Auckland’s answer to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Dominion Trotting Handicap was the two mile Rowe Handicap Trot. The North Island’s most prestigious race for trotters boasts an honours board containing many of New Zealand’s outstanding square gaiters of the past century together with leading drivers and trainers. On Friday 27 April 2018, the one hundredth running of the Auckland Trotting Club’s “Rowe Cup” will take place at Alexandra Park. The time honoured Rowe Cup was first run in December 1918 and won by Australian bred gelding Whisht.
Many matters are summarised below in respect of this Australasian Pacing Gold Trotting Masters** series Group One race since 2012 (Trotters Grand Circuit 1999 – 2011)covering those one hundred years. The information provides a statistical feast of facts and figures regarding the Rowe Cup with mention of many of the great winners of the race.
** one of five races : Dominion Hcp/ANZAC Cup/Rowe Cup in NZ; Great Southern Star/Australian Trotting Grand Prix in Australia
Background –
The Rowe Cup honours John Rowe, President of the Auckland Trotting Club from 1905 to 1934.
JR Rowe
President of the Aucklandclub for just on thirty years, Rowe was also President of the Trotting Conference from 1909 to 1922and its first honorary life member. Asuccessful administrator, he reintroduced the yards system of handicapping in Auckland in 1915 and at the 1921 Conference sought support for the yards handicapping system to be introduced nationwide. Whilst his motion was defeated by fifteen votes to eleven, the yards system was eventually introduced by all clubs.
In 1928 Rowe was responsible for a then substantial £40,000 spend at Alexandra Park which included a new building for the electric totalisator and a new Members Stand. Managing the successful merger of the Otahuhu club with Auckland (1930) he fought to outlaw the many bookmakers operating in the Auckland area and campaigned against race broadcasts. His outspoken remarks regarding illegal on course bookmakers caused some commotion in the bookmaker’s camp when he referred to them as “human parasites”. Struck down by illness in 1931 Rowe endeavoured to cling onto his Auckland club Presidency when he was ultimately defeated in 1934.
An immigrant from the United Kingdom, Rowe permanently resided in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga. A builder and contractor by trade, he became a borough councillor at an early age then holding the position of mayor for several years. Other civic duties included membership of the Auckland Power and Hospital Boards making him the districts leading citizen together with being President of NZ Sports Protection League.
Throughout his many years of involvement with harness racing, Rowe never raced a standardbred himself although he raced a thoroughbred pony named Little Tom who paid £103 when winning at Ellerslie.
Inaugural Rowe Cup
In 1918 (27 December) the first running of the Rowe Cup was won by Whisht, an Australian bred gelding owned by James (JR) Corrigan.Whisht (1911) was by California out of a productive Vancleve mare in Hush (Ajax/Whisper). California was purchased by John Buckland to stand at stud in NSW as a replacement for Vancleve who died in 1904. Cuba was California’s best offspring in Australia. Hush had been a good winner in both Australia and New Zealand for Buckland, she being the first foal of an outstanding family founded by Whisper (A21) with notable Group One descendants being Turco (NZFFA), Taxi Boy (WA Derby) and Flare Alley (TAS Pacing Championship). Hush’s full brothers were good sire Wonbobbie and Valour (gelding).
Whisht was purchased from Australia by Aucklander WA Scott who enlisted James Corrigan to train him. Seven years of age when winning the inaugural Rowe Cup, which ran as the 300 sovereign Rowe Hcp Trot, he won by 30 yards in a time for 4:48 2/5 off a 48yd handicap. Earlier success included the 1915 Auckland Members Hcp Trot.
The following season James Bryce took over his training and Whisht became the first of many Rowe Cup/Dominion Hcp winners taking out the 1919 edition of the Dominion Hcpin a race record 4:39 for the two mile journey (5 second handicap). In later years he won the 1923 Sockburn Hcp Trot at Addington (84 yds behind),with earnings of £2,844 and a best mile rate of T2:19.2Whisht was leading trotting stake earner of 1919/20 season (£910).
