Abstract of Michael Patrick SHERIDAN, 2007
Item — Box: 21
Identifier: H00410002
Abstract
Interviewer: Lynne Grove
Abstracter: Jean Hawkes
MICHAEL PATRICK SHERIDAN
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview identification
00:29 MICHAEL PATRICK SHERIDAN born in OTAUTAU in 1934
00:40 Father's name PATRICK – may have been born in RIVERTON 1898 – Grader driver at OTAUTAU
00:51 Mother's name ELIZABETH born at MILTON 1908 – Domestic
01:20 [CHILDHOOD]: Mostly war years – Not much activity in New Zealand – Basic
01:34 [EDUCATION]: Attended OTAUTAU PRIMARY SCHOOL – RIVERTON CONVENT – NIGHTCAPS DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL Good teachers
02:09 No friends from school days – Possible reason given
02:27 [CHORES]: No activities for school recalled – Usual domestic chores
02:54 [EMPLOYMENT]: New Zealand Railways earning five pounds per fortnight – Board paid to parents – Compared with current costs Railway Cadet at WAIRIO – Coal trains from OHAI
03:52 [RACING]: Always involved – Parents went to race meetings. RIVERTON – INVERCARGILL – WINTON – WYNDHAM – GORE – DUNEDIN – TAPANUI – BEAUMONT
04:19 [FIRST MEMORIES]: At races as very small child – Parents interest in race horses – father owned race horse – Mother's brother owned EXCELLENCY 04:58 [EXCELLENCY]: Raced from 1946 to 1949 – Described including winning NEW ZEALAND CUP
05:18 Own family did not train horses – Had shares in them Self helped MAURICE CORKERY at RIVERTON MEETINGS – Described
05:44 Self familiar with Race Days and Race Personnel
05:54 [RACE COURSES]: RIVERTON favourite – Explained 06:24 [CONTRIBUTION]: Running of 100th GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE in 2006 Club notified 2002 Successful event – NO HERO winner's achievements – Explained
07:23 [BOOK]: Writing of 'JUMPING TO GLORY' – Explained DON WRIGHT – NEW ZEALAND TURF REGISTER – Mentioned
08:20 Own ability to remember racing facts – Described Probably a better know of horses from sixty years ago than in recent recent years.
09:00 [TOP HORSES]: Strong breeding industry in SOUTHLAND Mr CHISHOLM of OTAUTAU stood sire SALMAGUNDI Mr W E HAZLETT and father CHELANDRY STUD at TARAMOA Mr BERT LAWTON at INVERCARGILL stood BELLBOROUGH SALMAGUNDI – KURDISTAN – BELLBOROUGH [HAMPTON STUD] – Progeny would be racing for same stakes as North Island horses – Reason given
10:00 [STUD FARMS]: Today no big studs in SOUTHLAND – Nearest BRIAN ANDERTON'S at WINGATUI Farmers used to have a brood mare but not today – Probably loss of interest in racing 10:35 To improve attendance at race meetings need to have people involved – Explained Education of patrons needed
11:10 [FUTURE of RACING]: Taxation relief benefited North Island Racing – Small improvement for South Island Racing – More stake money needed for South Island, especially SOUTHLAND
11:33 [RACE COURSES]: Five for population of ninety thousand – too many Due to costs suggests three courses for region – Eventually two or three will remain in SOUTHLAND. Possibly RIVERTON – GORE – INVERCARGILL – Population based
12:09 Dairy probably too busy to worry about racing – Racing authorities could approach Prognosis not good
12:36 Government assistance setting up local studs – Mentioned Cost probably prohibitive
13:00 [HORSES]: SIGNAL OFFICER – ROYAL LANCER – EXCELLENCY OTAGO closely associated with SOUTHLAND racing – GREAT SENSATION –
13:42 … SHOW GATE – KUMAI – BAGHDAD NOTE WELLINGTON CUP – MELBOURNE CUP – STUART FALCONER – Mentioned
14:01 [JOCKEYS]: L J ELLIS – LARRY WIGGINS – BILL BROUGHTON – GRENVILLE HUGHES – BOB SKELTON
14:24 [AUSTRALIAN RACING]: Own association for forty years. [BEST JOCKEYS]: GEORGE MOORE and ROY HIGGINS 14:30 [TRAVEL]: Mostly to MELBOURNE CUP Programme with KEN DIXON of FOVEAUX RADIO – Explained
15:02 Self has large collection of racing books and programmes – Not yet catalogued
15:19 [BOOK]: No commitment on possibility of another book GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE – Mentioned
15:33 [ATTRIBUTES of GREAT JOCKEY]: Patience – Stamina – Understand horses during races. Top jockeys abilities – Explained
16:07 [TODAY'S JOCKEYS]: South Island – CHRIS JOHNSTON (?) – JAMIE BULLARD – Good ones in North Island as well Young people not being apprenticed as jockeys in SOUTHLAND as in the past WILSON ELLIS – JOHN DOWLING – Mentioned Lack of good horses for apprentices to ride – Possible reason for low numbers
17:16 [SOCIAL ASPECT]: Off-track most admired IAN McEWEN from MELBOURNE – New Zealander – Employed by MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUB – Upgraded W S COX PLATE without sponsorship
18:13 [LOCAL SUPPORT]: Told W E HAZLETT financially and by attendance
18:44 Need keen people with racing knowledge – Few around now
19:07 [BEST NZ CLUB]: WELLINGTON RACING CLUB – Today not in Top Six. ERIC RUTHERFORD – Mentioned To go ahead need organisers with racing knowledge Discussion necessary – Explained
19:53 Strong committees in SOUTHLAND – Competitions suggested – RIVERTON has prize for person travelled furthest distance – Clubs need to do more to attract people.
