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BELLE LOGAN - Classic Winner Producing Mares

BELLE LOGAN(1916 Logan Pointer/Curfew Bell), NZ family of Bonnie Belle; 2:20¾; £640, two wins; 11 foals, 9 winners. Breeder: W J Morland, Rakaia. Foals - 1926 Dillon Logan bred by D Rodgers, Rangiora, mare then shipped to Edgar Tatlow, Hayley, Tasmania in 1929; all other foaled in Australia including 1929 foal Pendant (in foal to Native King NZ).

Belle Logan's sire Logan Pointer (1909) was imported to NZ by Free Holmes in 1915. He sired 191 winners, Harold Logan being the stand out (two NZ Cups, three NZFFAs). His broodmare credits included InterDominion Champions Logan Derby, Grand Mogul and Springfield Globe. He was influential as broodmare sire of a numberof the progeny of Bonny Logan (Admiration, Bayard, Captain Morant, Coquette, Safety Pin) as well as Belle Logan (Jean Logan, Logan Derby, Lone Raider, Pendant). A member of the Tom Hal sire line, Logan Pointer was leading sire on seven occasions in NZ in a career shortened by his death in 1924.

Curfew Bell (Wildwood/Bonnie Belle), a half sister to Country Belle was the dam of Belle Logan and grand dam of Logan Derby, sire of Johnny Globe, in turn sire of Lordship etc. Bonnie Belle (Lincoln Yet/arab mare from the stud of Sir John Cracroft Wilson, Cashmere) was the foundation mare of this classic winner producing family. Her daughter Country Belle (1915 NZ Cup) will be reviewed with regards to the deeds of classic producing mare Rustic Maid in a future article.

Belle Logan had four unplaced starts as a four-year-old in 1919/20 before recording her only two wins(FPTC and Waimate RC). She raced as a five and six-year-old and she had one start as a seven-year-old. She only recorded one further placing. Belle Logan's progeny included the legendary Logan Derby, a son of Globe Derby and winner of 57½ races for prize money in excess of £10,000. These included being undefeated in the inaugural IDs in Perth 1936(three heats/final) and champion on points (heat winner, two thirds and fastest times from long marks) in 1940 also in Perth. Under the championship rules, Logan Derby with 18 points was proclaimed champion from Master Dixie(13½) and Grand Mogul(13⅓). Grand Mogul received £1,000 for his Grand Final victory, the same amount as Logan Derby who received a gold cup. During the ID carnival, Logan Derby established his 2:04TT record placing him among the first six horses to better the 2:05 mark in Australia.

Logan Derby spent time in NZ in late 1938 where in seven starts he won on three occasions and placed in the other four starts. His record showed: thirds in NZ Cup(Morello)/ Ollivier Hcp, second in Louisson Hcp before winning NZFFA - all during 1938 Cup carnival with three starts at Forbury Park resulting in wins in Forbury Hcp and Forbury Presidents Hcp before a second in his final NZ Start, Recovery Hcp. His NZ earnings amounted to £1,795.

Exported to NZ(1944) to F J Smith after initially standing at stud in Perth in 1943 for J P(John) Stratton) following his retirement at age 13, he sired 98 winners(36 in Aust). These included champion Johnny Globe(winner of 34 races/45 places, 15 FFAs, four world records, NZ/GN Derby, NZ Cup, NZFFA(2), leading sire/broodmare sire including Lordship, NZ Hall of Fame), Fabius(GN Derby), Jewel Derby/ Tapuwae(Rowe Cup), Vodka(Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, first Australasian winner in North America, NZ Hall of Fame). He was dam sire of Logan Count(Dominion Hcp), Master Dean(NZFFA, five classic race mile wins). Logan Derby passed through a number of hands during his siring career - after Smith's death he went to Edgar Kennerley, then Tamahare owner RC Mason stood him for a number of years before being sold to George Youngson at Gore.

Pendant, was a winner in Tasmania including a heat of the 1939 IDs held at Elphin raceway, Launceston and grand dam of High Pendant(left four winners), sire of 16 winners including Sally Alla, Australian Broodmare of Year in 1987 & 1988. She was dam of Rowleyalla($½m, NSW Breeders Plate-2, HSW SS-3, Qld/NSW Derby, Qld Winter Cup, Aust 2YO mile record 1:55.0TT, Aust Mile record 1:52.6TT) and Grand Thor(ID heat). Jean Logan, won the Tasmanian Easter Cup but did not breed on.