Set out below are two extracts from the NZ Referee of Wednesday 8 January 1919 showing the official result and description of the 1918 Rowe Cup :
Official Result –
“ROWE HANDICAP TROT (in harness), of 300 sovs; second 40 sovs, and third 20 sovs from stakes. For unhoppled trotters. Class 4:56, Two miles.
12 J.R. Corrigan’s b g Whisht by California-Hush aged 48 yds bhd A. Adams 1
3 W. Halpin’s b g de Why aged scr J. Lynch 2
5 J. Ganley’s br g Hint 5 yrs 12 yds bhd N. Cunningham 3
11 Miss Huon Junior scr; 2 Succory scr; 7 Amberlite scr; 9 Grattan Abbey scr; 6 Kirikiriroa 24 yds bhd; 1 Gold Boy 24 yds bhd; 4 Billy Parole 48 yds bhd; 8 Chub 60 yds bhd; and 10 Blackthorn 96 yds bhd also started.
De Why headed Grattan Abbey, and led until the last half mile, where Whisht was on terms, and de Why breaking in the straight Whisht won by nearly thirty yards; Hint about ten yards away third; Kirikiriroa, Amberite, and Grattan Abbey next. Times – 4m 48 2-5s; 4m 54 1-5s; 4m 53 2-5s.”
Auckland TC Day One report –
“The Rowe Handicap Trot, the first called after the energetic president of the club, was responsible for a big surprise. Mr T. (Tom) Roe supplied the first favourite in Gold Boy, while the outsider in the race was Whisht, owned by Mr J. R. (James) Corrigan, trained and driven by A.E. Adams. There was no semblance of a fluke about the win either, as WhishtgaveDe Why a start of 48 yards, and caught him, and showing most speed, brought him to a break in the home stretch, and won easily; Hint favoured by de Why’s breaking getting a close third. It is a long while since quite such a large dividend was paid on a trotter at Alexandra Park.”
Despite the best efforts of Auckland Trotting Club steward Gordon Robertson, it has proven impossible to locate a photo of the first Rowe Cup winner Whisht. The photo of 1921 winner Native King (fourth Rowe Cup) is the earliest winner found.
Rowe Cup : Facts and Figures
As previously mentioned, the inaugural running took place during the 1918/19 season at Auckland’s Alexandra Park (Friday 27December 1918) where it has continued to be run ever since. The exceptions being when not run in 1942 but with two editions held in 1943 : 2 January and 30 December; 1956 not run but two editions in 1957 : 3 January and 31 December; and in 1972 when the race date was changed from December [1971] to May (1973).
Dates for the Rowe Cup have changed around somewhat over the years :
- December : 1918 – 1941; 1943 (2) – 1955; 1957 (2) – 1971
- January : 1943 (1); 1957 (1)
- May : 1973 – 1996; 1998; 2003; 2005 – 2014
- April : 1997; 1999; 2002; 2004; 2015 – 2017
- March : 2000 – 2001
In the period from its initial running through to 1971, the race was run as part of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Christmas carnival. The actual running did move between the first and third days (normally during the day of New Years Eve, 31 December) of the carnival although in the years of World War II (1942 – 1944) the carnival was conducted as a two day event only, with the Rowe Cup on the second day. With the move in 1973 to May, the Rowe Cup carnival was held as a three night meeting until in 1998 reverting to the current format of a two night Autumn carnival with the Noel J Taylor Mile and since 2012 ANZAC Trotting Cup (Group One lead up race for Rowe Cup) on night one and Rowe Cup, Messenger, GN Trotting Derby etc on night two.Alexandra Park, Auckland had been the first NZ track to switch on lights on New Years Eve, Wednesday 31 December 1958. A record crowd of 30,000 attended with £138,795 handled on course.The first night time Rowe Cup was conducted on the same evening and it has continued as a night meeting through to the current day.
