Standardbred auction sales in New Zealand have tended to fall into three main categories – yearling, all age (includes weanlings, yearlings, broodmares, two/three year olds and older horses raced/unraced, sires) and dispersal of part or all of a breeders/horsepersons stock.
The first National Yearling Sales were held at Addington Raceway on Friday 3 November 1944, jointly conducted by Wright Stephenson & Co. Ltd and H. Matson & Co – auctioneers, grain and seed merchants. The sales venue moved to the A&P Showgrounds, Addington, where they remained until 1996 when the A&P Association acquired a 250 acre (145ha) block of land on Curletts Road, Wigram from the Christchurch City Council.
Over the years a number of companies have provided their auctioneering services to facilitate the sale of Standardbred bloodstock. Their involvement with standardbred sales over the years will be outlined covering three main periods : prior to first National Sales of 1944;1944 – 1987 and 1987 to date which principally covers the period of PGG/PGG Wrightson’s Standardbred Division’s sales involvement.
A brief outline of the major companies linked to the National/NZ Premier and Australasian Classic Sales follows before taking an in depth look at sales over the years.
The well renowned stock firm H Matson & Co began business in 1862, owned and operated by the Matson family. H Matson & Co played a huge part in the stock business in Canterbury conducting stock and wool auctions as well as real estate transactions.The Matson family ran Tattersalls Horse Bazaar, located in Cashel St in the Christchurch CBD. Regular sales took place every Friday as well as the annual yearling sales. Tattersalls Horse Bazaar was sold just after the end of the Second World War. The Matson family had very strong links with the industry in NZ with Allan Matson as President when the NZ Trotting Association and Conference combined in 1950’s. In 1970 Matson & Allan Real Estate was originated by Bill Allan and Bill Matson who had been involved in the ownership of H Matson and Co. The company exists today as Real Estate Agents with three branches (11 agents) in Rolleston, Darfield and Leeston.
National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand Limited owned a nationwide stock and station agency. The business was founded in 1864 in Dunedin by G G Russell and taken over by the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand Limited formed in 1877. Businesses incorporatedinto NMA with many trading under their own names included :
- 1878 Russell Le Cren & Co (foundation of NMA), London
- 1878 Russell Ritchie & Co, Dunedin and Timaru
- Murray Roberts & Co
- Loan and Investment Co, Christchurch
- 1896 Levin & Co Limited, Wellington
- 1955 J R Mills & Co Limited, Riverton
- 1957 Alfred Buckland & Sons Limited, Auckland
- 1957 H Matson & Co Limited, Christchurch
- 1958 Robertson Bros, Oamaru
- 1960 J G Ward & Co, Stock and station agents, Invercargillincluding MacEwans Machinery Limited
- 1960 G W Vercoe& Co, Hamilton
- 1961 Murray Roberts & Co Limited, Wellington
Following the 1969 Annual General Meeting shareholders changed the name to NMA Company of New Zealand Limited.
The Wright Stephenson business began in 1861 with partners John Wright and Robert Robertson. Robertson left in 1868 and was replaced by auctioneer John Stephenson. Ownership switched to a public listed company in 1906. Stock and station agencies acquired included :
- 1916 W & G Turnbull & Co (established 1857)
- 1916 W Gunson & Co (established 1881)
- 1920 Abraham & Williams (established 1884)
- 1959 Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association (established 1868)
- 1961Buxtons (established 1852)
Before merging with NMA,Wright Stephenson had developed twenty seven stock and station branches throughout New Zealand with more than a hundred sub-branches and agencies to service farming areas throughout the country.
Wrightson NMA – in 1972 Wright Stephenson merged with National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand to form Wrightson NMA, New Zealand’s largest stock and station agency. The holding company took the name NMA Wright Stephenson, which was changed to Challenge Corporation Ltd in 1973, subsequently merging with Fletcher Holdings in 1981 to form Fletcher Challenge.
