The situation concerning the beginnings of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) which established its presence at Addington Raceway 119 years ago makes for interesting reading. The Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club (LPATC) and the Canterbury Trotting Club (CTC) amalgamated to form the NZMTC. Whilst not exactly a shot gun marriage of the two bodies, not all was plain sailing, seen when reviewing the events leading up to the first meeting of the new club. It took over a year before the amalgamation process concluded.
Lancaster Park clubs –
The Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club was a non-proprietary club formed from the demise of the proprietary club (operating profits went to the promoters), Lancaster Park Trotting Club which raced at Lancaster Park : the rugby and cricket stadium (later Jade/AMI Stadium in the commercial sponsorship era). Trotting was held here on a 1/3 mile track from 29 May 1886 to 17 June 1893. Whilst the race surface was more suitable, the track was very small with one mile consisting of three laps plus forty yards. The first meeting was delayed for a fortnight owing to heavy flooding in Christchurch. The Avon River had risen four feet overflowing its banks at various points. The nearby Railway Station had three feet of water and Ferry Road near Lancaster Park was a sheet of water.
Reporting on the new trotting venue was initially constrained with significant pressure placed on sports editors not to report on trotting meetings as thoroughbred officials were concerned that trotting’s popularity would increase. The “Christchurch” Star ignored reporting the first meeting of the 1886/7 season while Otago Witness reported that they hoped Lancaster Park would prosper to stop trots being held at the major (and considerably larger) thoroughbred track at Riccarton.
The next meeting in November 1886 saw reporting recommence in The Star although not necessarily in positive terms. The 31 December 1887 meeting featured an exhibition race between five time world champion cyclist Fred Wood and two horses presented by Alf Keith. The ten mile, 31 lap race was competed for a purse of 25 sovereigns. Keith’s charges Wait A While (completed first six miles) and Malvina’s winning margin was around one and a half miles. A crowd of over 2,000 was in attendance with £1,730 placed on the totalisator.
Lancaster Park was the scene of numerous rugby battles and victories with the Springboks, Lions, French and Wallabies. It also hosted famous NZ Olympian Peter Snell’s (3 time Olympic champion/world record holder) world record 800m/880yds run on grass on 3 February 1962, when he set times of 1:44.3/1:45.1 in the same event. The New Zealand cricketers recorded their first ever “official” test success against Australia at Lancaster Park in the second test of the series held in March 1974. Glen Turner recorded centuries in both innings as New Zealand recorded a five wicket win. Damage sustained in the September 2010 and February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes lead to the ultimate demolition of this once great sporting stadium.
After the Lancaster Park Trotting Club (a proprietary club) ceased operations when the Lancaster Park Board would not renew the lease agreement, the Lancaster Park Trotting Club held meetings at Frog Pond (3 acres), immediately south of Lancaster Park between 10 November 1893 – 5 April 1899.
Canterbury Trotting Club –
Canterbury Trotting Club : in January 1888 the Canterbury Trotting Club (CTC) was formed and conducted its meetings at the new A&P Showgrounds, Addington on a 667 yard track (compare with 1,320 yard/6 furlong track installed at Addington Raceway at turn of century) between 7 April 1888 and 17 August 1900. The CTC paid rental to the A&P Association for use of their facilities.
The CTC meeting on Saturday 7 April 1888 was the first of 55 meetings held by the club over the next twelve years. A Star newspaper report of 8 March 1888, indicated that the club “will give all their proceeds away, less expenses, in stakes”. It was reported that all the races filled remarkably well and that “a capital afternoon’s sport should result”. The first of seven races was set down for 1 o’clock.
The Christchurch Star newspaper [Per the “Star’s” Pigeon Express] reported on 7 April that the “weather was very favourable, and the arrangements on the ground appear to be excellent, but the attendance was not large at the commencement of proceedings, but increased as the afternoon progressed.”
It is worth noting that one of the co – Handicappers for the inaugural meeting was none other than A.J. (Andrew) Rattray. Rattray became Secretary at various times for numerous Canterbury clubs – Lower Heathcote Racing Club (1887), Canterbury Trotting Club (after initial 1888 meeting), Lancaster Park Trotting Club (1890 and then Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club 1893), New Brighton Trotting Club (1895) and Canterbury Racing Club (often 6 galloping/2 trotting meetings per annum) initially at New Brighton (1895 – May 1900) and then at Plumpton Park (December 1900 – May 1911 when permits rescinded), also later home of Canterbury Park Trotting Club until 1922.