The Rowe Cup has been run with slight variations to its name over the years. Starting out in 1918 as the Rowe Hcp Trot, it has been known at different times as the Rowe Hcp (1919), Rowe Trot Hcp Cup (1928), Rowe Trotting Hcp (1934), Rowe Memorial Hcp (1935), Rowe Memorial Cup Hcp (1948), JR Rowe Memorial Hcp(1958) etc through to today’s naming as the CANAM Rowe Cup.
Sponsorship of the Rowe Cup did not commence until the 1987 edition was sponsored by Metropolitan Life whose association continued the following year before combining with FAI Insurance for 1989 and 1990. The remaining sponsors card reads : FAI Insurance 1991 – 1996; Midas Mufflers and Brakes 1997/Midas Car Care 1998/Custom Fleet 1999; Dunstan Feeds 2000; The Mad Butcher 2001; Tommos Pizzas 2002 – 2003; Pacific Sheet and Coil 2004 – 2008; CANAM 2009 – present day. It can be seen that FAI Insurance, Pacific Sheet and Coil and current sponsors CANAM (Henderson based construction, interiors and joinery company) in particular have all played leading relationship roles.
The stake for the Rowe Cup has increased substantially since its first running. In 1918, the stake money paid out totalled 300 sovereigns increasing significantly through to this year’s anniversary race for a purse of $150,000.A timeline of stake increases and decreases to the prize money available for the Rowe Cup is set out below :
1918 300 sovereigns, increasing to reach 1,000 sovereigns by 1922 where it remained until a decrease to 800 sovereigns in 1930 at the commencement of the Depression years
1931 and 1932 saw major reductions in stakes to 350 and 300 sovereigns respectively
1933 saw the stake money currency change to pounds sterling and a small increase in the stake to £350; however 1935 saw the stake at its lowest ever level of £200
1936 following an increase back to £300, stakes progressively increased to reach £1,000 by 1944
1945 stake increased fifty percent to £1,500 but then fell to as low as £1,000 by 1958 before ending up at £1,350 for the last four years of sterling currency (1963 – 1966)
1967 with the introduction of decimal currency saw an immediate rise in stake to $4,000
Up until 1968, for many years the race stake incorporated an element for either a Cup, Gold Cup or trophy valued at anything between 50/100 sovereigns, to £50, to $150 to $280. Thereafter official results make no mention of a Cup; however the Rowe Cup winner is definitely presented with a Cup as part of the race spoils
1970 saw the first purse of $10,000 which by 1980 had risen to $30,000
1980’s saw major increases so that by 1986 the first $100,000 stake was offered with the following five seasons having a purse of $125,000
1992 to 1994 saw reductions down first to $100,000 and then $90,000 before reinstatement at the $100,000 level for the period 1995 – 2006
2007 – 2008 stakes rose to $150,000 prior to a dramatic increase to $300,000 (2009), $250,000 (2010), $200,000 (2011) before settling back at its current level of $150,000 in 2012 where it currently remains
In comparison to New Zealand’s premier trotting event, the Dominion Hcp which had boasted a stake of $250,000 for the past four seasons was this season lifted to $300,000, the Rowe Cup is its junior in stake only – it is a sought after race to win amongst the trotting fraternity throughout Australasia.
Mares have an impressive record in the Rowe Cup having saluted the judge on one third of occasions i.e. thirty three victories to date in the ninety nine year history of the Rowe Cup. This includes dual winners Nell Volo and One Over Kenny.
Leading winning drivers : with five winning drives Peter Wolfenden (Jewel Derby 1960, Single Cash 1968, 1969, Framalda 1977, Special Pride 1980) and Tony Herlihy MNZM (Gee Du Jour 1991, Diamond Field 1994, One Over Kenny 2007, 2009, Temporale 2017) lead the field. Those with four wins include Jim Paul, Bob (R) Young, Maurice McKendry, Anthony Butt while three time wining drivers are Bill (W) Orange, Leo Mahoney and Maurice Holmes.