PGG Wrightson, an agricultural supply business based in New Zealand was created in 2005 through the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd and Wrightson Limited,having its roots in a number of stock and station agencies dating back to 1861 as described above. It is one of the major suppliers to the agricultural sector in New Zealand providing products such as seeds, grains, livestock, irrigation, farm equipment, insurance and financing. Publicly listed on the NZ Stock Exchange, PGG Wrightson has been majority owned by Chinese-based Agria Corporation since 2011.Notable stock and station agencies that merged to form PGG Wrightson in 2005 included :
- Wrightson NMA 1972
- Wright Stephenson & Co
- National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand,
- Dalgety Crown 1983 bought by Wrightson NMA 1986
- Dalgety New Zealand Loan 1962
- Crown Consolidated merged with Dalgety 1983
- Pyne Gould Guinness
- Pyne & Co
- Gould Beaumont & Co. founded in 1851 by Joseph Gould, George Gould and John Beaumont
- Guinness & Le Cren Ltd founded in 1890 by Edwin Rowland Guinness and Ernest Alfred le Cren
- Reid Farmers merged with PGG 2001
- Williams & Kettle, bought by Wrightson 2005
Pre 1944 –
The first period of Standardbred horse sales to be discussed is the pre 1944 era.
As far back as 1930 and certainly earlier than this the Tattersalls Horse Bazaar and H Matson and Co were conducting Standardbred horse sales.
In the early days of harness racing in New Zealand, a considerable number of stallions and mares were imported to our shores from North America and Australia, thanks to the skilful selections of many famous horsemen namelyRobert Wilkin (Berlin, Blackwood Abdallah, Vancleve/to Australia), John Kerr (Irvington), William Jarden (Rothschild), Free Holmes (Logan Pointer, Bonilene, Trix Pointer, Rey De Oro, Grattan Loyal), Etienne Le Lievre (Harold Dillon, Bertha Belle). In addition, there were many private deals entered into for the sale of young, untried/tried horses and broodmares.
Some examples of bargains from those early company auction sales were outlined in Karl Scott’s “Pillars of Harness Horsedom” including :
1927 Tattersalls Horse Bazaar –Nicoya (1925g Wrack/Pearl Pointer), purchased by Leo Berkett for 4½ guineas; T2:09.6, winner Avon Hcp Trot twice.
1931 H Matson & Co – on Easter Monday 1931, Sea Gift (1929f Wrack/Whispering Grass), offered by Harry Nicoll and purchased by D, Neill for six guineas; T2:12.7, Dominion Hcp, defeated pacers in Forbury Park’s James Hcp; dam of Sandan, T2:04.2TT, Australian and Mares record at Harold Park on 28 October 1955.
24 March 1932 Tattersalls Horse Bazaar : Ayr (1922 Logan Pointer/Precision), then a nine year old mare, vendor Harry Nicoll, purchased by Tasmanian Edgar Tatlow for 37½ guineas – bred numerous winners from her including Springfield Globe, Our Globe, Ayr Derby, Ayress, Commotion, Van Ayr etc.
14 August 1935 Tattersalls Horse Bazaar – with Allan Matson as auctioneer, knocked down unraced five year old mare Peggotty (1930 Wrack/Nelson Bingen mare) to Reg Butterick for four guineas (vendor : CM Ollivier, Christchurch), T2:12.2, Dominion Hcp.
1935 Tattersalls Horse Bazaar – Roydons Pride (1928 Arion Guy/Belle Keller mare) purchased by Bill McDonald of Edendale for 27½ guineas and on sold outside the ring for an additional £5 to Dinny Teahen. She was dam of Certissimus; Roydons Gift; Desmonds Pride, dam sire of Cee Ar (Rowe Cup); Roydon Hall, dam of Global Hall (Rowe Cup).
At the same sale, Slapfast (1924 Trampfast/The Apparent mare), was purchased by long time NZ Trotting Calendar editor Karl Scott for twelve guineas. She went onto become grand dam of Johnny Globe.
At yet another Tattersalls sale, broodmare Madam Templeton (1917 Copa De Or/Tonganui mare), in foal to Jingles with resultant foal being fast class pacer Rollo sold as part of a package deal for £3 10/-.
