BLAST FROM THE PAST
FIELD SIZES
 FIELD SIZES
Someone who has just backed a loser in a capacity field during the course of the Cup carnival at Addington is bound to lament that 15 starters is too many.
That may well be; but spare a thought for the punters who had to sort out their selections for the race in the accompanying photo, run at Addington in 1924, with 33 starters.
Run on the opening day of the Metropolitan club's August meeting, this event, the two-mile Trial Handicap, was won off 36yd behind by G Rutherford's Colchester, driven by Drum Withers. A son of dual NZ Cup winner Wildwood Junior, Colchester was 17th in the order of betting, which, in those days, with brackets went up to 25 in the 75%/25% win/place pool.
In beating favourite Prince Swithin (owned and driven by Lester Maidens) by a half length, Colchester covered the two miles in 4:42 4/5. Third after starting from 60yds, was Dalnahine, driven by Dil Edwards. The others in the race were Stunt Artist, Albert Logan, Quiver, Talaro, Bessie Logan, Dandy Rose, Kate Thorpe, Bruce, Holly Boy, Golden Gun, Transport, Harewood, Tarzan, Becky Logan, Away, Vera Logan, Percy Dillon, Harold Burwood, Hackthorne, Menember, Ivy Audubon, Jack Potts, Thixendale, The Rook, Bell Harold, Latona, Pinevale, Audacious, Lady Embrace and Prince Pointer.
There is a photo in the Auckland based NZ Trotting Hall of Fame of the official result of a race at the Cambridge Trotting Club's Summer meeting of January 7, 1950, contested by 35 starters.
But it appears the largest field ever to face the starter in NZ was that which lined up for the Harvest Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club's winter meeing on June 5,1948. Believe it or not, 41 horses went to the post that day, and the favourite won. The winner, coming off 12yds, over a mile and a half in 3:18 2/5, was Attack, then trained at Springston by N W Dickie for J N (Nick) Scott and O G (Ollie) Oakley, and driven by Dickie's son, the late Ivan Dickie.
Credit: Ron Bisman writing in HRWeekly 8Nov90
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