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1941 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

The death has occurred of Mr R H Butterick, for many years one of Canterbury's best-known owners, trainers and breeders. Reg Butterick was one of trotting's 'characters'- a self-effacing, agreeable type of man who had a great deal more ability than ever appeared on the surface.

Reg secured his first real 'break' in trotting one overcast afternoon - it was Wednesday, August 14, 1935, to be exact - when he bid 4gns for lot 13 at a horse sale of nondescripts at Christchurch Tattersall's Horse Bazaar, Cashel Street (now-1962- Gough, Gough & Hamer's premises) and had it knocked down to him. This was a bay mare, seven years, by Wrack from a Nelson Bingen mare, and about the plainest bit of horseflesh imaginable. It took the auctioneer, the late Mr A L Matson, all his time to give her away, and Reg Butterick declared that he "only bought her for a farm hack."

By mere chance Mr Butterick discovered the mare could trot; he put her into training and she proved a goldmine by winning seven races on end. She was then retired to the stud and produced a foal by Quite Sure which strangled itself in a fence. Of a fatalistic philosophy, Reg Butterick decided that Peggotty should not have been retired to the stud, and he put her back into training - she proved better than ever, and won the Dominion Handicap in 1941.

Reg Butterick, who bought the American trotting stallion Josedale Dictator from the late F J Smith and had him at stud for many years, owned a lengthy list of horses, the best of whom were Roy Grattan, who was placed second in the NZ Cup, Macklin, winner of the Auckland Cup, and Peggotty.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 26Sep62

Fred Smith, Josedale Grattan & Winifred Matson

1941 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Josedale Grattan, a stallion imported from America by polished Auckland horseman F J Smith, convincingly led home a North Island-owned trifecta when Kenworthy and Peter Smith filled the placings.

It was an exciting spectacle thanks to the tearaway Gold Bar, but Josedale Grattan had his measure two furlongs from home and won by three lengths in a race record of 4:15.

The meeting also saw notable wins recorded by the mare Haughty and the Globe Derby entire Springfield Globe, who had won the Inter-Dominion in Tasmania as a 4-year-old.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 8Oct03

Winifred Matson, wife of the NZMTC President & Marlene

1940 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Marlene, driven by Ron Donald, marked a resurrection for mares, being the first winner in two decades and also the first of three within the next decade.

It was close though with just half a head to spare over Dusky Sound and the Ces Donald trained 7-year-old was in doubt to start the day before, was heavily bandaged and was not sighted again at the meeting.

Donald also quinellaed the Dominion again with Tan John beating Captain Bolt, with his gifted brother Ron doing the driving.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03

Lucky Jack & Roy Berry

1939 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The ever-ready excuse book was well in evidence after the New Zealand Cup last week and it would seem that at least four horses should have ended up in Lucky Jack's position as the 1939 winner. Nevertheless, that horse achieved the distinction of winning his second Cup, and he had to overcome difficulties and prove himself a real horse to take that honour on the day.

Lucky Jack gave a really fine performance, running up handy to the leaders with half a mile to go and fighting on gamely in the run home. This was easily his best effort to date, and one which stamped him as being close to the champion that owner Bill Lowe claims he is.

To "Truth" Lucky Jack has always appeared to fall just short of championship class. Not that he is lacking in speed or stamina - he has those in abundance - but because his off days have been sufficiently numerous to suggest that he has to be caught in the humour to display his talents in full.

This trait was illustrated when he came out to contest the Free-For-All on Friday, his only other start at the meeting. On this occasion he failed to go off, and he only beat two horses home. He does not give the consistently solid and generous displays of "Truth's" idea of a true champion, but when he does set himself out to do his work in his best style, he impresses as having few superiors.

There is, by the way, an interesting sidelight to Lucky Jack's victory. Shortly after he won his first Cup there was a great outcry against the handicapping system because he was placed on a tight mark. It was claimed that as a racing proposition he was ruined, although only a five-year-old and his stake winnings stood close to the £2000 mark. Since then he has gone on to increase that total to almost £3000 and there is every reason to suppose that he will add considerably to that amount. The figures are an effective reply to those who attacked the handicapping system from that angle.

There is no more popular sportsman than owner Lowe, and his horse's victory was well received. He did everything asked of him and could not have won if he had not fought on gamely for the honour. Cantata and Blair Athol filled the second and third placings respectively, and both were unlucky. The former did not get the best of the running in the final quarter, and Blair Athol was giving most of his field a start with half a mile to go. There were only necks between the first three horses at the post and luck in the running made all the difference.

