Roydon Lodge Stud’s first fifty years

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 18

Roydon Lodge Stud’s first fifty years

When Sir John McKenzie established Roydon Lodge Stud in 1928 he could have had little idea of the impact his hobby would have on the light-harness industry in New Zealand, and, in fact, North America as well. It is just as certain that when someone reviews trotting at the end of the twentieth century, (J. Scott, just one of the many successful stallions and mares imported to New Zealand by! the stud, will figure high on the list of the top sires dur- i ing the 100 years. “The Roydon Heritage,” 50 years of breeding and harness racing, by Roy McKenzie, the principal of Roydon Lodge Stud since 1955, makes fascinating] reading for anyone remotely, i interested in trotting. Not only does it give details of the activities of the stud and the persons employed by it during that period, but it gives a close insight into trotting in New Zealand. Also, there are some extremely interesting sections dealing with North America and the stud’s involvement in trotting there. Mr McKenzie is racing; several colts and fillies there at present as well as breeding from a few mares. Most,: it is. intended, will be returned to New Zealand in ' the near future with the aim of strengthening bloodlines in this country. U. Scott has been one of the greatest standardbred stallions the world has , known. As Mr McKenzie. says: “Had he remained in the States his breeding po- i tential would have been lost]; as he was not very fashion- ■

ably bred on his dam's side.” But in New Zealand alone he sired 415 winners of $2.3M in stakes, while in Australia and North America he had dozens more. He was leading sire in this country on nine occasions and for 14 seasons he was leading broodmare sire. It was as a broodmare sire in the United States that his record is most remarkable. His daughters have produced more than 45 2min performers, placing him fourteenth on the North ; American list in this category. On numerous occasions he has finished in the top 25 broodmare sires in North America, a truly remarkable: 1 . record when it is considered 4that it was rare for him to! be represented by two of ■ three-year-olds, which race for such rich prize money. Light Brigade, co-sire at; Roydon Lodge Stud at the: time of U Scott. Captain Adios, Gallant Knight and Thurber Frost were sires of: influence, as currently are; Scottish Hanover Armbro i Hurricane and Game Pride. As well, the stud bred and (owned Scottish Command, leading sire last season and : at present at the top of the list. The stud has yet to have; representatives of Had Myli Way and Smooth Fella on the race tracks, while Med-! dlesome (by Bret Hanover); and Admiral Bret, by the same sire, and a Fulla Napoleon colt have been secured !as replacements at Roydon Lodge. Not only are the horses ( (owned and bred by the stud (given mention, but the men were employed in various!'

; categories by Sir John an< later Mr Roy McKenzie an ■ given due prominence ' Names such as Bob Plaxico i "Drum” Withers, Leste Maidens, F. C. Dunlevey ; Bobbie Dunn, Peter Gallag her, George Mouritz am ■ several members of the Hun ; ter family all contributed t( the success of the stud, bu ■ none more so than Georgi : Noble, who came from Aus tralia in 1941. Noble was th< I trainer and stud manager a Roydon Lodge until 1969. The first horse to stand a i Roydon Lodge was Grea Bingen, a wonderful race horse raced in partnershi) • by Sir John McKenzie am ' Mr Dan Glanville, of Christ i(church, now in his 90s anc :(still an occasional visitor tc I Addington. i While much of “The Roy ' don Heritage” is to do wit! : trotting, there is a sectior dealing with Sir Johr McKenzie’s business anc ■i philanthropic activities this i is accompanied by some de lightful anecdotes sure tc arouse a chuckle from those (fortunate enough to recal. i associations with him. Mr McKenzie plays down the part he has played in following through the many ■ activities of his father; and his book is one which will (be read with interest not ( only by followers of. trotting. Numerous photographs I add to the value of the book. Profits from the book, which will be on sale for the first lime at Addington Raceway this evening, will ■be used for equine research i equally between Massey Uni■versity and the Equine Research Foundation. — G. K. lYule.