WYNDHAM HRC CENTENNIAL

The Wyndham Harness Racing Club Inc celebrates the commencement of harness racing at Wyndham racecourse (Young Quinn Raceway) a century ago at its Saturday 18 March 2023 meeting. The inaugural Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting at Wyndham racecourse took place on Wednesday 7 November 1923. This year sees the running of the ninetieth Wyndham (Pacers) Cup which commenced in 1923 (not run 1967 – 1977) at the clubs centennial meeting on Saturday 18 March 2023.

History

Wyndham racecourse is the former home of the Wyndham RC and now solely that of the Wyndham TC (HRC from 1988/89 season). This picturesque racecourse is located on the banks of the Mataura River, famous for its abundance of Brown Trout and approximately 45km northeast of Invercargill. The thoroughbred track was a left handed 1600m track with a 300m straight. Races were held as early as 1877 in Halls paddock at the top of the rise going to Edendale from Wyndham. The track was shifted to a course laid out on its present site in 1879 (Mataura JC meeting). A bill was passed through Parliament on 29 November gazetting the current property of 147 acres 2 roods and 20 poles a reserve vested in the Wyndham Town Board that permitted racing on the reserve grounds.

The Wyndham RC formed in 1891 (constituted in 1880’s but no meetings until later, first held on 8 March 1886) hosted trotting races at its annual meetings from 1 January 1892 until 1 January 1955. This meeting included two trotting races was always held on New Year’s Day 1 January unless it fell on a Sunday in which case the races moved to Monday 2 January. Two trotting races were included in each season’s thoroughbred programme.

In 1921 the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. GJ Anderson (MP for district) asked Mr EJ Traynor, president of the Wyndham RC if the club was interested in a second permit. Although the answer was no, Traynor indicated that the district would look favourably on a trotting permit although no club had been formed at that time. Traynor, President of the Racing Club for 52 years joined with local trotting enthusiasts WJ Currie and Joseph Hunter to organise the formation of the Wyndham Trotting Club.

The Wyndham Trotting Club was formed at a meeting held on Friday 25 May 1923 at which Joseph Hunter was confirmed as its first President, an office he held for 26 years. The 25 enthusiasts who formed the club included three Hunter brothers – George, Henderson and Joseph, all were elected to the first Committee. Negotiations had been held with the reserves trustees to obtain a 14 year lease (renewed for fourteen years in 1937) with the course and appointments being made available free of charge for the trotting club’s inaugural meeting. The inaugural meeting of the Wyndham TC took place on Wednesday 7 November 1923, one of two non-tote meetings held in 1923 and 1924 before the inaugural totalisator meeting took place on 18 March 1925 (rental of one percent of turnover) racing on the Wyndham (grass) racecourse.

The two clubs (racing and trotting) co-existed side by side for close to one hundred years plus in earlier years trotting races were incorporated in the thoroughbred card. However the Wyndham RC has been racing at Gore since 2018 (also 2007 and 2008) after racing at Ascot Park, Invercargill in 2014 and 2017 (last Wyndham RC meeting at Wyndham was held in 2016). Previously the club held two permits until the 1999/2000 season racing at Wyndham, many years on New Year’s Day the same day as the Waikouaiti RC.

First meetings –

The first (non-tote) meeting of the Wyndham Trotting Club was held on the Wyndham Racecourse grass track on Wednesday 7 November 1923 consisting of six races held in fine weather on a good track with a reasonable crowd in attendance. The main two mile event (5m 3s) worth forty sovereigns was won by John McGlinchey’s Harold Rothschild gelding Quo Vadis driven by L Boivan, starting off 36yds winning by 20l. The Southland Times reported that the club had made a profit of approximately £30 on the day’s proceedings under the management of George Smart, starter Mr F Wallis, club President Joseph (Joe) Hunter acting as judge and George Whittingham as advisory steward.