The three winning Australian drivers have all come over the past two decades with father and son team Graeme Lang (Wagon Apollo)/Chris Lang(Sundons Gift) and Kate Gath (La Coocaracha). Kate Gath has been the only female driver of a Rowe Cup winner when La Coocaracha won in 2002.
Trainers : It is hardly surprising that the Purdon name features although individually they has been outdone by following trainers, all having trained four winners of the Rowe Cup : Jim Paul (Waikaha 1926, 1927; Great Admiral 1935, 1936); Jim Young (Aerial Scott 1946, Single Task 1949, Gay Belwin 1950, Indomtiable 1952), Tim Butt (Lyell Creek 2000, 2001, 2004, Take A Moment 2003). Three time training successes fall the way of Bill Orange, Leo Mahoney, with Roy Purdon (one on own account, two with son Barry) and Barry Purdon (one on own account, two with father Roy) both sharing three training successes [younger son Mark has two training in partnership with Grant Payne].
The three winning Australian trainers over the past two decades include father and son team Graeme Lang (Wagon Apollo)/Chris Lang (Sundons Gift) and Andy Gath, husband of winning driver Kate Gath (La Coocaracha).
Sundons Gift
Owners – the most successful apart from those whose horses are dual winners have been Jim Paul (four winners – Waikaha and Great Admiral twice each) and Graham Bruton (Lyell Creek on three occasions; once with Bruton as outright owner and twice with Burton as part owner); see later for list of nine dual winners. Owners of two winners that were not dual winners are Mrs E Berryman (Kempton 1928, Gay Belwin 1950), Jim Smith (Mountain Pride 1967, Robyn Evander 1975, part owner on each occasion), Eric and Thelma Running (Easton Light 1976, Ritch Hill 1978).
Winning owner/trainer/driversfeature quite regularly throughout the history of the Rowe Cup : Bill Orange (Grattan Abbey 1920), Jim Paul (Waikaha 1926, 1927; Great Admiral 1935, 1936), Eugene McDermott (Garner 1932), Fred Smith (Nell Volo 1933, 1934), C Moran (Margin 1940), Leo Berkett (Douglas McElwyn January 1943), Vic Alborn (Fair Isle, 1951 part owned with EJ August),Robert (RJ) Oliver (Pohutukawa 1962, 1963 part owned with GM Oliver), Roy (CR) Griffin (Scotleigh 1966), James (Jim) Smith (Mountain Pride 1967, part owned with estate of Lance Ashworth; Robyn Evander 1975 part owned with Paul Butterworth);Robin Butt (Global Hall 1970, part owned with Mick (E) Gaffaney); DaveGibbons (Idle Scott 1990, partowned with Richard Hunt, Greg Mason, Mike Chubb); Paul Nairn (Inspire 2006, part owned with Red & White Syndicate, Dr Gwynn Thomson, Graeme Nairn).
Times run in the Rowe Cup for the two mile staying journey have ramped up over recent years – the gap between the initial 4:48 2/5 run in 1918 and the current race record of 4:03.6 held by Stent and set in 2015 is a eye-watering 45 second improvement over a century of races. The slowest time ever recorded is 4:54 3/5 set during the second running of the race in 1919 when Bluewood driven by James Bryce won the event. It was not until 1993 that the 4:10 barrier was broken when David Moss posted a winning time of 4:09.8 for driver Maurice McKendry. On only three occasions in the twenty four years since has the race time been slower than 4:10.
The distance for this event has not altered much over the years being run over 2 miles from 1918 to 1973 (best time Ordeal, 4:14.0 off 78 yds, 1961) and at 3200m since 1974 with best time set by Stent. However, as a perfect quiz question, Stent’s time is not the quickest ever Rowe Cup as for one year only, the race was run over a distance of 1½m in 1932. Garner won that year driven by owner/trainer Eugene McDermott in 3:27.0, so arguably this is the fastest recorded winning time for Rowe Cup.