20:42 OTAGO RACING CLUB MEETING at CROMWELL doing well – Big crowds Highest turnover in SOUTHLAND and OTAGO each year CROMWELL – QUEENSTOWN – ARROWTOWN – Mentioned
21:27 [WEATHER]: Effects of heavy rain at RIVERTON RACE COURSE – Described Heavy rain all day not uncommon – Howling winds in winter – Hail storm recalled WHY DEE (?) [horse] – Mentioned
22:25 [HAPPIEST TIME]: Best thing self has done – Suggested holding 100th GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE – Successful Celebrations – Described Efforts of committee commended
23:38 [TRAGEDIES]: JIMMY HAYES of TE AWAMUTU lost his life – Explained
24:32 Racing positive influence on own life
24:45 1948 RIVERTON printed ten and half thousand race books [10,500] – Crowd estimated at 12,000 – Population of New Zealand 1,750,000 people. Today 4 million plus – 2000 to 2500 at races would be a good day at RIVERTON at Easter.
25:27 High point of racing in SOUTHLAND 1948-1970s – Explained
25:47 Recent decline in racing – Lack of interest rather than social changes
26:16 Racing time consuming – Worse as now have computer for general information Always interested in AUSTRALIAN racing – Not yet familiar enough to log-in to AUSTRALIAN racing, soon to be rectified.
26:55 [TV]: Enjoys watching – Four weeks in AUSTRALIA before MELBOURNE CUP Horses and Jockeys from ENGLAND – Big crowds – Dress of young people Self not travelled to other countries for racing ASCOT – IRELAND – FRANCE – Mentioned
28:03 Racing provided social life – Horse historian rather than committee based Regarded as historian for RIVERTON RACING CLUB
28:43 Self would like to help an interested person to carry on – Doubts it will happen
29:03 PAT FINNEGAN of FEILDING – Historian – Maybe 2 or 3 historians in New Zealand – Look back on good days of racing
29:14 [BOOKS]: Possible subject – Good horses from SOUTHLAND – Cataloguing Support from DON WRIGHT
30:17 Family not really involved
30:48 TYPICAL RACE DAY – Described GAY STUART – Mentioned
31:40 COMMUNICATION – Race day – Stipendiary stewards – Owners' interaction Today's information not publicised – Owners' lack of knowledge
33:18 RIVERTON CUP – GREAT WESTERN – Winners' breeding in newspaper in past years – Editors now claim 'lack of space'
33:52 COMMENTATORS – Available information – Self never commentated DAVE CLARKSON – PETER KELLY – REON MURTHA– Mentioned Qualities of a commentator – Explained
34:57 [HIGHLIGHT]: Spring Racing Carnival in MELBOURNE – TV not as good as being there – Meet friends
35:36 No major cost in work done – Not a gambler
36:20 [FUTURE]: Cataloguing – Maybe another book – Maybe world tour Keep involved with racing
37:00 Changing landscape – Dairy farms in Southland – Effects on community and the land APARIMA DAIRY FACTORY – Mentioned
37:40 [WAR YEARS]: Many race meetings not held – Boomed after war – Big crowds RIVERTON – Mentioned More breeding today – Number of horses in a field compared
39:01 [FEMALE BREEDERS]: More in past twenty years – Without lady riders racing would struggle for jockeys – Some resistance – Health possible reason for less male jockeys GAY STUART – Mentioned 40:12 [APPRENTICES]: Under control of trainer – Typical day in 1948 – Described Allocation of riding fee – Explained Apprenticeship 4 to 5 years
41:47 Education of apprentices – Described
42:07 Top trainers from SOUTHLAND – BILL HILLIS of RIVERTON – REX COCHRANE and TED WINSLOE from GORE – Dominant 1960s
42:32 Use of beach for training – Local conditions possible reason for success
43:15 Changed attitudes of young people – Explained
44:26 End of Track 1
Abstracter: Jean Hawkes
MICHAEL PATRICK SHERIDAN
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview identification
00:29 MICHAEL PATRICK SHERIDAN born in OTAUTAU in 1934
00:40 Father's name PATRICK – may have been born in RIVERTON 1898 – Grader driver at OTAUTAU
00:51 Mother's name ELIZABETH born at MILTON 1908 – Domestic
01:20 [CHILDHOOD]: Mostly war years – Not much activity in New Zealand – Basic
01:34 [EDUCATION]: Attended OTAUTAU PRIMARY SCHOOL – RIVERTON CONVENT – NIGHTCAPS DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL Good teachers
02:09 No friends from school days – Possible reason given
02:27 [CHORES]: No activities for school recalled – Usual domestic chores
