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INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

Mallory and Irving die attempting to climb Mt Everest.

LOCAL HISTORY

July 7 - The character in the Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire (1981) was based on Arthur Porritt, who won a bronze medal for New Zealand in the 100 metres at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

October 18 - First trans-global radio transmission to London. From the family sheep farm in Shag Valley, East Otago, amateur radio operator Frank Bell sent a ground-breaking Morse code transmission. It was received and replied to by London-based amateur operator Cecil Goyder

November 11 - Bridge of Remembrance opens.

A polio epidemic kills 25 people.

Quail Island's leper colony closes.

The 'Invincibles' rugby team leaves NZ for Britain where it wins all thirty-two matches.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY PRESIDENTS: NZMTC

JAMES H WILLIAMS - NZMTC President

The graduate of Christ's College and city lawyer and sportsman came to trotting through cricket and tennis and rose to be the president of the Metropolitan Trotting Club for over a decade. But it was in other areas perhaps where he made most impression.

He was the president of the New Zealand Trotting Association for many years during which time the body also acted as the JCA does today, holding all the hearings on cases involving controversy and corruption in the sport.

In the Williams era there were a number including the sensational Bryce case which resulted at one stage in eight of the Board members resigning over an appeal decision by a Trotting Conference panel. Williams was the ninth. The contentious U Scott case of 1038 involving the game's biggest owner, John McKenzie was another notable affair.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Aug 2016

RACING HISTORY PEOPLE

PETER RIDDLE

Peter Riddle was best known for his New Zealand Cup win with Sheik in 1924 in the horse's first start for the season. He was such a popular figure in his short stay here the crowd cheered him home from the top of the straight - not something which might happen here these days!

He previously trained for Australia's leading owner, Percy Miller and brought a team over in 1914 which was not successful. He returned when Miller turned to galloping and after an "All Stars," - like run through the Auckland Summer carnival of 1922, he decided to stay. He had a big team of mainly Australian horses in work at Domain Terrace in Addington at the time of his Cup win. He returned to Australia two years later after a leaner spell but remained prominent in Sydney for some years.

TRIVIA FACT: Switching to training gallopers during the depression, Peter got 12 months when a rider on one of his horses at the 800m was heard to say "how good will this be when they let it go?"

Later h took a shine to a yearling bred by Miller that nobody else liked, bought it for less than $1000 and trained him to become the champion, Shannon. Unhappily Peter was in poor health at the time and Shannon was sold to the US after his death. Shannon broke Seabiscuit's track records in America and was a leading sire there

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Jan 2017

RACING HISTORY MESCELLANY

FIELD SIZES

Someone who has just backed a loser in a capacity field during the course of the Cup carnival at Addington is bound to lament that 15 starters is too many.

That may well be; but spare a thought for the punters who had to sort out their selections for the race in the accompanying photo, run at Addington in 1924, with 33 starters.

Run on the opening day of the Metropolitan club's August meeting, this event, the two-mile Trial Handicap, was won off 36yd behind by G Rutherford's Colchester, driven by Drum Withers. A son of dual NZ Cup winner Wildwood Junior, Colchester was 17th in the order of betting, which, in those days, with brackets went up to 25 in the 75%/25% win/place pool.

In beating favourite Prince Swithin (owned and driven by Lester Maidens) by a half length, Colchester covered the two miles in 4:42 4/5. Third after starting from 60yds, was Dalnahine, driven by Dil Edwards. The others in the race were Stunt Artist, Albert Logan, Quiver, Talaro, Bessie Logan, Dandy Rose, Kate Thorpe, Bruce, Holly Boy, Golden Gun, Transport, Harewood, Tarzan, Becky Logan, Away, Vera Logan, Percy Dillon, Harold Burwood, Hackthorne, Menember, Ivy Audubon, Jack Potts, Thixendale, The Rook, Bell Harold, Latona, Pinevale, Audacious, Lady Embrace and Prince Pointer.

There is a photo in the Auckland based NZ Trotting Hall of Fame of the official result of a race at the Cambridge Trotting Club's Summer meeting of January 7, 1950, contested by 35 starters.

But it appears the largest field ever to face the starter in NZ was that which lined up for the Harvest Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club's winter meeing on June 5,1948. Believe it or not, 41 horses went to the post that day, and the favourite won. The winner, coming off 12yds, over a mile and a half in 3:18 2/5, was Attack, then trained at Springston by N W Dickie for J N (Nick) Scott and O G (Ollie) Oakley, and driven by Dickie's son, the late Ivan Dickie.