A second non-tote meeting was held in 1924 before the inaugural totalisator meeting was held on Wednesday 18 March 1925 with £800 offered in stakes, tote turnover of £9,126 and gate takings of £250 from a good attendance. The weather was fine and warm with the track good, slightly holding after recent rain. The first winner of the Wyndham Trotting Cup over two miles in 1925 was Sir Hector mare First Glance, 4:54 2/5, owner/trainer/driver was JG Cruickshank, father of GC (George) Cruickshank, Trotting Conference President fifty years later (1974 – 1979). The first tote meeting’s sprint race was won by Azaleas in 2:56.0 for 1¼m. Owned by JF Hamilton of Winton, he was a leading central Southland breeder/owner for many years, racing champion trotter Bellflower of the 1910’s, ancestress of an extensive family including NZ Cup/Messenger/ID Pacing winner Stanley Rio, Dominion Hcp/Rowe Cup/AUS Trotting Championship winning trotter Stormy Morn, Victoria Cup winner Breenys Fella.

Meeting Dates –

The Wyndham Trotting Club held an annual meeting from 1923 (May) until 1950. From 1925 – 1937 they raced on Wednesdays while their first Saturday date was obtained on 19 March 1938. The 19 March 1949 meeting was postponed until 2 April due to heavy rain with water lying over the track and enclosures making it impossible to race. In 1949/50 season a second permit was granted with racing taking place in November and March. A third licence was obtained in the 1955/6 season with racing generally held in November with two days in March annually. Two meetings were run at Ascot Park, Invercargill on 5 and 12 March 1966.

Mobile start racing was pioneered in Southland when the Wyndham TC held three mobile events at its 30 November 1968 meeting. The club’s Jubilee (fifty years centennial) was held during the 1972/3 season at the two day 3 and 10 March meeting – two mile Jubilee Hcp run on Saturday 3 March was won by Star Land (4:26.4/2:13.2MR), trained/driven by Orari’s Sam Henderson. A 1498m all-weather track was first utilised at the 6 March 1976 meeting when the name of Young Quinn Raceway was adopted. The course is named after champion Southland bred pacer of the mid/late nineteen seventies Young Quinn, 1:55.0 (WR geldings), $759,227, Auckland Cup, ID Pacing Final, Miracle Mile, CAN Provincial Cup, NZ Harness Horse of Year. Trotter Briscoe Bay trained by Jack Logan (Brydone) won the first race on the all-weather track, Ron Hanford Hcp.

The new all-weather track was built at a cost of $10,000 thanks to voluntary labour and timber donated for the running rail. It was opened on Saturday 21 February 1976 when the Southland Trotting Owners, Trainers and Breeders Association held a full programme of trials. The track was officially opened by Mr SC Eunson, chairman of the Wyndham Town Council and Rex Austin, MP for Awarua. The crowd was entertained not only by the harness racing but various entertainment such as marching girl’s, pipe bands, pony trots merry go rounds etc.

The racing action included Forto Prontezza’s 2:2.0TT for a mile under slow conditions (overnight rain and cool temperatures); a veterans exhibition race won narrowly by Harry Cox from Arthur Skinner, Bob McKinnell and Dave Kerr – others taking part were Jim McConnell, Peter McKay, “Muckles” Malcolm and Davey Todd; two year olds readying for Kindergarten Stakes – 2400m heat won by Tact Del and qualifying trials at the outset of the day.

An additional date was added from the 1985/6 season – four licences utilised in November, with three spread over the months of February and March. This reverted back to three dates 1990/1 – 1996/7 before again increasing to four dates – normally November with three dates between February and March. During this period the Wyndham Trotting Club choose to change its name to Wyndham Harness Racing Club from the 1988/89 season.

An additional two licences were received in 2007/8 season – allocated two in November, one January (Wyndham New Year’s holiday meeting held on the grass at Cromwell) with the other four licences spread over the months of January – April in a variety of ways over the next few years. The 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons saw seven race dates allocated – November two, January three, February one, March one.

