This is a nostalgic and reflective look back at my earliest days of interest in the twin horse racing codes of thoroughbreds and standardbreds. I make no apology and ask your indulgence while I take a trip back down memory lane.
You will have correctly gained the impression that I have a degree of dual gaitedness in my genes, although my greatest love is for the Standardbred. It is interesting that a large percentage of my earlier years involved the thoroughbred. This resulted from the locality of my childhood and early adulthood.
First recollections of horse racing go back more than five decades, nearer six. I’ll first relate and tell a story against myself. I’m not certain but believe I was either six or seven years of age when spending a few days with my Mum’s parents in Greenlane, Auckland. I was given sixpence to go to the local dairy some one hundred yards and two minor suburban street crossings away to spend obviously on an ice cream or sweets or the like.
You can imagine my grandmother’s surprise when she got a phone call from the diary owner asking if her grandson was allowed to purchase a copy of the Best Bets, the Auckland based turf guide of the early 1960’s!! Sure enough I was permitted to buy said publication, studied it closely, listened to the races on the radio and drew up my own race fields (including jockeys/drivers/barrier draws) to commentate on in the privacy of my bedroom.
My initial exposure to harness racing (or trotting as it was more universally known then) came in the mid-1960’s when attending equalisator meetings at Alexandra Park on Saturday afternoons having played cricket in the morning (started at age eight). This was dependent on whether or not Dad was working shifts – Train Control/Train Running Officer at NZ Railways, Auckland Central Station. The once or twice annual meetings were conducted by the Kumeu and Manuaku Trotting Club’s.
The thoroughbred code commenced with the Helensville District Racing Club’s equalisator/picnic meeting’s held annually each February. In the mid-1960’s this annual “safari” was quite a trek from Papatoetoe in South Auckland, through West Auckland (Henderson), out to Kumeu and eventually Helensville. These meetings have long ceased although the track still exists as part of the Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Showgrounds.
My introduction to the Auckland Racing Club’s Ellerslie racecourse was on day two (now classed as family day) of the then four day Christmas/New Year Auckland Cup carnival. Again, in the mid-1960’s, normally two days after Boxing Day meeting (28 December) and four days before the Auckland Cup, then held on New Year’s Day (now run in early March). My key and painful memory of this day’s racing was putting my grandmother (Mum’s mother) off a two year old filly that paid £23 for the place in a twenty three horse field!!! A lesson well learnt. The day was spent on the then Ellerslie “hill” outside enclosure reserved for families as opposed to the Derby Stand enclosure, Public and Members Stand areas. This area including totes etc is now one of the track’s car parks. The family on these days tended to consist of my parents, myself, three younger brothers and two sets of grandparents – Dad’s in particular had thoroughbred racing in their “blood”.
On a couple of occasions, again when Dad wasn’t working shifts, the two of us would catch the race day railcar on Labour Day Monday (fourth Monday in October) attending the Waikato RC meeting at Te Rapa (Hamilton). Even more special I thought at the time was being at Ellerslie for the pre Auckland Cup carnival early morning gallops (around 20 December) followed by breakfast in the Members Stand!!
The first full totalisator meeting attended of the Auckland Trotting Club was the second night of 1967 Auckland Cup carnival (Wednesday 27 Dec 1967). I recall being allowed a $1 on course exchange double investment where I correctly supported the first leg winner of race three Trafalgar. It was a toss-up as to who to exchange my winning ticket for in the second leg (race five), between ultimate winner Milford Boy and my selection Terraton who broke finishing 11th, with the double paying $29.55.
In May 1969, due to Dad receiving promotion within NZ Railways, the family shifted to Ohakune in the middle of the North Island, with Mount Ruapehu just a few miles away. This was where I completed the majority of my secondary school education at Ruapehu College.