How Colonel Grattan would have fared but for losing his driver a little over four furlongs from home is a matter of conjecture. Whether or not he would have won can provide material for an unsatisfactory argument, but the manner in which he ran on after his accident suggested that he would at least have been in the money.

Plutus was a fair fourth, after being in the fight throughout, but Parisienne, Gallant Knight and Fine Art, the next to finish, were well out of sight of the judge. There was then a big gap to Lawn Derby, which broke soon after the start, Marsceres, Rocks Ahead and King's Play.

In "Truth's" opinion the really unlucky horse was Fine Art. He was never off the bit at any stage of the running, and he was handy turning for home, but the tiring Gallant King so far forgot his manners as to carry McTigue's gelding back through the field in the final quarter. Boxed in on the fence behind Gallant Knight, Fine Art was simply carried out the back door, and at no stage of the run home did he get an opportunity to show his worth, being a helpless victim of the backwash.

On Thursday he gave a taste of his ability by winning the Ollivier Handicap without any trouble, and it is the "Truth's" opinion that he would have treated the New Zealand Cup field in a similar manner with circumstances more in his favour.

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TRAGEDY MARS CUP

One of the sport's keenest supporters, and one of thne most prominent and popular men connected with light-harness racing, Eugene McDermott died, with tragic suddenness, during the running of the New Zealand Cup, in which he drove Colonel Grattan.

With a little over half a mile to go, and while leading the field, Mac was seen to collapse and fall from the sulky, and he expired before the ambulance could get him back to the birdcage.

Eugene made his entry into the sport over 25 years ago, quickly coming to the fore as an amateur rider and driver, and he later took out a professional licence as a trainer and driver.

During his connection with the game he handled many good horses, and made a name for himself as a clever reinsman and a sportsman of the highest calibre. His good qualities earned for him the respect and admiration of all, and the sport is considerably poorer for his passing.

He will be missed, but remembered for many years to come.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 13 Nov 1939

1939 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

Purchased at a high price as a yearling, Imperial Jade, a full sister to the famous Indianapolis, yesterday won the New Zealand Derby Stakes at Addington. This was her second win. Only a small field contested the Derby and in an exciting finish Imperial Jade struggled home ahead of Gallant Chief, the favourite.

Partners in business in Christchurch and also in racing ownership, Messrs D McFarlane and W Scott are the owners of Imperial Jade. In an effort to win the highest class races in New Zealand, they spent a considerable sum on the importation of Bing Crosby and later Mackscot from the United States. "When we did not get very much success from our importations we thought we would endeavour to get the best in New Zealand," said Mr McFarlane after the Derby, "and we bought Imperial Jade from Mr Gerald Nicoll."

The form recently shown by Imperial Jade in training induced her joint owners to purchase from Mr Nicoll four weeks ago a full brother to the Derby winner. He is a yearling and is not yet broken in.

Possessing excellent manners, there not being a bad trait in her make-up, Imperial Jade has been an easy filly to train. However, her owners acknowledged that all the credit for her condition was due to M Holmes in whose stable she has been since a yearling.

Although their more expensive purchases overseas have not given the expected return, Messrs McFarlane and Scott have enjoyed a fair measure of success since they began racing. Their first venture was Sea Gift , which they bought for £200 from James Bryce, of Hornby, this mare developed into a champion trotter. They are also interested in gallopers, their horses at present being Ngaitama, Night Hawk, Knockfin and Tunneller.

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A splendid performance by Imperial Jade in winning the New Zealand Derby Stakes was a feature of the racing at Addington yesterday, when another great crowd attended to see racing of the highest class. Imperial Jade, a sister to Indianapolis, the winner of three New Zealand Cups, proved herself a worthy relative of one of the greatest pacers New Zealand has known. She took the lead early in the race and defied all challenges to wrest the lead from her. Highland Scott, one of the well-bred three-year-olds from Roydon Lodge fell soon after the start of this race, but his stable-mate, Gallant Chief, put in a finish that stamped him as one of the best young pacers of the year. This son of Gallant Knight may have been unlucky in being shut in on the rails until the critical stage of the race, but the manner of his finish let no doubt as to his gameness and stamina.