Other auction salesincluded : a) In The Mood (1939f U Scott/Princess Napoleon), purchased for 110 guineas by Bill Doyle; 2:07.5, $20,910, Hannon Memorial; dam of Light Mood (sire of Golden Nurse, dam sire of Tussle); b) Light Wings (1928f Peter Chenault/Lightnin), dam of ID Pacing Grand Final winner Emulous (2:05.6, Easter Hcp), fourth dam of champion racehorse and sire Lordship, sold for seven guineas; c) Garner (1928f Sonoma Harvester/Pat Dillon), Rowe Cup and third dam of leading juvenile pacers Commissioner and Sam Tryax sold for sixteen guineas; d) Tactless (1925c The Triumph/Ladychild) sold at HW Acker dispersal sale for sixty guineas to EFC Hinds. He won an Electric Hcp at Alexandra Park; e) Llewellyn’s Pride (1929g Llewellyn/Mollie Pointer),purchased by EFC Hinds for fourteen guineas; 2:11.0.
1942 Tattersalls – unraced broodmare gem Tondeleyo (1930 Wrack/Estella Amos mare) leading to a brilliant branch of the Brown Lancet family, founded an extensive family of classy descendants, purchased for forty guineas by Lyttelton grocer Frank Woolley. Descendants include multiple Derby winners Main Adios, Bachelor Star, Game Adios, Main Star; In Or Out, Laudit, Seel N Print, Highview Tommy, Orbiter, Bionic Star, Bionic Chance, Speedy Guest, Hilarious Guest, Fiery Falcon, Jacks Legend, Estella Rose, Lancome, Champagne Princess, Oaxaca Lass, Alberto Contador to mention just a few.
1944 – 1987 Period incorporating NZ National Yearling Sales –
This second period commenced with the inaugural National Yearling Sales held at
Addington Raceway on Friday 3 November 1944. The unique NZ family numbering system was likely first utilised (in published format) by H. Matson & Co in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co at this the first annual national yearling sales.
Peter Lagan from PGG Wrightson advised that the old family book records winners dating back to the 1900s, each family allocated by a family number. The late Peter Rennell advised Lagan that this was compiled in those days by Messrs Matson and Allan. Regarding the actual numbering system, there appears to be no particular rationale behind it e.g. Pride Of Lincoln number 1 is the largest NZ familybut so too is Norice and she is accorded number 72. North American pedigrees have no family number allocated, instead just the family name is used.
Until 1983, the NZ yearling sales catalogues showed the family number only (not name) in the maternal line of each pedigree. Each catalogue had a table of family names equating to these family numbers. Since 1983, the family name and number appeared below the four generation pedigree on each catalogue page. In addition, until 2003, the number of two minute family members was also provided.
The companies involved with presenting the forty two National Yearling Sales held in the period 1944 – 1986 are discussed first. Note in the period from 1944 – 1967, sales were priced in guineas until decimal currency was introduced on 10 July 1967 when changed to dollars and from 1987 auctioned GST exclusive (GST added as applicable).
H Matson & Co, Christchurch in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd (Wellington)
The first National Standardbred Sales held on Friday 3 November 1944 at Addington Raceway. Allan (AL) Matson (President NZMTC 1948-1955; Allan Matson FFA run in his honour for many years during NZMTC Cup carnival) was auctioneer of sixteen yearlings, six two year olds and six older horses (originally 29 yearlings, twelve two year olds and 9 older mares and geldings catalogued). Yearlings offered were boxed in the trotting grounds on the morning of the sale in order and immediately after auction horses were transferred to the show grounds and railed from the show grounds siding if purchasers did not take delivery otherwise.
The start of the sale was delayed until the afternoon because of heavy rain in the morning, conditionsremaining wet and unpleasant. Buyers were present from throughout NZ with several young horses being purchased by local agents acting for buyers from other centres. Of the 28 lots sold for a total of 2505 guineas (averaging approximately 90gns),the highest price was 250gns for a 2-year-old bay filly by Jack Potts from Lu Parrish, Lynda Lu (purchaser ST Webster, Tinwald, owner of Casabianca) bred by A E Williams of Port Levy, who also secured equal top price in the yearling section with 200gns for a bay colt by Josedale Dictator from Bonnie Rere, dam of Bomber and Rerewaka. Messrs Collins and Fairbairn, of Christchurch and RA Hamilton of Cashmere both secured 200gns for their respective yearlings : bay colt by Quite Sure from Lottie Guy (Strathosphere), dam of Jackie Guy and bay filly by Springfield Globe from Lily Bingen (Liliaceae, unraced dam of Harlequin Parade; Lillium, dam of Scottish Charm [4th dam of Keystone Del], 4th dam of Leading Choice), by Nelson Bingen from Lilly F, by Franz.