02:54 [EMPLOYMENT]: New Zealand Railways earning five pounds per fortnight – Board paid to parents – Compared with current costs Railway Cadet at WAIRIO – Coal trains from OHAI
03:52 [RACING]: Always involved – Parents went to race meetings. RIVERTON – INVERCARGILL – WINTON – WYNDHAM – GORE – DUNEDIN – TAPANUI – BEAUMONT
04:19 [FIRST MEMORIES]: At races as very small child – Parents interest in race horses – father owned race horse – Mother's brother owned EXCELLENCY 04:58 [EXCELLENCY]: Raced from 1946 to 1949 – Described including winning NEW ZEALAND CUP
05:18 Own family did not train horses – Had shares in them Self helped MAURICE CORKERY at RIVERTON MEETINGS – Described
05:44 Self familiar with Race Days and Race Personnel
05:54 [RACE COURSES]: RIVERTON favourite – Explained 06:24 [CONTRIBUTION]: Running of 100th GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE in 2006 Club notified 2002 Successful event – NO HERO winner's achievements – Explained
07:23 [BOOK]: Writing of 'JUMPING TO GLORY' – Explained DON WRIGHT – NEW ZEALAND TURF REGISTER – Mentioned
08:20 Own ability to remember racing facts – Described Probably a better know of horses from sixty years ago than in recent recent years.
09:00 [TOP HORSES]: Strong breeding industry in SOUTHLAND Mr CHISHOLM of OTAUTAU stood sire SALMAGUNDI Mr W E HAZLETT and father CHELANDRY STUD at TARAMOA Mr BERT LAWTON at INVERCARGILL stood BELLBOROUGH SALMAGUNDI – KURDISTAN – BELLBOROUGH [HAMPTON STUD] – Progeny would be racing for same stakes as North Island horses – Reason given
10:00 [STUD FARMS]: Today no big studs in SOUTHLAND – Nearest BRIAN ANDERTON'S at WINGATUI Farmers used to have a brood mare but not today – Probably loss of interest in racing 10:35 To improve attendance at race meetings need to have people involved – Explained Education of patrons needed
11:10 [FUTURE of RACING]: Taxation relief benefited North Island Racing – Small improvement for South Island Racing – More stake money needed for South Island, especially SOUTHLAND
11:33 [RACE COURSES]: Five for population of ninety thousand – too many Due to costs suggests three courses for region – Eventually two or three will remain in SOUTHLAND. Possibly RIVERTON – GORE – INVERCARGILL – Population based
12:09 Dairy probably too busy to worry about racing – Racing authorities could approach Prognosis not good
12:36 Government assistance setting up local studs – Mentioned Cost probably prohibitive
13:00 [HORSES]: SIGNAL OFFICER – ROYAL LANCER – EXCELLENCY OTAGO closely associated with SOUTHLAND racing – GREAT SENSATION –
13:42 … SHOW GATE – KUMAI – BAGHDAD NOTE WELLINGTON CUP – MELBOURNE CUP – STUART FALCONER – Mentioned
14:01 [JOCKEYS]: L J ELLIS – LARRY WIGGINS – BILL BROUGHTON – GRENVILLE HUGHES – BOB SKELTON
14:24 [AUSTRALIAN RACING]: Own association for forty years. [BEST JOCKEYS]: GEORGE MOORE and ROY HIGGINS 14:30 [TRAVEL]: Mostly to MELBOURNE CUP Programme with KEN DIXON of FOVEAUX RADIO – Explained
15:02 Self has large collection of racing books and programmes – Not yet catalogued
15:19 [BOOK]: No commitment on possibility of another book GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE – Mentioned
15:33 [ATTRIBUTES of GREAT JOCKEY]: Patience – Stamina – Understand horses during races. Top jockeys abilities – Explained
16:07 [TODAY'S JOCKEYS]: South Island – CHRIS JOHNSTON (?) – JAMIE BULLARD – Good ones in North Island as well Young people not being apprenticed as jockeys in SOUTHLAND as in the past WILSON ELLIS – JOHN DOWLING – Mentioned Lack of good horses for apprentices to ride – Possible reason for low numbers
17:16 [SOCIAL ASPECT]: Off-track most admired IAN McEWEN from MELBOURNE – New Zealander – Employed by MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUB – Upgraded W S COX PLATE without sponsorship
18:13 [LOCAL SUPPORT]: Told W E HAZLETT financially and by attendance
18:44 Need keen people with racing knowledge – Few around now
19:07 [BEST NZ CLUB]: WELLINGTON RACING CLUB – Today not in Top Six. ERIC RUTHERFORD – Mentioned To go ahead need organisers with racing knowledge Discussion necessary – Explained
19:53 Strong committees in SOUTHLAND – Competitions suggested – RIVERTON has prize for person travelled furthest distance – Clubs need to do more to attract people.