Accordingly the next three years afforded few opportunities to witness racing first hand. A regular diet of attempting to listen in to either Radio 1ZB (Auckland) or 3ZB (Christchurch) was required, normally at night (trots), even then the commentaries tended to fade in and out due to atmospheric conditions. I recall standing on a chair (was only four foot six at the time) trying to listen to the radio which was affixed on a shelf high upon a wall.
The only live racing seen in the three years we were at Ohakune was over Easter weekend 1971. Spending the weekend in Wanganui, a then two hour journey from Ohakune, the family ventured to Hawera on Easter Saturday 10 April 1971 to see Red Hillmer pilot Hi Trail to victory in the 1971 Hawera Pacing Cup. Easter Monday 12 April saw us at the Fielding gallops. My overriding recollection of this weekend has nothing to do with horses but more with food – specifically my first (of many) delicious meals of Hapuka (Groper, fish) at a Wanganui restaurant on Easter Sunday.
I left school aged sixteen and a half, starting work in March 1972 and just two months later Dad’s move to the General Traffic Managers Office, NZ Railways in Wellington, saw me follow the rest of the family to the capital city living some twenty miles north at the commencement of the Kapiti Coast. Few opportunities for race meeting attendance occurred over the next couple of years due to work, accountancy studies and playing sport (soccer and cricket) at more than respectable levels.
On arrival in Wellington, with daily commuter travel into Wellington City, it made sense to sell my push bike. Dad and I split the “proceeds”, all $20 and decided to each invest $10 weekly at the nearest TAB (Totalisator Agency Board) office in Plimmerton. I think we managed to get close to two years fun out of our original fund of $20. The TAB tickets were manually produced carbonised tickets with duplicate/triplicate copies, the punters copy having to be matched to the TAB sheet prior to pay out (see further below).
A little history with regard to TAB investments in the 1970’s – options available included :
- Win and place
- Doubles (true and exchange)
- Same day pay outs commenced 7 August 1971, within 30 mins of results announced
- Online tele betting arrived on 10 May 1974
- Off course trebles from July 1975
- Quinellas, from Nov 1977
- Computerisation : Wellington – Petone branch, Eastbourne agency – 24 May 1974; Auckland October 1974; Christchurch/Hamilton 1975; Waikato/Manawatu/Otago May 1976; balance of country first quarter of 1981
- JETBET system 19 January 1982, Lambton Quay Wellington followed by rest of country and on course racetracks
In early March 1973, taking a few days leave from my then job with the Bank of New Zealand, I travelled to Napier on the “Endeavour” train. Saturday 3 March 1973, I caught a bus from Napier to Hastings attending the Napier Park JC meeting (day one of two/Wednesday) at Hastings racecourse. There was an enquiry in the last race of the day on which I had a small each way investment on the second horse. With a lengthy delay in resolving the enquiry I had to leave the queue to catch the bus back to Napier (eleven miles/eighteen kilometres away). There was no change to the placings and on my return to Wellington I posted off my ticket to get a cheque back a couple of weeks later with my winnings. Today’s postage costs would have almost exceeded the winnings!!
New Year’s meetings of the Wairarapa RC at Tauherenikau featured for a few years beginning with the meetings of 2 January 1973 and 1 January 1974, Centennial Gold Cup meeting. Travel over or through the Rimutuka Hill from Wellington to the Wairarapa was either by bus or train avoiding the numerous traffic jams caused by the huge crowds. These meetings normally encountered great summer weather and were ideal for picnics. Since 2004 (often Geoff Small and/or David Butcher benefit day) they include three/four trotting races on grass as well as eight/nine galloping races and are part of annual Interislander Summer Festival programme of race meetings (family fun at the races).
My first taste of the champagne turf at Trentham racecourse (Upper Hutt) was the mid-week Wellington RC Winter carnival meeting (day two of three) on Wednesday 10 July 1973. For many travel to Trentham from central Wellington in those days was by train, often up to four special trains to cope with the crowds, many taking a half day off work. The main race was the Parliamentary Hcp, won by Nabua (6/6), trained by Merv Andrews and ridden by Des Harris (brother of Noel). Racing bets for the day (dollar win bets on all races) were covered thanks to Nabua’s victory (mud lark), $10.25, $3.65, my only collect. N.B : my wages as a junior accounts clerk, a year out of high school after tax and superannuation deductions were less than $70 per fortnight.
