Gorgeous black Monopoly was once almost as famous as the board game itself – especially in Canada and the USA. He’s even one of the very special heroes in Canada’s Jumping Hall of Fame. But he was born and bred here in New Zealand, before he was propelled to international glory.
A star is born
Monopoly was bred and produced by John Cottle. “His grandmother was a thoroughbred called Toowoomba, who I bought in the town called Toowoomba when I was in my first New Zealand team to Australia,” says John. “She was an absolute freak show jumper; she went from novice to Grand Prix in a season, then won the Grand Prix series. Her only foal was Suzy, who was so small we never broke her in.”
Instead, Suzy was classified for Hanoverian breeding and John put the little mare in foal to Witzbold, one of the original Hanoverian stallions imported to New Zealand. Witzbold (Winnetou/Lady by Lugano II) was the sire of many well-performing New Zealand Hanoverians, including Kallista Field’s Olympic dressage mount Waikare.
Monopoly was born in 1979 in Woodville, at the same time as another son of Witzbold’s, also bred by John, who was named Ludo. “They grew up together on our family farm at Horokiwi in Wellington,” says John.
Not only did the two Witzbold sons grow up together – 10 years later they came first and second in the Olympic Cup, both ridden by John! Monopoly was the winner, with Ludo runner-up.
A star is spotted
That year, World Champion show jumper, Canadian Gail Greenough, was visiting New Zealand and had a ride on Monopoly; suitably impressed, on her recommendation, another Canadian, Jay Hayes, put in an offer for him. It was sad for John, but he understood that it was the right thing to do. “I sold Monopoly, not just for the big price I was offered, but I knew he was an international horse – and with a young family, I had no immediate plans to compete again overseas,” he says.
Jay purchased Monopoly for a teenage rider, Skye Ierullo, but he proved a little too much for her. So, her family sent him to a trainer, Terrance Millar. Beth Underhill, a student at Terrance’s, was chosen to ride Monopoly. The pair clicked, and only one year later, they trotted into a New York arena to represent Canada in the Nations Cup.
Monopolising the Meadows
Monopoly had many victories with Beth, and represented Canada in every major international show, including the Olympics, the World Equestrian Games and the World Cup Final. They won more than a million dollars together.
There was one place in the world that Monopoly loved best: the enormous grass arena at Canada’s Spruce Meadows. He won the Canadian Championships there twice, and finished second in the Derby three years running, jumping the 20th clear round in the competition’s history in 1995. A year later, he and Beth were the Derby winners. The terrifying course, with its cliff-like hill and notorious Devil’s Dyke, never changes, and, says Beth, “I swear, by the end, I didn’t even have to steer! He loved the crowd at Spruce Meadows and he loved that course.”
By then, Monopoly had helped her become the leading lady rider in the world. The pair enjoyed one of the longest show jumping partnerships ever, winning their final Grand Prix in Florida when Monopoly was 20.
King of the barn
Even after his retirement, Monopoly was the top horse at Beth’s barn. “He felt he had an important job in the whole mechanism of how the stable ran. He’d nip at the dogs and boss the other horses as they moved around. Everything was on his terms!” However, he was also very sensitive. “You had to earn his trust. Once he trusted you, he’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”
Monopoly lived until he was 32. “He was in my life for 22 years,” Beth says. “He truly was a member of my family. There wasn’t another horse like him.”
Footnote: Over the years, John competed in many major international events. Did he ever see his old friend again? The answer is yes! “I did meet Monopoly again at the World Championships at the Hague, and I’m sure he recognised me.”