The Derby horses did not break the record of 3min 16 1/5sec for the mile and a half established by the sensational War Bouy in 1933, but the 3min 22 1/5sec recorded by Imperial Jade was a performance that any owner might be proud of. Fully extended at different periods of the race, Imperial Jade might have done still better.

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Imperial Jade followed up her success in the Riccarton Stakes by winning the New Zealand Derby after a splendid exhibition of pacing. Not only did she make all the running but she withstood all challenges that were made in a fast last half-mile.

Betty Boop went out of the barrier smartly, but Imperial Jade soon took up the

Credit: THE PRESS - Friday 10 Nov 1939

Alf Lawrence owner of Morello & Maurice McTigue

1938 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Australia's two best pacers, Logan Derby and Lawn Derby, were on hand in 1938, but the latter was hardly a chance in a controversial 20-horse field from 60 yards.

The event proved a triumph on debut for Methven's Maurice McTigue, who shot along the rails with the moderately performed Morello, which he trained and drove for Mr A J Lawrence, to beat Lucky Jack and Logan Derby.

But it was the majestic Lawn Derby who stole the show at the meeting when on the last day, he time trialled in 1:59 2/5 to become the first 2:00 horse outside America.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03

1938 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

SMITHS QUICK THINKING PREVENTED HOLOCAUST IN TROTTING CUP

Another New Zealand Cup has come and gone and the latest, having much in common with its immediate predecessor, was one few would encore. It was not a race as we understand the word - just a mad scramble with ability in any department counting for little. Lady Luck was in full charge, and outstanding qualities in both horseflesh and horsemanship were wasted talents which could not be brought into play at any stage of the two mile journey.

Trouble started with the release of the barrier, when Rey Spec, Bonny Azure and Ginger Jack - a third of the limit horses - refused to get into action and caused more ducking and dodging than any debt collector ever did. In ordinary circumstances the field would have settled down quickly, but there could be no settling down here.

With 20 runners, all of which had to be within reasonable distance of the leaders, it was beyond all expectations that there would be any real order. Horses went where circumstances put them, and drivers were puppets. Some were given hopeless positions close, or comparatively close, to the inner rail; others were forced to commit their Cup hopes to the deep by being made the outside edge of the moving mass. Not that it mattered a great deal which was their lot. The programme committee's idea of a suitable limit had effectively removed all prospects of good judgement entering the question.

The few drivers who were placed where they could alter their positions were frightened to advance or retract and all had to stay where they found themselves. For the greater part of the journey they were like an uncomfortably packed collection of sardines waiting for someone to produce a tin opener.

As was only natural, this scrambling and crowded field could not go the full journey without an accident. At a stage when desperate positions called for desperate measures, Fred Smith met trouble which caused the inner wheel of Ironside's sulky to collapse. In "Truth's" opinion the club should present Fred with a gold medal. Had Fred attempted to stop his horse, as instinct must have prompted him to do, there seems little doubt that Addington racegoers would have witnessed one of the worst smashes in the history of the sport.

One of the leading division and third from the rails, Ironside was hemmed in with no chance of escape. The collapse of his wheel came when he could not go ahead, pull out or pull up. Fred took one look behind him - the New Zealand Cup field must have presented a pretty picture to him at that stage - and his course of action was decided for him. With his broken wheel ploughing up the track, Fred did his best to keep Ironside at full speed ahead. With the leaders going at 2.8 gait, full speed was impossible, but he slowed down sufficiently to allow the scrambling field to flow around and past him without disastrous interference to any. Had Ironside stopped suddenly or had he been allowed to take the swerve his broken wheel would natuarally tend to give him, the Addington officials would have had all the material on hand for a first-class nightmare.

It is to be hoped that with this incident came the awakening that the indescriminate preference for quantity of a questionable class over quality of an undeniable class cannot, and never will be, a sound or sane policy. The race from start to finish, could leave little room for debate on this question.

In spite of everything, there had to be a winner, and Morello emerged from this scramble the apple of Lady Luck's eye. And he deserved his victory. He went away well; did his work like a tradesman and when he was asked a question in the final quarter he came away in a manner that left little doubt that he was built of the right stuff to survive the day and the conditions. Always handily placed, he enjoyed no luck, either good or bad, in the running, and it has to be admitted that his finishing run carried the hallmark of class.

