Judge Says Newspaper Got It Right
In 1935 Jockey G. Barclay sued Dunedin's Evening Star newspaper. Barclay claimed 500 pounds damages for criticizing his riding of Foxglove at a South Canterbury meeting.The judge dismissed the claim, saying "jockeys must accept criticism so long as the facts are truly stated and comment does not convey imputations of an evil sort." He said the newspaper comment "better handled" was justified by fact and couldn't possibly amount to unfair comment.

Upheaval at Napier Park
The Napier Park racecourse at Greenmeadows was raised nearly four feet (1.22 metres) by the February earthquake in 1931. The club moved to Hastings 30 years later.

Clifford's Field Day
At the Canterbury Jockey Club's February meeting in 1908 Sir Geo. Clifford started nine horses for seven wins and two seconds.

Matamata Leads The Way
In February, 1932, the Matamata Racing Club was the first club in the Auckland province to change from single pool betting (75%/25%) to the win and place pools.

"Which Division Did You Say?"
Also at Matamata, in February 1945, Bonny Baf finished second in the first division of a race, but was later disqualified for starting in the wrong division.

Bill Kirk's Record
Six wins in a day have been achieved by quite a few jockeys on many courses in New Zealand, but the record of seven wins in a day belongs to W. (Bill) Kirk, who rode seven winners at Wairoa in January, 1907.

The Travelling Hat Box
Tirailleur's New Zealand Cup win in 1889 was good for owner Spencer Gollan, who put his punting winnings of 900 pounds in a hat box. He then caught the steamer from Christchurch to Wellington, got off and forgot the hatbox! The steamer went on to Sydney. He cabled the ship and the hat box was still on board.
And that wasn't the only lucky strike Gollan had in racing. Gollan also owned Moifaa, whom he went over to win the English Grand National Steeplechase.
But his luck ran out in London a few years later when he was run over by a bus and he died.

First Totalisator Introduced
Almost 130 years ago the first totalisator in New Zealand appeared at the Forbury Park, Dunedin. It was in the days that the Dunedin (now Otago) Racing Club raced there before they moved to Wingatui.

Busiest Racehorses On Record
The most raced horses I can find are George de Mar (333 starts for 60 wins in the USA around 1922) and, also in the USA, Matinee's Idol (333 starts for 58 wins around 1915).

Spare Part Certainly Had It
The best-named Wellington Cup winner ? Perhaps Spare Part (1948). He was foaled with a big lump on his shoulder. Or maybe he should have been called Chiponya Shoulder.

Kindergarten Stand Aside
They say Kindergarten was the best horse ever seen at Trentham. Maybe not! The best to race on the track certainly, but Phar Lap was seen at Trentham in 1931 en route to race at Mexico and he spent a few weeks training there. The Wellington club organised a special racemeeting for the Napier earthquake relief fund, but Phar Lap's owner declined the invitation to compete. What a great pity.

Trentham Stands Tall
The three stands at Trentham were completed in 1923.

"They're Racehorses Not Show Ponies"
They were hardy horses in the 1950s when doubles were reintroduced after being illegal since before World War I. In the next five years six horses won both legs of the TAB double.They were (with dividends in pounds, shillings and pence):
Cox Swain at Greymouth 1950 (53/12-)
Aquelio at Rangiora 1951 (36/10-)
Count Defaulter at Greymouth 1952 (19/18/6)
Cloudy View at Kurow 1953 (5/5-)
Russley Lad at Omakau 1955 (37/4-)
Argive at Hokitika 1955 (11/11-).

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