Cecil Devine
Encyclopedia
Cecil Devine or C.C. Devine (23 March 1915 - July 1990) was a driver of standardbred racehorses in New Zealand
. He drove many winners of major races in New Zealand. His greatest achievement was winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup
, New Zealand's premier racing event, three times in a row in 1958, 1959 and 1960 with False Step
. He also drove False Step in the US International Paces at Yonkers and Roosevelt.
Throughout his career, C.C. Devine was one of the "old school" who referred to the sport as "trotting" rather than the more fashionable name of "harness racing". He first got into the sport in the depression years, saying that he otherwise might have ended up a lawyer. He was associated with many top horses. He won the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the New Zealand Free For All
with Lord Module
, which he also owned. He won a record six New Zealand Trotting Cups in all with Lord Module, Thunder, and Van Dieman, and with False Step three times.
False Step went on to beat acknowledged American champion of the time, Adios Butler
in the United States.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He drove many winners of major races in New Zealand. His greatest achievement was winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup
New Zealand Trotting Cup
The New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. the prize was NZ$750,000, the largest prize for a...
, New Zealand's premier racing event, three times in a row in 1958, 1959 and 1960 with False Step
False Step
False Step was a New Zealand Standardbred racehorse. He is notable in that he won three New Zealand Trotting Cupraces, the richest harness race, and sometimes the richest horse race in New Zealand...
. He also drove False Step in the US International Paces at Yonkers and Roosevelt.
Throughout his career, C.C. Devine was one of the "old school" who referred to the sport as "trotting" rather than the more fashionable name of "harness racing". He first got into the sport in the depression years, saying that he otherwise might have ended up a lawyer. He was associated with many top horses. He won the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the New Zealand Free For All
New Zealand Free For All
The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand. It was valued at $300,000, but was reduced to $200,000 due to economic pressures...
with Lord Module
Lord Module
Lord Module was a champion New Zealand bred Standardbred racehorse who raced during the 1970s.He is notable in that he won the NZ Trotting Cup, the richest harness race, and sometimes the richest horse race in New Zealand....
, which he also owned. He won a record six New Zealand Trotting Cups in all with Lord Module, Thunder, and Van Dieman, and with False Step three times.
False Step went on to beat acknowledged American champion of the time, Adios Butler
Adios Butler
The horse Adios Butler, also known as "The Butler" , was a North American harness racing champion.Sired by the great Standardbred Adios with an obscure broodmare named Debby Hanover, Adios Butler was trained and driven by Clint Hodgins...
in the United States.