The first Wellington trotting meeting attended at Hutt Park Raceway in Petone (Otaki TC, now Kapiti Coast HRC) were night trots in late October 1973. Having played cricket for the Karori club during the day until near seven, later in the evening went to Hutt Park with Mark Bogle. I played some cricket with Mark, undertook accountancy studies with him and later when working for the NZ Treasury and Mark for the Audit Office, we spent two weeks in Australia in December 1981 working on the Australian Posts computerisation project with Alastair McLay from the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mark went onto become CEO of Evergreen Forests. I do recall backing Casper, a $5.35, five length winner of the Otaki Cup for tr/dr Dane Alexander.
Wellington Anniversary Day Monday 21 January 1974 at Trentham racecourse was the first of several times I was to see the Washdyke Wonder Grey Way in action. He was the winner of the Metropolitan Hcp (1400m), $4,000 as a 3yo, carrying 49½kg (5th Telegraph Hcp on Saturday 1200m when I was playing cricket), 5/4, paid $9.75, $2.60 (I backed him). Grey Way was owned by Peter South, trained by Pat Corboy (Edward Patrick/Ted) and ridden to a ¾l victory by Max Skelton.
Pat Corboy also trained pacers over seven seasons from 1974/5 to 1988/9 producing sixteen winners with a solitary driving success in 1980/1. The best of these was Hey Pronto with six wins (five in 1977/8 when Corboy trained eight winners). Junior driver Peter Shand drove him in all his wins, two at Addington before exported and winner in North America. I saw Hey Presto run at Addington (21 and 24 January 1976 – 4th and 6th) during my first ever trip to Christchurch (see later). Corboy retired having trained over six hundred thoroughbred winners over six decades. Grey Way’s record was fifty NZ/one Australian victory, with his greatest victory being the Auckland Racing Club’s 1977 Easter Handicap.
A week spent with family (Mum’s grandparents) in Auckland in May 1974 allowed me to attend my second ever night trotting meeting at Alexandra Park on the middle night of the Rowe Cup meeting (Wednesday 15 May 1974). In the company of relations, the Dumpers (owned Trixie Charles, five time winner mid/late 1960’s), I saw pacers of the calibre of Robalan, Speedy Guest, Van Glory, Vanadium, Barbara Del; trotters Good Admiral, Edis Nova, Easton Light, Cee Ar, Miss Debra, Darky Forbes; two year olds Hill High and Tricky Dick competing. The big grey gelding Katoomba won the final event on the card for tr/dr Peter Wolfenden – all making an big impression on a young former JAFA, then Welingtonian and now proud Cantab (from Canterbury).
Ideally placed between the cricket and soccer seasons the Manawatu RC’s (Palmerston North) Autumn meeting of Saturday 31 March 1974 featured the weight for age (WFA) Awapuni Gold Cup for $6,500, with the first four home being Young Ida, Duty Free, Kiwi Can and Kia Marea. Among the nine race card were two two division races and two year old Group One NZ Sires Produce Stakes won by Prince Shifnal.
Similarly the Foxton Winter meeting in late August/early September (either 1974 or 1975) fitted nicely between sporting code changes in the spring. My two youngest brothers and I caught the Railways bus as it passed through our small village situated on State Highway One for a days hurdling, steeplechasing, sprints and a stayers test.
Dad and I attended the opening day of the Manawatu RC’s Christmas meeting on Saturday 21 December 1974. After an totally unsuccessful day’s investing, a “large for me” $10 on the nose of His Ayr (jockey Mark Burridge) in the final event the Kelvin Hcp, resulted in a later departure from the course then earlier results would have indicated ($5.70 for the win).
