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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

RACING, TROTTING

Contents


Personalities

The outstanding development of trotting in New Zealand has been helped by many well-known personalities. Notable among these are:

H. F. Nicoll. An Englishman, Nicoll came to New Zealand to further his banking career, but after a short while started in business as an exporter of frozen meat. He was president of the Conference for 25 years and also sat on many local authorities. The sport made great progress during his presidency and he was responsible for extra permits, compulsory standing starts, the present handicapping system, and stipendiary control. He was president of the Ashburton Trotting Club for many years and his interest in establishing classic events is reflected in the progress of this club. He raced both gallopers and trotters and established an outstanding stud, known as Durbar Lodge. A son, A. J. Nicoll, is the president of the Ashburton Trotting Club and is a member of the Executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference.

A. I. Rattray. Known as the “Father of Trotting”, Rattray came to New Zealand from Scotland at an early age and, after a career in commerce and banking, became secretary of his first club in 1887. He was the first secretary of the Canterbury Trotting Club, founded in 1888, which later merged with the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. He was secretary of this club and the Canterbury and New Brighton clubs till his death in 1941 when 87 years old. He was the first secretary of the New Zealand association and did great service in framing rules, stamping out “ringing in” of horses, which was prevalent in those days, urging the abolition of bookmakers, and winning Government recognition of the association. He did much to develop the Addington course.

Sir John McKenzie. Business magnate and philanthropist, Sir John was treasurer of the now defunct New Zealand Trotting Association and was also a leading owner and breeder. Established in 1927, his Roydon Lodge Stud has become the biggest in New Zealand. The stud was the home of the leading imported stallions, U. Scott and Light Brigade, and its collection of American-bred mares is probably the finest outside the United States. Since Sir John's death the stud has been taken over by his son, R. A. McKenzie, who has been a leading owner since 1956. His horses have won more than £100,000.

A. L. Matson. Managing director of a stock and station company and a well-known auctioneer, Matson was president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference for eight years. He was a sound club administrator and the founder of the Standardbred Yearling Sales.

Chas. S. Thomas is a nationally known legal counsel who has been an owner and prominent club official. He was president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference from 1957 to 1961. He acted as chief counsel for the conference on the Royal Commission on Gaming. The final establishment of the Totalisator Agency Board is a tribute to his outstanding efforts.

Dr M. G. Pezaro was an outstanding North Island administrator who, after many years as vice-president of the conference, was president from 1955 to 1957. During his term routine swabbing was introduced. As well as being a prominent owner, Pezaro was president of the Auckland Trotting Club for 15 years.