Rattray was also Secretary of the Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association and the first Secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Conference (1896 – 1898). Most remembered for being Secretary at NZMTC from 1899 to his death in 1941, Ron Bisman in his masterpiece book “A Salute to Trotting” had this to say of Andrew Rattray : “If I had to single out one man amongst all others who brought credibility and respectability to trotting in the first place, I would unhesitatingly plump for Andrew Rattray, who tidied the game up in almost revolutionary style at the turn of the century”. Very high praise indeed.
The two clubs (LPATC and CTC) would eventually combine to form the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC).
Amalgamation –
The two Clubs enjoyed an amicable relationship with numerous members belonging to both, with Executive Officers and Race day Officials acting for both. The twelve years of racing at Lancaster Park had meetings progress satisfactorily but the Committee conceded that they needed their own track with better facilities for all concerned. Likewise, the CTC, which had raced at the Addington Showgrounds for the past 10 years, had similar intentions. Both clubs had accumulated funds for the purposes of securing a property on which to lay down a track and facilities of the latest approved American style. Members and Committee of the CTC, the leading Trotting Club in the country at that time, were in favour of retaining the Club’s identity and negotiated with the A & P Association on further developing its course at the Showgrounds. Mr T Marr (President) had been negotiating a further seven years lease dependent on a number of improvements being made.
In February 1898 both club’s appointed sub-committee’s to discuss the purchase of suitable land for the establishment of a trotting track with facilities but without agreement being reached. In July 1898 the Lancaster Park Ground Company acquired further land and was agreeable to the track being extended to a half mile if the LPATC would accept a five year lease. At the LPATC AGM on 15 August 1898, a Committeeman stated that more effort should be made by the joint sub-committee to find a new ground; if unsuccessful the Club should enter into an agreement with the Lancaster Park Ground Committee. The Deans property at Riccarton was considered a possibility. It was agreed that LPATC and CTC should join forces provided there was no reduction in total permits now held by the two Clubs (Lancaster Park 4, Canterbury 6).
At a Committee meeting of the LPATC on 9 May 1899 consideration was given to the purchase of 35 acres of the Twigger’s estate adjoining the Canterbury A & P Association Showgrounds, on Lincoln Road, at Addington for the purpose of preparing a trotting track with facilities. The property’s trustees declined to sell for trotting purposes although the land was sent to auction, a 21 year lease was knocked down to the President of the LPATC at a price below the amount that the joint clubs were prepared to pay. The President’s action in purchasing the lease was confirmed at a meeting of the club on 19 May 1899.
The AGM of the CTC held on 20 June 1899 drew a large attendance of members, the Chairman proposed that the first question to be considered was whether to amalgamate with the LPATC at the grounds acquired on Lincoln Road. This matter had previously been discussed by members with agreement to leave the decision to the annual meeting. Compelling reasons were put forward to agree to the joint venture and after discussion a motion was moved “That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that the Canterbury Club should amalgamate with the Lancaster Park Club.” It was defeated by sixteen votes to twelve. The main objection appears to have been that the land was not freehold. A further motion recommended to the incoming committee that financial assistance should be given to the Lancaster Park Club to erect the necessary buildings, etc on the new grounds.
This reversal of the CTC previous policy to join with the LPATC meant that at a committee meeting on 22 June 1899, the LPATC resolved to take the following action so as to be ready for their initial meetings in November 1899 :
A) That plans be prepared for the provision of grandstands and other necessary buildings and improvements on the newly acquired site at Addington.
B) That a 5 furlong track be surveyed (chain wide except at the bends where it was to be slightly less), laid out and tenders called for its construction.
C) That the name of the Club be altered to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club – this was therefore the official birth date of the new club
As a result of these decisions, the LPATC completed a 21 year lease as from 1st June 1899 of 36 acres, one rood and 30 perches from the Charitable Aid Board, the beneficiary under the Twigger Estate on Lincoln Road at an annual rental of 85/- per acre. Whilst finances were obviously an issue, the new club proceeded at pace to complete plans, issue contracts and arrange for the track and various facilities to be completed. Fences, stabling area, saddling paddock, totalisator house, judge’s box, entrance gates, drainage of Jackson‘s Creek, grandstand, toilet facilities, horse and dray were purchased together with the equipment required to maintain the track.
The NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 20 September 1899 reported the “new grounds wore a busy appearance as the contractor for the formation of the track had half a dozen horse teams at work excavating and filling and a considerable amount of soil was removed to make the track level. The totalisator house was a rather substantial building …….the foundations for a section of the Grandstand were laid and building materials were on the site, it was anticipated that the work would be completed in time for the proposed inaugural Meeting on 6th November 1899“. “Spectator” in the NEW ZEALAND REFEREE of 25 October 1899 stated in respect of the new track that the “entire width had been rolled no less than seven times with a three ton roller and was fairly solid considering the amount of filling necessary to bring it up to its required level. The turns had been banked and there would be a drop of nearly four feet from the top end of the track to the winning post. The new track is a full chain wide and five furlongs in length and the turns could be easily negotiated although the straight may seem rather short to some……The Totalisator house is built on such a scale that few Totalisator buildings in New Zealand are equal to it. A section of the Grandstands completed to a stage where it will seat a large assemblage although it is far from finished. Boxes and stalls will be ready for use and picket and dividing fences finished. The grounds will have a bare appearance …… “
The NZMTC held its first meetings at Addington Raceway as we know it today on Monday 6 and Friday 10 November 1899.
Twelve months later : beautiful gardens, lawns and drives with English trees planted on either side adorned the course. A training track inside the main track; liquor booth and luncheon room; a new totalisator house was to be built nearer the Stand and the present totalisator house used as a tearoom. Sixty horse boxes provided along the Showgrounds fence, railed in with plenty of room to prepare horses. A deep well and storage tanks arranged in January 1901. By now £5,000 had been spent on improvements and it was estimated that another £1,500 would be required to complete the work planned.
Returning to the question of amalgamation – At a meeting of trotting club delegates in Wellington on 20 July 1899, the Colonial Secretary hinted that amalgamation of the two leading Christchurch Clubs was urgent and if not proceeded with the Clubs would receive fewer permits. Seven CTC members requisitioned a Special General Meeting to reconsider the Club’s position. A noisy and often bitter debate between differing factions of the club ensued at the meeting of 11 August. A motion supporting amalgamation put to the Meeting was lost by a single vote (14 – 13 against) with the Chairman having exercised both deliberative and casting votes against the proposal.
The CTC decided to send a deputation to Wellington in an attempt to persuade the Colonial Secretary (Honourable James Carroll) to change his attitude regarding the amalgamation. The deputation was advised he would send correspondence to both Clubs setting out his views; and advising after the current seasons meetings of the separate Clubs had been held, it would be necessary for the two Clubs to amalgamate. A new Colonial Secretary (Honourable Joseph Ward) was in place in early December 1899 following national elections. He soon advised that after the CTC meetings of 26th December 1899 and 1st January 1900, that the CTC would suffer a reduction in tote permits for the current 1899/1900 season.
In effect the club with two 2 day meetings already held in August and December 1899/January 1900 had used up their allocation. The CTC still applied for its usual two day meeting to be run on 24 and 26 May 1900 (NZ Juvenile Stakes – 2T meeting). At the same time the NZMTC had applied to the NZ Trotting Association to race on the same two days at its new Addington raceway -their reasoning being that CTC had exhausted its annual approved permits. In addition, NZMTC would forego its usual Easter dates conducted when racing under its former name of LPATC. The NZ Trotting Association had advice from the Colonial Secretary that no further permits would be issued to CTC unless agreement to amalgamate was published by the two clubs.
The Trotting Associations President, Mr P Selig then met with the Presidents of both clubs seeking a basis for amalgamation. However, both Presidents only agreed to special meetings of members be held as soon as possible. Both meetings were held on Anzac Day 1900 (25 April) with differing outcomes – NZMTC special meeting of members advised its willingness to amalgamate in accordance with the wishes of the Colonial Secretary and appointed a sub-committee to meet a similar sub-committee from the CTC to draft amalgamation proposals. The CTC only brought together its Committee (not members) – their decision read “that as the whole question was of vital importance to the welfare of the Club the Committee did not see its way clear to act on the matter until the Annual General Meeting of the Club in June”.