Handicaps – the Rowe Cup is run under Free-for-all conditions these days with all starters beginning from the front/limit mark. The record for the greatest handicap overcome to win the Rowe Cupin the days of the imperial measure is held by Recruit (December 1957, 132 yds). Others worthy of mention include Nell Volo (1934, 108 yds); Surprise Journey (1931, 96 yds); Recruit (1959) and Ordeal (1961) off 78 yds; Casabianca (1945), Bellisima (1948), Battle Cry (1958) and Jewel Derby (1960) off 72 yds; Great Admiral (1935), Pirates Last (1938) and Gay Belwin (1950) off 60 yds. In the metrics era (post 1973 – 2008; FFA thereafter), Easton Lights 40m handicap in 1976 is the largest start given to other competitors by a Rowe Cup winner with five horses each having won off 10m and 15m handicaps respectively i.e. of the 35 races run under metric handicaps, twenty four were won by horses starting off the front.
Winning margins–the very first Rowe Cup resulted in a winning margin for Whisht of 30 yards. Once margins began to be measured in lengths (first time 1919), the four length victories of Grattan Abbey (1920) and Native King in 1921 reined supreme for six decades.
It was not until Special Pride’s victory in 1980 by 4½l that these margins were bettered. Over the past three decades, maximum winning margins have been achieved by Lyell Creek after returning from his European and North American campaigns when taking out the 2004 edition by 7¾l, I Can Doosit’s second victory in 2012 by 6¼l while Sir Castleton’s 1983 win was by 6l. The narrowest margin of a nose was recorded by Noble Star (1947), Recruit (December 1957), Jewel Derby (1960), Dreaming (1964), Miss Debra (1973), Cee Ar (1974), Jenner (1984), Idle Scott (1990) and One Over Kenny in her first victory in 2007.
One three time winner : Lyell Creek, in 2000, 2001 and again in 2004 following his return from successful European and North American racing. Nine two time winners: first Waikaha (1926, 1927, unplaced 1929); Raima (1929, 1930); Nell Volo (1933, 1934); Great Admiral (1935, 1936); Fantom (Dec 1943, 1944); Pohutukawa (1962, 1963, third 1961); Single Cash (1968, 1969, unplaced 1970, 1971); One Over Kenny (2007, 2009); I Can Doosit (2011, 2012).
Insert Photo (with caption) : Fantom
Winners from Australia in later years include Sundons Gift, La Coocaracha, Wagon Apollo, while in earlier days imported Australian bred horses that were owned by NZ interests won the Rowe Cup – Surprise Journey (owned by George Barton, trained by Bill Tomkinson), Pyramus (owned by Fred Rayner) and inaugural winner Whisht owned by James Corrigan.
Lyell Creek
Youngest winners : four year olds –Garner (1932), Fantom (December 1943) and Special Pride (1980, at just her nineteenth start and tenth win, whose winning efforts were not matched until Monbet (Love You/Diedre Darling gelding) prevailed in 2016 at his twenty seventh start and defending Rowe Cup winner Temporale in 2017 at his eighteenth start (sixth win). The oldest winner was Grattan Abbey (12yo in 1920); eleven year olds Mutu (1923), Parrish Belle (1937) and Easton Light (1976); ten year olds in Pyramus (1924), Jimmy Drusus (1941), Rewa Scott (1953), Indian Parrish (1955), Recruit (1959), Ordeal (1961), Scotleigh (1966), Single Cash (1969, second win), Lyell Creek (2004, his third victory).
Betting : until 1948 it is not really possible to get an accurate gauge on betting odds or dividends from official records. Three of the longer priced winners in the pre 1948 period would have been Whisht (outsider of field of twelve in 1918), Pirates Last in 1938 (9/9 in betting) and Margin in 1940 (8/8 in betting). In the 1948 – 1966 period the largest return in pounds sterling lies with Tapuwae (14/15 in a field of 16) in January 1957 of £57/1/6. Astralight’s £30/9/0 when 14/13 in the betting in 1965 comes closest. Following the introduction of decimal currency on 10 July 1967, sizeable dividends have been posted when Global Hal paid $39.20 in 1970 (9/9), last season Temporale’s $35.40 as twelfth favourite, Robyn Evander as twelfth favourite in 1975 paid $35.20and Mairo Sultan (9/10) paid $25.20 in 1986 while there have been few dividends in the $10 – $20 range.