At the same time, he was fortunate that the conditions attached to the Cup allowed him, a pacer assessed on 4.27 when nominations closed, and one which had failed to prove his merit in numerous opportunities, to take his place in the field. He had done little to justify his inclusion here, and this is his seventh season of racing, but the result proved his connections had solid grounds for their faith in him when they accepted the Club's invitation to parade. Although there are people who will claim that Morello had no right in the field, the Club stretched its imagination and the conditions to attract horses not regarded as being in town-hall society, and all had an equal right to share in the spoils.

Lucky Jack was definitely unlucky not to have made this his second Cup. Like all the backmarkers, he was made to work overtime to get handy to the leaders, and he was forced to cover a ton of ground. When Ironside got in the wars, Lucky Jack was sent back, and he had to start all over again. He finished gamely, but the cards were stacked against him, and he had to be content with second money.

The Aussie, Logan Derby, acted the gentleman and ran a solid race for some of the minor money, while Ginger Jack came from an impossible position to have his number hoisted in fourth place. With a decent beginning it looked as if the latter must have been the winner. Pot Luck, another to begin slowly was right up, while Parisienne, pushed off the face of the earth all the journey, was next and far from disgraced. King's Play, Plutus, Rocks Ahead, Evicus and King's Warrior all went well to a point.

A break at the straight entrance cost Lawn Derby any chance he held. Up to that stage he had put in some great work from the back of the field and he looked like putting in a claim when he left his feet.

The hard luck stories that followed the Cup would fill columns, and none of them had to be invented. There could be nothing but hard luck for the majority of the runners in such a field.

As a race it was a failure, and as an indication of worth in horseflesh it was a farce.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 16 Nov 1938

1938 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

For those who admire the genuine, solid and reliable racehorse, we can do no better than recommend Logan Derby. The Australian pacer is one of the safest and gamest yet introduced to Addington.

He was a good third in the New Zealand Cup, and there was merit in his placing in the Olivier Handicap, but his true worth was revealed on the last day, when he recorded 4.14 4/5 - a two-mile record for a horse - to fill second berth in the Louisson Handicap.

Later, he capped his performances by winning the Free-For-All in no undecided manner from the best Canterbury could produce against him. He ran his last mile here outside one horse all the way in 2.5 3/5 and fought on like a bulldog, to stamp himself a 24-carat racehorse.

A lazy goer, he has to be asked twice to turn on any speed, but he is a great beginner, will race anywhere in a field, and never makes a mistake in the running.

There was no prouder man in the country than owner Barnes after the Aussie's success in the Free-For-All and he had every right to feel elated. His horse is a model of the highest order.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 16 Nov 1938

1937 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Lap Prizes Must Never Be Repeated

The majority of light-harness followers expect the contest for the New Zealand Cup to be a real race - something worth going a long way to see and something to remember. This year, as a spectacle, it was almost a farce and only worth remembering when clubs are considering classes and conditions for big races in the future. Last week's Cup should see the end of lap prizes, with time restrictions, and the finish of big fields in events where class is supposed to be the dominant feature.

The only description to do the event justice is to say it was a crazy, dusty scramble, with luck playing an outsize part in preventing a serious accident. Those who opposed the 4.28 limit from the outset - and "Truth" strongly criticised the failure to tighten the class - had their opposition well justified, the results proved that the unweildy field ruined the Cup for contestants and spectators.

Interference was rife throughout, and altogether it was a race that gave cause for a great deal of reflection. The first mile and a half was nothing short of a shambles. It is doubtful if many were looking to win the lap prizes, but because a few set out with thnat object in view, the rest of the field was scrambling all the way, trying either to get into decent positions, or out of trouble, and more often than not getting neither.

In "Truth's" opinion those who supported the Auckland bracket, King's Warrior and Bonny Azure, had no reason to feel pleased with the tactics employed. King's Warrior was the popular selection of this pair, but there is little doubt that he was solidly supported in the belief that Bonny Azure formed a strong second string and was a possibility to finish in the money. In our opinion, the manner in which she was driven deprived the public of an expected strong second string. Slowly away, she was rushed to the front and driven into the ground. To "Truth" it appeared as if she were in the field for no other reason than to win the lap prizes. This she did. But to gain the lap money she forfeited any chance she had of winning or being in the money.

The tactics employed with Bonny Azure supplied the greatest argument yet advanced in favour of the abolition of lap prizes. The public support horses to win or be placed, but if the public cash is to be sacrificed in this manner it is time the lap prizes were forgotten.

It would be foolish to suggest the Bonny Azure was not driven to win the New Zealand Cup. At the same time few will suggest that she was driven in a manner calculated to win the New Zealand Cup, and that is not a state of affairs that should be invited again by the Metropolitan Club.