Accordingly the Trotting Association refused to sanction the programme submitted by the CTC and approved NZMTC racing on the disputed dates of 24 and 26 May 1900. At the CTC AGM in June, a motion supporting amalgamation was defeated by 26 to 6. Agreement was also reached to renegotiate the A&P Showgrounds lease for a further 7 years provided the track could be extended to 5 furlongs and improvements enacted. A programme for a two day meeting in August 1900 was also approved.
The Trotting Association advised that proposed dates for the following season (1900/1901) provided CTC with just one conditional permit, the condition being that they race on the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s course. Due to the NZMTC grounds and track undergoing alterations and additional building projects in August, the Trotting Association recommended to the Colonial Secretary that CTC be given one last opportunity to race on the Showgrounds course on 15 and 17 August 1900. Following this meeting amalgamation appeared likely.
At a Special General Meeting of the CTC held on 29 August 1900, the amalgamation question was discussed in light of the Colonial Secretary’s request and conditions on which the August race permit had been granted. The CTC agreed that a subcommittee of six be appointed to meet with a similar number from NZMTC to discuss the amalgamation question and report back to a future general meeting. At a general meeting of CTC held on 12 September 1900, it was decided that the CTC would amalgamate with NZMTC on the terms submitted by the later club – the Press noted “that the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club agree to take in the whole of the Canterbury Trotting Club as members, and that names of the existing committees and stewards be submitted to arbitration. The C.T.C appoint one arbitrator and the Metropolitan Club another, these to appoint an umpire, and their decision to be final and binding. The arbitrators to select a committee and stewards from the present committees and stewards of the two clubs”.
Further complications arose when the CTC approved the election of 13 Committeemen as life members (only Mr H. Mace appointed later) and appointed one of their committee (Mr T.C.M. Rallinshaw) as arbitrator. This was not acceptable to NZMTC and CTC appointed another arbitrator understanding the Press and public feeling running against their continued opposition to amalgamation. The appointed arbitrators were Messrs P Selig and T H Davey. The CTC committee approved payment of the club’s accumulated funds to the arbitrators when requested. In early December 1900, both club’s Presidents were advised by the arbitrators the names of Officers appointed to act as Committeemen and Stewards of the amalgamated Club, for the balance of the 1900/1901 season. The NZMTC Balance Sheet for the 1900/01 season showed the transfer of £1,798 ”Canterbury Trotting Clubs funds”.
The amalgamation was fully justified as evidenced by NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway having been a premier club in Australasia since its formation 119 years ago. Its signature race the New Zealand Trotting Cup had its 114th running at Addington on 14 November 2017.
CTC’s Final meetings :
1899/1900 – meetings were held on 16 and 18 August (National meeting), 26 December and 1 January.
1900/1901 – the club’s final meetings were held on 15 and 17 August 1900 respectively. The press reported racing on the last day of meetings ever held at the A&P Showgrounds, Addington course on 17 August 1900, was conducted under favourable spring weather.
Following the conclusion of the meeting held on 17 August 1900, the Canterbury Trotting Club stopped racing and by Christmas 1900 ceased to exist as an entity having amalgamated with the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club to form the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.
Post Script :
The NZMTC has had an interesting history since it was formed in 1899. In brief,
- January 1922 Canterbury Park (CPTC) club purchased the lease to Addington Raceway from NZMTC and moved its racing to Addington. NZMTC intended on moving to a new property at Riccarton which never eventuated. NZMTC became a tenant of CCPTC at Addington
- late 1950’s a trust board with equal number of representatives from both CPTC and NZMTC established to manage Addington Raceway
- New Brighton (NBTC) club moved to Addington Raceway in 1963
- Night racing introduced in November 1963. The original lighting was upgraded in the 1970’s before being completely replaced in 1995
- December 1980 the three clubs purchased 87 acres at the Raceway from the North Canterbury Hospital Board for $1.1 million. Addington Raceway Limited had leased this land from the Hospital Board since 1942
- 1998 the three clubs(NZMTC, CPTC and NBTC) amalgamated to form one “new” club NZMTC
- A two-sulky width passing lane was introduced in March 2000.
- A new stabling area consisting of an L-shaped complex running along the front of the Twiggers Stand as far as the old Showgrounds boundary, and then right towards Lincoln Road was completed in 15 May 2009
- 2010 and 2011’s destructive Canterbury earthquakes struck Addington Raceway resulting in 1) transfer of March/April 2011 Interdominions to Alexandra Park 2) damage sustained by the Public Stand necessitated its demolition
Peter Craig
2 January 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