Dillon Logan, recorded 11 wins(seven as a four-year-old) in NZ including Hawera/ Dunedin Cups and Oamaru Hcp. Lone Raider(Raider) whose nine wins included the CPTC Winter Cup. Van Logan (Van Derby), a winner in Australia was exported to NZ(1947) to stand at stud being a minor sire leaving 15 winners(four Aust). Other minor winners in Australia included Beaudesert, Speedy Logan and Logan Globe(dam of two winners). Non winning mare Para Belle left 11 foals for three winners.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Dec 2014

REFLECTION - Mystery Mare

In less than a decade the Reflection tribe through her daughter, Great Burton, a trotter of moderate ability, produced some astonishing performers virtually from nowhere. Unlike a lot of such overnight sensations this breed just went on, as the deeds of Elsu and a host of others testify. But it's beginnings seem to be almost too mundane to be true.

Michael McTeigue, who combined training with employment of the Islington Works, raced both Reflection foals Great Burton(2 wins) and Real Burton. Almost out of the blue those two really rocked the records when their respective foals, Burt Scott and Real Scott hit the tracks. McTeigue sold Burt Scott to Vis Alborn after an indifferent career start. Alborn won 10 of his first 12 starts with Burt Scott the following season, a new record for wins in one term. He was also the leading stake earner beating several famous names. These days he would have been a Pacer of the Year in virtually one season of racing!

Real Burton's foal, Real Scott,(Noble Scott) became something of a sensation in a similar style a few years later graduating to NZ Cup class from Noel Berkett's stable in one season(10 wins). That was extraordinarily difficult under the handicapping system as then operated where a horse went up a class after every win an sometimes even if second. No freebies until you got to free-for-all class.

Great Burton also left the stallion Scottish Star, the high class mare Zenith and Roydon Star ancestress of several top liners including Tobias, Take Care and Pocket Me. Zenith was prolific and it is to her Elsu traced along with stars like Tintin In America and De Lovely.

Two interesting asides, Great Burton was bred from largely by Ernest Johnson of Ellesmere, a breeder with an eye who had sold Prince Charming to Colin McLaughlin. Dick Monk carried the Great Burton line on with the Zenover branch. And from the somewhat mysterious Australian bred Reflection breed also came Silk Stockings the dam of Snowflake and other interesting skewbald pacers. Skewbald? Mmmm...that Reflection outfit was certainly different!



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed June 2016

LOGAN POINTER

Early in 1915 Riccarton horseman Freeman Holmes took delivery of three horses which he had selected in the United States with the assistance of Mr W Lang. The shipment was horses but as far as the struggling standardbred industry was concerned it might have been fine gold.

The three horses which were to leave an indelible mark in their adopted country were a yearling filly Trix Pointer, the 3 year old filly Bonilene and the Star Pointer horse Logan Pointer, then six years old. Trix Pointer and Bonilene founded two of the most sought after families in the stud book while Logan Pointer was to become a sire of legendary achievements in a tragically brief career. Indeed surveying his success and comparing it with others whose careers at stud were much longer it can be argued that he was the most successful stallion ever to stand in this country.

Whether his triumphs year after year surprised even those responsible for bringing him to NZ it is not known but it can be safely assumed that it would have been a shock to his American owners. At the time of his sale to Freeman Holmes, Logan Pointer was an unfashionably-bred horse who had never got to the races. It is not known how much was paid for him but Maurice Holmes relates that the price would have been very small and it is even possible that Logan Pointer was 'thrown in' with the two fillies. Racing in those days was at a fairly low ebb in America and an unraced six year old such as Logan Pointer would not have been a stud proposition there. Freeman Holmes saw something in him though and his almost unerring judgement at selecting bloodstock was to prove right again.

Logan Pointer didn't take long to establish himself. Appearing first on the sires' list in 1918 he was fifth the following year, then second and top (with Wildwood Jnr) in 1921. For the next six years he reigned supreme against some very good sires before Nelson Bingen forced him into second place by the barest of margins in the 1928-29 season. He never regained the top spot because of his untimely death but he was well up in the list through the middle thirties by which time he was also top broodmare sire. During his years as leading sire Logan Pointer produced the winners of 493 races and altogether he sired 187 individual winners - a ratio to foals which would take a lot of beating. As a sire of broodmares he was even more famous producing in all the dams of 318 winners including 65 in the 2:10 list.

To include here every top winner with Logan Pointer blood in their veins would fill pages but we can take a look at some of his greatest performers.