20:42 OTAGO RACING CLUB MEETING at CROMWELL doing well – Big crowds Highest turnover in SOUTHLAND and OTAGO each year CROMWELL – QUEENSTOWN – ARROWTOWN – Mentioned
21:27 [WEATHER]: Effects of heavy rain at RIVERTON RACE COURSE – Described Heavy rain all day not uncommon – Howling winds in winter – Hail storm recalled WHY DEE (?) [horse] – Mentioned
22:25 [HAPPIEST TIME]: Best thing self has done – Suggested holding 100th GREAT WESTERN STEEPLECHASE – Successful Celebrations – Described Efforts of committee commended
23:38 [TRAGEDIES]: JIMMY HAYES of TE AWAMUTU lost his life – Explained
24:32 Racing positive influence on own life
24:45 1948 RIVERTON printed ten and half thousand race books [10,500] – Crowd estimated at 12,000 – Population of New Zealand 1,750,000 people. Today 4 million plus – 2000 to 2500 at races would be a good day at RIVERTON at Easter.
25:27 High point of racing in SOUTHLAND 1948-1970s – Explained
25:47 Recent decline in racing – Lack of interest rather than social changes
26:16 Racing time consuming – Worse as now have computer for general information Always interested in AUSTRALIAN racing – Not yet familiar enough to log-in to AUSTRALIAN racing, soon to be rectified.
26:55 [TV]: Enjoys watching – Four weeks in AUSTRALIA before MELBOURNE CUP Horses and Jockeys from ENGLAND – Big crowds – Dress of young people Self not travelled to other countries for racing ASCOT – IRELAND – FRANCE – Mentioned
28:03 Racing provided social life – Horse historian rather than committee based Regarded as historian for RIVERTON RACING CLUB
28:43 Self would like to help an interested person to carry on – Doubts it will happen
29:03 PAT FINNEGAN of FEILDING – Historian – Maybe 2 or 3 historians in New Zealand – Look back on good days of racing
29:14 [BOOKS]: Possible subject – Good horses from SOUTHLAND – Cataloguing Support from DON WRIGHT
30:17 Family not really involved
30:48 TYPICAL RACE DAY – Described GAY STUART – Mentioned
31:40 COMMUNICATION – Race day – Stipendiary stewards – Owners' interaction Today's information not publicised – Owners' lack of knowledge
33:18 RIVERTON CUP – GREAT WESTERN – Winners' breeding in newspaper in past years – Editors now claim 'lack of space'
33:52 COMMENTATORS – Available information – Self never commentated DAVE CLARKSON – PETER KELLY – REON MURTHA– Mentioned Qualities of a commentator – Explained
34:57 [HIGHLIGHT]: Spring Racing Carnival in MELBOURNE – TV not as good as being there – Meet friends
35:36 No major cost in work done – Not a gambler
36:20 [FUTURE]: Cataloguing – Maybe another book – Maybe world tour Keep involved with racing
37:00 Changing landscape – Dairy farms in Southland – Effects on community and the land APARIMA DAIRY FACTORY – Mentioned
37:40 [WAR YEARS]: Many race meetings not held – Boomed after war – Big crowds RIVERTON – Mentioned More breeding today – Number of horses in a field compared
39:01 [FEMALE BREEDERS]: More in past twenty years – Without lady riders racing would struggle for jockeys – Some resistance – Health possible reason for less male jockeys GAY STUART – Mentioned 40:12 [APPRENTICES]: Under control of trainer – Typical day in 1948 – Described Allocation of riding fee – Explained Apprenticeship 4 to 5 years
41:47 Education of apprentices – Described
42:07 Top trainers from SOUTHLAND – BILL HILLIS of RIVERTON – REX COCHRANE and TED WINSLOE from GORE – Dominant 1960s
42:32 Use of beach for training – Local conditions possible reason for success
43:15 Changed attitudes of young people – Explained
44:26 End of Track 1
Dates
- 2007
Conditions Governing Access
For access please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Conditions Governing Use
The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Grove, Lynne (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
