This is the fourth in a major series of articles concerning racetracks of the world starting with those in New Zealand.
TARANAKI –
The New Plymouth Racecourse (Pukekura Racecourse until December 2018) has been the venue for much of the 100 year history of the Taranaki Trotting Club. In 2011 the club amalgamated with Taranaki Racing to form the Taranaki Thoroughbred and Harness Racing Club (racing under the Taranaki Racing Inc banner from the 2017/18 season).
Prior to the initial Taranaki Trotting Club’s inaugural meeting on 9 November 1893, the Taranaki Jockey Club held trotting races on their 1890 Boxing Day programme. The Taranaki Trotting Association held a meeting on 27 September 1894 and the Taranaki Metropolitan Trotting Club held one meeting on 18 June 1896. A final solitary meeting of the Taranaki Trotting Club was held at Vogeltown on 5 April 1906.
The current Taranaki Trotting Club’s inaugural meeting (non-tote) was held on 7 February 1920, then another non-tote on 5 February 1921. The first tote meeting was run on 18 April 1925. With few exceptions meetings have been held on New Plymouth Raceway : 1922 – 1924 no meetings held; 1933 – 1936 dates were relinquished during the depression years; 1942 – 1946 were combined club meetings; 16 April 1977 held at Cambridge during home track redevelopment) and in 1979 at Te Kapua Park, Stratford when a new all-weather track under construction and upgraded track facilities.
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 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 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 1630m grass track (350m straight).
The first mobile mile events on the all-weather track at New Plymouth Raceway were run on opening day 12 April 1980. Pacer Greg Robinson’s in Festival 81 Mile 1:59.8 defeat of Delightful Lady by a nose being the fastest and only sub two minute race time recorded, this prior to the twenty first century where Molly Darling’s 1:58.3 in 2006 is the quickest of all time. The annual summer meeting at New Plymouth Raceway on Saturday 29 February 2020 was the 100 years centenary celebration of the Taranaki Trotting Club. It transpired that this was to be the final meeting of the club as no licence was issued for the 2020/2021 season. The second Taranaki Cup and Breeders Stakes (for 2020/21 season) run in calendar year 2020 took place at the Manawatu Trotting Club’s 10 December meeting at Manawatu Raceway, Palmerston North.
Footnote – refer also to harnessbred article on Taranaki Trotting Club’s Centennial (7 February 2020).
The Egmont Trotting Club held meetings at both New Plymouth racecourse and Te Kapua racecourse, Stratford during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Stratford held trials on 6 February 1974 and 15 March 1975 and a non-tote on 6 February 1979. New Plymouth hosted equalisator meetings in February 1975, 1976 1977 and 1980 then annual trials meetings until November 1988.
An early edition of the Hawera Trotting Club raced on the Egmont Racing Club’s, Hawera racecourse between 8 May 1896 and 11 Match 1898. The forerunner to the Hawera Trotting Club was the Waimate Plains Trotting Club established on 14 May 1905, their inaugural meeting was run at JD Mitchell’s Burnbank Farm on Wednesday 29 August 1906. The banked track at the Manaia Domain initially considered ideal for trotting but unable to be used as bookmakers were not permitted to carry out business in public areas. The Burnbank Farm track had been used for thoroughbred racing from the mid-1880’s and was last used in February 1910 by the Waimate Plains Trotting Club.
At a meeting held on 28 January 1911 the Waimate Plains TC decided to move racing to the Egmont RC’s, Waihi Road, Hawera racecourse (1800m). The first race meeting held on this course coincided with George V’s Coronation Day, 22 June 1911. A further meeting was held in 1912, no races were run in 1913 or 1914. The club was reformed and races were held on 19 May 1915 resulting in the first totalisator permit being granted for the club’s 28 July meeting. In a forerunner to the Hawera club’s current racing dates, the first Easter meeting was held on Easter Monday 1916.
In 1924 the club’s name was changed to the Hawera Trotting Club and the club was incorporated. 1925 was the running of the inaugural Hawera Trotting Cup, previously known from 1916 – 1924 as the Waimate Plains Cup. The 1933 meetings included win and place betting with dividends on the first three horses for the first time. 1944 was only the third year the club has not raced since inception, this due to a nationwide rail strike meaning transport unavailable for horses (1913 and 1914 other years). 1952 (December) fire totally destroyed the main grandstand which was subsequently rebuilt). 1955 was Golden Jubilee year for the club and first year race with renowned commentator Reg Clapp calling the races.
The Alex Corrigan manufactured mobile gate dispatched the first ever mobile start seen on a New Zealand track in the Hawera club’s Flying Mile on Easter Monday 1957 (winner Brahman). 24 November 1958 when lights were used for night trotting for first time in NZ at a win only equalisator meeting held at A&P Showgrounds, Hawera. Where five races were held before a crowd of 3,000. Night trotting became a regular feature of the A&P Association Saturday night programmes until late 1960’s.