With Matson again as auctioneer, the second sale in November 1945 saw an increase in numbers to 22 yearlings, three broodmares, six two year olds, four three year olds and two four year olds.
A gap of eighteen months occurred before the next National Yearling Sales, the third and first to be held at the Addington Showgrounds in April 1947. The sales would remain at Addington Showgrounds for the next fifty years with one exception (refer 1965). Matson was again auctioneer for 59 yearlings, fifteen broodmares and twenty five older stock. Over the next eleven years, the annual National sales were held in February (1951), March (1955 – 1956, 1958) and April (1948 – 1950, 1952 – 1954, 1957) until the fourteenth National sale held in March of 1958 where the lowest(seventy one horses) were sold. This was the last National sale run jointly by Matson &Co and Wright Stephenson.
Meanwhile, the two companies instigated a yearling/mixed Auckland sale, the first of which was held in conjunction with Auckland’s first ever Interdominion championship in February 1948. Twelve yearlings, nineteen two to six year olds and fourteen broodmares were sold. A further seven Auckland sales were run by Matson &Co and Wright Stephenson until the eighth and final onein February 1955. Numbers fluctuated from a high of 45 (1948) to a low of 20 in 1955.
** 1951 and 1952 Auckland Sales catalogues as well as those for 1949 estate FJ Smith auction below are those of auctioneer Allan Matson – they contain his sidenotes concerning various sales entries. All courtesy of Paul Davies.
Other annual sales held included : a) August Grand National mixed sale held at Addington Showgrounds (1951 – 1967); b) special November mixed sale during NZ Cup Week at Addington Showgrounds (1947 – 1954). Numbers at these two sales ranged from nine to forty horses.
Mention is made throughout this article of the many mixed/dispersal sales held on behalf of well-known horsemen and owners, consisting of yearlings, broodmares, two – six year olds either tried or untried and the occasional stallion. Numbers unless otherwise stated ranged between five and twenty stock.
Among the numerous one off sales held by Matson & Co and Wright Stephenson were : a) April 1946 Easter mixed sale at Addington Showgrounds with Allan Matson, auctioneer; b) February 1948 Gore mixed sale; c) May 1949 Village Farm, Takanini dispersal of late Fred Smith’s stock including stallion Logan Derby sold to Edgar (EN) Kennerley;
- d) May 1949 Westney Road, Mangere, dispersal account of Wilfred Johnstone; e) February 1950 Mills Road, Invercargill dispersal; f) March 1950 first and only annual mixed Waikato sale at Hamilton; Ashburton sale account of SI Bigham; Rolleston sale; g) May 1950 Harewood mixed sale; h) August 1950 Sheffield broodmare dispersal account estate EE Edmonds; i)February 1951 Te Awamutu mixed sale including stallion Logan Derby account Edgar Kennerley sold to RC Mason, Pukekohe; Peterson Lodge, Templeton, Clarrie Rhodes; Yaldhurst dispersal account Allan Holmes; Christchurch assorted sale j) January 1952 Dunedin Showgrounds dispersal; k) March 1952 Wyndham yearlings; Gore sale account G & LL Abernethy; l) April 1952 Christchurchsale; m) May 1952 Pukekoke mixed; Ashburton dispersal accountestate AW Argyle; n) June 1952 Waikato mixed sale; o) April 1953 Methven mixed dispersal on account G Green (22); p) April 1954 Weedons mixed dispersal account FG Lynch; q) May 1954 Addington Showgroundsmixed dispersalaccount Freeman (FG)Holmes, West Melton and G Aitchson, Hampden ; r) February 1955 Winchester Domain mixed dispersal account Mr & Mrs TH Gunning, Park View Stud, Temuka (22); s) March 1955 Yaldhurst mixed dispersal account Allan Holmes; t) April 1955 Wainoni Park, Christchurchmixed dispersal account HH Cook; u) September 1957 Epsom mixed dispersal sale.
