The Dalgety family of North Otago have been vendors at the annual sale of standardbred yearlings in Christchurch for 61 years.
Nola Robinson and her sister, Myrtle McCarthy, are continuing the tradition with offerings at the premier sale next week. Their father, Jim Dalgety, sold at the yearling sales for over 40 years from his Belmedia Stud at Kakanui until is death in 1992.
His son, Jim, has also been a vendor from Lantana Lodge at West Melton and another son, the late Don, was a vendor from Shardon Stud at Maheno.
The McCarthy and Robinson yearlings have been prepared on Teschemakers properties.
Mrs McCarthy is offering a colt by Lis Mara from Highland Loch and a filly by Mach Three from Lady Loch.
Mrs Robinson, her daughter Jacqui Robinson-McKenzie and husband, John McKenzie, are offering a colt by Live Or Die from Bedspread, named Spangled Don. He is a half-brother to Linatawa, who was bred by Don Dalgety.
Linatawa won three races in New Zealand and the daughter of Holmes Hanover has won another 27 in the United States, taking a mile record of 1.52.8.
Another of the progeny of Bedspread, Scuba Steve (a 3yr-old by Washington VC) won at Narrogin (Western Australia) last month at his third start.
Bedspread is a grand-daughter of Spangled Hanover, who was bought by Jim Dalgety sen for 1200 guineas at the 1966 national yearling sale, when offered by Roydon Lodge.
Spangled Hanover won three races when trained by Dalgety, who raced the Garrison Hanover mare with Gene Lee.
She left speedy pacers Spangle's Gold, Butler Hanover and Farm Boss, who raced in New Zealand before being sold to North America.
The first two were by Jack Chance, who stood at Belmedia Stud.
Dalgety sen made his first offering at the national sale of yearlings in 1950 when he sold a Bruce Walla-Iona Parrish colt for 70 guineas. The sale was then conducted by H Matson and Co and Wright, Stephenson and Co Ltd at the Addington showgrounds.
The venue is now Canterbury Agricultural Park with PGG Wrightson the selling agent.
Mrs Robinson, one of nine children, has a recollection of her father preparing yearlings.
"It was the most terrifying time of our lives. Everything had to be spot on," she said.
Jim Dalgety sen sold a My Chief-Queen's Coronet colt for 160 guineas in 1963 to Ces Donald, the first trainer to prepare 1000 winners in New Zealand. The colt, as Indecision, won 12 races including the 1967 Ashburton Cup and free-for-alls at the top level.
His brother, Chief Command, won the 1969 New Zealand FFA.