After racing on Young Quinn Raceway on 14 March 2020, the Wyndham TC was initially left off the schedule for the 2020/21 season with no race days planned for its eastern Southland base. The Wyndham Club’s Cromwell meeting was held in January 2021 and after an approach to Harness Racing New Zealand and agreement from the Wairio TC who transferred one of their race dates to Wyndham, the time honoured Group Three Kindergarten Stakes for two year olds and Wyndham Cup were part of the club’s Thursday April 2021 meeting.

The transitional 2021/22 season saw meetings held in September and December 2021; January (Cromwell Cup), February, March (Wyndham Cup), April (Kindergarten Stakes). The club was allocated seven meetings in 2022/23 season – October, November, January (Cromwell), an additional two dates in February to be run at Cromwell, March and April. The Forbury Park TC are due to race at Wyndham in June.

Race Distances

Race distances changed with the move from imperial to metric distances at the commencement of the 1973/4 season. The distances run on the grass track, imperial and metric distances and those on the all-weather track are captured in the track record tables below.

The mobile starting gate was first utilised on 30 November 1968 for three races with Flying Tutta for tr James Flynn and driver Doug McNaught winning the first mobile (pacing) race over 1m 5 furlongs. Favourite and future Auckland Cup, NZFFA and ID Pacing winner Stella Frost for Henry Skinner (drove second mobile winner Gay John) finished second a length in arrears.

Track Records –

The fastest times recorded on the grass track (pre/post) the introduction of metric distances in 1973/4 season and on the all-weather track are shown in the tables below. Even in earlier times the mile distance held a fascination for the Wyndham club – the Toi Tois Hcp, a mile race under saddle was run from 1923 – 1935 with Land Lady the inaugural tote meeting (1925; 1923 non-tote Somnus, 2:30.4) winner in 2:22.0. Dual NZ Cup winner Lucky Jack (Roy Berry) time trialled at the 16 March 1940 meeting recording 2:06 3/5 over the mile. Mile racing returned when the all-weather track was first utilised on 6 March 1976 – Star Chance winning in 2:01.8.

Most recently four year old mare Darling Me became the first horse to better 1:52.0 in Southland at Young Quinn Raceway on 22 March 2022 – 1:51.8, a clear example of the exceptionally fast Southland track and an improvement on the first mile run a century ago in 2:22.0 of 30 seconds!!.

Grass, Imperial : 23 May 1923 – 10 March 1973

Grass, Metric : 24 November 1973 – 29 Nov 1975)

All weather : since 6 Mar 1976

SR = Southland record

NZR = New Zealand record

Administrators –

Since its inauguration the Wyndham club has been fortunate with the longevity of a number of its administrators particularly Secretaries as indicated below :

Presidents –

1923 – 1949 Joseph Hunter                             1987/8 – 1988/9 Ian Hunter

1950 – 1961/2 William McDonald                  1989/90 – 1990/1 Doug Stewart

1962/3 – Thomas Mawdsley                           1991/2 – 1992/3 Neville Cronin

1963/4 – 1964/5 Norman Hunter                   1993/4 – 1994/5 – Eric Smyth

1965/6 – 1966/7 Ian (Tiny) Galt                      1995/6 – 1996/7 – Ewen Milne

1967/8 – 1968/9 Adam Hunter                       1997/8 – 1999/2000 Neil Bulling

1969/1970/1 Neil McKelvie                            2000/1 – 2001/2 Simon O’Donnell (Shane)

1971/2 – 1972/3 – Jack O’Neill                        2002/3 – 2004/5 Malcolm Hunter

1973/4 – 1974/5 Ossie Hunter                        2005/6 – 2006/7 Ray Kitto

1975/6 – 1976/7 CG (Barney) Smith               2007/8 – 2008/9 Barry Gibson-Smith

1977/8 – 1978/9 Alex Milne                           2009/10 – 2011/2 Barry Todd

1979/80 -1980/1 Bud Baynes                         2012/13 – 2014/5 Brendon McLellan