National Mortgage & Agency Co (Christchurch) and H Matson & Co, Christchurch in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd (Wellington) –
The fifteenth to eighteenth National sales were run by National Mortgage & Agency Co, H Matson & Co, in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd at Addington Showgrounds. Yearling numbers ranged from 61 to 88 during this period while mixed stock featured from 13 to 27 in numbers.
Among the numerous one off sales held bythese companieswere : a) October 1958 Epsom mixed dispersal; b) March 1959 Invercargill mixed dispersal account JG Peterson, Gore; Christchurch dispersal account ST Webster, Tinwald; d) August 1959 Templeton and Rolleston mixed dispersals; e) March 1960 Christchurch mixed dispersal account HW Drewery; Templeton mixed dispersal account D Green (24); f) October 1960 Washdyke mixed dispersal account A Woods; g) February 1961 Templeton mixed dispersal account Clarrie Rhodes; Ashburton mixed dispersal account Arthur Nicoll; h) March 1961 Hornby mixed dispersal account T Fairbairn; i) April 1961 Woodend mixed dispersal account late HC Steel, Christchurch; j) June 1961 West Melton dispersal of two aged geldings account executors late J Palmer
National Mortgage & Agency Co (Christchurch) in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd (Wellington) –
Joint auctioneers for the National sales conducted by the above companies during this period included : NMA Standardbred division WL (Bill) Patterson, PJ (Peter) Kelly, DM (David) Floyd; Wright Stephenson HD (Don) Matson, PB (Peter) Rennell.
The 1963 (nineteenth) and 1964 (twentieth) National Sales at Addington Showgrounds (Canterbury Court) saw yearling numbers around the eighty mark with mixed stock around twenty. In a departure from the norm, the twenty first National sales were held at the Tahuna Park Showgrounds, Dunedin during the 1965 Interdominions held at Forbury Park (87 yearlings, 32 mixed stock). The National Sales returned to Christchurch in 1966 and the above companies ran them through until the thirty first edition in 1975 with sales held in either February or March. The 1970 National Sales were the first at which Paul Davies featured as auctioneer. Numbers increased during this period with over 300 lots listed in several of the later years. Yearlings sold increased to in excess of 200 in 1973 – 1975 while broodmare stock numbers fluctuated year on year (low of 27 to a high of 119 lots in 1974). The 1973 sale featured a sale of a full set of stud books (Vol 1 -19) plus year books.
The above companies also conducted the following sales :
Inaugural Great Northern Yearling/mixed sale took place at Alexandra Park in 1971 (47 lots, 32 sold). Numbers increased in the second, third and fourth editions such that in 1974, 72 of the 139 lots sold. The fifth and sixth editions in 1975 and 1976 were held at Claudelands, although only 38 lots sold in 1976.
The inaugural Southland yearling and mixed sale (110 lots) held in March 1969 at Invercargill Showgrounds. It continued in an April or May timeslot for years 1970 – 1975 with numbers ranging from 48 to 98 lots with sales of between 21 and 42 lots. Roydon Lodge held on site annual mixed sales in the period 1971 – 1975, the February 1975 sale consisting of 61 yearling colts and 38 fillies, five two year olds, four three year olds, one racehorse and a stallion.
An Ashburton mixed sale was held at NZ Cup time in November 1971 (51 lots, 24 sold) and again in 1973 – 1975 either in August (1973 : 87 lots, 55 sold) or September. Doug Grantham’s Egmont View Stud, Normanby (Taranaki) held sales in April 1972 (36 lots, 22 sold) and 1973 in the evening with twelve of twenty lots selling. A Waikato mixed sale was held at Claudelands in 1970 (41 lots, 34 sold), 1971 and 1972 (41).
