To list all legends of the Riccarton turf would have us here all day. Canterbury horses and the Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC) have been hugely influential in New Zealand’s racing history. In fact, five of the inaugural inductees to the NZ Racing Hall of Fame were connected with Riccarton Park and/or the CJC! 

 

Star gallopers Gloaming and Carbine were both trained at Riccarton Park. Standout trainer of his era during the late 19th and early 20th century, Dick Mason was also among the initial inductees, alongside George Gatonby Stead and Sir George Clifford, who were both high profile administrators, owners and breeders in Canterbury.

 

Mason, who trained Gloaming for Canterbury owner George Greenwood, had a career that lasted more than 50 years and was often regarded as the leading Australasian trainer of his time. He pioneered the Kiwi raids on the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals, making his first trip across the ditch in 1874. Mason won the Australian Derby four times and prepared the quinella in 1905 - a year that saw him dominate the spring Sydney meeting (note: the AJC Derby was then run in the spring) - winning eight races with four horses. 

 

Mason won a total of 30 Derbies (no - we have not accidentally added a zero to that!) during his career and more than 200 feature races but Gloaming, foaled in 1915, was his masterpiece. Gloaming recorded 57 wins and nine seconds from his 67 starts - an impeccable record. His wins included the AJC Derby, Great Northern Derby and NZ Derby. Gloaming was also a regular on the Australian scene, crossing the Tasman 15 times during his six-year career. 

 

Carbine, who carried 66kgs to win the 1890 Melbourne Cup, recorded 33 wins and nine placings from 43 starts before being retired to owner Donald Wallace's stud. Carbine left a huge impact on the racetracks of Australasia, however, the impact he has left on thoroughbred breeding is arguably larger. More than half of the Melbourne Cup winners from 1914 to 1978 are descendants of Carbine, including Phar Lap, Rising Fast and Think Big. His bloodlines also run through the likes of megastars Deep Impact, Sunline and Makybe Diva. 

 

In more recent times, Canterbury has been home to superior equine competitors including Beaumaris - the star performer of the 50s whose wins included the NZ Derby, Wellington Cup and Auckland Cup, Dalray - the last Riccarton galloper to win a Melbourne Cup, as well as Sailing Home and Little Brown Jug - who were both awarded the New Zealand Horse of the Year title in their starring seasons. 

 

Modern-day legends of the two-legged type include trainer-rider Jim Ellis, who based himself at Riccarton Park for the bulk of his remarkable career as both a jockey and trainer. Ellis was the first jockey to record 1000 winning rides in New Zealand - among those being five New Zealand Cups, three Wellington Cups and two Auckland Cups on Cuddle. 

 

Riccarton based trainer Michael Pitman has won three training premierships and in 2008 became the first South Island trainer to win the premiership for 36 years. While Chris Johnson and David Walsh, who have both been based at Riccarton for at least part of their careers, are currently among New Zealand’s top jockeys. 

 

If there’s one take away from this - Riccarton Park and the Canterbury Jockey Club was a true powerhouse in New Zealand thoroughbred racing’s early days and continues to produce outstanding results today.