Many Rowe Cups have been won by favourites (34 of last 84 at least) – in the 1948/1966 periods, the shortest priced favourites were Indomitable in 1952 (£2/2/0) and Single Task in 1949 (£2/10/0). Since decimal currency and more particularly over the past twenty years, sub $2 winning favourites have been the order of the day as shown by Lyell Creek’s $1.15 (2001); I Can Doosit (2012)/Monbet (2016) $1.20; Lyell Creek (2000)/One Over Kenny (2009) $1.40; La Coocaracha (2002)One Over Kenny (2007) $1.90 and Merinai (1998)/Take A Moment (2003) $1.95.
In the breeding barn, leading sire with ten Rowe Cup credits is Nelson Bingen (Native King, Aerial Bingen, Rose Bingen, Kempton, Raima twice, Great Admiral twice, Pirates Last, Gay Moko) with all victories coming in a two decade period (1921 – 1939). With seven credits is Light Brigade, Sundon has six, those with five credits are Game Pride,Great Evander (all during 1970’s) and U Scott while Johnny Globe merits mention with four credits. These seven stallions account for 42 of the ninety nine Rowe Cup winners to date. As a dam sire of Rowe Cup winners Wrack leads the way with six (Fair Isle, Indomitable, Rewa Scott, Recruit twice, Scotleigh), followed by Chiola Hanover with four and those dam sires with three credits in Great Audubon, Great Evander, Medoro, Noodlum, Pirate and Sundon.
On the maternal sideLutie Rodgers (U304 : Waikaha twice, Pirates Last, Gay Moko, Gay Belwin) and Pottery Mountain (N82 : Mountain Pride, Robyn Evander, Diamond Field, Mountain Gold, Temporale)lead with five winners from those families with four each in Pride Of Lincoln (N1) and Coronella (N116), while families with three credits are Verity (A1),Rarebell Direct (A18), Mavis Logan (N145), Beulah (N63), Hoods Polly (N8) and Kate by Highland Chief (U301). Aside from the dams of dual winners, notable individual dams of Rowe Cup winners include Wild Pirate, dam of two time winner Waikaha (1926, 1927) and Pirates Last (1938), grand dam of Gay Moko (1939),third dam of Gay Belwin (1950); Mount Dora dam of Mountain Pride (1967) and Robyn Evander (1975), grand dam of Diamond Field (1994) and fourth dam of Temporale; Beverley Light, dam of Miss Debra (1973), Easton Light (1976); Landoras Pride (1987), grand dam of Sundons Gift (2010); Morning Haze, third dam of Take A Moment (2003), Stig (2013); Picotee, third dam of Inspire (2006), fourth dam of Stent (2015).
The Rowe Cup/Dominion Hcp double in the same season was first achieved by Merinai in 1997/8 season, Lyell Creek (2000/1),Take A Moment (2002/3) and Master Lavros (2013/4). Several have completed the same double but in different years/seasons – Whisht, Native King, Margin, Fantom (Rowe Cup twice), Casablanca, Fair Isle, Recruit (Rowe Cup twice), Ordeal, Easton Light (Dominion Hcp twice), Stormy Morn, Tussle, Landoras Pride, Directorship, David Moss, Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, Stig, I Can Doosit, Master Lavros and Monbet.
The Rowe Cup/Interdominion Trotters Grand Final double in the same year/season was first achieved by Gay Belwin (1950/51, Addington ID), Sir Castleton (1983/4 Globe Derby ID), Yankee Loch (1989 Moonee Valley ID), Diamond Field (1994 Harold Park ID), Lyell Creek (2000 Moonee Valley ID), Take A Moment (2003 Addington ID), Sundons Gift (2009/10 Moonee Valley ID) and I Can Doosit (2010/11 Addington at Alexandra Park ID and 2011/12 Melton ID). A few completed the same double but in different years – Aerial Scott, No Response, Tussle, Yankee Loch and Diamond Field.