Undoubtedly his finest son was Harold Logan who will need no introduction to older readers. The winner of 27 races from 66 starts including two Cups, Harold Logan was the idol of his day and still perhaps as popular a horse as has ever been led into the Addington birdcage. Harold Logan was immensely popular because of his speed, his courage, his almost uncanny intelligence and because of the rags to riches success he was. He didn't race until he was five and was very ordinary until coming into the hands of Dick Humphries as a seven year old. From then until his retirement at the ripe old age of 15 he held crowds in the palm of his hand, setting several records including an amazing 2:36.8 over 1¼ miles on a soft grass track at New Brighton.

Then there was Logan Chief who was a top pacer of his day and the winner of over $24,000 over a long career, which was really big money then. Cardinal Logan won 17 races in all including the Speedway Handicap when it was a Cup meeting feature and he ran second to Kohara in the NZ Cup. Acron won nine and two of them were NZ Free-For-Alls. Acron was the fastest pacer of his day holding the mile record of 2:03.6 for a number of years. Unfortunately he was a wayward type and never developed his full potential. Native Chief was another in the same category. Widely regarded as our 'most likely to succeed' two minute horse (he worked 2:02 at Addington), Native Chief proved untrainable most of the time. Every leading trainer had a go at him at one time or another but his great speed could never be successfully harnessed though he won a NZ Derby when caught in the mood.

Onyx was a mare also not easy to train but she won $22,000 (a record for a mare at that time) and held a 1½ mile record of 3:13. Apart from Onyx and Bonny Logan, Logan Pointer had most racetrack success through his sons. Others to be leaders of their time were Jewel Pointer, Logan Wood (Dunedin Cup), Prince Pointer, Logan Park, Logan Lou (two National Handicaps), Great Logan, King Pointer (National & NZFFA, the one eyed trotter Trampfast (Dominion Handicap and very successful among the pacers) and Colene Pointer.

Logan Pointer did not as a rule leave many trotters, Trampfast being the only one who reached the top. His stock were noted for their hardiness, many of them competing over many seasons, and also for their temperaments, the sire himself being a very sensible stallion, easy to manage. The occasional wayward one appeared but they do in most sire lines. Altogether Logan Pointer's offspring won nearly $500,000 which in the depressed stakes era of the twenties was a marvellous feat.

As a sire of broodmares Logan Pointer was even more successful. Statistics were not officially kept in those days but there is no doubt he was the leading sire of mares for many seasons. To give you some idea of his influence take a look at these names who had Logan Pointer mares as their dams: Springfield Globe, Logan Derby, Free Advice, Silver De Oro, Grand Mogul (24 wins including an Interdominion Final), Royal Silk, Regal Voyage (dam of Haughty), Royal Empress (grandam of Highland Fling and Highland Kilt), Imperial Pointer (dam of Gold Bar), Smile Again and Kingcraft.

When toting up the list of early two minute performers in NZ, Gold Bar, Haughty, Highland Fling, Johnny Globe, Tactician and Caduceus all had Logan Pointer blood running freely in their veins. In the late twenties Logan Pointer's offspring held nearly 70%of NZ time records. Logan Pointer's sire line didn't survive long here, Logan Fraser probably being the most successful, siring over 30 winners including Ronald Logan. Jewel Pointer was a moderate success here and in Australia. It was unfortunate that most of his best sons were geldings.

Where Logan Pointer got his extraordinary siring potential from is difficult to determine. His sire Star Pointer, the first two minute pacer, was, giving him the best of it, a disappointment at stud, and Logan Pointer's distaff lines were rather obscure. The tragedy of his stud career was that he was cut down when at the height of it. In January 1924 when only fifteen years old, the stallion was let out of his box as usual for a stroll around the paddock while his groom Joe Washington returned for some more shuteye. But unknown to Washington there was a pony also in the paddock and the groom was awakened by a noise from the paddock rail. The noise was made by the escaping pony who had savaged Logan Pointer and kicked him in the leg, splitting it right up to the thigh. There was no chance of saving the great sire and he was accordingly put down.

During his nine seasons he had served about 100 mares a season, his fee never rising above 12 guineas. The mares were by no means all trotting bred and his feat of producing nearly 200 winners from about 900 matings was a tremendous one. What he might have achieved if he had lived another five years is anybody's guest. Is it any wonder that breeders still like mares with Logan Pointer blood in their veins? As a racehorse he may not have been much but as a stallion he was one in a thousand.





Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 7Oct76

NELSON BINGEN

Although when surveying sires of past years you seem to be saying it all the time, it has been a fact that most successful imported sires have failed to establish a male line of any great significance. Why this is, is difficult to say and a number of factors are involved. One of the major ones however is that the sons of successful sires are often not given a decent chance to prove themselves at stud. Had they had such a chance things might have been different and a good example of what might have been is the case of Nelson Bingen.

