Racing: First NZ pneumatic-tyred sulky

The beginning of harness racing at Tahuna Park in 1892, coincided with the development of the recently invented pneumatic tyre and the opening in Dunedin of a specialist bicycle shop and factory by top Otago cyclist Sam Stedman.

Later that year, Stedman turned his business to producing the first New Zealand-manufactured pneumatic-tyred trotting sulky, combining the needs of trotting with the techniques of bicycle manufacture.

In March 1893, he added to his advertising "the only builder of the world-famous American style trotting sulky".

On June 8, 1893, The Otago Witness reported, "Mr Stedman has taken an important step on the manufacture of a sulky.

The vehicle in which the winner of the Harness Trot at the Tahuna Park meeting of the 25th [May 25] was driven, was constructed in its entirety by Mr Stedman.

It is pneumatic-tyred and weighs only 48lb.

Should trotting continue to develop as this branch of sport has developed in Otago during the past few years, the manufacture of sulkies such as that which Mr Stedman has turned out may become a flourishing industry."

Because of the success of the new sulky, there was a demand for the sulkies and Sam Stedman went on to sell them throughout New Zealand and exported them to Australia.

He even developed a single-wheeled model in an attempt to further reduce the weight of the sulky.

It was obviously not a success.

The incorporation of bicycle building techniques even extended to the use of a bicycle seat for the driver.

Harness racing moved from Tahuna Park to Forbury Park in 1909.