The dust was terrific. It was almost impossible to recognise other than the leaders, and those horses well back in the handicaps raced in a cloud of dust, with most drivers 'flying blind.' The size of the field, coupled with the dust was responsible for a great deal of interference taking place, and for the accident that put King's Warrior and Indianapolis out of the race. In the thick of the dust, Fred Smith appeared to put King's Warrior where there was not sufficient room for him, the result being that that pacer hit Graham Direct's sulky and fell, stopping Indianapolis and interfering with Graham Direct and De Soto. Scarcely a horse covered the full distance without meeting some trouble, either major or minor.

Over the final furlong the majority of the field was like a swamp hen's tail - going up and down in the one place - and Lucky Jack was the only one which could raise anything like a sprint home. He was the lucky one in the scramble but he deserved his victory. Owner Bill Lowe is one of our best sportsmen, and the win was popular. Gamble was a tired horse in second place, with Tempest, reserved for a final dash, third. De Soto was fourth, followed by Bonny Azure the only other one within photographic range of the winner.

The second horse was unlucky. He was forced to cover a ton of extra ground from the start, and with a better run he would have won, but he was a very tired horse when he left his feet a chain from the post. Tempest ran a good race, but De Soto was unlucky to run into trouble when King's Warrior fell. More patiently driven Bonny Azure might have won. War Buoy, which went to a tangle a furlong from home; Pot Luck, Reporter, Cloudy Range, Indianapolis, Graham Direct, King's Warrior and others returned to the birdcage with their tales of bad luck and woe attributed to the size of the field and the dust.

The track was watered after the Cup. Earlier in the day there was the promise of rain, and for that reason the watering waggons were not brought into action before the big event. The promise of rain, however, was not sufficient to settle the dust, and it appeared that those responsible erred badly in leaving things to nature.

Altogether, it was a most unsatisfactory contest - a crazy, dusty scramble - and "Truth" trusts that the conditions ruling this year will never be repeated.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 17 Nov 1937

1937 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

Until last week the question of three-year-old supremacy was open to wide debate, but the New Zealand Derby Stakes cleared the air, and now there is no doubt regarding the position.

Twos Loose made hacks of his opposition and never left the question in doubt to win pulling up by five lengths. On the day he was in a class of his own, and there is not the slightest doubt that there is not another juvenile in the country to come up to his standard.

Always in the firing line, he left the opposition behind with half a mile to go and came home, running his last mile in 2.9 1-5 and his final four furlongs in 1.2 1-5. This makes his third win, all classics, in four starts. He was defeated in Wellington by Refund and Sandusky, but previous to that Dil Edwards had not been able to give him the work necessary to bring him to his best and there was good reason for his defeat.

Although Twos Loose was given his early education by Arthur Cox, and some kudos must be given to that trainer for the ground work, he is a wonderful credit to Edwards. He has natural speed and stamina, and he is the best mannered youngster in commission. The type that will improve and carry on, time should find him further emphasising his superiority over the season's crop of three-year-olds

Refund was disappointing. He had every chance, getting the run of the race, but he failed badly, to finish a long way behind the winner and only a short distance in front of the last horse. He was a winner in his only two starts before the Derby, but it would seem that he is more at home with the sting out of the ground. At the same time, he is a handsome colt which should redeem himself with a bit more time.

Each time Sandusky has been in the South Island he has left with the credit of being good but unlucky. He got in all the trouble going here over the first mile, and he could not raise anything above the ordinary in the final four furlongs, being beaten by a head for second money. There was a tendancy to regard him as a good thing beaten, but "Truth" does not support that contention. Sandusky is a good colt and he will improve to be a class performer. At the moment, however, he is not outstanding. To our way of thinking he has been unlucky for the simple reason that he has not been good enough - has not had the ability - to get out of trouble.

Perula is a solid little pacer which has a good deal to be said in his favour. He behaves and does his work like a gentleman and although he lacks some of the dash others of his age put into their racing, he is a worth while propostion.

Outside the winner, probably most speed was shown by Taruna, which finished fourth. He was poorly served at the start, and lost a great deal at the start. His last mile was run at a merry clip and when he learns to jump into action smartly, he will do well for himself. Horsepower and Bayard performed only fairly, and Rerekahau showed nothing to justify his presence in the field.

Credit: THE TRUTH 17 Nov 1937