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1904 NZMTC SUMMER MEETING: FIRST DAY

The Summer Meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club was commenced yesterday, at the Addington grounds. By starting time the attendance was not nearly up to expectations, the threatening nature of the weather apparently keeping many of the Club's regular patrons away. As the afternoon progressed, however, it improved materially, but just after the fifth race had been concluded rain set in, and lasted for the rest of the day.

During the decision of the first five races the course was in excellent order, but subsequently it became very heavy, and prevented the competitors showing to advantage. Taken all round, the racing was extremely interesting, the leading harness race affording one of the best contests ever witnessed on the grounds.

Speculation was fairly brisk, the sum of £4710 10s being invested, as against £4092 handled on the corresponding day last year.

Results:-

INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP (in saddle) of 50 sovs; second 5 sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

W F Jackman's b g Vanforth by Vanderbilt, aged, 7sec (M Edwards) 1.
C H Piper's (ns) Burlingham, 4sec (C Piper) 2.
J Shearman's Experiment, 3sec (J Brankin) 3.

Vesta scr, Broncho Bill 2sec, Weary Willy 3sec, Silvermark 3sec, Ciss 6sec, Elsie T 7sec and Bonnie 9sec also started.

Elsie T led past the stand, and once into the back straight her nearest attendants were Vanforth, Burlingham and Experiment. A little further on Vanforth took first place, and with half the distance gone he was attended by Burlingham, the pair being right clear of the others, of whom Elsie T and Weary Willy were most prominent. Just before entering the last round Vanforth broke and Burlingham took charge. Entering the home straight Vanforth got on terms with the leader, and in a good finish beat him by a length. Then sixty yards back came Experiment, followed by Weary Willie and Elsie T. Time, 5min 11sec. Dividends - On Vanforth £2 8s; on Burlingham 18s.

LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP (in harness) of 50 sovs; second 3 sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

Mrs D McGregor's b g Jack W, 6yrs, 25sec (Mr McGregor) 1.
Miss A Heney's Venice, 14sec (Mr A Lake) 2.
Mrs M Black's Imperial Rose, 25sec (Mr J Black) 3.

Verice scr, Gentle Child 2sec, Nabocklish 8sec, Edward R 8sec, LEA 24sec, Huon Yet 25sec, Roseneath 25sec, Huon Lor 25sec, Glenmuick 27sec, Berlin Child 27sec and Premier Dick 27sec also started.

Premier Dick led till entering the back straight, where Jack W caught him, and gradually drawing away from his field, won very easily by fifty yards. Venice took second place in the last round, finishing eight lengths in front of Imperial Rose. Time, 5min 27sec. Dividends - On Jack W £4; on Venice £3 4s.

LINCOLN HANDICAP (in saddle) of 90 sovs; second 9sovs, and third 4 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J A Bucklnd's ch m Velvet by Burlington Jnr, 6yrs, 16sec (C Piper) 1.
K H Smith's Blithechild, 20sec (Owner) 2.
C Kerr's Big Jim, 18sec (Owner) 3.

Perewiti scr, Bessie B 14sec, Picaninny 17sec, Archangel 17sec, Ocean Wave 20sec and Mount Palm 20sec also started.

Blithechild showed the way past the stand to Picaninny and Big Jim, and in the back straight she increased her advantage. With a round gone Blithechild had forty yards lead on Big Jim who was closely attended by Velvet and Picaninny, the others being headed by Perewiti. This order was continued till well into the second mile, when Velvet closed on Big Jim, the pair having caught up a lot on the leader. Blithechild entered the last round twenty yards to the good of Velvet, who had deposed Big Jim, but, tiring, was caught by the Australian mare at the home turn, Velvet winning by a length, with Big Jim third half a length further back. Time, 5min 3 2/5sec. Dividends - On Velvet £10 8s; on Blithechild £2.

SPREYDON HANDICAP (in harness) of 50 sovs; second 5 sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

W S Wotton's br g Florin by Sacramento, 3yrs, 17sec (R McMillan) 1.
M Edwards's Brother, 14sec (Owner) 2.
R Millen's Zeppa, 4sec (S Hamilton) 3.

Cinders 14sec, Alice Wood 17sec and Berlin Child also started.

Berlin Child piloted the field for two furlongs, when Florin took charge, the pair being closely followed by Alice Wood and Brother. With a round completed Florin was just in front of Brother, Berlin Child following at the head of the others. Going along the back straight Brother made a great effort to get to the leader, but without avail, and from this out Florin had the race in hand, winning by eight lengths from Brother. Zeppa, by a late effort, cut down Berlin Child and finished within two lengths of Brother. Time, 5min 22sec. Dividend - £2 2s.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP (in harness) of 175 sovs; second 17 sovs and third 8 sovs from stake. Two miles.

F Holmes's br g Vascoe, by Vancleve, aged, 6sec (Owner) 1.
A Dale's Lopp, 10sec (M Albaugh) 2.
C W Hammond's The Needle, scr (Owner) 3.

Vaunt scr, Monte Carlo 1sec, Boldrewood 1sec, Blackchild 3sec, Sir Hector 4sec, Verax 7sec, Collector 7sec, Norice 12sec and Cocoanut 12sec also started.

Norice left her feet when the signal was given and lost a lot of ground. Cocoanut piloted the field past the stand, closely attended by Lopp, Collector and Vascoe and in this order they completed the first round. Entering the second Lopp was just on terms with Cocoanut, Vascoe, Collector and Verax following in that order. With half the distance gone Lopp had got away from Cocoanut, and a little further on Vascoe had taken second place. Lopp had a clear length's advantage of Vascoe when the concluding round was entered, and then, in close order came Cocoanut, Collector, Verax and Sir Hector. Lopp held his advantage till running round the home turn, where Vascoe got to him and The Needle was on terms with Sir Hector. By a final effort Vascoe got to Lopp, and eventually beat him by three-parts of a length, with The Needle a length away in third place. Then, at short intervals, came Sir Hector, Cocoanut, Boldrewood and Collecor. Time, 4min 50sec. Dividends - On Vascoe £12 14s; on Lopp 14s.

HALSWELL HANDICAP (in saddle) of 65 sovs; second 6 sovs and third 3 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J Moore's gr g Doppleganger by Baltimore, aged, 10sec (R McConochie) 1.
J Gallagher's Robert Emmet, 18sec (J Findlayson) 2.
R D Petrie's Sandow, 3sec (A Pringle) 3.

Elfleck 2sec, Mount Polm 3sec, Silvery 5sec, Te Hau 11sec and Cashier 17sec also started.

Robert Emmet showed the way from the start, and all through the first round Cashier, Doppleganger and Te Hau were his nearest attendants. With half the distance gone Robert Emmet held a dozen lengths advantage of Sandow, who had passed Doppleganger, but breaking fell back into third place. In the concluding round Doppleganger gradually closed on Robert Emmet, and a final efort just got to him in the last few yards and won by a neck. Sandow finished third eighty yards back, followed by Te Hau. Time, 5min 23 2/5sec. Dividends - On Doppleganger £2 14s; on Robert Emmet £2 4s.

DASH HANDICAP (in harness) of 85 sovs; second 8 sovs and third 4 sovs from stake. One mile.

R McDonnell's br f Imperialism by Prince Imperial, 3yrs, 10sec (Owner) 1.
J A Buckland's Viva, 10sec, (C Piper) 2.
A J Lawrence's Pygmalion, 10sec (D J Price) 3.

Frederick 7sec, The Boatman 8sec, Kozie 8sec, Austerlitz 8sec, Twinkle 10sec, Verice 12sec and Electioneer Belle 12sec also started.

Imperialism got away better than those on the same mark with her, and at the end of a furlong Austerlitz had run through into second place. At the stand Imperialism was well clear of Pygmalion and Viva, and though Viva made up a lot of ground from this out she was still two lengths to the bad when the post was reached. Then, fifty yards back came Pygmalion, followed by Austerlitz. Time, 2min 38 2/5sec. Dividends - On Imperialism £2 18s; on Viva £1 2s.

