TARANAKI’S CENTENNIAL YEAR

The annual summer meeting at New Plymouth Raceway (name changed from Pukekura Raceway in December 2018) on Saturday 29 February 2020 will be the centenary celebration of the Taranaki Trotting Club (racing under the Taranaki Racing Inc banner from the 2017/18 season). Whilst the inaugural Taranaki Trotting Club meeting took place on Saturday 7 February 1920 (non-tote meeting), the club has had a chequered record over the years.

New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand and Pukekura Park is considered its crown. Covering an area of 52ha (128 acres) in the heart of the city, it contains one of New Zealand’s premier botanical gardens, a Fernery and Display houses, includes TSB Bowl of Brooklands used regularly for concerts and the WOMAD celebrations, Brooklands Zoo, bush walks, lakes, children’s play areas, sports area (cricket/rugby), Tea House and adjacent to New Plymouth Raceway.

Since the 7 February 1920 and 5 February 1921 (non-tote meetings) with the first tote meeting run on 18 April 1925, meetings of the Taranaki club with a few exceptions have been held on New Plymouth Raceway :

1922 – 1924 – no meetings held

1933 – 1936 – dates were foregone and no meetings held during these depression years

1942 – 1946 The combined clubs of Hawera and Taranaki held meetings at Egmont RC club’s track at Hawera (28 March 1942, due to New Plymouth track not being available) and during remainder of WWII combined club meetings at Hawera on 24 and 26 April 1943 [1944 no meeting]; 31 March 1945 during which time Taranaki lost it permit (due to overall shortage of permits) and at Pukekura Park on 1 and 3 June 1946. The Taranaki TC conducted its Cup meeting in April 1946 with a restored permit

1977 – meeting held at Cambridge Raceway on 16 April 1977

1979 – meeting held at Te Kapua Park, Stratford (new all-weather track under construction together with upgraded track facilities)

On a number of occasions, the club’s meeting dates were changed with some years no meetings while in other years racing twice in the same calendar year.

Accordingly, this season (2019/2020) represents the 91st season of harness racing for the Taranaki Club, the eighty eighth year at the track located in the city of New Plymouth. Whilst there are effectively two tracks located within the New Plymouth Raceway complex, only the 1630m grass track (350m straight) is now used.

Approval was granted by the New Plymouth City Council in June 1975 in conjunction with the Taranaki Jockey Club and A & P Society, for the $8m first stage development of the New Plymouth race course. New grandstands, stables and training facilities, including all-weather trotting track was authorised.  A 1000m plush new All Weather track (200m straight) was under construction in the late 1970’s with its opening taking place at the 12 April 1980 Easter meeting.

The first mobile mile events on the all-weather track at New Plymouth Raceway were run on opening day 12 April 1980. Greg Robinson’s (Festival 81 Mile) 1:59.8 defeat of Delightful Lady by a nose was the fastest and only sub two minute race time recorded prior to the twenty first century where Molly Darling’s 1:58.3 in 2006 is the quickest of all time. The all weather track has not been used since 22 April 2007 with all harness racing from 20 April 2008 taking place on New Plymouth Raceway’s grass track. The Stratford TC held their annual 1982 and 1983 meetings on the new track (then returned to Te Kapua Park grass track at Stratford).

Prior tracks/clubs –

The New Plymouth area’s horse racing pedigree goes back prior to the turn of the nineteenth century into the twentieth century – from about 1890 Taranaki Jockey Club held trotting races on its programme. The Taranaki JC was formed in 1874, however the first thoroughbred meeting in Taranaki was held on New Years Day 1849 and thereafter at a variety of venues.

Earlier meetings held at Pukekura Park included :

Taranaki Trotting Club on Boxing Day 1890 (26 December), 9 November 1893

Taranaki Trotting Association on 27 September 1894

Taranaki Metropolitan Trotting Club on 18 June 1896

A further solitary meeting of the Taranaki Trotting Club was held at Vogeltown on 5 April 1906 while the Egmont Trotting Club held a one-off meeting at New Plymouth Raceway on 6 February 1976.

