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LOCAL HISTORY

First Anzac Day observance, on April 25

May 13-15 - Visit of Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) to Ch-Ch.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY

The Gaming Amendment Act of 1920 completely outlawed bookmaking but the bookies continued to thrive because of the lack of doubles and the convenience of telephone betting. Their turnover in NZ in 1946 was estimated at £24 million ($48,000,000).

RACING HISTORY HORSES

In 1919 Leo Berkett swapped a pacer he used in his gig with a clergyman for an aged grey mare, Wairoa Belle, which had good pacing blood in her on the side of her sire, Dictator. On local roads he found Wairoa Belle showed well against the horses of other gig owners and had a fair turn of speed.

Leo decided to enter her in races at the Nelson Trotting Club's summer meeting. The 1920 programme included both saddle and driven races. On the first day Wairoa Belle did not run well, but, on March 20, with advice on adjusting her hoppples, Leo Berkett rode her to lead the 14 horse field all the way to win by two lengths.

She paid the biggest dividend in NZ trotting history of £1033/5/-... a staggering sum when the average weekly wage was less than £10. Leo Berkett had no money on the race, the one and a half Wakefield Handicap, but one person had. He was a Nelson grain and seed merchant, Mr S C (Chummy) Levien, who was so pleased by the win that he gave Berkett the odd £33.

The stake of 55 sovereigns also went to Berkett as owner. The time for the race was 3min 59sec.

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NZ Trotting Calendar 6Jun45

The following was taken from a NZ paper of about 25 years ago in reference to the huge dividend paid at the Nelson Trotting meeting:-"Quite the outstanding feature of the meeting was the huge dividend paid by Wairoa Belle in the Wakefield Handicap. Earlier in the afternoon the mare did a preliminary for the Ladies' Bracelet, but before going to the post the stipendiary steward noticed blood running from the hopple marks on both her hind legs. The officials refused to let her start until the driver agreed to race without hopples, which were blood-smeared. In the race she cut a poor figure, being one of the last to finish.

Later in the afternoon she was produced for the Wakefield Handicap, but again the stewards raised objection to her competing. The difficulty was got over by the rider removing the bloomers and lowering the hopples so that they would not chafe the sore places. There were 14 competitors, and out of the £1,500 invested only one ticket was taken out on Wairoa Belle's chance, this being held by a well-known Nelson merchant."

Credit: HRWeekly 23Jan91

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1920 NEW ZEALAND CUP

By the time the big event came on for decision the whole of the stands and enclosures were packed with, a gaily dressed throng. Speculation was very heavy, over £20,000 being invested on the race. Albert Cling was the actual favorite, then came Bryce's bracket, Author Dillon, and Holme's bracket, in that order.

The start was a perfect one and all went off well but the scratch horse,- who lost a second at the start. Minston took charge followed by Erln's Queen and Willie Lincoln. Going down the back stretch Erin's Queen went to the front and General Link, Dean Dillon and Reta Peter had improved their positions. At the six furlongs Willie Lincoln was still in front with the field close up.

When the last lap started Willie Lincoln was still in charge, whilst General Link had taken second place followed by Erin's Queen. Six lengths away came Trlx Pointer, Reta Peter, Sherwood and Author Dillon. In the back stretch General Link headed Willie Lincoln with the scratch horse moving up fast on the outside.

Rounding the turn for home General Link was still in charge, while Willie Lincoln had retired beaten. Author Dillon challenged General Link with Reta Peter coming fast. In a great struggle the trio crossed the line together, Reta Peter winning by half a length from General Link, who was a neck in front of Author Dilion. Four lengths away came Sherwood followed by Erin's Queen with the rest of the field strung out.

Then followed a scene of excitement, the crowd mobbed the winner and accorded her a reception the likes of which has never been seen on a racecourse. Neither were the placed horses forgotten. Author Dillon was cheered to the echo. The honors of the race were undoubtedly with him, as he was checked once through Steel Bell breaking, and in addition, he had the wind and dust to contend with.

His effort produced a world's record and still it could not win. He went the first quarter mile in 32sec, the half mile in lmin. 5sec, six furlongs in lmin. 38sec, mile in 2min. lOsec, twelve furlongs in 3min. 15sec, and the full distance in 4min. 21 4-5sec. His achievement is all the more meritorious by reason of the fact of giving away 10 l-5sec, instead of 9sec., and thus his actual time was 4min. 20 2-5sec.

Reta Peter is an aged mare by the imported Petereta from Tot Huon. She was bred by her owner, Mr. F. R. Robson, and has been trained and driven by A. G. Wilson for a long time past. She was the only trotter in the field and her success marked the first occasion on which a trotter has won the valuable stake for a number of years. Reta Peter, by compassing two miles in 4.30 4-5 established a fresh world's record for trotting over that distance. Matchlight's chance was ruined through Steel Bell breaking and interfering with him at the end of two furlongs. Albert Cling, the favorite, failed to begin correctly and was in the rear the way.


Credit: 'Spearmint' writing in NZ Truth 13 Nov 1920

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1920 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Reta Peter achieved a remarkable feat when she beat 11 pacers, even allowing for the fact that she received a head start of nine seconds over Author Dillon and beat him by less than a length.

Confirming her status as the best trotter bred in New Zealand up to that time, Reta Peter outfinished most of the rest off almost level marks.

She was one of the outsiders to achieve this, but returned to a rousing reception from the appreciative crowd. Reta Peter then attempted to add the 1000 sovereign Dominion at the meeting, but a 16 second handicap proved a little too much to overcome.



Credit: NZ HRWeekly 1Oct03

CLUB HISTORY

CPTC.
The Club wrote to the owners of the by-products works at Sockburn complaining about the smell from its operations sweeping across the course on race days.

Credit: CPTC: Centennial History