ELECTRIC HANDICAP (in saddle) of 75 sovs; second 7 sovs and 3 sovs from stake. One mile.

Mrs F E Creag's b m Wild Rose, by Boston, 5yrs, 12sec (A McCann) 1.
J A Buckland's Velvet, 9sec (3sec pen) (C Piper) 2.
Dr Thacker's Sierra, 6sec (M Edwards) 3.

Naughty Girl 3sec, Gertie 8sec, Bradlaugh 9sec, Ocean Wave 12sec and Electioneer Belle 12sec also started.

Wild Rose quickly took charge, and at the stand was well clear of Bradlaugh and Velvet, with Sierra at the head of the others. Repeated breaks cost Bradlaugh his place, and in the back Velvet and Sierra were Wild Rose's nearest attendants. Velvet made up a good deal of her leeway in the last two furlongs, but suffered defeat by two lengths, with Sierra twice that distance back third and Naughty Girl fourth. Time, 2min 39sec. Dividends - On Wild Rose £3 8s; on Velvet £2.

Credit: The Press 19Feb1904

1904 NZMTC SUMMER MEETING: SECOND DAY

The splendid weather experienced for the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Summer Meeting induced a large number to patronise the gathering, the attendance being much better than on Thursday.

Despite the rough treatment it received on the opening day, the track was in fair order, while the lawns and flower gardens looked at their very best.

Quite the feature of the racing was Black Child's wins in the two principal harness events. In the Progressive Handicap the son of Rothschild put up one of the finest performances ever witnessed on the track, by covering the two miles under somewhat adverse circumstances in 4min 42 4/5sec. The Autumn Handicap also provided an exciting contest, and altogether the racing was of the very best.

Speculation was brisk throughout the afternoon, no less a sum than £6019 being passed through the machine, making £10,729 for the meeting, as against £8,634 handled at the corresponding meeting last year.

Results:-

INNOVATION HANDICAP (in harness) of 50 sovs; second 5 sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. One mile.

M Edwards's gr g Almond by Almont, 4yrs, 10sec (Owner) 1.
J Gallagher's Robert Emmet, 6sec (C Hammond) 2.
W H Lake's Venice, 9sec (Owner) 3.

Florin 3sec, Wildflower 4sec, Lucinda 6sec, Ahaura 7sec and Beautiful Bells 10sec also started.

Almond soon drew away from his field, and at the stand was well clear of Robert Emmet and Beautiful Bells. Easily holding his own to the finish, Almond won by fifty yards from Robert Emmet, who was followed at an interval of forty yards by Venice, just ahead of Beautiful Bells. Time, 2min 34 2/5sec. Dividends - On Almond £1 12s; on Robert Emmet £8 6s.

LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP (in saddle) of 50 sovs; second 3sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. Two miles.

Miss Watson's ch m Ciss by General Tracey, aged, 32sec (Mr Watson) 1.
Miss W Witte's Vesta, 26sec (Mr Witte) 2.
Mrs T Thompson's Lady Rothschild, 32sec (Mr Priest) 3.

Bessie B 8sec, Experiment 14sec, Edward R 20sec, Sunflower 33sec, Bugler 35sec and Glenmuick 35sec also started.

Bugler led for a round, his nearest attendants being Glenmuick and Lady Rothschild. With a mile gone the leader stopped, and Vesta and Ciss went on in front. In the concluding round Ciss drew right away from Vesta, and won easily by a dozen lengths, with Lady Rothschild sixty yards away third. Time, 5min 34 3/5sec. Dividends - On Ciss £4 18s; on Vesta 18s.

NEW ZEALAND HANDICAP (in harness) of 200 sovs; second 20 sovs and third 10 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J August's b h Black Child, by Rothschild-Tennessee, 6yrs, 6sec (Owner) 1.
F Freeman's Onward, 9sec (R McMillan) 2.
Dr Thacker's Sir Hector, 6sec (M Edwards) 3.

St Simon scr, The Needle scr, Vaunt 3sec, Monte Carlo 3sec, Harold C 4sec, Vascoe 4sec, Hamlin 8sec, Rexie 9sec, Lopp 9sec and Collector 9sec also started.

Onward got smartly away, while Rexie and Lopp lost considerable ground by breaking. Entering the back straight Onward drew away from Collector and Hamlin, and passing the stand for the second time he was just in front of Collector, who was followed by Hamlin, Lopp and Sir Hector. So they ran all through the second round, Onward gradually drawing away from Collector while Sir Hector and Black Child improved their positions. Entering the concluding circuit Onward was two lengths clear of Collector, and then, just behind the latter came Black Child, Harold C and Sir Hector on terms. In the back straight Black Child and Sir Hector, together ran into second place. A little further on Black Child got to Onward and in a great race to the post won by a length. Two lengths further back came Sir Hector, followed by Collector and Harold C. Time, 4min 55 2/5sec. Dividends - On Black Child £27; on Onward £2 2s.

ADVANCE HANDICAP (in harness) of 70 sovs; second 7 sovs and third 3 sovs from stake. Two miles.

D Wilkie's br g Euchre by Vancleve, 5yrs, 11sec (Owner) 1.
J A Buckland's Viva, scr (C Piper) 2.
C W Hammond's Sunbeam, 11sec (Owner) 3.

Zeppa scr, Wildflower 13sec, Princess Royal 13sec, Sandow 14sec, Nabocklish 17sec and Cincinnati 18sec also started.

Cincinnati led past the stand, but breaking gave way to Sandow, Nabocklish and Princess Royal following. Entering the second round Cincinnati was again in front, while Euchre had run into second place. With a mile gone Sandow was just in front of Euchre, with Viva at the head of the others. Before entering the concluding round, Euchre was showing the way, while Viva had fun into scond place. Easily holding his own to the finish, Euchre won by four lengths from Viva, who was fifty yards in front of Sunbeam. Then came Nabocklish and Wildflower. Time, 5min 5sec. Dividends - On Euchre £1 14s; on Viva £2 10s.

AUTUMN HANDICAP (in saddle) of 100 sovs; second 10 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. Two miles.

C Kerr's b g Big Jim by Kentucky-Tennessee, aged, 13sec (Owner) 1.
Dr Thacker's Sierra, 10sec (M Edwards) 2.
J A Buckland's Verax, 3sec (C Piper) 3.

Durbar scr, Perewiti 3sec, Burlton 5sec, Lillian D 6sec, Plain G 8sec and Sydney 8sec also started.

Sierra soon deposed Big Jim in the lead and at the end of a round was leading him by two lengths, the pair being followed at a considerable interval by Plain G and Lillian D. No change took place in the order all through the first mile except that Plain G and Lillian D made up a good deal of their handicap, and Verax took fifth place. Entering the last round Sierra led Big Jim by two lengths, while Verax had got into third place. Sierra more than held his own all along the back straight, but then Big Jim started to close on him, and, getting up in the last few strides, won by a head. Three lengths away came Verax, followed by Plain G. Time, 4min 59 2/5sec. Dividends - On Big Jim £6 18s; on Sierra £2.

PROGRESSIVE HANDICAP (in harness) of 90 sovs; second 9 sovs and third 4 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J August's b h Black Child by Rothschild-Tennessee, 6yrs, 2sec bhd scr (Owner) 1.
J A Buckland's Viva, 14sec (C Piper) 2.
J Gallagher's McKinley, 10sec (Johnston) 3.

Onward 4sec, Cocoanut 9sec, Blithechild 17sec, Piccanniny 18sec and Moonbeam 18sec also started.

Moonbeam went off at a great pace, and with a round completed was right out by herself. Piccanniny, who had broken, being at the head of the others. When a mile had been left behind Moonbeam was still well clear of Piccanniny, after whom came McKinley and Viva. Entering the last round Viva was within a few lengths of Moonbeam, being closely followed by Piccanniny, McKinley and Black Child. In the back straight Moonbeam broke, and Viva took up the running, while Black Child had worked his way into third place. Viva was a length to the good turning into the home straight, but by a final effort Black Child caught her, and won a splendid race by half a length. Three lengths back came McKinley, closely followed by Piccinniny and Moonbeam. Time, 4min 42 4/5sec. Dividends - On Black Child £10 18s; on Viva £1 2s.