Meeting Dates –

The Taranaki Trotting Club generally held one summer meeting per annum from 1920 onwards (refer exceptions above), the months varied between February – April :

February: 1920, 1921, 1926

March : 1927, 1940, 1947 – 1948

April : 1925, 1928 – 1932, 1937 – 1939, 1941, 1946, 1949 – 1950/1

In 1950, the club’s meeting date changed to December and a second permit was obtained to allow for a two day meeting. These two day meetings continued until 1958/9 season when the club relinquished one of its two permits to allow a new club, Stratford Trotting Club to hold its first tote meeting on 7 February 1959. Again dates varied in this period : November : 1952/2, 1953; December : 1950/2, 1951; January : 1952/1, 1955 (date change), 1956 (second day February), 1957, 1959 (one day only); March : 1958.

From 1960 onwards, one day meetings were held in the Autumn – April except for 1962 (May) before further changes that restored the clubs second permit in the 1981/2 season. From 1960 until 1977, a five day Taranaki Easter Circuit was held taking in one days racing at New Plymouth, one at Stratford and three days at Hawera (early 1980’s two days at Hawera and one at Stratford formed Easter carnival). One day meetings were held in January and February of 1981 before regular single day pre/post-Christmas meetings commenced in 1981/2 season (November/January), altered to December/January from 1983/4 season before moving to December/March in 1986/7 season and December/April in 1988/9.

The 1989/90 season held one day meeting in December (plus one race at trials meeting) and a single day in March, changing to two day meetings in December 1991 and 1992. The 1993/4 season held a one day meeting in August with two days in December; 1994/5 two days in October and again in December as was the case in 1995, 1996 two days In both November and December. The 1997/8 season had a total of six days racing – two each in November and December and single days in March and April. The following season, a return to only two days racing in December and May while in 1999/2000 one day was held in December with two in February.

The new millennium had the three day programme of December (1) and February (2) continue until 2001/2 when one day was held in December (dual code), two in February and one in April; 2002/3 two days in February; 2003/4 one day in November with two in March; 2004/5, single days in March (dual code), April and May; 2005/6 one day in each of December and April; 2006/7 single days in January and April; 2007/8 a consistent period through until 2016/17 with two day meetings annually : April 2007/8 – 2013/14; March 2014/15; April 2015/16 with 2016/7 single days in January and March. The past two seasons saw q reduction to one day per annum (2018 – 1 March; 2019 28 February). Note – second day of April 2013 meeting transferred to Manawatu Raceway due to track conditions at New Plymouth – first day held on a heavy track.

As can be seen the club has had no regularity with its racing dates over the seasons.

Race Distances –

With the introduction of the all-weather track in April 1980, race distances changed as was also the case with the move from imperial to metric in 1974. Prior to 1974, distances run on the grass ranged from 1 mile (1925 in saddle; 1927 – 1931 harness to nine furlongs, 1¼m, 1½m, 1m 5 furs and two miles standing starts [Hawera 1942 : 1½m, 1½m, 2m] while the advent of the mobile gate in 1971 being used on grass over the distances of 1½m and 1m 5 furlongs for pacers only. Trainer/driver Dane Alexander (Ohaupo) produced the first two mobile start winners in consecutive races at the 17 April 1971 meeting (1½m, Erins Tracey, Sandy Ridge).

With metrics distances changed to 2400m and 2600m mobile as well as 2400m, 2600m and 3200m standing starts on the grass track (1974 – 1979). Note – the 1977 meeting held at Cambridge, 1m, 2200m and 2600m mobile distances with 2600m and 3200m standing starts were utilised. In 1979, club’s meeting was held at Stratford – distances of 1800m and 2600m mobile plus 2000m/2600m standing starts.

The all-weather track (1980 – 2007), distances of 1 mile (first ever mile on 12 April 1980, won by Classic Special, 2:05.2, dr Barry Anderson, tr Charlie Hunter & Garry Smith; later the same day Jacron won the Max Harvey Mile, 2:05.6), 1700m, 2100m, 2150m, 2200m, 2600m (including first ever mobile trot at 12 April 1980 meeting won by Red Highlighter, Colin Butler tr/dr) and 2700m mobile together with standing starts over 2100m, 2200m, 2600m, 3100m, 3150m and 3200m stand were run. One notable feature during the later 1980’s was the 2yo 1 mile races won by a number of top juveniles – Dillon Dean (6 March 1987, 2:05.1; NZSS – 3c, NZ Derby, Messenger, NZFFA), Neroship (18 December 1987 defeating Hammer, 2:04.6; NZ/AK Cups), Hammer (11 March 1988, 2:08.5; NZSS – 2c) and The Unicorn (16 December 1988, 2:03.2).