A number of his sons were stood at stud. More to the point the owners of his sons set about proving that their horses were good sires with the result that Nelson Bingen probably outshines any other imported sire when it comes to successful sons. True, his male line has not survived but it did exert considerable influence in its time and it was perhaps a pity that the third generation of his line did not produce a racehorse of good enough quality to ensure the success of the line.

Nelson Bingen arrived in this country as a 2 year old in 1914 imported by Etienne Le Lievre of Harold Dillon fame. At about the same time Mr Le Lievre imported the mare Berthabell who was to exercise considerable influence in our breeding. She was mated with Nelson Bingen on many occasions and in some ways Nelson Bingen's stud record relies on his matings with the imported mare. Stood at stud early in his career Nelson Bingen must have had mixed success for he did not appear on the sire lists at all until 1919 and as a seven year old he was given a race preparation and produced on a number of occasions. A trotter, he was a very good one and scored victories at Gore, New Brighton, Forbury and Addington. He was one of the tops of his day and twice beat Reta Peta the champion mare who won two NZ Cups.

In his public appearances Nelson Bingen attracted a good deal of attention with his impressive looks and fine action and when again retired to stud he received much more patronage. But still it was 1928 before he topped the sires list. He retained the title the following year and was second for the following three years, though he died in 1932. Altogether he sired 219 winners and they won nearly $400,000 in prize money.

His matings with Berthabell resulted in his two most successful sons Great Bingen and Peter Bingen. Great Bingen seems to have lost his rightful place as one of the handful of greatest pacers ever bred in this country, perhaps because he didn't win a Cup, though he was placed second from a long mark. The idol of his day and a great stayer who could sprint with the best of them Great Bingen won 26 races and over $25,000 in prizemoney. To get this in perspective it should be remembered that this prizemoney record stood until 1947 when lowered by Highland Fling and few money-winning records last over 20 years.

Great Bingen himself the sire of many winners was the first horse outside America to break 4:20 for two miles which he did in a placed performance in Auckland in 1926. He had a number of trainers when raced in the ownership of J R McKenzie including D Withers, J Kennerly and R Plaxico. He was twice placed in the Cup and but for the huge handicaps he had to concede at the time must have won one of them. Although not so well known as a sprinter he took a time of better than 2:07 for a mile. He full-brother Peter Bingen won two NZ Cups but did not blossom as a stayer until comparatively late in his career and indeed in his early days raced as a trotter. He won nearly $17,000 of 'Depression' stakemoney and he kept the family to the fore by being the first pacer ourside the USA to beat 2:40 for the 1¼ miles. He won 16 races altogether and was also a successful sire.

Though a number of Nelson Bingen's get favoured the trotting gait he threw some other top pacers including Jean McElwyn who reached Cup class from Roy Berry's stable, Nelson Derby winner of the Great Northern Derby and Auckland Cup and was a son of Norice, Nelson Fame, Nelso's Victory and Nelsonian. He left any number of top trotters including Olive Nelson, Norma Bingen and Native King who were all Dominion winners, Great Nelson (a brother to Great Bingen and Peter Bingen) winner of the old NZ Trotting Stakes, Baron Bingen, Bingen Wilkes, General Bingen (saddle mile in 2:11.6), Commander Bingen and Kempton. Worthy Bingen was a fair trotter and sire of Worthy Queen. Katute won the NZ Trotting Stakes and Sea Pearl, Admiral Bingen, Escapade (a top saddle trotter and grandam of Fallacy), Sister Beatrice and Stand By were all top class trotters.

As a sire of broodmares Nelson Bingen was a fair success though perhaps his total of under 200 winners from this source can be counted as a shade disappointing. A number of his sons were successful broodmare sires. Among Nelson Bingen's most successful daughters were Lady Trafalgar who produced five winners; Lily Bingen who produced six including War Guard who won seven including a National Handicap; Stella Bingen 3rd dam of Stella Frost; Belle Lorrimer grandam of the winners of 78 races including Grouse, Lyndhurst, and the top trotters Faming Way, Flammula, Inflammable and Alight as well as Nantwitch herself the winner of seven races including the Sapling Stakes and dam of Gerafalcon who won 14 including the Trotting FFA; Courcard and Cyrano; Bertha Bingen and Bessie Bingen ancestress of more than 40 winners.