TELEGRAPH HANDICAP (in saddle) of 95 sovs; second 9 sovs and third 4 sovs from stake. One mile.

C H Gorton's b g Ben Hur by Burlington jun, 5yrs, 4sec, 1.
Dr Thacker's Sierra, 5sec (M Edwards) 2.
C Kerr's All Day, 4sec (Owner) 3.

Harold C scr, Inglewood scr, Vascoe 1sec, Coin 2sec, Perewiti 2sec, Naughty Girl 8sec, Velvet 6sec, Burlton 7sec and Bradlaugh 7sec also started.

Velvet and Sierra took up the running, but by the time the stand was reached Ben Hur had taken charge, his nearest attendants being Sierra and Naughty Girl. In the back straight Ben Hur was right out by himself, Sierra, Inglewood and All Day being his nearest attendants. Easily holding his own to the finish, Ben Hur won by three lengths from Sierra, who was four lengths in front of All Day and Harold C. Time, 2min 25 1/5sec. Dividends - On Ben Hur £5; on Sierra £4 10s.

FINAL HANDICAP (in harness) of 105 sovs: second 10 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. One mile.

R McDonnell's (ns) b g Directo by Directum, 5yrs, 10sec (D J Price) 1.
M Friedlander's Wild Poole, 8sec (C Kerr) 2.
C W Hammond's The Needle, 3sec (Owner) 3.

Silver Boy scr, General Lincoln 4sec, Explanation 5sec, Al F 7sec, Coral Hue 7sec, Lopp 8sec, McKinley 10sec and Frederick 10sec also started.

Directo soon got away from those on the same mark with him, and passed the stand six lengths to the good of Frederick and Al F while Silver Boy, who had started at a great pace was well up. In the back straight Wild Poole ran into second place, but though she got away fron Al F she could not make the least impression on Directo, who won by three lengths. Four lengths away came The Needle, who beat Silver Boy for third place by a small margin. Time, 2min 27 1/5sec. Dividends - On Directo £1 14s; on Wild Poole £4 2s.

Credit: The Press 22Feb1904

1904 NZMTC AUGUST MEETING: FIRST DAY

The weather was bleak and cold for the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Meeting yesterday and a keen easterly wind made itself uncomfortably felt. Despite this, there was a very fair attendance, the trains and coaches all being well patronised.

The Riccarton course afforded excellent going as was attested by the times registered in the leading events, in which the competitors were a thoroughly representative lot.

Taken all round, the racing was distinctly cold and uninteresting. The large track, though convenient for the back-markers, robbed the contests of the keen interest, that is shown on smaller courses, while the easy manner in which many of the events were won failed to sustain the public interest.

Euchre, a Wellington-owned son of Vancleve, registered a sterling performance by winning the big event of the day from end to end in time that left the back-markers with little chance of success, while another from the same district, in Marian, showed great speed in annexing the mile saddle event.

Speculation was not keen at any part of the day, only £5592 10s being invested on the eight events, as compared with £5741 10s handled on the corresponding day last year.

Credit: The Press 18Aug1904

1904 NZMTC AUGUST MEETING: SECOND DAY

A perfect spring day favoured the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club for the second day of its August Meeting, held at Riccarton yesterday. Though rather holding in places, the course was in fair order, and the racing was highly interesting. The attendance was not equal to that present on the opening day, though it was well up to the average of a winter meeting.

It was a splendid field that contested the Midwinter Handicap, in which Vickery registered a fine performance by getting to the end of the two miles in 4min 54sec. Imperialism and BlackChild also trotted well, but Norice and General Lincoln gave disappointing displays.

North Island-owned horses again figured prominently, Euchrie and Mistle accounting for their races though the latter had little to spare at the finish from the consistent Ben Hur.

During the early part of the afternoon speculation was exceedingly dull, but it afterwards improved, the day's total reaching £5275, as against £8990 handled on the corresponding day last year.

Results:-

TRIAL HANDICAP (in saddle) of 70 sovs; second 7 sovs and third 3 sovs from the stake. Two miles.

J Brankin's br g Viewmont, by Viking, 5yrs, 8sec (Owner) 1.
J Case's Victor Huon, scr (A Pringle) 2.
J S Poff's Tini Peri, 16sec (S Poff) 3.

Vanclare scr, Experiment 7sec, Murmur 8sec, Veneda 10sec, Transvaal 16sec and Broncho Bill 20sec also started.

Broncho Bill showed the way from the start, and at the start he was thirty yards in front of Tini Peri, while Victor Huon had run into fourth place. In the back straight Viewmont took second place, and six furlongs from home had Broncho Bill's measure. From this out Viewmont had matters all his own way, winning by forty yards from Victor Huon, who was a similar distance in front of Tini Peri, with Broncho Bill fourth. Time, 5min 13sec. Dividends - On Viewmont, £9; on Victor Huon, 18s.

PROGRESSIVE HANDICAP (in harness) of 70 sovs; second 7 sovs and third 3 sovs from stake. Two miles.

R Campbell's b h Mambrino King, by Mambrino Mac-Jenny Tracey, aged, 5sec (H Bebbington) 1.
M Edwards's Cissie Wood, 16sec (Owner) 2.
J Westerman's Edward R, 13sec (Davidson) 3.

Zeppa 1sec, Wildflower 7sec, General Mac 9sec, Larry II 12sec and Victor Hugo 18sec also started. (Edward R and Victor Hugo were coupled)

Cissie Wood and Victor Hugo ran on terms for two furlongs. Then the former drew right away, and in the back straight was fifty yards in front of Edward R and Larry II. Going round the top turn Mambrino King took second place, and over-hauling the leader at the stand, won by eight lengths. Edward R was third, six lengths behind Cissie Wood. Time, 5min16 1/5th sec. Dividends - On Mambrino King, £11 18s; on Cissie Wood, 12s.

A protest against the winner for galloping was dismissed.

LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP (in harness) of 60 sovs; second 3 sovs, and third 2 sovs from stake. One mile and a half.

Mrs F H Redder's b c Specialist, by Specification, 3yrs, 6sec (Mr J Tod) 1
Miss J Rodey's Premier Dick, 12sec (Mr A Howard) 2.
Mrs F Freeman's Roseneath, 9sec (Mr H Lucas) 3.

Little Harold scr, The Manager 4sec and Victor Hugo 9sec (coupled), Club Member 6sec, Colonial 6sec, Eltee More 8sec, British Pluck 9sec, Lazy Jack 9sec and Austrey 10sec also started.

Premier Dick soon established a big advantage of Roseneath and Specialist and with half the distance gone was right out by himself. Running round the top turn the leader broke, Specialist and Roseneath closing on him. The last-named also left his feet, and Specialist went on and won by four lengths from Premier Dick who was fifty yards in front of Roseneath. Time, 4min 19 1/5th sec. Dividends - On Specialist £2; on Premier Dick £3 16s.

KING EDWARD HANDICAP (in saddle) of 110 sovs; second 11 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. Two miles.

G Smart's b g George L II by Del Paso, aged, 11sec (E McKewan) 1
C H Piper's Burlingham, 15sec (Owner) 2
E Maidment's De Wet, 5sec (D Nyhan) 3.

Kerryall 7sec, Big Jim 7sec, Verity 7sec, Moira 10sec, Velvet 10sec, Cinders 13sec, Blithechild 14sec and Electioneer Belle 15sec also started.

Burlingham went off at a great pace and passing the stand he was a dozen lengths in front of Cinders and George L II. A little further on George L II took second place and he was Burlingham's nearest attendant all along the back stretch. Turning into the straight, George L had Burlingham in trouble, and, drawing away he won comfortably by forty yards. De Wet finished third, thirty yards back, followed by Cinders. Moira the favourite, refused to settle down, and was never prominent. Time, 5min 3 1/5th sec. Dividends - On George L II, £7 8s; on Burlingham £1 10s.

