WATERLEA RACEWAY’S ONE HUNDRED YEARS

The Marlborough Harness Racing Club Inc (prior to February 1988, Marlborough Trotting Club) will celebrate the commencement of harness racing on the Waterlea Racecourse one hundred years ago when it holds its annual two day Summer meeting on Friday 17 and Sunday 19 January 2020. The inaugural meeting at Waterlea took place on Friday 12 March 1920. This year also celebrates the running of the one hundredth Marlborough Cup (Pacers).

Since March 1920, trials, OTB (Owners, Trainers and Breeders) and tote meetings have been held at Waterlea Racecourse. The only exception to this was during the Second World War when no harness racing meetings were held between 1939 and 1945. In addition, motorcycle races were held at Waterlea between 1922 and 1929, a brief adjournment before being run again from 1933 until the commencement of WWII (did not recommence after the war ended).

Technically, this season (2019/2020) represents the 93rd season of harness racing at the track located in Blenheim, Marlborough District (top of South Island). Currently two tracks are utilised by the club – Summer meetings are held on the 1600m grass track (350m straight) and Winter meetings on the 1506m All Weather track.

Prior tracks/clubs –

The Marlborough area has facilitated horse racing for longer than one hundred and fifty years. The current Marlborough Trotting/Harness Racing Club commenced operations at the Riverlands course (approximately 1 mile, grass) on 19 February 1913 until the final meeting was held on 5 February 1919. The Waterlea course opened in 1920 with the first thoroughbred meeting held on 10 March and a trotting meeting on 12 March 1920. Trotting races have been conducted at many of the thoroughbred meetings held in the century since then although not every season.

A new members and stewards stand was completed in 1977 with the public stand being developed in the late 1980’s. The Waterlea grass track is utilised by both racing codes with an all-weather harness track having been operational from December 1981 with the first totalisator meeting held 6 February 1982. The all-weather track resulted following a joint meeting with the Nelson TC at Canvastown (10 June 1981) where the Marlborough club advised that it hoped to have an all-weather track operating by February 1982. The co-operation of the Marlborough RC was fundamental to achieving this objective. Prior to the first tote meeting held on the all-weather track, numerous trials had been conducted.

Other tracks/clubs utilised in the Marlborough area have included :

Wairau Racing Club pre 1880 raced at the Omoka Domain

Marlborough Jockey Club formed in 1880, initially at Omoka Domain and Riverlands prior to Waterlea

Pelorus JC’s solitary meeting on New Year’s Day 1892 : Kaituna (3km from Havelock)

Upper Wairau RC meetings 30 March 1891 – 26 March 1894 : Miners Old Course, Renwick

Marlborough Trotting Club 23 March 1894 : Hibernian Society’s Sports Ground, Blenheim

Wairau TC meeting of 1 November 1911 : Awatere RC, Seddon

The Riverlands course hosted meetings for the following clubs – Marlborough HC (1891); Birthday RC (24 May 1892 – 24 May 1895); Blenheim Trotting Club (9 November 1892), the NZ Referee described the track as “course rough and limited in extent”; Marlborough RC (20 April 1893 – 18 May 1919); Wairau Trotting Club (15 July 1903 – 17 April 1911); Trotting races were held at thoroughbred meetings throughout the majority of this period, certainly from 16 April 1895 onwards.

Meeting Dates –

The Marlborough Trotting Club held one summer meeting per annum from 1913 (Waterlea from 1920) until 1950 (no meetings 1939 – 45 during was years) when a two day summer carnival was introduced (1960 one off Winter meeting held). In 1974, meetings on three days were held (one January, two February) while 1975 – 1980, the two days in February were supplemented by the initial Winter meetings in June (one day). This changed in 1981 to two day Summer and Winter carnivals, February and June respectively.

In the mid-1990’s further meetings were held in addition to the traditional Summer and Winter meetings – 1994 and 1995 September (two), 1996 August/September (two), November (one), 1997 and 1998 December (one). The current two day meetings (Friday/Sunday) in mid – January and mid/late June have remained in place since 1999 with the exception of June 2017 when following the Kaikoura earthquakes. A one day only Winter meeting was conducted at Addington Raceway. Throughout many of these years supplementary harness events have been run at Marlborough RC meetings.