Those to achieve a treble of wins in a Rowe Cup, Dominion Hcp and ID Trotters Grand Final are limited to Tussle, Lyell Creek, Take A Moment and I Can Doosit.
Rowe Cup winners to be named Trotter of Year(commenced 1974) include Easton Light (1973/4, 1974/5, 1975/6), Special Pride (1979/80), Stormy Morn (1982/3), Mairo Sultan (1985/6), Tussle (1986/7), Yankee Loch (1988/9), Idle Scott (1989/90), David Moss (1992/3, 1993/4), Merinai (1997/8), Lyell Creek (1999/2000, 2000/1), La Coocaracha, (2001/2) Take A Moment (2002/3, 2003/4), One Over Kenny (2004/5, 2006/7), Stig (2008/9, 2012/13), I Can Doosit (2010/11, 2011/12), Master Lavros(2013/14), Stent (2014/15) andMonbet(2015/16, 2016/17). Of these, just four trotters also collected the Harness Horse of Year Award in the same season – Lyell Creek (1999/2000), Take A Moment (2002/3), I Can Doosit (2011/12) and Monbet (2015/16). In addition, Sir Castleton whilst not named trotter of year (1983/4 Basil Dean) did share the 1983/4 Harness Horse of Year Award with Australian pacer Steel Jaw, winner of 1983 NZ Cup.
Interesting facts concerning Rowe Cups : these are many and varied including –
- Cecil (Ces) Donald, the first NZ trainer (thoroughbred or standardbred) to train 1,000 winners won the 1928 Rowe Cup with Mrs E Berryman’s Kempton. Donald won nine trainers premierships and in 1929/30 season had dual success also winning drivers premiership
- trainer of 1937 winner Parish Belle was CG Lee, who went by the name of “Togo”
- Australian born George Noble awarded the 1976/7 NZ Racing Personality of Year by Racing Writers Association trained December 1943 and 1944 Rowe Cup winner Fantom
- in the 1966 Rowe Cup won by Scotleigh, the third horse past the post Our Luck was relegated from third position to fourth for galloping past the post. Our Luck was beaten a nose in the 1964 edition won by Dreaming. Half-sister Our Eileen twice ran second and third in Rowe Cups for Butt Hair
- Aerial Scott 1946 Rowe Cup winner became first ID Trotters Grand Final winner at Auckland in 1948 (first Rowe Cup/Interdominion Trotters Grand Final winner)
- Maurice Homes only Rowe Cup successes as trainer/driver came with Recruit in 1957 (132 yds) and 1959 (78 yds). Recruit also won two Dominion Hcps only to lose one on protest for galloping near the finish
- 1953 winner Rewa Scott was grand dam of half-brothers Dupreez for Derek Jones and 1971 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Geffin for (Sir) Roy McKenzie
- 1960 winner Jewel Derby won the 1961 February Hcp at Alexandra Park when driven by leading American horseman Delvin Miller
- Single Cash, dual winner in 1968 and 1969 was sired by Medoro horse Cashier whose dam Shannon Lass (family of Margaret Shannon, Gaelic Skipper) was a daughter of 1920 and 1921 Auckland Cup winner Man O’War
Insert Photo (with caption) : Single Cash
- the last winner in the imperial yardage handicap system Paulette (1971 Rowe Cup) had as her third dam Reta Huon, a full sister to Reta Peter, the trotter who defeated the pacers to win two NZ Cups in 1920 and on protest in 1921
- Great Evander (1953 Bill B/Ayrshire Scott) sired five winners during the 1970’s (Paulette, Miss Debra, Robyn Evander, Easton Light, Even Speed). Among them were two dual gaited horses in :
- Miss Debra (1963f Beverley Light), 13 wins, 2:05.6, T2:10.8, $30,270, full sister to top flight trotter Easton Light. Miss Debra didn’t race until aged six with her six trotting victories including 1973 Rowe Cupand 2 mile heat of 1975 Auckland Trotters Interdominions (ninth in final), recorded seven wins as a pacer including Franklin Cup (2 miles)