MIDWINTER HANDICAP (in harness) of 175 sovs; second 17 sovs and third 8 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J Smithers's b m Vickery, by Specification, aged, 5sec (M Edwards) 1.
R McDonnell's Imperialism, 9sec (Owner) 2.
J August's Black Child, scr, (N Price) 3.

Boldrewood scr, Norice 3sec, Monte Carlo 5sec, Lancewood II 9sec, and General Lincoln 9sec also started.

Imperialism soon established a good lead on Lancewood II, while General Lincoln lost his place through breaking. At the stand Imperialism was four lengths to the good of Lancewood II, with Norice at the head of the others. A little further on the last-named lost her place to Vickery, and with half the distance completed Imperialism was still showing the way to Lancewood II, after whom, at a considerable interval, came Vickery and General Lincoln. Rounding the top turn, Lancewood II was done with, and Black Child took third place. Imperialism held her advantage till within a few lengths of the post, when Vickery got to her, and won a good race by a head. Black Child was fifty yards away third, followed by Boldrewood and Monte Carlo. Time, 4min 54sec. Dividends - On Vickery, £7 16s; on Imperialism £2 2s.

PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP (in harness) of 120 sovs; second 12 sovs, and third 6 sovs from stake. One mile & a half.

D Wilkie's br g Euchre, by Vancleve, 6yrs, 3sec (Owner) 1.
R Emerson's Bill, 7sec (Owner) 2.
J Heinzmann's Queen Mab, 10sec (S Hamilton) 3.

Austerlitz scr, Fredrick 3sec, Elsie T 5sec, Veracity 6sec, Rosalind 7sec and Ruby Wilkes 8sec also started.

Queen Mab got away smartly, and at Cutts's she was well clear of Ruby Wilkes and Bill. Elsie T having refused to start. Coming to the mile post, Euchre had worked his way into second place, and before the straight was reached he was in front. Then Veracity ran into second place, but almost immediately broke badly, leaving Bill just in front of Queen Mab. Euchre held his own in the final effort, and secured the verdict by forty yards from Bill, who was six lengths in front of Queen Mab. Then close up came Frederick and Veracity. Time, 3min 46 4/5th sec. Dividends - On Euchre, £4; on Bill, £1 18s.

DASH HANDICAP (in saddle) of 100 sovs; second 10 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. One mile.

W McFarlane's b m Mistle, by Wilkin-Mistletoe, 5yrs, 9sec (R Day) 1.
C H Gorton's Ben Hur, 3sec (S Groat) 2.
J West's Marian, 7sec (Owner) 3.

Cocoanut 1sec, St Simon 2sec, Vascoe 4sec, Sierra 4sec, Perewiti 5sec, Naughty Girl 5sec, Durbar 5sec, Kiddy G 8sec and Leda 9sec also started.

Mistle soon, got clear of Leda, and at the six-furlong post held an advantage of four lengths. A little further on Ben Hur joined Leda, and running into the straight he was on terms with Mistle, Marion and Perewiti being at the head of the others. A good set-to between Mistle and Ben Hur ended in favour of the former by four lengths, with Marian a length away third. and Perewiti fourth. Time, 2min 31 2/5th sec. Dividends - On Mistle, £2 4s; on Ben Hur, £5 6s.

TELEGRAPH HANDICAP (in harness) of 110 sovs; second 11 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. One mile.

M Edwards's b g Coral Hue, by Huon-Coral, 4yrs, 5sec (Owner) 1.
C H Piper's Elector, scr (Owner) 2.
C Kerr's All Day, 4sec (Owner) 3.

Hamlin scr, Austerlitz 2sec, Frederick 4sec, Elsie T 5sec, and The Orphan 6sec also started.

For the first furlong The Orphan was in front, but he then gave way to Coral Hue, with Frederick close up. At the half distance Coral Hue was right out by himself, being a dozen lengths to the good of Frederick and All Day. In the straight the leader tired badly, but lasted long enough to secure the verdict by a length from Elector, who was four lengths in front of All Day. Time, 2min 28sec. Dividends - On Coral Hue £1 12s; on Elector, £2 10s

Credit: The Press 20Aug1904

1904 NZMTC AUGUST MEETING: THIRD DAY

There was not a great deal of interest taken in th concluding day of the NZ Metropolitan Club's August Meeting, held at Riccarton yesterday, and though the weather was fine the attendance was small.

The course afforded excellent going being benefited considerably by the drying wind. In consequence of this the time registered in most of the events was particularly fast, equalling that usually recorded at the Addington track when at its best. The racing also was a great improvement on that of either of the preceeding days, the National Cup and Lightning Handicap providing exceptionally fine finishes.

Speculation was again affected by the large number of cash fielders present, the small sum of £4750 being handled on the eight events. This brought the total for the meeting up to £15,635, a shortage of £8752 on last year's turnover.

Results:-

ADDINGTON HANDICAP (in harness) of 80 sovs; second 8 sovs and third 4 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J Westerman's b g Edward R, by Electioneer, aged, 13sec (C Davidson) 1.
M Edwards's Cissie Wood, 12sec (Owner) 2.
N Price's General Mac, 7sec (Owner) 3.

Mambrino King scr, Nabocklish 1sec and Larry II 12sec also started.

Cissie Wood started badly, and at the stand General Mac was on terms with her, the pair followed by Larry II. With half the distance gone Cissie Wood was leading General Mac by three lengths, the pair being a long way in front of Larry II and Edward R. Cissie Wood seemed to have the race won a furlong from the post, but, tiring to nothing, was beaten by Edward R by six lengths, with General Mac a similar distance away third. Time, 5min 22 3/5th sec. Dividend, £9 6s.

LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP (in saddle) of 60 sovs; second 3 sovs and third 2 sovs from stake. One mile and a half.

Mrs J Carleton's gr g Strathconan, by Nilreb, aged, 2sec (Mr A Kirkwood) 1.
Mrs S Humphries's Lazy Jack, 12sec, (Mr S Humphries) 2.
Mrs R Day's The Gift, 10sec (Mr A Day) 3.

Tea Tree scr, Maid E 4sec, Little Duke 5sec, Broncho Bill 6sec, Eltee More 10sec, Rockleigh 10sec, Eglantine 10sec, Clarinda 10sec, Gather No Moss 10sec, Teller 11sec, Zeta II 11sec, General Tar 11sec, Allmount 11sec, Leura 12sec and Alicia 12sec also started.

Zeta II led for two furlongs, when she gave way to Lazy Jack, with The Gift and Gather No Moss well up. Lazy Jack showed the way all along the back, and well into the straight, when Strathconan got to him and won a good race by a length, The Gift three lengths away third. Time, 4min 6sec. Dividends - On Strathconan £10 14s; on Lazy Jack £2 6s.

NATIONAL CUP HANDICAP (in harness) of 210 sovs; second 21 sovs and third 10 sovs from stake. Two miles.

E Thomas's b h Boldrewood, by General Tracey-Mermaid, aged, 1sec (A Pringle) 1.
J A Buckland's Verax, 6sec (C Piper) 2.
J S August's Black Child, scr (N Price) 3.

Vickery 2sec, Norice 3sec, Monte Carlo 5sec and Vascoe 5sec also started.

Verax showed the way to the stand, where Norice, who had started particularly well, was almost on terms with him. This was the order entering the back straight, but a little further on Monte Carlo was almost on terms with Norice, the pair running two lenghts behind Verax. With half the distance gone Boldrewood had joined the second division, having got right away from Black Child. Going round the top turn Boldrewood joined Verax and Vickery, their nearest attendants being Monte Carlo. Turning into the straight Boldrewood had drawn to the front, and from this out had matters all his own way, winning comfortably by three lengths; a length and a half separating Verax and Black Child, the latter of whom put in a fine run in the straight. Norice was fourth. Time, 4min 45sec. Dividends - On Boldrewood, £2 12s; on Verax £1 16s.

CANTERBURY HANDICAP (in Saddle) of 120 sovs; second 12 sovs and third 6 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J Case's b g Durbar by Vancleve, aged, scr (A Pringle) 1.
J A Buckland's Velvet, 12sec (C Piper) 2.
R Day's Moira, 11sec (Owner) 3.