Credit: Ron Bisman writing in HRWeekly 8Nov90

RACING HISTORY HORSES

REALM

Realm, who figures in a number of NZ pedigrees today, was bred by Mr T W McMahon, of Kurrajong, NSW, in the memorable year of 1914; Realm was a great performer both in NSW and NZ, but rather a disappointment as a sire. An odd winner by him occasionally crops up in NSW and Victoria. In NZ he was represented by Shadowland, winner of the NZ Derby (1926); Regime, and Royal Serene. The latter had records of 2.12 1/5 and 4.36 1/5. In addition to winning the Derby in 3.27 2/5, Shadowland was successful over two miles.

One of Realm's greatest performances was in 1924, when from a flying start in a Free-For-All he paced the mile in 2.03 4/5, being beaten a length by Acron. A couple of days prior to his sensational mile, Realm, off 72yds had run fourth to Sheik (36yds), Great Hope (24yds), and Taraire (48yds) in the 1924 NZ Cup. Of these four Realm's time of 4.24 3/5 was the fastest.

During August, 1922, soon after he reached NZ, Realm won twice in 4.32 4/5 and 4.26 4/5. He was also successfully placed in other races of varying distances, including a win over 10 furlongs in 2.44. On December 5, 1925, Realm ran second off 72yds to Great Bingen (108yds) in 4.29 1/5. Great Bingen's time was 4.25 4/5 and three lengths separated them.

In NSW he was also a good winner, and put up a winning record of 2.13 in a mile race at Victoria Park in 1922. Hoplessly left, he was credited with running the last half in under a minute. Driven by P Riddle, Realm, then raced by Mr J Barrett, won a division at Harold Park (then Epping) in 2.37 1/2, equal to a mile rate of 2.20. Subsequently he won at Victoria Park in 3.35, 3.31 and 2.53, but probably his best long-distance performance in Australia was his second to Box Seat at Victoria Park in 1922. The latter was on 140yds and Realm on 90yds, and the verdict was a yard. Box Seat averaged 2.13 1/2 for two miles and Realm better than 2.16.

In his racing career Realm was credited with winning over £4500 in stakes. Though his full-brother, Childe Wood, was a great success as a sire, Realm, a mighty racehorse, was a comparative failure.

Credit: 'Old Timer' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 24May50

RACING HISTORY HORSES

REGINA LOGAN

Regina Logan (1924 Logan Pointer-Regina de Oro), NZ family of Regina; unraced; 14 foals, 10 winners. Breeder: James Duffy, Winton. Foals bred by : M Duffy, Winton (Regina Derby); J M McTavish, Winton (Southern Smile); all other foals bred by Miss Julia Cuffs, Weedons.

Yet another classic winner producing mare whose sire was Logan Pointer. Regina Logan's sire Logan Pointer (1909) left 191 winners including Harold Logan (Two NZ Cups, three NZFFA's) with broodmare credits of three Inter Dominion (ID) Champions in Logan Derby, grand Mogul and Springfield Globe. Logan Pointer was leading sire on seven occasions in NZ.

Dam Regina de Oro was by Copa de Oro who died after one season in NZ (sired Rey de Oro in North America) from Regina Belle (NZMTC President's Hcp). Her dam sire was Bellman, an Australian bred trotter of imported parents who sired 47 winners (30 pacers, 17 trotters) including Bell Car (Easter Hcp), Bell Fashion (Timaru Cup). His broodmare credits included the very speedy Native Chief (NZ Derby, NZFFA). Bellman's daughters included Rita Bell (family of Delightful Lady), kola Bell (family of Sheza Mona) and Bellflower (family of Stanley Rio). Regina Belle left good pacer Logan Chief (NZFFA, Dunedin, Canterbury Hcp, Easter Hcp twice, winner of 23 races from 178 starts, to 31/7/1930 held records for gelding for 1m, 1¼m, 1½m) and his half sister Wild Queen was grand dam of Grand Mogul and 5th dam of Black Watch. Regina de Oro's daughter's included Regina Pointer- grand dam of Garry Dillon and descendant in Honkin Vision.

The family of Regina was founded in Southland and has become well established in Australia. Standout descendants include - Garry Dillon (NZ/ Waikato Cups, CF Mark Memorial), Nicky's Falcon (Redcliffe Cup, raced until 14 years old in Queensland), Honkin Vision ($½m, NZSS-2c/3, NZ C/S-2/3, Flying Stakes-3, Junior FFA), Bruce Hall (ID Pacing Consolation), Trusty Scot (NZ Cup/ FFA, Kaikoura Cup, Ashburton Flying Stakes, ID ht), Grand Mogul (ID Pacing ht/final, Louisson/ Easter Hcps).