In recent years, both Summer and Winter meetings have run preludes to the Cup races on Friday with the Cups held on Sunday. The Sunday Summer meeting is now conducted as an Interislander Summer Festival meeting.

Race Distances –

With the introduction of the all-weather track in February 1982, race distances have changed as was the case with the move from imperial to metric distances in 1974. Prior to 1974, distances run on the grass were 9 furs 110yds, 1¼m, 1½m, 1m 5 furs and 2 miles. The change to metrics made distances run of 2000m, 2400m, 2600m and 2800m. The running of the inaugural mile race (6 February 1982, Radio Marlborough Golden Mile 1609m standing start, Lady Eastburn 2:05.2) took place on the all-weather track together with races at 1700m, 2300m, 2400m, 2700m and 3200m. Grass track distances after the change to metrics were at 1800m, 2000m, 2400m, 2600m and 2800m. The return to grass track racing at the Summer meetings since 2018, have distances of 1850m mobile, 2400m and 2850m standing starts run.

The mobile gate was first introduced to Waterlea Raceway in the 1983/4 season principally due to Marlborough’s first staging of a heat of the DB 3yo Fillies series, required to be raced over one mile from behind the mobile gate. This was the first of two classic race series to be staged by the club (other Pylorus Trust 4yo Classic).

Course Records –

The one elite record set on the Waterlea track was on the tenth of March 1922 when Ahuriri (1919h Cathedral Chimes/Muricata) established a new NZ two year old Pacers Mile record of 2:20.0. A top performer, Ahuriri won two NZ Cups (1925, 1926; third 1928), 1927 Auckland Cup and earlier at two, fourth ever running of NZ Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. His breeder/owner was RM Morten, trainer Scotty Bryce and driver James Bryce.

As a sire, Ahuriri left Ahureka, grand dam of WA Pacing Cup winner Hycraft; he was dam sire of Dainty Design (TAS Derby, Oaks, Guineas), dam of nine classic offspring including :

Joseph Scott (TAS Derby, Pacing Championship), Valencia Bay (TAS Pacing Championship), Heather Bay (TAS Derby); grand dam of Denise Neptune (TAS Oaks); third dam of Almeta Boy (1:55.8, TAS SS – 2, AUST Pacing Championship), Toolara Dream (1:55.3, QLD Sunshine Sprint), Zyuganov Leis (Kilmore Cup, ID heat), Zhirinovsky Leis (NSW Summer Gift), La Rey (VICSS – 3c, sire of Poets Corner, VICSS – 2T); fourth dam of Rykov Leis (1:51.9); fifth dam of The Jobs On (WA Pearl); sixth dam of Aussie Reactor (1:50.3US, $616,425, WA Golden Slipper); seventh dam of Americanbootscoota (1:52.5).

NZ Records established on the Waterlea track include Jack Shine’s 2:03.8 horses and geldings pacers mile standing start time set on 28 June 1982 and Lady Eastburn’s mares pacing standing start mile record of 2:05.2 (6 February 1982).

Track Records –

Imperial distances run on grass (all standing starts) until conversion to metric distances in 1973/4 season –

Metric distances since 1 August 1973 (1973/4 season) (all-weather track or grass where indicated) :

Feature Races – there are currently two main feature races run annually by the club while in previous years both the 4yo Pelorus Classic and 3yo Fillies heats featured during the club’s Summer meetings.

The Marlborough Pacing Cup was first contested in 1913 – in fact there were two recorded instances of a Marlborough Cup that year, the first won by Lucy Wallace and the second by Ariadne. The 2020 edition being run on Sunday 19 January over 2850m (grass) represents the one hundredth recorded running of the Cup (not run in 1916, 1939 – 45 or 1976). Previous winners have included Hayseed (1920, first Cup winner at Waterlea), Waikato Prince (1937, winner of Dominion Hcp Trot), Auckland Cup winner Macklin (1957), ID heat winner Why Bill (1975), West Coast Bonus and Easter Cup winner Our Mana (1983), Blue Chip Rock (2004, Easter Cup) while dual winners have been Full Cry (1919, 1920) and Vikota (1929, 1930).