- Paulette (1965f Paulina), 11 wins all at Alexandra Park, 2:10.4, T2:05.8, $19,965, won four pacing races at three converting to a trotter at four where a further seven victories resulted including 1971 Rowe Cup and National Trot second heat (seventh in final). Productive broodmare and grand dam of Commander Paul (1:52.2US, $277,527), Game Paul (T2:02.0, $277,852, NZ Trotting Championship, ID Trotters heat, Ordeal/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cups)
- Another 1970’s dual gaited Rowe Cup winner was Ritch Hill (1970h Battlefield/Little Etta), 11 NZ wins, 2:06.7, T2:04.2, $37,948; T2:00.1US, $48,618, winner of seven races pacing and four trotting wins, including 1978 Rowe Cup in final NZ start
- Pacing bred stallion and NZ Cup winner Johnny Globe sired two Rowe Cup winners in the 1970’s – Global Hall (1970) and Cee Ar (1974) while earlier in 1962 and 1963 his son Pohutukawa won successive Rowe Cups
- Former NZ test cricketer Frank Mooney (wicket keeper, 14 tests 1949 – 1954) shared in the ownership of 1977 Rowe Cup winner Framalda with Wellington businessman Alex Daly
- Sold for $150 as a riding hack when not showing any promise as a youngster, Westland King gelding Stormy Morn won 1982 Rowe Cup
- Half-brother to 1975 ID Trotters Grand Final winner Castletons Pride, 1983 winner Sir Castleton’s dam was 1982/3 Broodmare of Year Castletons Queen. Sir Castleton was runner up to Jenner in 1984, third behind Stormy Morn in 1982 and winner of 1984 Adelaide ID Trotters Grand Final
- Idle Scott (1990) like glamour millionaire pacer Luxury Liner was by Mercedes
- Former Tapanui butcher and Hall of Fame recipient John Lischner trained two Rowe Cup winners in 1990’s – Gee Du Jour (1992) and Eastburn Grant (by pacing stallion Neros BB) owned by Nelsonian Skeet Barnett in 1997
- Twice runner up to Idle Scott (1990 by nose) and Gee Du Jour (1991 by neck), Directorship prevailed in 1992 edition (finished second in Dominion Hcp beaten a nose by Tobago in 1989)
- David Moss (1993) by French import Gekoj was bred and part owned by Norwegian Captain Oldver Anderson, the entrée to later years availability of French and European trotting stallions
- 2006 winner Inspire did so at only her eleventh start for master trotting trainer Paul Nairn having been a maiden just five months earlier (1988 Highwood/1998 Merinai/2017 Temporale at their eighteenth starts, Special Pride in 1980 at her nineteenth start)
- Our Sunny Whiz runner up to One Over Kenny in 2007, went one better when winning in 2008, both Sundon mares
- One Over Kenny (2007, 209) became first Australasian millionaire trotting mare
- 2011 acceptance speech for I Can Doosit made by eleven year old George Breckon whose parents (owners Breckon Racing Syndicate) Ken and Karen were overseas on Rowe Cup night
- North v South rivalry over the years has seen North Island horses marginally ahead of their South Island counterparts with an Australian presence also impacting over most recent twenty years
- Several members of the millionaire trotters club have won the Rowe Cup over the past two decades – they are Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, One Over Kenny, Sundons Gift, I Can Doosit, Stent while some went close (Stig, Monbet in particular)
The calibre of trotters, trainers and drivers revealed in the history of the Rowe Cup is an outstanding example of the development of the straight out trotter in NZ over the course of one hundred years. The Auckland Trotting Club is to be congratulated for its endeavours in promoting the trotter at the highest possible level.
Peter Craig
18 April 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