In 1967 Hawera Trotting Club joined with Egmont Racing Club and Opunake Racing Club to form Hawera Racecourse Partnership. On 28 May 1985 Tony Herlihy drove six winners in a ten race programme including a hat trick of last three races. Six victories took Herlihy from 97 to 103 wins for the 1984/5 season (final tally was 112), this surpassed Peter Wolfenden’s former record of 101 victories established in 1974/5 season. In 1986 a name change to Hawera Harness Racing Club. 1991 raced at New Plymouth racecourse due to unavailability of the Hawera track and in 2005 the club had its centenary.
The Hawera club’s final meetings took place at Easter 2019; Covid 19 cancelled the 2020 meetings and no licence was issued for the 2020/2021 season.
The Stratford Trotting Club held non-tote meetings at Bushford Park in May of 1895 and 1896 and trotting races were held at the Stratford Racing Club’s meetings from March 1907 to January 1909. The modern Stratford Trotting Club did not become established until a public meeting was held in January 1958. A non-tote matinee meeting followed on 1 April 1958 and an inaugural totalisator meeting held at the Stratford Racing Club’s Te Kapua Park (1600m) course on 7 February 1959. The Corrigan mobile gate mentioned under Hawera Trotting Club above was used at both the matinee and first tote meetings of the Stratford club. Apart from utilising the then new all-weather track at New Plymouth (Pukekura Raceway) racecourse for the clubs February 1981 and April 1982 meetings, Stratford have continued to race on the grass at Te Kapua thereafter. Its final meeting was held on 27 February 2020 with no licence being issued for the 2020/2021 season.
Meetings of combined clubs were held during World War II e.g.
- Hawera/Taranaki Trotting Clubs combined meetings March 1942, April 1943 (2 days) and April 1945 – all at Hawera and two meetings in June 1946 at Pukekura Raceway (New Plymouth)
- 1942 – 1946 : The combined clubs of Hawera and Taranaki held meetings at Egmont RC club’s track at Hawera on 28 March 1942, due to New Plymouth track not being available, on 24 and 26 April 1943 [1944 no meeting] and 31 March 1945 during which time Taranaki lost its permit (due to overall shortage of permits). The combined clubs raced at Pukekura Park on 1 and 3 June 1946. The Taranaki TC conducted its Cup meeting in April 1946 with a restored permit
Minor tracks used in the Taranaki area :
Bell Block, New Plymouth races 25 May 1891 (included trotting races)
Manaia Trotting Club, Mr Hair’s paddock, Manaia (South Taranaki) 26 December 1894
Normanby Trotting Club, Normanby, 3miles from Hawera, meetings held over period 24 May 1894 to 26 March 1897
Pihama racecourse (7miles SE of Opunake), Opunake Racing Club meetings between March 1909 and 1913 (trotting races included)
MANAWATU –
In October 1893 the Palmerston North Trotting Club affiliated with the NZ Trotting Association. It held its first meeting on the Manawatu Sports Association grounds at Athletic Park, half mile, 805m, Palmerston North with two more meetings in March and August 1894. Renamed the Palmerston North Metropolitan TC, meetings at the Manawatu Sports Association grounds were held between 26 October 1894 and 30 December 1895. Later meetings changing its name back to the Palmerston North Trotting Club were held at the same venue from 28 February 1896 to 25 February 1898. This venue was at what was to become the Awatapu Golf Course. After this time, the club’s appeared to cease operations for several years.
Reformed after a meeting in May 1910, the Manawatu Trotting Club/HRC (1987/8 season onwards) was registered in September 1910 with its first meeting held on the Manawatu Racing Club’s course at Awapuni on 30 August 1911 (1800m). This could be classified as one of several inaugural meetings of the club over the years. The Manawatu Racing Club was established in 1890 and had used the Awapuni course since 1900.The Trotting Club was to be based at Awapuni until its final meeting there on 14 April 1962. Exceptions to this were :
- The Ashhurst-Pohangina RC was formed 1 August 1891 with its first meeting held on 29 December 1891. Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club course, Racecourse Road, Ashhurst (1 mile) was utilised from 16 March 1926 until 15 March 1933 for annual Manawatu TC meeting after Manawatu RC deemed Awapuni no longer available for trotting meetings (returned to Awapuni from 1934). With Awapuni unavailable due to WWII, 11 April 1942 meeting held at Ashhurst course
- 1943 no meeting held
Note – Awapuni racecourse was occupied by the military during the Great War 1914 – 1918 and early 1940’s during World War II.
Awapuni 1940’s
For many years the Manawatu Trotting Club attempted to obtain its own all-weather track. And this was achieved in the early 1960’s following the purchase of Mr Devine’s 62 acre property on Pioneer Highway. This had been the site of a club training course named the Manawatu Raceway, situated less than a mile from Awapuni racecourse. Approval for this purchase was given at a meeting held on 17 November 1959. The new all-weather track measured 4½ furlongs (900m) with lights installed the fifth NZ club to do so (Alexandra Park, Hutt Park, Forbury Park, Claudelands).