Among numerous one off sales held byNational Mortgage & Agency Co in conjunction with Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd were : a) May 1961 Otaio mixed dispersal account Mrs CM & Messrs A & LR Fenwick; b) February 1963 Springston mixed dispersal account estate Mrs OM Hubbard; March 1963 Yaldhurst dispersal account Allan Holmes (21); d) October 1963 Oamaru dispersal broodmares and racing stock (33); e) November 1963 and July 1964 Christchurch mixed dispersals; f) November 1964 Weedons dispersal account ColinBerkett; g) February1965 Christchurch mixed dispersal account estate WE Desmond & RC Idiens; h) May 1965 Epsom mixed dispersal(24); i) August 1965 mixed dispersal Addington Showgrounds and November 1965 dispersal account ED Johnson , Ellesmere (28); j) May 1966 Gore mixed dispersal account R Lawrence; k)July 1966Ashburton mixed dispersal (30); l) April 1967 first and only annual mixed NI sale, Waikato A&P Showgrounds, Claudelands (25); m) May 1967 mixed dispersal Addington (22); n) February1968 special Interdominion sale, Alex Park, mixed (49); dispersal Pukekohe Bill Hosking (39); Mangere dispersal; o) May 1968 and June 1969 Oamaru mixed sales; p) November 1968 Wyndham dispersal; q) March 1969 Waikato, Hamilton dispersal (30 lots, 26 sold); Addington dispersal; r) April 1969 Gore dispersal, August 1969 Gore Showgrounds (30 lots, 16 sold); s)December 1969 and February 1970 Weedons dispersal; t) March 1970 Trentham dispersal account AO Callander, Greytown (19 sold); dispersal Wyndham showgrounds account AJ & DP Dynes (26 lots, 14 sold); u) May 1970 Templeton complete dispersal accountWJ Hart (68 sold including outside entries); v) February 1971 reduction sale for Clarrie Rhodes, Templeton (37 lots,) 22 sold; complete mixed dispersal sale for Allan Holmes, Yaldhurst (29 lots, 26 sold); w) June 1971 dispersal sale account Jack Litten, West Melton (30 lots, 23 sold); x)March 1972 complete dispersal Frank& Noel Watson, Rangiora; y) June 1972 Addington raceway dispersal (46 lots, 18 sold plus 10 after sale); z) December 1972 dispersal Ron Hanford/Peter Wolfenden; aa) March 1973 Ravens Lodge Stud, Edendale, held at Wyndham Racecourse (41 lots, 36 sold); bb) May 1973 Pukekoheracecourse mixed sale (54); cc) April 1974 Christchurch dispersal for RA Levy, Roydvale Ave; dd) May 1974 Peterson Lodge Stud, Templeton,mixed dispersal for Clarrie Rhodes; complete dispersal estate Ces Donald & Mrs RM Donald, Addington Showgrounds (41);ee) February 1975 Nandina Stud, Pukekohe; ff) April 1975 Hawera mixed (29 sold); gg) August 1976 dispersal account estate Jim Donaldson and outside vendors; Ashburton racecourse(69 lots, 47 sold).
Wrightson NMA Standardbred Division –
The thirty second and third National Sales were run in February under the Wrightson NMA Standardbred Division banner. The 1976 sale included a mixed sale run at 7pm incorporating 79 lots. The 1977 sale featured 209 yearlings and a mixed sale of 69 lots. An all aged sale of 61 lots was held at Addington Showgrounds in December 1976 (catalogue shows Gordon Matheson, Standardbred Manager; Paul Davies Standardbred representative).
The seventh and eighth Great Northern Sales featuring yearlings and mixed stock were held at Alexandra Park in 1977 (41 yearlings and 38 mixed lots) and in 1978 the inaugural selected yearling sale (81 lots, 48 sold). The eighth and ninth annual Southland sales of yearlings and all aged stock were run at Drill Hall Invercargill Showgrounds in 1976 (114 lots) and 1977 (106 lots). The Ashburton mixed Standardbred sales were held each September in 1976 (59) and 1977.
Wrightson Bloodstock –
The thirty fourth National Sales were held at Addington Showgrounds in February 1978. This catalogue made the first mention of the annual National Yearling Sale Dinner (fifth occasion) held at the Russley Hotel. A yearling parade was held on Tuesday 7 February for the first time with 246 yearlings offered for sale on Wednesday 8 February with a mixed sale of yearlings and broodmares on Thursday 9 February.