Regina Logan's fillies included:

1. Pola Negri, a mare of 14.1 hands, was a winner on five occasions. She left daughters who bred on including:
- Ardour, left Dourglo (Geraldine/ Wyndham Cups)
- Ballyhaunis, left Jennifer: descendants Post Dated Vance (Leonard Memorial, Delightful Lady Classic) and Seafield Princess, ancestress of Seafield Hanover (GN Oaks), Letucerockthem (I:52.1, APG-2c, NSW Breeders Challenge-2c/3c), Letucerocku (1:52.6).
- Clontarf bred on.

2. Dalgan Park - descendants through Dalgan Hall, include numerous Australian winners predominantly Tasmanian, Laradoc (ID ht), Bravado Vale (ID Trot Consolation).

3. Promise Me, unraced, bred on with a leading descendant being good trotter Silver Wheels (Rhodes Mile Trot). Southern Smile, reached good company winning the James Hcp at Forbury among her eleven victories. She was one of the first 100 2:10 pacers in NZ (2:08.8 10furs 1936/7. She failed to produce any foals. Voloma, whose Invercargill Cup win at six came from her only start that season. She recorded four earlier wins but failed to produce other than one foal (Native Chief) who was unraced due to injury. Like Southern Smile, by Adioo Guy who left many fine breeding producers, these two mares failed to breed on.

4. Two Crosses, in-bred to Copa de Oro 2/3 was unraced. She was dam of:
- Master Scott, sire of several Australian winners and descendants Teramby Time (NSWSS-3f), Kyalla Mary (NSWSS-2f)
- True Glory, dam of Gay Baron (Riccarton/ Queens Birthday Stakes-3, Rangiora/ CPTC Winter Cups), Rapine (Hawera Cup); 3rd dam of Wickliffe (Golden Slipper/ Oamaru Juvenile-2)

Regina Logan's male progeny included two good juveniles:

Southern Chief, winner of the inaugural Futurity Stakes that became the Timaru Nursery-2 in 1936. An offer of £1,000 was refused shortly after this victory. Of his twelve wins, five were as a six-year-old including Methven Cup, Oamaru President Handicap and Canterbury Handicap. He was used as a sire.

Walter Moore, half brother of Southern Chief, was a good juvenile pacer by Quite Sure. He won his division (two run) of 1940 Timaru Nursery-2 at his first start. In doing so he established a NZ 2YO Pacers mile record of 2:10.8. This stood as the two-year-old standing start record for thirty years (2:07.0, Lumber 1970). His four wins at three included Ashburton All Aged Stakes and NZ Futurity. His final two victories came at four at Forbury and he was unsuccessful over the next four seasons before being retired.

Other minor winners from Regina Logan were - Regina Derby, won one race at Winton JC before fracturing a leg working around roads; Southland, full brother to Southern Chief (Wrack) was the winner of five races at Auckland, Christchurch and Greymouth (3 wins); Luck Ahead, won 3 (Hawera, South Canterbury JC, FPTC); Southern Way's only win came at first start as a three-year-old at Westland; Honest Truth was a winner at Greymouth.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Feb 2015

RACING HISTORY HORSES

HAROLD LOGAN - Bargain Buy

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed May 2016

RACING HISTORY HORSES

HAROLD LOGAN - Bargain Buy

Harold Logan 1924 £100, 36 wins (including match races) £11,500.

Harold Logan was probably the most popular pacer to race in New Zealand but while he provided only triumph for his later owners, an earlier one experienced only a sadness that led to tragedy.

Harold Logan was bred by Jack Coffey, then in the Springfield hotel, his dam Ivy Cole, a good looking but slow performer, and another mare were sold cheaply to Percy Brown of Waimate, a drover. Coffey was shifting to a hotel with less ground but it still turned out the bargain of the ages for Brown.

The other mare's foal turned out to be the near champion, Roi L'or, for Brown but he passed Harold Logan on to Fred Legge a Livingstone(Otago) trainer and shearer - virtually as a gift.

In his first racing season Harold Logan won a maiden by several lengths, ridden by his owner at a Waimate Hunt meeting but could not find that form again. He didn't win at all in his second season(he was then six!) and in his third, after one sale fell through on a vet test, he was sold to Miss Effie Hinds of Christchurch.

After professional treatment for various problems and some straightening out of

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed May 2016

RACING HISTORY HORSES

HAROLD LOGAN - Bargain Buy

Harold Logan 1924 £100, 36 wins (including match races) £11,500.

