TROTTING Mr R. A. McKenzie Tops List Of Owners Again

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28958, 28 July 1959, Page 6

TROTTING Mr R. A. McKenzie Tops List Of Owners Again

Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Wellington, has headed the list of successful owners for the fourth successive season, according to figures published in tlie New Zealand Trotting Calendar. Members of the big team raced by Mr McKenzie won £8907 10s, the main contributor being Scottish Command, which won £4420.

Scottish Command graduated to New Zealand Cup class during the season and he is expected to do much to keep Mr McKenzie high on the list next season.

Mr McKenzie first headed the list in the 1955-56 season with £12.590; in 1956-57 his team won £11.040. ’ Last season he was credited with £18.174. the greatest amount won by any owner in a single season. The previous best was £15.935 won by Highland Fling for Mr A. T. Kemble, of Auckland, in the 1947-43 season.

Mr J. Smyth, of Christchurch, moved into second place on the list this season with £7055, all of which was won by False Step. The Leeston owner-trainer, W J. Doyle, had a most successful season, his horses winning £6545. Showdown, winner of the Ashburton Cup and the Dunedin Cup. won £2365. and Reason Why £2165.

Gentry, with £5550, won the bulk of the £6525 credited to Mr H. S. Barry, of Auckland. Mr C. L. Rhodes, of Christchurch, has been high on the list for many years and he was just behind Mr Barry in fifth place with £6452 10s. R. H.. J M. and J. H. Butterick. who race Macklin, took sixth place with £5675, being closely attended by the Springston owner-trainer, R. H. Negus, with £5138

Others, with more than £3OOO to their credit during the season, were:—Mr N. Simpson. Auckland. £4790; R. A. McMillan, Tamahere, £4575: Mr E. and estate of G. L. Rutherford. Parnassus, £4090; Mr B. Grice, Christchurch, £3915; Mr R. L. Dyet, Invercargill, £3580; Messrs D. D. and D. R Moore. Templeton, £3550; C. S. Donald, Belfast. £3280; J. W. Miller. Gore. £3105. False Step

The New Zealand Cup winner. False Step, was the leading individual winner for the season with £7055. This is the smallest total won by the leading stakewinner for the season since Bronze Eagle was credited with £s“>ls in 1944-45. The recced total for a single season is £15.835 won by Highland Fling in 1947-48. Others with five-figure totals to their credit are Vedette, which won £14.260 in the 1950-51 season.

Captain Sandy, with £10,729 in the 1948-49 season. Lookaway, with £ 10.285 in the 1957-58 season, and Johnny Globe, with £10,105 in the 1954-55 season. Second place on the list this season went to the Auckland Cup winner, Macklin, which earned £5675 The consistent Gentry finished third with £5550. Scottish Command, with £4420, and Thunder, with £4090.. were the only horses in the £4OOO-£5OOO group.

Caducous earned £3550 in New Zealand and a larger sum in Australia. Robert Dillon, with £3280. Bonny Starlet, with £3150, and Blue Emperor, with £3OBO, were the only others with more than £3OOO. Durban Chief headed the list of trotters, with £2630. He was closely followed bv Beau Clair, with £2570, and Mighty Brigade, with £2500. Annual Report, with £2250, Ordeal, with £2170, and Battle Cry. with £2135, were the only other trotters which won more than £2OOO. The winnings of these fine trotters give further evidence of the unjust manner in which their stakes have been reduced in recent years. Sun Chief, with £2505, was the leading winner among the two-year-old pacers, with the New Zealand Sapling Stakes winner. Jonboy Star, next with £1665 Hautapu. with £1305. was the only other two-year-old with a four-figure total. Three-year-old pacers did not have a particularly successful season and the only one to top the £2OOO mark was Damian, which was credited with £2067. Gay Baron, with £1685, Blue, with £l6BO, Adroit, with £1460. Johnny Cabot, with £1445, and Ceremonial, with £1375. were the onlv others with more than £l3OO. Blue also won more than £3500 in Australia during the season.