April 1975 saw two visits made to Awapuni, the home track of the Manawatu RC – first on Saturday 2 April for Awapuni Gold Cup day with the main event taken out by Hi Bing (jockey Gary Phillips; these days starter for Central Districts racing, gallops/trots), from Duty Free and Black Rod. Later in the month on ANZAC Day, couple of my brothers and I saw trainer Ray Verner’s Prepak win the Metric Mile in the hands of Jim Walker from Toms Mate and Danios – one of eight races including a hurdle race.
January 1976 signalled a momentous event – my first visit to Christchurch and the mecca of harness racing, the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Addington Raceway. A five day Wednesday/Sunday trip flying from Wellington to Christchurch and staying at the Clarendon Hotel, close to Cathedral Square. Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the Clarendon during her Royal Tour of New Zealand in 1953/4 (attended her first NZ trotting meeting at Addington on Thursday 21 January 1954 with Duke of Edinburgh). The Clarendon Hotel later became the façade for a high rise building, the Clarendon Towers which was demolished following the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
My first Addington meeting was attended on Wednesday evening 21 January 1976. Thursday night was spent at a greyhound equalisator meeting at QE II Park (site of New Brighton TC up until 21 September 1963 final meeting on grass track prior to move to Addington from December 1963; 1974 Commonwealth Games venue). The QEII Park stadium was destroyed by the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011.
At the Saturday 24 January meeting, Dupreez (Derek Jones) that I had backed to win on the first night when finishing ninth won but I only backed him for a place (paid $14.60, $4.80). High class pacer Forto Prontezza won the Lion Brown FFA, in a field of five horses.
Taking in Awapuni Gold Cup day again on Saturday 20 March 1976 allowed me to see one of my all-time favourite horses Grey Way succeed while topline youngster La Mer won the Sires Produce Stakes.
My second visit to Christchurch came as quickly as Easter 1976. I stayed at the Croydon Private Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, 63 Armagh St for ten days from Easter Friday until Sunday week (ANZAC Day). A two course set menu dinner was available daily if required which it was and most acceptable from memory. The Hotel went by a number of different names over the years starting in 1946 with Croydon Private Hotel, 1989 Croydon House Travel Hotel, 1990 Croydon House and 1998 Croydon House Bed & Breakfast. It was also destroyed by the earthquake of February 2011.
Saturday 17 April was Easter Cup Day meeting at Addington where five Group races were run, the most in either code on a single day four decades ago. Easter Cup remained days meeting until 1992, group races were switched between two or three meetings thereafter and interestingly Easter Saturday has reverted to a day meeting these past two seasons.
In the mid-seventies, Television NZ had a Sunday racing show, so I was able to watch the opening two nights of the Easter carnival. I managed to spot Ganya (fourth and fifth first two nights) who went out favourite and paid $2.35 winning the race after the Easter Cup by five lengths. Group race winners were : Captain Harcourt (Easter Cup), Mighty Lee (NZ Trotting Championship), Bolton Byrd (3yo Championship), Ruling Lobell (Welcome Stakes), Fabian (2yo Trotting Stakes).
Easter Monday was the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s (CJC) three day Easter carnival at Riccarton racecourse (Monday 19, Wednesday 21, Saturday 24 April). The Saturday meeting included the then first hurdles race in South Island for the 1976 calendar year. It is no more, for many years now the only jumping races at Riccarton are held during the three day Grand National carnival at the beginning of August, the commencement of the new racing season.
During my stay in Christchurch I travelled to Greymouth (West Coast, passing through Southern Alps) on the train (pre Tranz Alpine days) – departed at 7am taking five hours to reach Greymouth, an hours turnaround and back in Christchurch by 6pm. A lengthy but enjoyable day.