Harold Logan was probably the most popular pacer to race in New Zealand but while he provided only triumph for his later owners, an earlier one experienced only a sadness that led to tragedy.

Harold Logan was bred by Jack Coffey, then in the Springfield hotel, his dam Ivy Cole, a good looking but slow performer, and another mare were sold cheaply to Percy Brown of Waimate, a drover. Coffey was shifting to a hotel with less ground but it still turned out the bargain of the ages for Brown.

The other mare's foal turned out to be the near champion, Roi L'or, for Brown but he passed Harold Logan on to Fred Legge a Livingstone(Otago) trainer and shearer - virtually as a gift.

In his first racing season Harold Logan won a maiden by several lengths, ridden by his owner at a Waimate Hunt meeting but could not find that form again. He didn't win at all in his second season(he was then six!) and in his third, after one sale fell through on a vet test, he was sold to Miss Effie Hinds of Christchurch.

After professional treatment for various problems and some straightening out of his attitude by old-school trainer, Dick Humphreys,(he trained where Jack Smolenski, Jim Dalgety etc would follow), Harold Logan then won 8 of his next 10 starts and became a hero horse.

Besides winning two New Zealand Cups and driving Addington crowds into frenzies of enthusiasms with some amazing performances he had a personality few horses could match. He won the NZ Free-For-All as a fourteen-year-old and was lucky to have a hair in his tail when he finally made it back to his stall. The crowd just went berserk.

But Fred Legge watched his charge's progress in despair from his little hut near Duntroon. After racing an unplaced horse at Forbury one day in 1930, unable to pay even his travel bills and broken hearted over Harold Logan, he went to bed, put two extra pillows behind his head and shot himself.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed May 2016

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Owner, Trainer, Driver Peter Riddle with Mrs Riddle

1924 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The 1924 Cup Meeting brought together a number of fine performances, with individual highlights being recorded by the likes of Acron, Great Bingen, Great Hope, the imported Jack Potts, the 3-year-old Kohara and the trotting mare Nikora, who downed a field of 17 in the Dominion.

The Cup itself was another triumph for Australia, with Sheik, owned, trained and driven by Sydney's Peter Riddle, stalling off the game bid of the little Great Hope and Andy Bryce, who was the third member of his family to drive in the race. Riddle was a fine horseman and had been competing with success for a decade at Addington, where he had a team of six at this time.

Sheik was among them, having arrived the previous season, and his form was such that he was favourite along with Acron, both appearing well handicapped on 36 yards.

Great Bingen, in his first attempt at the Cup, was given 72 yards however and owner John McKenzie was so unhappy that he withdrew him, only to then watch Acron go the wrong way at the start.

Acron, who won the Free-For-All on the second day in Australasian record time for the mile of 2:03 3/5, was to be the beginning of a long history of disappointments for the McKenzie family in the great race.

**Credit - New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct 2003**

The seven-year-old stallion Sheik became the third Australian-bred horse, after Durbar(1908) and Adelaide Direct(1917), to win the New Zealand Cup. Only two more Stanley Rio(1976) and Steel Jaw(1983), have followed.

Sheik's victory was a popular one because he had shown himself to be a top-class horse. He was well supported, being the second favourite after Acron. Betting on the race reached £17,000, with Acron and Sheik carrying half of the invested sum.

Sheik's sire Bonnie Chief was by Chieftain from Clare, by Childe Harold. Francesca, his dam, was by Franz from Phoebe, both by Vancleve. John Cameron, of Moree in New South Wales, bred Sheik and was on the course to see the horse win. Sheik had been leased to trainer Peter Riddle, who in the previous year had bought the horse outright when Cameron disposed of his racing stock. Riddle was Sydney-based and had his first experience of Addington racing in 1914, when he unsuccessfully campaigned a team at the Cup meeting.

In the 1923-24 season Sheik was campaigned in New Zealand and from six starts had two wins, two seconds, a third and a fourth. Riddle had six horses in training at Addington for this meeting and Sheik, because of his good form the previous season, was always one of the favoured candidates after the handicapper had set h9im on 36 yards. One owner far from satisfied with the 60-yard handicap given his horse, Great Bingen, was J R McKenzie. McKenzie withdrew Great Bingen from the race. He was left with his other representative, race favourite Acron, but the horse whipped around at the start and was out of the race.