The Palmerston North Trotting Club (formerly Owners, Trotters and Breeders Association) ran a matinee/non-tote (“trial”) meeting on Saturday 17 November 1962 at the new track before a crowd of 4,000. This was prior to the inaugural tote meeting the following Wednesday 21 November 1962. The PNTC cub held a further matinee meeting in February 1963.
Other clubs to race at Manawatu Raceway include Wanganui (see below), Kapiti Coast, Wairarapa and Wellington (1997 Wellington Cup, run for trotters held at Manawatu meeting in March 1997) – latter three clubs will be covered in article on Lower North Island clubs. The Central Districts HRC between 2 March 1974 and 26 April 1992, held equalisator meetings 1974 – 1976 (four in total) and then mainly annual trials meetings until 1992 at Manawatu Raceway.
Notable events during the history of the various tracks utilised by the Manawatu TC/HRC include :
- 1932 Stewards Stand destroyed by fire
- 1933 saw win/place dividends on three horses for first time
- 1935 (October) meeting abandoned due to bad weather
- 1936 storm lifted roof from main stand
- Training track on other side of city just off Fitzroy St (just short of 5 furs) – 1940’s at least
- 1944 was Jubilee Day for club at Awapuni
- new all-weather Manawatu Raceway produced a New Zealand and Australasian Trotters mile record on 3 March 1964 when Jim Donaldson’s eleven year old Globe Derby line trotter Control time trialled in T2:02.4
- 1976 public stand opened
- 1979 new barn
- 1983 Jetbet system commenced (November)
- 1987 Members Stand opened
- 1992 Passing lane installed November
- Blossom Lady off 90m handicap wins Palmerstonian Classic
- Early 1990’s Public Stand and Lounge area named after leading pacer Blossom Lady
- 1994 Manawatu club’s centennial
- 2000 (October) Pylons installed
- 2006 Halogen lighting upgrade (one of many during course of previous four decades)
- 2020/21 season sees just six meetings (around seventeen previous seasons) allocated plus four dual code meetings with the greyhounds
Among other significant horses to have graced Manawatu TC/HRC meetings are : Jack Potts (February 1924/Awapuni); exhibition miles at Awapuni by Harold Logan (April 1934), Laureldale (April 1955), Johnny Globe (April 1956) while leading trotters Stylish Major, Geffin, Johnny Gee, Highland Flight, Tony Bear, Easton Light, Single Cash competed at Manawatu in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. Pacers of the calibre of Lordship, Noble Lord, James, Cardinal King, Waitaki Hanover, Disband, Great Adios, Chequer Board similarly raced at Manawatu.
Minor tracks used in the Manawatu area :
- Levin Racecourse : hosted meetings of Horowhenua Trotting Club (non-tote) on 6 September 1914 and Horowhenua Racing Club on 3 September 1915 (included trotting races)
WANGANUI –
The first two officially recorded and registered full scale trotting meetings in New Zealand were run by the Wanganui Trotting Club in 1881 (10 March 2020 meeting included “Wanganui Trotting Club 139 Years Young Mobile Pace), although reference is made to an earlier picnic meeting held in Wanganui around 1877.
As a result of numerous match races in the Wanganui and Manawatu region, the Wanganui Trotting Association was formed on 1 December 1880. The first meeting was held on 19 January (five events/twenty three horses; multiple starters) with the second meeting held in June 1881. These meetings were held on the Wanganui Jockey Club’s course (1700m) whose initial meeting had been held in 1848. The Wanganui Jockey Club formed in 1874 is New Zealand’s oldest club racing on its original site. The trotting club’s sixth meeting was held on Saturday 21 October 1882 with the club being wound up in August 1883. The first year that the NZ Turf Register was published 1890/91 season there was no listing for the Wanganui TC. It appears that the club was either in recess or limbo.
Two meetings were recorded as being held at Flemington Lodge, Wanganui between 26 March 1894 and 15 November 1894. A non-tote meeting on Wanganui racecourse on 12 December 1908 before full tote meetings commenced on 22 April 1909. Meetings have continued on the Wanganui racecourse with the following exceptions –
- Liverpool Park, Wanganui (five furlong; 1100 yds), first used 22 February 1922 and two subsequent years until 19 January 1924. Track named after Governor-General, Earl of Liverpool who visited area in 1917
- No meeting 1931
- Claudelands 20 April 1940
- No racing 1941 – 1945, war years
- Manawatu Raceway 24/27 November 1962; 19/21 November 1963; 19/21 October 1964
- Hutt Park, Wellington : 13/15 December 1965 (also 6 January 1982; 5 March 1982, 17/23 May 1983)
- Manawatu Raceway : 16/17 January 1976; 6/9 March 1984, 5/8 March 1985
- No meetings held 1997 – 1998, 2018
Annual Wanganui Cup meeting has been held at Manawatu Raceway past two seasons (12 March 2019; 10 March 2020). It is unlikely that harness racing will ever return to Wanganui racecourse and the club received no licence for the 2020/21 season.
Peter Craig
20 January 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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