1981/2 – 1982/3 Daryl McLellan                    2015/6 – 2016/7 Greg Hunter

1983/4 – 1984/5 Jack Botting                         2018/2021 Russell Ferguson (Stumpy)

1985/6 – 1986/7 Jimmy Walker                      2022 Bathan Muir

Secretaries –

1923 – 1925 George Smart

1926 – 1936 Henderson Hunter (Acting only 1926)

1937 – 1963/4 Andy Wilson, his wife Ann raced champion pacer Noodlum

1964/5 – 1982 Harry Stirling

March 1983 meetings – Secretary noted to be appointed

1983/4 – 2013/4 Russell Freeman

2014/5 – current Jason Broad, Southland Harness (Julie McEwan, Southland Harness)

Hunter family –

The Hunter name is long synonymous with the Wyndham club. Three brothers George, Henderson and Joseph were members of the initial Committee. Joseph was President for the first twenty six years; Henderson, Secretary from 1926 to 1936; George, Committee member for many years.

Second generation involved in the club included Henderson’s sons AM (Adam) and WO (Ossie) serving as Presidents. Adam Hunter owned and his son Henderson (third generation) trained and drove Trusty Scot to win the 1978 NZ Cup. Another Hunter, NT (Norman) was the son of Bill Hunter with Norman being the first of this branch of the family involved in harness racing.

Third generation were club presidents Ian (also life member; father Norman), Malcolm and Greg Hunter (father Ossie) while the fourth generation saw Michael Hunter, son of Greg join the Wyndham Committee in 2021.

Trainers –

T Tilson was the first trotting trainer at Wyndham at the turn of the nineteenth century. Among prominent trainers to originate from Wyndham in earlier days were :

• J Dynes, Meteor 1931 Invercargill Cup winner/ second Wyndham Cup; four winners in a day, Wednesday 19 March 1930
• Bob Townley, Ned Worthy winner of inaugural Wyndham Juvenile – 3, 1940 Auckland Cup
• Kirby’s – Stan, Grattan Drive; Owen; Clarrie, General Sandy
• HL Herbert, Dragoman
• Derek Dynes, five time Derby winner Tactile
• Ernie Todd trained on course for close to 50 years, among horses associated with were Willowbank, Will Cary/Barrier Reef (Dominion Hcp), Carver Doone, Rocks Ahead, Blue Mist; son Ray

Leading local Lower Mataura Valley trainers with wins at Wyndham (grass and all-weather) are shown in the table below (trainers and locations were not recorded in the official yearbooks until the 1926/7 season). Accordingly any training wins at the Wyndham RC meetings – trotting races 1892 – 1926 and Wyndham TC non-tote meetings of 1923, 1924 and inaugural Wyndham TC meetings of 23 May 1925 and March 1926 are excluded) :

Notes – stats to 26 February 2023

… 1952/3 through to current stats as provided from HRNZ database

/… total training wins from 1952/3 season

** excludes wins on Wyndham tracks when training location shifted outside of Lower Mataura Valley area.

Feature Races –

There are currently two main feature races run annually by the club at Young Quinn Raceway plus the Cromwell Cup run as part of the New Year’s Wyndham HRC meeting.

Kindergarten Stakes for two year olds, first run on 18 March 1961 was proceeded a year earlier by the club’s first ever two year old race – Reserve Hcp (19 March, 1¼m). A number of immortals have won this prestigious race. Dual NZ Cup winner Lordship won the inaugural race; Derby king Tactile the second in 1962, Young Quinn, Matai Dreamer, Master Mood, Honkin Vision, Waikiki Beach while Tribute in 2004 was the first Australasian 2yo to better 1:55.0 (1:54.9). There was a dead heat in 2003 between Lennon and Bought In The Pub; the fastest time recorded in the Kindergarten Stakes since being run over one mile has been War Dan Delight’s 1:53.3 in 2018; races distance has varied over the years : 1 mileM, 8½ fursM, 9 furs stand, 9 fursM, 1800mM, 1¼m stand, 2400m stand. 2023 will see the 63rd running of the Kindergarten Stakes. A two year trotter’s version lasted only two years, 1978 and 1968.