The Marlborough Winter Cup held during the annual two day June Winter meeting commenced in 1975 (Sidestep) and is run over the 3200m distance. Winners have included Atom Love (2001, 1:49.4US) and Bettors Strike (2008, $¾m earner, Victoria Cup) while  several horses have won both Winter Cups at Nelson and Blenheim in the same year (Runaway Groom 1990 Atom Love 2001, Fifth Edition 2014). The race has not been a regular placement every year since its commencement, not being run 1992 – 1998 and in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2011 and 2016.

The three year old fillies classic, DB Fillies (later Hydroflow or Nevele R Fillies; commenced 1979) series featured a heat at Waterlea from 1984 until 2014 – continuous three decade running of one of the earlier heats in the series.

Winners included Sweet Alli (1984, 2:05.2, second was Blue Water winner of Final), Leigh Lumber (1985, first in 2:00.0), future open class pacers in Michele Bromac, Bionic Chance, Oaxaca Lass, Mainland Banner, fastest filly Miss Elsie (2011, 1:55.3) and last heat winner in Murphy Brown (2014). The only winner of the Marlborough heat and the Fillies final was outstanding filly Under Cover Lover (1998, 1:57.1).

Instituted in 2003 and a one-time automatic qualifier for NSW Chariot Of Fire, the Pelorus Trust 4yo Classic’s lifespan ran until its final running in the 2015 season (January). Lack of numbers proved to be its death knell. Leading lights to succeed in the Classic included London Legend, Likmesiah, Monkey King, Kiwi Ingenuity, Choise Achiever, Jason Rulz, Franco Nelson and final winner Isaiah (2015). The Classic was run at Group Two level from 2005 – 2015.

Local Trainers –

According to HRNZ records, over eighty trainers have raced horses from Blenheim and the surrounding area (Marlborough province) over the past six decades (since 1959/60 season). Those most prominent have included Grant Anderson with twenty one training victories to date at Waterlea Raceway since 1983, Pat O’Brien (thirteen; with son Mike a further six), Alan Shutlowski (twelve), Graham Neill (eleven), Mac Miller (ten) and Peter Hope (eight; Greg Hope’s father [Monbet, Enghein and part owner of Robalan, winner of 1974 NZ Cup, three NZFFA’s, Easter Cup]) rounding out the leading half dozen trainers on a wins basis. Others noted to have trained in the Blenheim area at some stage include Brent Weaver (two, now returned to Canterbury), Don Morrison (six), Dean Hunter (seven, now in Canterbury), Brian Wastney (two, Vice Chairman, HRNZ Board) and those to have trained in the area for a time but without success at Waterlea included Bruce Graham and Peter Robertson. Many more have trained over the past six decades but mention cannot be made here of all those from the area. The latest local training win was recorded by Merv Bryers on the opening day of the two day June 2019 Winter meeting.

In the preceding four decades, local winning trainers from 1934/5 season when trainer’s area recorded until 1959/60 season were : four training successes, W Pope (Renwick); three, Edward Hasler (Kiore); two, BP Brougham (Springs Creek), R Mitchell and Frank Scott** (both Blenheim); one, AV Weston (Kiore), WJ Brougham and WJ Murray (both Springs Creek), E Jeffries (Fairhall), FEC Brooks, Colin Berkett**, KA Wilson and RA White (all Blenheim) – total of twenty one local victories spread over twenty seasons (no racing during WWII).

** Scott – five further training successes at Waterlea 1961/2 – 1966/7; Berkett – other successes at Waterlea when training from Yaldhurst (1974, 3), Templeton (1963, 1)

Administrators –

Notable among the clubs Presidents over the years have been Bill Murray (1951 – 56, 1960 69), Pat O’Brien (also HRNZ President during 2000’s, recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing Award), Brian Wastney, current HRNZ Vice President (six years on HRNZ Executive and previously Nelson President) while current Chairperson is Petrina Shutkowski.

In recent years Barry Forbes spent just over two decades as Club Secretary (mid 1990’s to late 2010’s) while Lynne McIntosh is the current club Secretary. In earlier years club secretaries have included Graham S Fuller (1954 – 1977/8), MA Peters (1978/9 – 1982/3); Mike O’Brien (1983/4 – 1990/1); KJ Courtney (1991/2); G Booker 1992/3) and then Barry Forbes held the position as indicated above.

Courtesy of Marlborough HRC (Thanks to Shirley Morrison and Petrina Shutkowski).

Peter Craig

8 January 2020

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

Driving The Future Of Harness Racing