De Wet 7sec, Sierra 7sec, Kerryall 10sec and Big Jim 10sec also started.

Velvet led till going out of the straight, when Moira caught her, the pair being followed at a considerable interval by Sierra. When well into the back straight Moira had drawn right out by herself, Velvet just heading Durbar and De Wet. Moira, who had trotted very steadily, led into the straight, but then she was challenged by Durbar, who easily had her measure and won by eight lengths. In the last furlong Velvet also passed Moira and beat her home by a length. Time, 4min 55sec. Dividends - On Durbar £2 18s; on Velvet £1 14s.

FEDERAL HANDICAP (in saddle) of 130 sovs; second 13 sovs and third 6 sovs from stake. Two miles.

J A Buckland's blk m Viva by Vancleve-Madge Wildfire, aged, 8sec (C Piper) 1.
J Case's Verity, 8sec (A Pringle) 2.
R Emerson's Bill, 11sec (Owner) Dis.

Harold C scr, Euchre 2sec, Imperialism 3sec, Lopp 8sec, Frederick 9sec, Collector 9sec, Queen V 9sec and Elsie T 15sec also started.

Elsie T started well, and at the enclosure was fifty yards in front of Bill and Lopp. With half a mile gone Lopp had taken second place, closely followed by Viva, Bill, and Imperialism. The leader held her own till the six furlong post was reached, when Lopp had her measure, and a little further on Viva joined issue, with Bill and Imperialism at the head of the others. Elsie T was soon done with, and turning into the straight Lopp lost his place to Viva. The latter then drew away, and lasted long enough to win by a length from the faster finishing Bill, who had mixed his pace considerably. Verity was third eight lengths away, followed by Imperialism. Bill was disqualified for galloping, second place being awarded to Verity. Time, 4min 54sec. Dividends - On Viva £11 18s; on Verity £2 10s.

AVON HANDICAP (in harness) of 85 sovs; second 8 sovs and third 4 sovs from stake. One mile.

F H Rodder's br c Specialist by Specification, 3yrs, 5sec (S Hamilton) 1.
B Edwards's Polly II, 2sec (H Gaskill) 2.
N Price's General Mac, 4sec (Owner) 3.

Daphne 5sec, Alice Wood 5sec, and Dearest 9sec also started.

Dearest went away woth a long lead from Alice Wood, with Specialist at the head of the others. Alice Wood closed on the leader running round the top turn, but then lost her place by breaking repeatedly. Turning into the straight Specialist was with Dearest, and drawing away won by a length from Polly II who finished with great dash. General Mac was third, fifty yards away, followed by Daphne. Time, 2min 39sec. Dividend - £5 6s.

LIGHTNING HANDICAP (in saddle) of 110 sovs; second 11 sovs and third 5 sovs from stake. One mile.

A Kerr's b g Inglewood by Wildwood-Flora, aged, 1sec (Owner) 1.
C H Gorton's Ben Hur, 1sec (A Piper) 2.
P Devane's Harold C, 1sec (N Price) 3.

Cocoanut scr, St Simon 1sec, Vascoe 3sec and Naughty Girl 3sec also started.

Naughty Girl was in front for two furlongs, when Ben Hur had her measure, Harold C and Inglewood being most prominent of the others. Ben Hur was four lengths in front of Inglewood once the home straight was reached, but the latter outstayed the Burlington gelding, and won all out by three lengths. Harold C finished third seven lengths away, followed by Cocoanut. Time, 2min 21sec. Dividends - On Inglewood £2 6s; on Ben Hur £1 14s.

FAREWELL HANDICAP (in harness) of 120 sovs; second 12 sovs and third 6 sovs from stake. One mile.

S Humphries's br h General Lincoln by Lincoln Yet, 6yrs, 4se (C Piper) 1.
B Edwards's Flora G, 4sec (H Gaskill) 2.
M Friedlander's Lancewood II, 3sec (C Kerr) 3.

Boldrewood 2sec bhd scr(2sec pen), Monte Carlo 2sec, Elector 2sec, Norice 3sec, Onward 3sec and Hamlin 4sec also started.

General Lincoln was first to strike his pace, and when two furlongs had been travelled he was six lengths to the good of Norice and Lancewood II. At the half mile post Flora G was in second place, ten lengths behind General Lincoln, but she could not made the least impression on him, suffering defeat by eight lengths. Lancewood II finished ten lengths further back third , followed by Norice, who left her feet repeatedly. Time, 2min 23sec. Dividends - On General Lincoln £3 10s; on Flora G £2 8s.


Credit: The Press 23Aug1904

1904 NZ TROTTING CUP HANDICAP

Seventy-one years ago the youthful Metropolitan Trotting Club decided to upgrade its main event, the NZ Handicap to the NZ Cup Handicap with the prizemoney rising almost double to the mighty sum of $610.

That first Cup in 1904 has tremendous significance for such a great success was it that the future of the Cup was assured and much of its magic (particularly in Canterbury) stems from the extraordinary events of that sunny November day so long ago.

The first Cup was run on the last day of the traditional Metropolitan meeting and in 1904 it was on what is now Show Day. The field for the inaugural event was not a large one but it had considerable quality by the standards of the day and a crowd of nearly 10,000 turned up to see it run. On a population proportion basis that is equivalent to nearly 50,000 today. Eight races were run and the tote turnover was $37,000 compared with 1974's nearly $800,000, with that much again in TAB investments.

The warm favourite to win was the great imported mare Norice, who has since been a major influence in our breeding scene and was the dam of the outstanding racehorse and sire Nelson Derby. Norice tried to do a 'Gold Bar' in the first Cup, rush to the lead at the start and at one stage being 15 lengths clear of the field in the hands of that colourful adventurer Dave Price. But rounding the last turn, Norice was starting to feel the pinch and the veteran Monte Carlo overtook her and cleared out to win by eight lengths from Norice with Durbar, who was to win in 1908, third and Royalwood next. Royalwood was trained and driven by Lou Robertson who was later a famous racing trainer in Australia, among his wins being the 1937 Melbourne Cup with Marabou.

Monte Carlo, paying $8.80 to win, was given a tremendous reception by the crowd, one that has rarely been matched since. The ladies present showered him with roses and by the time the old gelding reached his stable half of his tail had been plucked by his elated fans. It is not hard to see why Monte Carlo was so popular for he was the veteran to end them all. Depending on your source, he was either 14 or 15 years old the day he won the Cup and had been on the tracks since the 1894 season. By Lincoln Yet, the first foal of the great Pride of Lincoln and an extremely successful sire (he figures in the pedigree of the Rustic Maid family among others), Monte Carlo was originally owned by J Brake and at his only start in 1894 he won a maiden event at the Christchurch Showgrounds by 60 yards.

The next year he had one win from four starts, winning at Lancaster Park by eight lengths after conceding a 22sec start (220m behind today) but failed to win the following season from a handful of starts. Sold to the Greenpark sportsman Tom Yarr, the following season he won once from 20 starts but did better in 1898-99, winning six, including two in succession one a mile and the second over two miles - they certainly made them tough in those days. He gained five wins over the next two years, taking a highly respectable mile time 2:22, and his New Zealand Cup win was his only victory for the 1904 season. Even at that age he was not finished. He raced for two more seasons, being unplaced in 16 attempts in 1905 and gaining one win from nine starts the following year, which was his swan song.

Winning races from 4 to 16 years of age is no small feat but his owner-trainer was a prominent sportsman at that time and he was driven in most of his wins by the great Bert Edwards. Monte Carlo was a straightout trotter and the only one in the first Cup field as pacers were gradually taking over at that time. Only one other trotter has ever won the Cup in the 70 years since Monte Carlo set the ball rolling.

The old trotter was a great favourite with the crowds and though it may be fashionable to look down on some of those old-time champions with their short pedigrees and strange actions, there is no doubt he was a most worthy Cup winner. Perhaps somewhere he is keeping an eye on the 1975 aspirants, quietly chuckling about their strange harness and gear. And if he knew the mana the New Zealand Cup has today, old 'Monte' could justifably say 'I certainly started something there.' He certainly did.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 6Nov75

1904 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP

The inaugural running of the NZ Trotting Cup was for a stake of £310, the greatest amount offered for a harness race in NZ to that time, the winner Mote Carlo, the 'hero of a hundred stubbornly-contested races,' received a wonderful ovation from the hundreds of admirers of the ever-green favourite. The record amount of £2637 was put through the totalisator on the race and the Met was delighted with it's record day's turnover of £13,468.

