The Kaikoura Cup through the years

[Wandering Eyes]

The Kaikoura Cup will celebrate its 100th running this year. Over the next few weeks Kaikoura Trotting Club historian Phil Gourdie will look back at the history of the great race, starting today with The First 50 Years.

The Kaikoura Cup – 1914 to 1964.

By Phil Gourdie

The Kaikoura Cup was first raced for 111 years ago. Since then it has had  a far from uninterrupted run due to World Wars, the depression and the creation of the new track.

In 1914, the first running of the Kaikoura Cup was won by nine-year-old mare Kintail, owned by Arthur Edgar and trained and driven by William Honeybone. Kintail led throughout and won a good competitive race by a length from the President Arthur Marshall’s Black Prince.

The first multiple winner of the Cup was Full Cry. Owned and trained by Henry Leaman, he won his first Cup in 1916 and then completed the double in 1919. On both occasions he was driven by Edward (Teddy) Redmond.

Described as a strong powerful pacer who could stay well Kinthorpe was a decisive winner in just a seven horse field in 1921. He was not a fluent pacer and during the race mixed his gait more than once. He was by Lord Althorpe from Kintail, the inaugural winner of the Kaikoura Cup.

There was a strong local connection to 1929 and 1931 winner Arachne. He was owned, trained and driven by County councilor, Francis Monk.

1953 saw the introduction of the new South Bay Racecourse at Kaikoura. The 1119m course was a dirt-based facility. This was a huge step up from the lengthy grass track that ran deep into South Bay.

Over the first 51 years and 40 runnings of the Kaikoura Trotting Cup many household names got onto the Honours Board. These included William and Ernest Honeybone, Edward Redmond, Tom Fox, Frank Monk, Ces Donald, George Murfitt, Stan Edwards, Alan McKenzie, Noel and Colin Berkett, Chief Stipe Watts, W E Lowe, R P Nyhan and Maurice Holmes. The 15 drivers named drove 23 of the first 40 Kaikoura Trotting Cup winners.

Next time we will look at “Records are made to be broken”.

Footnote: Phil Gourdie is currently writing a history on the Kaikoura Cups which will be published to mark the centenary. 

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