The return to grass track racing from April 2008, mobile distances of 1 mile, 1700/1750/2600/2700m with 2600m standing starts utilised during this period. The vast majority of races in recent seasons have been run over the 1750m mobile journey. The second day of the 2013 April meeting was contested at Manawatu Raceway with all races (pacing and trotting) held over a distance of 2000m mobile.

Course Records –

The one elite record set on the New Plymouth Raceway track refers to Greg Robinson’s 1:58.3TT set on the sixteenth of January 1982. This time is among the first one hundred two minute miles recorded in New Zealand. Greg Robinson set his time trial record a year after his success over Delightful Lady in the Festival 81 mile at the club’s 17 January 1981 meeting (1:59.8). His 1:58.3 time was equalled by Molly Darling in the Taranaki Breeders Stakes of 2006 and they remain the fastest mile times recorded at New Plymouth Raceway.

Track Records –

Whilst no formal course/track records exist, the fastest times recorded on the grass track since the introduction of metric distances in 1973/4 season are shown in the table below (covers period 1974 – 1976, 1978, 2008 – 2019. NB : 1977 held at Cambridge; 1979 at Stratford; day 2 April 2013 at Palmerston North) :

The two minute mile rate barrier has been equalled or beaten on three occasions on the grass at New Plymouth Raceway – Lifesofine (1:59.7) on 1 April 2014 with ten year old Our Southern Man earlier the same day recording a 2:00.0MR to briefly have the fastest male mile rate while Russley Haste two days earlier on 30 March 2014 established the female benchmark with her 1:59.8MR. All three are Pacers and recorded their times over the 1750m mobile journey.

Track records established on the all-weather track during the period 1980 – 2007 appear below (best times of either sex only) :

Feature Races –

Feature Races – there are currently two main feature races run annually by the club while previous years had two editions of the Stratford Cup and Northern Country Cup Finals run at New Plymouth Raceway during the Taranaki Clubs meetings.

The Taranaki Pacing Cup, first contested in 1920, the year the current club commenced racing at New Plymouth Raceway with victory going to Overrate. The 2020 edition being run on Saturday 29 February 2020 over 2600m (grass) represents the ninety first running of the Cup (not run in 1922 – 24, 1933 – 36, 1943 – 45, 1954, 1999, 2006, 2012; run twice in 1950, 1952, 1981, 2005) and the eighty eighth at New Plymouth Raceway. The 1942 edition was held at the Hawera racecourse, 1977 Cambridge Raceway and in 1979 Te Kapua Park, Stratford hosted the event.

The distance of the Taranaki Cup has varied over the years. In times of imperial distances, the Cup was run over 2 miles (1920 – 1958; 1960 – 1973) and for one year only 1959, one mile and five furlongs. Since the introduction of metric distances, races have been run on both the all-weather and grass surfaces as follows : 1974 – 1978 3200m stand (including Cambridge 1977); 1979 2000m stand (Stratford); 1980 – 1986 and 2019 2600m stand; 1987 – 1988; 2600m mobile 1989 – 1992 2700m mobile; 1993 – 2004 3200m stand; 2005 – 2009 2700m mobile; 2010 2600m stand; 2011 – 2018 2600m mobile; 2019 1750m mobile.