The 1978 sales auctioneer and renowned race caller David (Dave) Clarkson was in action for the last time having initially worked for H Matson & Co from February 1940 or earlier. Clarkson was an auctioneer at the National Yearling Sales (thoroughbreds) at Trentham for 25 years, commencing in 1949 with Charlie Robertson and Bill Paterson (Wright Stephenson bloodstock manager). Robertson retired after the 1954 “Royal” sales. Clarkson and Paterson were joined by Peter Kelly in 1961. Clarkson/Paterson retired from the Trentham sales in 1973 after sharing the rostrum for 25 years. David Clarkson was an auctioneer at the annual and other Standardbred sales through the years spending considerable time travelling throughout NZ inspecting yearlings.
The 1979 sales coincided with the 1979 ChristchurchInterdominions, the thirty fifth national sales being held in March at Addington Showgrounds. Sale numbers for the thirty sixth to forty second February sales (1980-1986) showed a high of 263 yearlings for sale in 1985, the year Jack Honan purchased Tuapeka Direct (Smooth Fella/Sakuntula colt, nine AUS wins, three at Harold Park, one at Moonee Valley, p3, 2:01.2, $22,289) for $81,000 from TuapekaLodge, while the combined number of yearlings/mixed sale lots in 1986 was 330.The 1986 sale was the final National Sale run by Wrightsons.
In December 1986 Wrightson Bloodstock head Michael Floyd advised that his company was selling the bloodstock division to National Bloodstock Corporation, part of David Phillip’s Pacer Kerridge conglomerate. NBC had announced plans to run a yearling sale in opposition to Wrightson’s in July 1986. The result of these moves was that the January 1987 Great Northern sale at Claudelands saw all but one of the 117 lots withdrawn by vendors, just one lot went under the hammer. A breakaway group of northern vendors assisted by Te Aroha based John F Jones ran a very successful Australasian Classic sale at Claudelands in mid-February 1987. NBC ran their inaugural International Classic Sale at Alexandra Park in early March which proved a great success.
NBC’s take on the situation was vendors now had greater choice as to which Standardbred sale they targeted their yearlings for – PGG, John F Jones and NBC as opposed to the perceived “monopoly” position previously held by Wrightson’s.The final two National Yearling Sales were conducted by National Bloodstock Corporation and will be covered under the third period (1987 to current) in Part Two.
Wrightson Bloodstock also conducted the following regular sales :
Tenth annual Great Northern yearling (44 lots, 26 sold) and mixed (23 lots, 13 sold) sales were held at Alexandra Park in February 1980. The eleventh to thirteenth sales also took place in February at Alexandra Park – in 1983, combinedlots totalled 264, with 152 sold of 223 offered. The fourteenth to seventeenth GN sales (1984 – 1987) moved to Claudelands with a reduction in numbers sold – 1984 (118), 1985 (102), 1986 (107) and 1987 (117 lots, all but one withdrawn). The 1986 sale saw the first $100k plus Standardbred yearling sale in New Zealand. This was the Smooth Fella/Black Watch colt McCoy (2:05.8, one AUS win, $1,692), a three quarter brother to Smooth Falcon (p3, 1:57.5AUS, $105,497, one NZ/thirteen AUS wins in 20 starts, VIC Derby, Australian two and three year old of year), sold for $120,000 by breeder/vendor Sandy Yarndley to big spending Sydneysider Jack Honan.
The Southland mixed sale continued in either March or April in the period from 1978 – 1983 at the Invercargill Showgrounds. Numbers sold fluctuated from 62 in 1978, 139 (1979), 1980 (73 lots, 46 sold), 1981 (135 lots, 60 sold) through to the fifteenth sale in 1983 where 21 of24 yearlings sold with overall 49 sales at the mixed sale. The Ashburton mixed sale was held in September in 1979 (96 lots, 58 sold), 1980 (83 lots, 45 sold) and 1981 (100 lots, 86 sold) before moving to February in 1982 (62 lots, 37 sold) with a further unreserved sale held in November 1984 at Ashburton racecourse prior to NZ Cup Day.
Among the one off sales held byWrightson Bloodstock were an unreserved sale during Rowe Cup week in May 1983 and a NZ Cup week mixed sale at Addington Showgrounds on the Monday prior to Cup Day including Clarrie Rhodes dispersal sale consisting of 28 of the 93 lots.
