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Overview
This jigsaw puzzle was produced by Holdson NZ in around 1968 – the year champion pacer Cardigan Bay reached $1 million in earnings. He was the first horse in harness racing to do so.
Cardigan Bay sits alongside Phar Lap as one of our most famous race horses. In the late 1960s he was a household name in New Zealand, and he also gained superstar status in the United States. In 1968, having achieved a career total of $1,000,837, Cardigan Bay appeared on an episode of the Ed Sullivan Show. His subsequent return to New Zealand was commemorated with a stamp issue featuring his image.
Foaled in 1956, Cardigan Bay was initially trained and driven by his breeder, Dave Todd of Mataura, Southland. He was then purchased by Merv and Audrey Dean of Auckland and cared for by Peter Wolfenden. Having won 29 of 47 races in New Zealand and Australia Cardigan Bay was purchased by an American syndicate in 1964, and won 37 of 87 races in the United States. He was officially retired on September 14 1968 at a ceremony in Yonkers attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake. He returned to New Zealand and lived for 20 years on Sir Henry Kelliher’s stud farm in Puketutu Island.
References
- --- 1988. Cardigan Bay Dies at 31. New York Times, March 11.