An English gift
The first English Derby winner to come to New Zealand was CORONACH.

Instant Replay
Nowadays we have come to expect the result of a photo finish before the horses have returned to the birdcage.  Not that long ago it sometimes took quite a bit longer, but technology has advanced rapidly.

Sloane set seat style
The inventor of the now normal ‘crouch' seat for jockeys was Tod Sloane.

Trainer Got The Right Mail
No fronting up with cheque book at Karaka for this one. 

Morrinsville Racecourse?
There was a serious attempt to start a racing club at Morrinsville in the early 1920s. 

No It Wasn't Mainbrace
Most records show that the record number of wins for a horse in New Zealand belongs to Mainbrace at 15 in the 1949/50 season.  Not so. 

"Who Left The Hurdle Up" 
In 1900 at Ellerslie, the final race was for two-year-olds run over five furlongs.  All went well until the three furlongs when the field was confronted by a hurdle. 

"I Shot The Wrong Horse"
In 1927 a vet ordered the destruction of ailing Wedding Ring at Ellerslie. 

It seems that Michael Walker (pictured) is a ‘shoe in' to capture the rider of the 2000/01 - 2009/10 decade after the first six seasons have been completed.

New Zealand's Racing Historian Pat Finnegan (pictured) continues his recollection of the facts and entertaining racing stories of bygone years. Check out the fifth review in a monthly series.

New Zealand's Racing Historian Pat Finnegan (pictured) continues his recollection of the facts and entertaining racing stories of bygone years. Check out the second review in a monthly series.

New Zealand's Racing Historian Pat Finnegan (pictured) recalls facts and entertaining racing stories of bygone years. Check out the first review in a monthly series.