Norice (dam of Nelson Derby, Nelson Fame and Native King) was driven by D J Price into second place, and Durbar (A Pringle) was third. Monte Carlo's time was 4:44 3-5.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting

Ribbonwood at Stud

HOW RIBBONWOOD BEAT FRITZ - A Trotting Saga

There is always a concentration of interest in a match between two high-class racehorses that appeals strongly to the average racegoer. As a matter of fact matches seldom produce the vivid struggle anticipated beforehand; yet there is something magnetic about them that can always be relied on to draw the crowd. The greatest duel in the history of trotting in New Zealand was staged 41 years ago at Addington. It was between the Australian trotting king Fritz and the Dominion's champion pacer Ribbonwood.

In their respective countries these two horses stood out in a class by themselves. Fritz was bred and owned by that grand Australian sportsman the late Mr J A Buckland. Fritz was by the imported stallion Vancleve from Fraulein, the latter being by Berlin from Woodburn Maid both of whom were imported by the Canterbury sportsman Mr Robert Wilkin. From the day of his birth Fritz knew no other but the trotting gait. As a three-year-old he made history by defeating such recognised Australian cracks as Osterley, Mystery, Calista, and St Louis in a race at Moonee Valley (Victoria), and in doing so established an Australasian record of 2:14.

Towards the close of last century trotting had made such progress in Canterbury as to attract the attention of Australian owners. One of the first of these was Mr Buckland who owned two huge stations in New South Wales, and whose hobby was the breeding and racing of trotters. His first venture across the Tasman Sea was in 1898, the star performer of his team being Fritz whose reputation had preceded him. The trotter's presence at the Canterbury Trotting Club's meeting, held on the Addington Show Grounds, drew a record crowd, thousands of whom had never attended a trotting meeting previously, turning out to see the Australian crack in action.

Fritz's first race in New Zealand was in the Free-for-all, in which Mr Buckland drove him to an easy victory from Monte Carlo, also a trotter, and St Louis, a stablemate of the winner, driven by Mr Buckland's right-hand man, the late Claude Piper. Though the track was fetlock-deep in mud, Fritz gave a perfect display of effortless trotting. Some months later the Wonwobbie sportsman made another trip across, Fritz again being his star performer. On this occasion the gelding still further endeared himself to local enthusiasts by accounting for a purse of 100sovs given by the Canterbury Trotting Club for any horse lowering the then mile record of 2:15. Without being extended at any part of the journey he went the distance in 2:13, a record that stood for several years.

When the new track was opened at Addington in 1900 Mr Buckland was again a visitor. Fritz gave another masterly display in his race, while his younger brother, The Heir, a pacer, accounted for the Juvenile Stakes.

Up to this time Fritz stood out as the undoubted champion of Australasia, but then appeared "another Richmond in the field". This was the sensational Ribbonwood who was regarded as something of a freak. There was nothing about his breeding nor early appearance to suggest him as a prospective champion. He was bred by Mr Gilbert McHaffie, being by Wildwood from the Young Irvington mare Dolly, and it is worth recording that none of Dolly's subsequent contributions were of much account. As a two-year-old Ribbonwood gave outstanding promise in his contests with older horses, while next season he jumped into frame by winning the New Year Handicap at Addington in 4:46 2-5, which, in those days was hailed as an outstanding performance for a three-year-old.

Ribbonwood at that time ran in the nomination of "Dave" Price, but it is generally understood that he was owned by the crack jockey L H Hewitt. Having practically swept the boards as far as New Zealand races were concerned, the enterprising Dave looked round for higher game. His first move was to issue a challenge offering to race any horse in Australasia for £500 a side, best two of three mile heats. It was apparent that Fritz was the horse aimed at, as there was nothing else of his calibre in sight.

When the challenge came under Mr Buckland's notice he at once decided to throw down the gauntlet of battle. At the time Fritz was running out and advancing years placed him at something of a disadvantage. Seldom has a contest been undertaken under such adverse circumstances. Fritz could only be given a couple of serious work-outs before leaving Sydney, and was only half fit when put on board the steamer. On arriving at Christchurch even the elements seemed to conspire against the visitors. During the fortnight before the match the public tracks were so bad as to make fast work impossible, whereas Ribbonwood had the advantage of a comparitively dry private course. Truly it looked a forlorn hope for the Australian, but with true sporting spirit Mr Buckland determined to go on with the contest.

Fortunately the disadvantages under which Fritz laboured were not generally known, and interest in the match was general throughout the Dominion. Even a good number of Australian sportsmen made the journey across the Tasman Sea. For fully a week before the meeting, held at Addington on April 11, 1903, visitors commenced to pour into Christchurch. Special steamers were run from Wellington to cope with the North Island contingent, many of whom were making their first appearance on a trotting track. Excursion trains brought visitors from all parts of the South Island, while local enthusiasts turned out to a man. The Addington enclosures were packed; indeed never had such a huge and more representative crowd assembled at the popular convincing ground.

In the pre-totalisator betting Fitz was the early favourite with the general public, but there appeared to be unlimited money behind the Price stables. It was an inspiring sight as the two champions entered the birdcage. Cheers greetedthe debonair "Dave" as he took the "little black demon" on to the course, and seldom has a horse shown to better advantage in the matter of fitness. But Ribbonwood's reception was nothing to that accorded Mr Buckland and his champion when they came onto the scene. The twelve-year-old Australian was far from being tuned up, and he got through the preliminary in his usual sedate style. Ribbonwood, on the other hand, was so full of 'pep' as almost to pull his driver out of the sulky.

Unfortunately the match failed to produce the anticipated thrills. After considerable manoeuvring at the start, which was all against the older horse, Ribbonwood went away like a streak and was never off the bit. With three parts of the journey gone, Fritz aroused the enthusiasm of his admirers by making a gallant effort to overhaul the flying leader, and for a brief moment it looked as if he would at least make a race of it. It was only the dying effort of a game horse, however, and Ribbonwood sailed past the post an easy winner by two lengths in 2:14 1-5.

Nor were matters more favourable for the visitor in the second heat. It was quite evident from the startthat Fritz was outclassed by his younger opponent, who came home on the bit in 2:13. Contrary to expectations Mr Buckland decided to go on with the third heat more to give the public its money's worth rather than with any hope of success. On this occasion Price took the opportunity of showing what his colt was really made of. He cleared out from the start, and, with Fritz toiling hopelessly in the rear, cut out the mile in the record time till then of 2:10. It was a case of a brilliant young pacer against a half-fit veteran trotter, and youth had to be served. Had Fritz been athis best he would at least have extended his opponent, for Mr Buckland subsequently told me that in some of his earlier trials at Wonbobbie the veteran had frequently reeled of miles in 2:06 and 2:07. No doubt the Australian sportsman was a very disappointed man, but this can be said, that by his gameness in undertaking the match, he gave light harness racing the biggest 'boost' it has ever had.

Despite Fritz's failure, Mr Buckland had a good meeting at Addington, for he won races with Velox, St Simon and Verity, all driven by himself. Though this marked the Australian's last trip to New Zealand it did not conclude his racing activities. He kept on winning races in Australia, winding up a great career by a successful drive at Victoria Park, Sydney. On returning to Wonbobbie after his defeat Fritz was pensioned off, and in his later years delighted in acting as schoolmaster to many of Mr Buckland's juveniles.

Ribbonwood also subsequently found his way to Australia, where he was an outstanding success at the stud. His trainer, Dave Price, soon afterwards relinquished the light-harness sport in favour of galloping. For many years he held a high place in the ranks of Victorian trainers, and up till the time of his death, which occurred recently, was just as keen a racing enthusiast as ever.

Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 6Sep44

1903 CHAMPION HANDICAP

In 1903 the New Zealand Handicap was renamed the Champion Handicap, and was won by Mr J A Buckland's St Simon, by St Louis, driven by C H Piper. C W Hammond's The Needle (owner) dead-heated with Monte Carlo (J Milne) for second.

The class was 4:48 and the stake £300.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Oct 44

Fritz

RIBBONWOOD-FRITZ MATCH RACE

The date was April 11, 1903, the arena was the newly formed Addington raceway, the event was an 1100 sovereign match race, the horses Fritz, representing Australia, and Ribbonwood, from New Zealand. 1100 sovereigns, or pounds, was a considerable sum in those days. Six months earlier Ribbonwood had won the 200 sovereign New Zealand Handicap, which became the New Zealand Cup in 1903 for a stake of 310 sovereigns.

But it wasn't the money that saw a record 11,000 people jam into Addington on that fine, clear day - it was the spectacle. Undoubtedly the finest trotter and pacer seen in Australasia were to do battle that afternoon and nobody wanted to miss it. Not only were there thousands of visitors from all over NZ present but scores from Australia, and the NZ Premier Richard Seddon. How Christchurch catered for the influx is not understood, the last vacant hotel room was taken early the previous afternoon. Never before had a single sporting event in NZ created such enthusiasm, for this was the "People's Sport". Ribbonwood was a four-year-old and had already raced himself to an impossible handicap, while Fritz was 12 years old and returning from virtual retirement.

A striking black stallion bred by Gilbert Hamilton McHaffie, the second president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club between 1903 and 1905, Ribbonwood was owned, trained and driven by Dave Price, one of Addington's leading horsemen at the time. Known as the "little black demon", he was bought by the debonair Price as a two-year-old for £250 and was a sensation in his two year career under Price's guidance. Ribbonwood was initially owned by Jack Thompson and trained by "Manny" Edwards, and won two of his three starts for them as a juvenile. Within two starts as a three-year-old he was racing against the best horses in Canterbury, in fact giving away starts like seven seconds over a mile to them.

At Addington in November, Ribbonwood won a three-year-old event by what was officially known then as a "walk-over". All he had to do was complete the course to collect the stake, as nobody else even bothered entering a horse against him. Ribbonwood was beaten twice in eight starts that season, on the second day of the November meeting after giving the winnerWild Bill an eight second start over a mile, and then three days later, after winning the three-year-old event, he was beaten in an event against time, running a mile in 2:20 when required to beat 2:18.

In August of 1902 he had to be content with minor placings on three occasions, but then came eight straight wins, including two against time. Among them were the NZ Handicap in November, beating inaugural NZ Cup winner Monte Carlo by eight lengths after sharing the back mark with him, a similar event in February from scratch, beating Boldrewood (10 seconds), Harold C (15), Monte Carlo (6) and The Needle (8) by fifty yards in record time for two miles of 4:35 4/5, and a 50 sovereign event to beat Fritz's Australasian mile record of 2:13, in which he recorded 2:11 2/5. Under the handicapping system at that time, horses were penalised for winning times, thus Ribbonwood was never off the bit, asked to win the race and no more. With nothing able to live with Ribbonwood on the track, Price began looking for alternative challenges for his champion.

Exactly how the match race came about is a little clouded, some reports claiming Price put up 500 sovereigns for anybody to take him on, while Price himself was later quoted as saying he overheard a rather vociferous Australian claiming the greatest horse in the world was in Australia. Whatever happened, there was simply only one horse in Australasia considered worthy of stepping on to a racecourse with Ribbonwood, and that was the marvellous New South Wales trotter Fritz.

Fritz had reigned supreme as Australasia's champion for a number of years, that is, until the advent of Ribbonwood. He had already made three trips to Addington, endearing himself to the New Zealand public as much as in his homeland. In fact, in his day, Fritz was even more of a celebrity than Ribbonwood. However, no less well known was his owner, John Arthur Buckland, a wealthy New South Wales farmer who had made a hobby out of breeding standardbreds at his mammoth Wonbobbie Station about 350 miles west of Sydney. Buckland had entered the game after taking the advice of noted breeder Edgar Deane and purchased the unwanted American Stallion Vancleve for 55 guineas. Assembling a sizeable band of blue-blood mares, Buckland and his sons of Vancleve were soon dominating trotting meetings throughout Victoria and his home state. With 5000 head of cattle and over 100,000 sheep on the property, Buckland enlisted the help of the neighbouring Claude Piper to train his team, and it was a familiar sight to see Buckland and Piper fighting out finishes with the rest of the field only entering the home straight.

One of the mares Buckland had selected was Fraulien from New Zealand, who was by imported parents in Berlin and Woodburn Maid. Vancleve, Berlin and Woodburn Maid had been amongst the first imports from America by Robert Wilkin in 1882, his intention being to breed Berlin mares to Vancleve, or vice versa. It was therefore a great tragedy a few years later when Wilkin's health took a poor turn, forcing him to either sell or lease the horses he had imported. Vancleve had been leased to Andrew Town in New South Wales for two years when Wilkin passed away, leaving his ownership in the estate. After Town refused first offer and Vancleve had failed to attract a bid when sent to auction, Buckland stepped in and took the advice of Edgar Deane, who had originally advised Town to lease the horse but did not have the means himself to breed with him. Fraulien had been bought as a three-year-old in 1887 at Wilkin's disposal sale by Fraser Martin of New South Wales, who later sold her to Buckland when he was looking for mares to breed to Vancleve.

Thus it was Buckland who stumbled upon the remarkable results of crossing Berlin mares with Vancleve, as Fraulien's first foal was called Fritz. Fraulien was bred to Vancleve on six occasions, also producing two unraced fillies and good winners in their own right Franz, Frederick and The Heir. Like all of Vancleve's sons, Fritz was gelded by Buckland and brought into training as a two-year-old, and soon showed rare speed. Produced as a three-year-old, Fritz won his first two starts at Kensington so easily that when nominated in a strong field at the track, the handicapper placed him on the backmark of 400 yards, giving two stars at the time, imported J H and Ariel, a start of 100 yards. Despite this crippling handicap for the young trotter, Fritz finished second to the frontmarker Satan. At Kensington's next meeting, Fritz toyed with a free-for-all field but later in the day found the 430 yard handicap beyond him, finishing second to St Louis, who was owned by Buckland and trained and driven by Claude Piper. That was to be Fritz's last start in a handicap event in Australia. Buckland refused to start him when placed off even longer handicaps at future meetings. Fritz had highlighted the inadequacy of the handicapping system and was to spend the next two years in exile at Wonbobbie.

Suddenly free-for-all events had become extinct and nobody was foolish enough to take him on in a match race. However, in 1896, a special event was planned for the Moonee Valley grass track in Melbourne, bringing together the best trotters in Fritz's absence, Osterley, Mystery, St Louis and the former NZ mare Calista. Called the Inter Colonial Free-For-All, the event was run on a sweepstake basis, with £10 per starter and a £50 bonus to the winner. It was a meagre stake even in those days, but all Buckland wanted was a chance to race his champion again.

If the organisers were hoping for something out of the ordinary they certainly got it. A best of five series over a mile, Fritz won the first heat by 75 yards over Osterley, recording 2:19, which sliced five seconds off the Australian record. He won by a similar margin in the second heat, recording 2:16 2/5 in beating Calista, but Buckland was still only joking. In the third heat Fritz passed the winning post before the other four has even entered the straight and recorded 2:14 4/5, more than ten seconds faster than any other horse in Australia prior to that day. Not surprisingly, Fritz was to spend the next two years unchallenged as well. Periodically he was brought back into work and in later years Buckland was adamant Fritz could reel off miles in 2:06 any time of asking

During those exasperating years, Edgar Deane had suggested the NZ handicapper might be a little more lenient, and in the Autumn of 1898 Buckland arrived in Canterbury, bringing Claude Piper and a team of nine horses. At a Canterbury Trotting Club meeting, then held at the Addington Showgrounds, the stable made an auspicious debut, Piper winning the first event with Sunshine while Buckland won with Fritz and Viva. Fritz had been handicapped off the backmark of 100 yards, giving the local star of the time, imported Wildwood, a start of 50 yards in the two mile event. Fritz was untroubled to win. Fritz had his next outing in a free-for-all and won by such a wide margin over Monte Carlo and St Louis, handled by Piper, that officials had difficulty arriving at a margin.

