Poor Treatment Of Jockeys Causes Uproar

Up until the end of World War I  jockeys had always been treated as second-class citizens.

A jockey's average yearly earnings was under $200 and he had no right of appeal against penalties. And they was no guarantee he would be paid his riding fees.

Sir George Clifford, the autocratic President of the NZ Racing Conference for many years, refused to even meet and discuss these and other jockeys' matters.

It all came to a head at Avondale on April 7, 1921 when so much rain had fallen that the track was considered to be unsafe.

A leading rider, L.H. (Tod) Hewitt, who was also an executive member of the Jockeys' Association, pointed out the dangers and urged club officials to postpone the day's racing, but his request was refused.

On the second day of the meeting Hewitt was summoned to appear before the club stewards and severely reprimanded for impertinence.

It was rumoured he had been disqualified and the other jockeys refused to come out for the next race.

Proceedings were then delayed for an hour, while endeavours were made to find apprentice riders willing to ride.

Meanwhile news of the confrontation had reached other sections of workers outside the racing industry and when on May 8 Hewitt and two other jockeys were suspended until the end of the season trade union and other meetings were held condemning the penalties and expressing sympathy with the jockeys.

Lyttleton seamen refused to ship horses to Wellington and the Transport Workers Advisory Board declared racing blacklisted until the suspended jockeys had been re-instated and their Association recognised.

It appeared the dispute would escalate into a major industrial upheaval when the Auckland Tramways Union members refused to operate tramcars to the Ellerslie June meeting.

As a result the Tramway authorities retaliated by laying off the entire service, sacking 350 "trammies."

Hardy Old Girl

The oldest broodmare in New Zealand is thought to be Mercian Queen, who was bred by G.D. Beatson in 1929.

A daughter of Mercian King, she died in 1968 aged 39 years, having her last foal when she was 34.

She produced six winners with the best being Flying Queen, whose eight wins included the 1952 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.

Flying Queen became the dam of the Queensland stakeswinners Flying Fancy and Flying Ace, the good Kiwi galloper Flying Crest (11 wins; WRC Summer Handicap, Woodville Cup etc) and Red View, a winner of 10 races in the central districts including the Waverley Cup.

Royal Shar, a runner-up in the 1947 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, was another of Mercian Queen's progeny, as was Royal Greek (11 wins; CJC Paparua Handicap).

This is the family of Gr I Avondale Cup winner Alice.                          

Patience To The Extreme

Recent publicity regarding the exploits of 10-year-old King Ruby in Australia, where he has just completed his 47th race without paying a dividend, brings to mind similar instances.

Around Sydney between 1976 and 1984 Ourdene had 124 starts without winning, though she did have nine placings.

Creggmor Bay, foaled in England in 1940, won a race in Lancashire in 1957 and had one third placing in 1961 - as a 21-year-old!

One galloper who eventually proved a good one was Reckless, who was unplaced in his first 33 starts but later won the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups.

Thoughts Of Gallops And Trots At Riccarton

In 1927 Mr W.H. Norton put forward a suggestion at the CJC Annual meeting that the Metropolitan Trotting Club should move and race at Riccarton.

Serious thought was given to the idea, but nothing eventuated.

The same thought had gone through the minds of the MTC camp some years earlier.

Back in 1922 the MTC had bought 87 acres at Riccarton, opposite Dean's Bush, and were all set to move from Addington, where they had raced since 1888.

They, too, had a rethink and stayed put at Addington.                 

Avondale introduced quinellas.

Avondale was the first club to have quinella betting in New Zealand, the first day being April 25, 1972.

Wanganui Shunted, But Still Has The Record

Wanganui has raced on the same course since 1848, longer than any other club in New Zealand.

In 1919 there was a likelihood the Railway would take over the site as a new station.

The club purchased a 159-acre property at Westmere, a few miles away, but by 1923 the railway scheme was abandoned and the club sold the land at a loss.

Sensation In Auckland Cup

The first 10,000 pound race for gallopers in New Zealand was the sensational 1947 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

Howe, ridden by R.J. Mackie, beat Balgowan and King's Ransom, but was disqualified for interference, running out in the home straight.

It was the first time a film of the race was used in evidence.                    ....