Previous winners have included dual NZ Cup/triple NZFFA winner Harold Logan (winner in 1930); another New Zealand Cup winner and runner up, Homin Hosed (winner in 1998, Messenger, Easter Cup); Tui Wildwood (1928), sixth dam of ID Trotters GF winner Uncle Petrika; Laureldale (1950), sire of Mountain Pride, Rowe Cup winner; trotter French Pass (Dominion Hcp, National Trot), winner of 1968 version; the Jubilee (50 years at New Plymouth Raceway) Cup in 1970 went to Con Amour; Adios Lobell (1980), grand dam of multiple Group One winner and four time Oaks champion Tupelo Rose, 1:51.2US, VIC/QLD/AUS/GN Oaks and fourth dam of Little Brown Jug heat winner Resistance Futile 1:49.3US); together with a number of open class pacers such as Reba Lord (1987, won as a 3yo), Sam Malone (1996), Falcon Rise (2002) and local horse Smooth Gretna winner in 1993 (GN Oaks, Premier Mares Championship).

The Taranaki Breeders Stakes was first run in 1980 when won by Flora Dor a subsequent 1:57.3US winner. Champion mare Delightful Lady won the following year 1981 while other winners have included top race mares Molly Darling (2006), $½m, 1:51.2US, Caduceus Club Classic, Breeders Crown at two and Nevele R Fillies, and Better B Amazed (2015) 1:53.5, Premier Mares Championship. The race distance has varied between 2100/2150/2600m stand (1980’s) and 1 mile mobile (early 2000’s) on the all-weather track and 1700/1750m on grass since 2008. The race has not been a regular every year since its commencement, not being run 1986 – 2000, 2004 and 2018.

The Stratford Club conducted its 1981 and 1982 meetings on the all-weather track at New Plymouth Raceway. Both meetings included the running of the Stratford Cup won in 1981 by Single Cee and 1982 by Hi Gear.

The Taranaki club hosted the running of the Northern Country Cups Championship Final (grass tracks championship) in 2012 (twelfth running) when Zenola Seelster took out the major prize and in 2016 (sixteenth and penultimate running) Tijuana Bromac being the winner.

Local Trainers –

Trainers specifically local to New Plymouth have not won a great many races at New Plymouth Raceway over the years. Whilst Year Book records only began recording the trainer’s locality in 1937, those New Plymouth based trainers with local wins are :

One : Frederick Walker (later trained at Cambridge); Gavin Benton; Keith Robertson; Eian Taylor (later of Lepperton, Waitara, three training successes); Ross Graham; Jim Graham, trainer of top race mare Smooth Gretna for Ross Graham, his wife Carmel and Jim Graham

Three : John (commonly known as Barry) Wood

Taking in a slightly larger area of the environs of New Plymouth (excluding Hawera, Stratford, Kapuni, Manaia and surrounds, trainers that can be added to the local list of winners include :

One : Richard Humphries, William Aitken, William Griffiths, Spencer Cossey and John Fleming (all Opunake); Thomas Burckett (Kaimata); David Parker, Peter Eliadis (both Waitara)

Two : Ronald Buchanan, Neil Buchanan (both Waitara); Spencer Cossey (Opunake), John Raith (Inglewood, one winner at 1977 Cambridge meeting; later shifted to Morrinsville)

Three : Hugh Massey (Opunake); Sally Fenning (Mokau Beach)

Seven : David Cambie (Waitara)

The various Fleming family members warrant specific comment (others lived outside this immediate area as well and were successful) – Laurie Fleming, nine from Rahotu and one from Pungarehu; Brian Fleming, six (Rahotu); John Fleming, four (Opunake); Richard (known as Joe) Fleming, two (Waitara); Laurie Fleming and Stephen Garvey, two (Rahotu).

Details concerning the leading trainers and drivers on the Pukekura Park track since 1958 are shown below :

Administrators –

The club’s first President was AW Webster with WC Weston President at the time of the first tote meeting (1925) remaining in office until 1946 when he was made Club Patron. In 1946 long time Committeeman Val Duff assumed the club Presidency. Alec Guy was President from 1959 and since then Past Presidents have included successful horsemen David Parker, Keith Robertson and David Cambie. The current Taranaki Racing Inc Chairman is Vaughan Watson.

The first Secretary of the Taranaki Trotting Club was D le C Morgan remaining in office until 1958 retiring then as the longest serving NZ Trotting Club Secretary. Current Secretary Carey Hobbs is fast approaching a similar tenure having taken over on Robert Death’s appointment as Auckland Trotting Club Secretary in 1987.

Peter Craig

5 February 2020

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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