The Wyndham Hcp/Cup was first contested at the inaugural tote meeting on 7 November 1923, winner Quo Vadis This year’s edition will be its ninetieth running – not run in years 1967-77, the highest assessed races were not run as Wyndham Hcp/Cup events these years. Included amongst notable winners of the Cup are Shadow Maid (Auckland Cup), Easter Cup winner Jacobite, Hunter Cup winner Bondy and dual winner Franco Ledger.

Cromwell Cup meeting – commencing in January 2008, the Wyndham club’s annual New Year’s grass track meeting at Cromwell features the Cromwell Cup, part of Country Championship series.

Other major races –

The Wyndham Juvenile for three year olds is no longer run. It was run on thirty nine occasions from 1939 to 1969, all at 1½m except 1939 – 1941 when run over 1¼m.

Annual heats of the Southern Belle Mares Speed Series and Southland Oaks heats over one mile are held.

One off features held at Young Quinn Raceway have included Southland Country Cups heats; inaugural running of Caduceus Club Southland – 2f in 2002 prior to Ascot Park being permanent venue and 2020 Central Otago Cup run as RD Petroleum/McLarens Ranfurly Transport FFA after the race was abandoned at Omakau.

Notable Feats at Wyndham racecourse/Young Quinn Raceway –

The Wyndham RC was inadvertently involved in a trotting scandal concerning the alleged ringing in of the well performed horse of the late 1910’s/early 1920’s Willie Lincoln. Briefly,   a horse named Lookout placed third in the Diggers Trot Hcp on New Year’s Day 1924 but was disqualified with the rider weighing in light. The next day Lookout was backed heavily with bookmakers to win the Oreti Harness Trot at Invercargill winning by 20l. He again won the Roslyn Trot on the second day.

The perpetrators (William Williamson, William Percy Capes, Charles Hopgood Capes, Walter Medley Hulston, James Golding) were found guilty after Christchurch owner/trainer JN (Jimmy) Clarke recognised Look Out to be in fact Willie Lincoln. All parties received prison sentences and disqualifications from trotting for life. Lookouts wins gained by Willie Lincoln were taken away.

• Absolutely won the 1944 Wyndham Cup as a maiden pacer
• Cardigan Bay’s dam Colwyn Bay was the winner of 2m Hunter Hcp on Sat 1 December 1951
• Davey Todd won three races on 28 November 1959, the first three races on the card
• millionaire pacer Cardigan Bay had his first start in the 1¼m 3yo Seaward Classic (First Division) on the Wyndham course on Saturday 28 November 1959, placing fourth beaten nose, 20l, 2:14.7MR. His only other start on the course resulted in victory when favourite in the 2m Mimihau Hcp on Saturday 5 November 1960, winning by a neck in 2:15.0MR for trainer Davey Todd

• Le Chant, grand dam of top USA and world champion trotting mare Grades Singing, recorded her maiden trotting win at Wyndham on 14 March 1964 over 1m 5 furs. Won again at Wyndham on 28 November 1964 fourth victory). Overall winner of twenty in NZ including 1968 ID Trotters Consolation; Grand Final won(fourth victory) by her full brother Stylish Major, both trained b Clem Scott
• Matai Dreamer won the 1968 Kindergarten Stakes after breaking at the start and losing 150m when driven by junior driver Alex Milne (Jnr). The horse returned to scale with a standing ovation from the large crowd
• ID Pacing Champion Stella Frost won two of her four starts at Wyndham; 1968 Wyndham Juvenile Stakes – 3 and 1969 Johnny Globe Restricted FFA
• Young Quinn’s only start at Wyndham was a winning one in the 1972 Kindergarten Stakes (4 March 1972), 9 furs mobile (grass) 2:23.7/2:07.6, won by 3½l

Peter Craig

1 March 2023

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

Driving The Future Of Harness Racing