BLAST FROM THE PAST
1948 WILKIN HANDICAP: Background
WILKIN HANDICAP
For many years now the Wilkin Handicap has appeared on the Easter programmes of the NZMTC, but I wonder how many know why the race is so named?
It is to commemorate 'the father of trotting turf' Robert Wilkin.
Robert Wilkin was a merchant in Hereford Street, Christchurch, and had his stables at the corner of Holmwood and Garden Roads, Fendalton. Prior to 1882 there were no clean-bred trotting sires in the Dominion. With the idea of remedying this want, Robert Wilkin commissioned an American trotting authority to send him a collection of three sires and six brood mares. These duly arrived, the sires being Berlin, Blackwood Abdullah and Vancleve, and the brood mares Messenger Maid, Blue Grass Belle, Fannie Belle, Jeannie Tracey, Queen Emma and Woodburn Maid.
These horses did more to improve the type of light-harness horse in the Dominion than any who have arrived since. Vancleve, of course, went to Australia and later was a wonderful success at the stud of Mr J A Buckland, and exercised a great influence on the trotting breed in Australia. Berlin was an immediate success as a sire, his progeny being noted for their stamina and gameness. Two mares by him were also a great influence at the stud, namely Fraulein and Puella.
All the other importations left their mark on the light-harness breed and laid the foundation for the wonderful breed we have today.
Credit: H E Goggin writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 21Apr48
|