Buckland returned home during the winter but was back later that year with Fritz and an even stronger team. At one Addington meeting he owned every winner on the programme. By now Fritz was on a virtually impossible mark in NZ as well. On Boxing Day 1898 the gelding lined up in a handicap event at Addington, giving the eventual winner, Rosewood, a 24 second start. After a false start, Fritz became unsettled and refused to begin for some time. However, on the second day, the Canterbury Trotting Club put up 100 sovereigns for Fritz to trial against the track record of 2:15. This he accomplished with ease, trotting the mile in 2:13, which bettered his own Australasian record as well.

A week later Buckland had Fritz in Wellington for their Summer meeting, but again he refused to leave the mark. Lining up in the Wellington Trotting Club Handicap, Frotz was giving half the field more than 50 seconds start, the equivalent of almost half a mile. There had been a considerable amount of criticism levelled at these events, many considering it unfair to ask the backmarkers to stand at the start and watch the rest of the field begin at intervals. Even the grand old trotter Monte Carlo, a noted beginner, had become wayward in his tendancies.

Fritz was reported to have returned to NZ in 1900, but the official "Turf Register" from those years shows no evidence of this.

Buckland was a regular visitor to Canterbury, making four trips between 1896 and 1900, while Piper became so impressed with the newly formed Addington Raceway, he settled in Christchurch and became one of the leading horsemen with Wonbobbie horses. During his first visit to Canterbury, Buckland not only established himself as a fine horseman but as a stirling sportsman. Buckland usually drove Fritz in harness, but on this occasion was riding him from his backmark. Also in the event was the pacer Weary Willie, who is believed to be the first horse in NZ raced in hopples, and was trained and driven by none other than Dave Price. After half a mile Weary Willie faltered and fell, leaving Price lying motionless on the track. In due course along came Buckland and Fritz, making up their handicap in great style. Without hesitation, Buckland turned Fritz around to help Price, and returned with the dazed driver to a rousing reception.

Such was the character of John Arthur Buckland, and it was these qualities that lead to the greatest match race of the time, which turned out to be only a sporting gesture on Buckland's part and no more. Fritz was virtually in complete retirement when Price's challenge came under Buckland's notice. The 12-year-old had not been worked for several months and right from the start everything went wrong for Buckland. With less than six weeks until the big event at Easter, they began preparing, but miserable weather in the district saw Fritz hardly benefit from any work. After a rough passage across the Tasman, Fritz arrived in Christchurch, only to be boxed in his stall for several days, as Canterbury weather was no better than at home. Thus, what was thought to be a great match race, was actually a disastrous mismatch. Despite Piper openly expressing his reservations about the race, Buckland was determined not to let the NZ public down.

The big day came around and Addington was bursting at the seams. The grounds were less than half the size they are today. Price and Ribbonwood moved onto the track to a champion's reception, but it was nothing compared to the greeting accorded Fritz. The conditions of the event were for a best of five heats, each run over a mile from a moving start. After a considerable amount of manoeuvring at the start, which Price was entirely responsible for, Ribbonwood and Fritz got underway with the young star quickly showing the way. Fritz kept in touch until the last quarter, where Ribbonwood easily spurted clear to win by five lengths. Time 2:14 1/5. Fritz drew the inside for the second heat and held his own, keeping Ribbonwood parked for three quarters of the mile, before the stallion ran clear to win by two lengths. Time 2:13. Ribbonwood had not been off the bit so far, but Price let him stretch out in the final heat, with embarrassing results. Well clear passing the grandstand for the first time, Ribbonwood gradually increased his lead to eventually cross the line 80 metres in front of Fritz. Time 2:10, which bettered his own Australasian record.

In an after match ceremony, where Ribbonwood and Fritz were paraded and speeches were heard from Price, Buckland, Canterbury Trotting Club president Victor Harris and the Right Honourable Richard Seddon, Buckland was his usual sporting self, paying tribute to the new champion. "Personally, I don't mind being beaten, but I don't like to see the old horse beaten," said Buckland. "However, if Fritz cannot do it, then I hope to have a try with another one," he added.

But that was to be Buckland's last visit to NZ. He had already sold Wonbobbie Station around the turn of the century and bought Pine Ridge Station, where he continued to breed on an extensive scale. With the death of Vancleve in August 1904, however, his days in the limelight were numbered and he later sold Pine Ridge and moved to the 500 acre Marsden Park in the Richmond area. Buckland and Fritz have long since passed away, and one can only hope that their deeds will never fade into obscurity. They loomed as large in our history as any horseman or standardbred since.

At the after race function Price had been quizzed by Vic Harris on how fast he thought Ribbonwood could go. To Harris's surprise, Price claimed Ribbonwood had never been extended during the match race, and happily accepted to time trial his horse on the third day of the meeting for a stake of 100 sovereigns. A large crowd again turned up to witness the trial and after a first half in 64 seconds, Ribbonwood completed the distance in 2:09. On returning to the birdcage this time, Price challenged Harris to a further trial, but any thoughts on this being entertained were later that day squashed

Only a few weeks earlier W Rollitt, secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association, had been appointed the first stipendiary steward. After the sixth race Price was called before Rollitt and charged with "foul" driving, and disqualified for six months. Price continued to train for a while from his Riccarton stables, winning a number of races with the outstanding imported mare Norice. He also stood Ribbonwood at stud in the spring, the little black producing 18 foals, all of whom were later winners. Among them was King Cole, who eight years later, under the guidance of Price's brother Newton, reduced Ribbonwood's mile record to 2:08 3/5.

However, Price was becoming discontented with the financial returns of being a leading horseman in Canterbury, and early in 1905 he moved to Victoria, where he became a leading trainer of thoroughbreds. With him went Ribbonwood, who was soon sold to the New South Wales sportsman A D Playfair, who immediately placed him at stud. New Zealand's most famous sons had been adopted by Australia. Ironically, Ribbonwood soon displaced Vancleve as the leading sire in Australia, producing 258 winners, including Realm, who campaigned in NZ and reached the tightest mark. Ribbonwood was also the grandsire of Roselawn, dam of Australasia's first 2:00 horse Lawn Derby (TT 1:59 2/5) and another champion Van Derby. Ribbonwood died in 1920, but his memory has lived on in recent decades with the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club staging the Ribbonwood Handicap at its National Meeting in August this year. The event has been renamed the Moores Dry Cleaners Handicap.

Price, a few years before his death in the 1940s, was interviewed by an Australian journalist and spoke of his champion. "Ribbonwood was foaled in Christchurch in 1898. He was by Wildwood, who was bred by the famous Palo Alto Stud in the United States, out of a mare by Young Irvington, by Irvington (imp). As a two-year-old he was a little fellow, full of quality. When trotting authorities found that the system of handicapping was driving horses such as Ribbonwood out of the harness sport when at their peak, they created limit races. Ribbonwood rose to great heights as a pacer because he had intelligence as well as speed. All I had to do was talk to him. With a 'Come on laddie' he was into his stride in a flash. A slight tightening on the rein and he would increase his speed. 'Whoa laddie' was all that was required to get him to slaken speed. He raced with ears cocked like a hare. He knew every word I spoke to him. Ribbonwood knew when it was race day as well as I did. Many of my friends got amusement out of seeing Ribbonwood play his most famous trick when called on to do the last furlong. His ears would be back flat like a hare in full flight at a given signal. He waited for that command when nearing the end of a race. I have no hesitation in saying that Ribbonwood could have paced a mile in 2:05. With tracks as they are today he would have done a mile in 2:00. He was the gamest thing on four legs. He didn't know the taste of a whip and, although booted for protection, he was never known to put a mark on the boots. Now, would you not be proud and inclined to boast a little, if you were the owner of a horse such as Ribbonwood?" Price concluded.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Dec83