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BLAST FROM THE PAST

HARRY NICOLL - President NZTC

HARRY NICOLL - President NZTC

It is doubtful if harness racing ever had a leader as powerful, able and when necessary as ruthless as Harry Nicoll.

The successful sportsman, businessman exporter and farmer who had turned Ashburton from bankruptcy to the most successful club in New Zealand in jus a few years then grew inpatient with others at national level and arranged for a dramatic "palace coup" at the Annual Conference outing a shocked and surprised John Rowe from the presidency in 1922. He won every subsequent election until retiring in 1947.

A skilful and astute administrator who pushed for standing starts and a "yards" handicapping system, Harry also knew as many tricks to retaining power as he did to gain it. He was a popular leader from an efficiency viewpoint during some of the hardest years in a century, winning over the clubs with strong and wise leadership. Harry believed in round numbers. He was president of Ashburton for 50 years and head of the Conference for 25 years, an unprecedented feat. As a side-line he was head of the Ashburton Racing Club for 25 years as well. Nicoll was autocratic and ruled with an iron hand when things got tricky.

When Dr Pezaro proposed easing handicapping restrictions for less able horses winning small stakes Nicoll turned to the Annual Conference delegates an said "Do you want horses to win with no penalty?" which gained a resounding "No" from the floor even though that was not actually what Pezaro was proposing. When the Government cut season permits by 50 per cent in 1942 Nicoll was heavily critical but toed the line and his company gave its four cars to the war effort.

Nicoll won a New Zealand Cup early in his trotting career with Durbar whom he purchased when the horse was almost a teenager. He hired the most talented trainer available, Andy Pringle, and they had a long association. He then bred and raced Wrackler the only horse to win both the Cup and the Dominion Handicap. He imported Wrack from America and his Durbar Lodge was at one stage the most powerful breeding and racing stable of classic horses in the country.

Harry was a trader who wanted his stable to pay its way and some of the best Durbar Lodge products won fame in other colours most notably Indianapolis. He also sold the distinguished Wrack, the first stallion to stand at $200, to Tasmania aged 21 which caused much comment about loyalty for services rendered.

His brother Jack was secretary of Ashburton for as long as Harry had been president. His son Arthur, later became president of the Conference though for a much shorter time than his father. Nobody could match that.

How would Harry have gone in 2016? With his connections, influence, standing and his refusal to stand for any nonsense, he might well have been a saviour just as he was in earlier dark days.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Aug 2016