Other companies that conducted Standardbred sales in the period 1944 – 1987 were :
Parramatta Livestock Pty Ltd and NZ Farmers Co – Op
Conducted a Southland Sale as auctioneers e.g. held at Drill Hall, Invercargill Showgrounds May 1977 [93 mixed lots] ; dispersal sales for Clarrie Rhodes (Peterson Stud Lodge, Templeton)in February 1976 [60 lots], March 1979 during Christchurch Interdominions [57]and February 1982 [42]; dispersal sale behalf of Alastair Kerslake, Frank Woolley and Harry Mawat Addington Raceway in 1976 [106 lots, 79 sold]; Cup week sales at Motukarara Racecourse November 1976 [58], November 1977 (38) together with an Autumn sale at Addington showgrounds in May 1977 (92).
Dalgety & Co
Dispersal sale estate of Henderson Hunter at Wyndham Showgrounds in March 1950.
Dalgety Bloodstock
Held mixed sales in April 1978 at Alexandra Park [50] and Addington Showgrounds [32];
Doug Grantham’s Lobell Lodge Clevedon mixed sales in February 1979 and 1981 [65] and
Avon Downs mixed sale [97] at Alexandra Park with auctioneer noted thoroughbred race caller/personality Keith Haub.
Dalgety & NZ Loan Ltd
Dispersal sale at Methven on behalf ofGladdy McKendry in July 1964 [9].
National Mortgage Agency
Mixed sale in April 1948 at Red Band Lodge, Invercargill including the sale of three time NZ Cup winner and stallion Indianapolis to PW Davidson of Auckland.
National Mortgage & Agency Co (Christchurch)
Conducted dispersal sales : Invercargill February 1956 and Christchurch September 1964 – assorted stock.
H Matson & Co, Christchurch
Held four mixed dispersal sales in Canterbury in 1957 namely : at Templeton, behalf of HW Drewery, Christchurch and Clarrie Rhodes, Templeton; in August, account AFC Rushton, Christchurch; October accountOssie Hooper; November at Ashburton.
Wright Stephenson & Co
Ran February 1949 Red Band Lodge, Invercargill mixed dispersal.
Wright Stephenson & Co and National Mortgage Agency, Gore
Sale of mixed stock account JA Edwards at The Homestead Otkerama in November 1952 [16].
Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd & Wright Stephenson & Co Ltd
February 1958, Invercargill dispersal of Chelandry Stud Ltd stock.
Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd
Ran the July 1958 Knottingly Lodge Stud, Waimate dispersal.
Waikato Standardbred Agency Ltd –
April 1971, held the inaugural mixed sale of 66 stock (21 sold) at Cambridge; March 1972
held an Auckland yearling sale and later same month at their Waikato property a further yearling sale [20 lots, ten sold]; May 1972 mixed sale [54, 34 sold].
Farmers Co Op of NZ Ltd
Ran Christchurch mixed sales in March 1950 [7], April 1953 [5].
Canterbury Farmers Co – Op Association Ltd, Timaru and National Mortgage Agency Co
Mixed sale account CA Woods and sons, July 1957 [5].
Southland Farmers Co – Operative Association Ltd
Gore dispersal account of AJ Gerken, March 1961.
Otago Farmers Co – Op Assoc of NZ –
At Outram, June 1973 for AW Hopkins [5 plus equipment]
NZ Loan & Mercantile Agency Co Ltd and NZ Farmers Co – Operative Association Ltd
April 1946 auctioneers G Leahy and J Palmer held mixed dispersal account Ces Donald at his Main Road North, Belfast property [32 assorted horses, 20 broodmares].
Alfred Buckland & Sons Ltd
Held two Auckland Sales of mixed stock; first in February [47]; second in February 1949 [13].
Donald Reid and Co Ltd, Dunedin –
Ran Middlemarch Standardbreds horse sale at Middlemarch A&P Showgrounds, February 1974 [18 sold].
Doug McElwain & Associates Ltd, Hamilton –
Held inaugural sale of mixed stock from Nandina Stud, Buckland, Pukekohe including outside entries in 1976 [166].
Keith Haub and Co auctioneers –
Conducted a mixed sale of 66 lots including 24 older horses at Alexandra Park in February 1977.
Next Time : Part Two will cover period 1987 to present day principally covering sales activities of PGG/PGG Wrightson’s Standardbred Division.
Peter Craig
17 January 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