Staying at the hotel were trainees from NZ Post & Telegraph, all female bar one young chap. Two of the young women came to the Riccarton races on the Saturday afternoon while on Saturday evening after dinner, I went with the only other male in residence to see the NZ Symphony Orchestra perform at the Christchurch Town Hall (recently reopened following the earthquakes). On our return, a midnight feast had been organised which we all enjoyed.
Opening day of the three day Wellington RC’s Winter carnival on Saturday 10 July 1976, highlighted three feature events : two prestige jumping events, the Trentham Hurdles (Owhatta Chief) and Wellington Steeplechase (Idunno) together with the 1600m Whyte Hcp (Wellineas, Cattle King, Lovers Dream first three home). Cattle King went onto complete a double in the historic Parliamentary Hcp on the middle day (Wednesday) of the meeting – winner in 1975, 1976. Day three in years past featured the Wellington Hurdles, Eric Riddiford Steeples and Winter Oats Hcp. The meeting was in later years reduced to a two day meeting (Saturday/Saturday) and sadly now consists of only one day mid-July (Wellington Hurdles and Steeples, Parliamentary and Whyte Hcps only).
The 1977 calendar year dawned with an unusual occurrence for the Wairarapa RC’s New Year’s Day meeting at Tauherenikau on Saturday 1 January 1977 : wet with showers most of the day (day two 4 January).
Obviously having got a taste for Christchurch, I was back again later in January accompanied by my youngest brother Philip then aged twelve. It had initially been our intention to take in the 1977 NZ Games, an event that had been organised following the great success of the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Unfortunately early ticket sales were such that the various events were cancelled. Instead during our ten day stay we attended two night trotting meetings at Addington as originally planned on Monday 17 January (Lord Module defeated Locarno in 2yo Stakes; Nigel Craig was beaten!! on a fine then showery night with a slushy track) and Saturday 22 January (Even Speed, 3yo trot winner; Nigel Craig, easy winner).
We stayed at the now demolished following earthquakes Windsor Hotel (Windsor House), two/three blocks from Cathedral Square. Apart from dining at well-known but long gone establishment The Coffee Pot in New Regent Street, we took in sights such as Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Reserve. QE II Park and Museum. A day trip to Erehwon (nowhere spelt backwards; Samuel Baxter’s classic novel), high country Southern Alps experience in Lord of the Rings country – amazing metal roads/tracks!!, dust, farm life and hearty country midday meal of Vegetable Soup, Roast Lamb and trimmings followed by farm style Apple Pie. Amazing what memories one can have of food.
The third day of the Wellington RC’s Cup carnival was held on Saturday 29 January 1977. My major recollection of tis days racing was that of champion and favourite mare of mine Show Gate winning the Trentham Stakes (2nd Wellington Cup week earlier when I was in Christchurch) on three legs – she had broken down with 1,000m to run in the 2400m event.
Show Gate was the first leg of an on course exchange treble on races 2, 3 and 4. It paid the massive sum of $4.05 (Show Gate, 2yo Silver Man and race 4 Art World). Dad and I had spent $8 to effect this collect together with most others on the course. The tote had to remain open an extra half hour (delaying race starts for rest of day) to cope with punters wishing to exchange their treble tickets for their third leg selection. Grey Way won George Adams Hcp later in the day ridden by Bob Skelton.
The annual trek to Awapuni for the Manawatu RC’s meeting on Saturday 26 March 1977 meant seeing the great Balmerino win the Awapuni Gold Cup with Lunar Probe taking out the 2yo Sires Produce Stakes.
Easter weekend 1977 represents the final racing event reviewed through my first twenty one years. Flying in on Easter Friday to attend the Saturday 9 April Easter Cup Day trots at Addington, Group race winners on the day were Balgove, Nigel Craig, Hanover Reine, Glide Time and About Now. Following the first day of the CJC Riccarton Easter meeting on Monday 11 April, I flew home immediately after the conclusion of the days racing to ready for work the following day.
I trust you have found something worth reading about in this review of my early days of horse racing interest.
Peter Craig
20 August 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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