The outstanding mare Onyx was handicapped on the back mark of 84 yards in the 12-horse field. She had won the August Handicap and National Cup from 72 yards in August and earned her impostion. However, Onyx was always too far back in the fast-run race to have any chance. First Carbine, like Acron, lost his chance at the start. Paul Default, from the front, led out, and was followed by Blue Mountain King, Great Hope, Tatsy Dillon and Sheik. After a mile Sheik took the lead, and entered the last lap ahead of Realm, Great Hope, Taraire and Vilo. Taraire and Great Hope, the Bryce pair, closed on Sheik nearing the home bend and Taraire looked the likely winner. However, Sheik shook him off and then withstood a secod challenge, from Great Hope, eventually winning by a length from Great Hope, with two lengths to Taraire. Then came Realm (who went a fine race for Bill Tomkinson from 72 yards), Vilo, Tatsy Dillon, Paul Default, Alto Chimes, Blue Mountain King, Onyx, Acron and First Carbine. The Auckland pair, Blue Mountain King (who had won the 1923 Auckland Cup) and First Carbine, were disappointing. Blue Mountain King and Realm were by Ribbonwood and were bred in Australia.

Only one saddle race was programmed on the first day, with these events gradually being phased out in favour of sulky racing. Although Addington's betting had peaked, the club kept faith with it's many owners and trainers and offered £15,450 in stakes over the three days. Racing on the second and third days was exceptional, with Acron, Great Hope, Great Bingen, Jack Potts, Kohara and Nikora providing the highlights. Acron, who failed completely in the Cup, gave a great display of pacing, winning the Free-For-All in a record 2:03.6, beating the previous best Australasian time of 2:04.2, set by Happy Voyage against time. Realm was second and Logan Chief third. Great Hope won the Courtenay Handicap in a record race-winning time of 4:24.4 from Sheik, and capped a fine meeting when he won the final event, the Spring Handicap. Great Hope started from 60 yards and paced the mile in 2:07.8. From the three races at the meeting the Bryce star performer recorded two wins and a second.

Great Bingen, heavily backed, won the Hagley Handicap on Cup Day and Jack Kennerley reappeared with his budding champion in the Christchurch Handicap on the final day. Already on a 72-yard handicap, Great Bingen was just beaten into third by Vilo and Dolly Dillon.

Jack Potts won the Metropolitan Handicap and then the Victoria Handicap, recording his fourth victory in nine months. The American-bred stallion became one of New Zealand's most successful sires. For nine seasons in succession (1937-38 to 1945-46) he was leading sire.

In his first outing as a three-year-old, Kohara won the Australasian Handicap. The previous June, Kohara had won the 1923 Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. He proved his juvenile form was the promise of better things to come when he won the 1927 New Zealand Cup for James Bryce. Nikora, an aged mare, won the Dominion Handicap from 16 others.

The horses did not take all the limelight at the 1924 carnival. Andrew Bryce became the third member of the Bryce family to sit behind a NZ Cup contender, taking the drive behind Great Hope. Owner George Barton had the pleasure of seeing his Bell Harold win the St Albans Handicap on Cup Day. Barton's name was to appear 10 times on top of the owners'list between the years 1927-28 and 1937-38 - unquestionably he was one of the most successful owners in New Zealand harness racing history.

The opening event on the third day was the Governor's Handicap for trotters. A youthful Maurice Holmes, then only 16, drove Wonder Why, from the 60-yard mark, into third place, but he had to wait a little longer for his first success.

**Credit - Bernie Wood writing in The Cup**

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1924 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Another New Zealand Trotting Cup has been decided and the spoils are with the Australian horse Sheik. The field paraded in the best of condition and nothing had it on the winner for looks. He was an absolute picture.

Acron was a hot favorite, but he whipped around at the start and took practically no part m the race. He had a cobber in First Carbine, who was very mulish and refused to go off. With half the journey covered Riddle took the lead with Sheik, and that, was the beginning of the end. Realm made a dab going out of tha straight the last time, but he was done with at the far turn. This left Taraire and Great Hope to chase the leader, but they had no chance, and Riddle landed his horse home a winner by a length and a quarter. It was a very popular win, and when Sheik took charge, with a mile to go, the huge crowd started to applaud.

What would have happened had Acron gone away with his field is hard to say, but he must, have made matters interesting. Onyx was not herself, and as a consequence did not run as well as she might have. Great Hope, last year's winner, made a fine effort in the straight, but he could not get to the winner. On the far bend Taraire appeared a possibility, but he could not sustain his run.

The time was exceptionally good, the full distance taking 4min 25 4/5sec. The first mile took 2min 14sec, and the mile and a half 3min 22sec. The last half was run in lmin 3 4/5sec, an extraordinarily fine time.

Credit: NZ Truth 15 Nov 1924