and Mrs Holland and Secretary Des Parker, they made their way to the Royal Box situated directly above the birdcage to the accompaniment of the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band playing the ‘Queens March’.
The Royal Metropolitan Cup, £5,000 plus Gold Cup, was run on a fine day over two miles on a fast track before a crowd of twenty five thousand. The winner Cecil Devine’s Van Dieman started off 36yds holding a two length advantage over Thelma Globe (30) with a length to Zulu followed by Tactics. The extreme journey was covered in 4:13 1/5/2:06 3/5. Among a wonderful field of stayers were Vedette, Soangetaha, Au Revoir, Tactician and Single Direct (60). The Queen made the presentation of the Gold Cup to Cecil Devine, owner, trainer and driver of Van Dieman.
The Duke of Edinburgh continued the established royal tradition by starting the race named in his honour (Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, four year olds). The starting platform opposite the winning post was where the Queen’s father ’George VI’ and her uncle the Duke of Gloucester had dispatched fields during earlier royal visits. The official starter Mr AJ Hastings had served as starter on both previous royal occasions as well. The Duke‘s race was won by Rupee (48 yds), owned and trained by Jack Grice and driven by Doody Townley The classy trotter Vodka started twice on this Royal day – when finishing second in race one (Freyberg Hcp) to Slipstream, she established a NZ/Australasian record for 1m 5 furlongs and just under five hours later won the second leg of the daily double (Fergusson Hcp). Caduceus won the final event on the programme. The reduced totalisator turnover proved that viewing royalty superseded betting on this particular day.
Thoroughbred race meetings attended during the Queen’s first Royal Visit to NZ were : Auckland Racing Club at Ellerslie on Boxing Day 26 December 1954 (two days after Tangiwai rail disaster) and Wellington Racing Club on Thursday 14 January 1954.
Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh‘s fortnight long (6 -18 February) 1963 visit included Hutt Park’s Royal meeting held on Monday 11 February 1963. The Wellington club struck a showery day at first but managed to provide a fast track. The £300, 1½m Queen Elizabeth Hcp was won by publican Jim Steel’s Falsehood off 18yds, trained by Ces Donald and driven by Doug Watts. Urrall, Gildirect and Samantha filled the minor placings, two lengths and a neck in arrears. The overall time of 3:09 1/5/2:06 1/5 equaled the track record. The beaten division included Jay Ar, Master Alan, Oreti and Gentry. The two mile Duke of Edinburgh invitational trot was taken out by Bill Doyle’s crack trotter When (30yds) in 4:25 2/5/2:12 3/5, from Derek Jones on Our Own and Charlie Hunter on Mighty Brigade. Like Jay Ar in the feature pace, another future Forbury Park Interdominion champion was among the also rans in Poupette as was future NZ Trotting mile record holder Control (TT2:02.4TT, 3 March 1964 Manawatu Raceway). Five days later on 16 February 1963, the royal party attended a Canterbury Jockey Club meeting at Riccarton.
The Queen Mother’s second NZ harness race meeting attendance came forty years after her first encounter at Addington. The Royal Easter Cup Final was the main race on a fine Saturday, 23 April 1966. The 1m 5 furlong event was worth £5,000 plus trophy. Lordship (36yds) was an appropriate winner for the Nyhan’s by three lengths from bonny mare Robin Dundee (48) with two lengths to Bobbinet (12). A time of 3:21.0/2:03 4/5 was recorded. Disband won the consolation and Mighty Chief (12 yds) won the £2,000 Trotting Championship. On this visit (16 April – 4 May 1966), the Queen Mother also took in thoroughbred racing at Ellerslie in early May and on a previous visit in 1958 she attended races at Trentham.
It was the turn of the three year olds to feature at what was Queen Elizabeth’s last visit to a NZ harness racing meeting at the start of her Silver Jubilee year (22 February – 7 March 1977). This royal night meeting was held by NZMTC at Addington Raceway on Thursday 3 March 1977. A fine evening greeted the royal party for the feature event, the $25,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. The Clevedon based Max Robinson owned, trained and driven horse Greg Robinson was first to salute Her Majesty in a time of 3:20.4/2:04.1 for the 2600mM. He won by ½hd from Belmers Image with ¾ length to Sapling and Worthy Lord. This very good field of 3yo’s included Sunseeker, Ruling Lobell, Bronze Trial, Rustic Zephyr.
The Duke of Edinburgh Invitation Stakes for open class trotters was won by Southern Comfort by ½ length from Nigel Craig with Dupreez a neck back. The 2600m was run in 3:28.3/2:08.9. The other seven races on the card were all named after previous outstanding Addington performers (False Step, Robalan, Johnny Globe, Van Dieman, Cardigan Bay, Lordship, Young Quinn). This royal meeting is the most recent harness racing meeting attended by royalty, fifty years after the Queens parents had been at Addington. The Royals also attended a thoroughbred meeting at Te Rapa during this visit.
Regal patronage at harness racing in NZ has been forthcoming on a reasonable scale when one considers the many and varied calls upon royalty during any visit to NZ.
Peter Craig
28 April 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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