Etta Bingen was the dam of six winners and Peggoty a colourful mare of the 1940s for the Butterick family is from a Nelson Bingen mare. Another successful mare by the stallion was Berenice. Dam of the top trotter Flotsam who won nine. Berenice is the ancestress of a number of good winners including Idaho. Katute was the dam of Mah Jong who won eight, and three other winners. Sparkling Sunshine the dam of a near champion in Attack was from a Nelson Bingen mare and Jean McElwyn was successful at stud, among her progeny being the successful sire Prince Charming. Sister Maud produced Queen Maude the dam of five winners including Maori Queen, Maudeen and Sports Review, all top class trotters.

It was perhaps a shade unfortunate that Nelson Bingen was an old horse before his value was really appreciated. A number of his sons carried on with the good work however. Easily the best was Nelson Derby. Great Bingen sired 44 winners and was considered to be something of a disappointment at the stud but his mares bred on especially well. Great Bingen mares produced trotters such as Keen Blade (NZ record holder and winner of 8), Lady Inchcape (7 wins), King's Brigade and Sure Gift who were both NZ Trotting Stakes winners and Roderick Dhu, Vagus and Lady Baffelan who all won 7 races apiece. Among the best pacers from his daughters were Kublai Khan and Ghengis Khan who won 16 races between them, Bonny Azure who won 17 on her own, Powerful Lady (Oaks), Bobby Burns (8 wins), Golden Marino (6 wins including the Timaru and New Brighton Cups) and Sandusky who won 11 races.

Nelson Adonis served a handful of mares as a colt before being gelded. One he left was Sterling Lady who was the dam of 6 winners including Onward (9 wins), Stirling Castle (5), and Mineral (6 wins).

Native King was a successful sire considering his opportunities and he got Gracie Fields who won nine races, she being a daughter of Reta Peta. Native Queen was another good one of his stock as was Minnetonka who later left four winners. Native King mares were again successful leaving horses like Maori Home (17 wins and twice placed in the Cup). Native Scott (10 wins) left Statuette successful both on the track and at stud; Beverley Volo (7 wins); Willonyx and Gamble King who each won six; Inquistive Lady and NZ Trotting Stakes winner Temple Star. Worthy Bingen didn't do much after siring Worthy Queen, though one of his daughters produced Greek Brigade who won eight.

Peter Bingen sired Peter Smith a top class pacer and another one of the same ilk in Double Peter. Peter Bingen features in the pedigree of the top northern trotters of a few seasons ago in Paula and Paulette. Altogether Peter Bingen left 32 winners. As a rule the sons of Nelson Bingen did well as sires of classic winners one of the best being Taxpayer, by Great Bingen.

Nelson Derby looked to be the Bingen son to ensure the line carried on but one of his better bred sons Wayfarer didn't get much of an opportunity at the stud in spite of producing a classic winner in his first crop. The Bingen line has now died out here as it did in the U S. Before leaving Nelson Bingen however, we should mention that one of his sons Kemel left the dam of the top pacer Laureldale though nothing else of note, and that Nelson Bingen blood has continued to be influential in our trotting scene, two examples being the 'Cord' family of winners of Herbert Hewson and Protector whose grandam was a Nelson Bingen mare.

It is difficult to sum up Nelson Bingen's career. His critics, and there were a number of them, point out that but for Berthabell his stock may have been quite ordinary performers. There is some truth in this, particularly as beside Great Bingen and Peter Bingen his other top horses were the result of matings with such class mares as Norice. Still he was twice leading sire and five times runner up so his general ranking must be high. And his sons certainly bred on better than most imported sires before and since.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 15Dec76

BERTHABELL

BERTHABELL(1909 Peter The Great-Corona Mack). Dam Corona Mack was by Wilkes Boy(sire of Grattan, great Canadian family) with her third dam being the founding mare of USA family Kate by Highland Chief; placed as a pacer, $111; 16 foals, 11 winners. Breeder: C G Thompson, Kentucky, USA. Imported by and all her foals bred by E X (Etienne) Le Lievre, Akaroa(Oinako Stud).

The immortal trotting broodmare, Berthabell, was foaled in North America and was imported to NZ by Etienne Le Lievre in 1914 together with a filly foal by Bingen(Bell Bingen) and in foal to The Harvester whose colt foal died within days of birth. Imported at the same time was Nelson Bingen who went on to be a leading stallion. Le Lievre successfully imported from North America a number of sires including Harold Dillon, Wallace L, Great Audubon, Guy Parrish, Travis Axworthy and many mares apart from Berthabell(Miss Spear, Muriel Madison, Grattanette, Solon Gazella).

Berthabell raced as a pacer on five occasions producing three placings(two seconds and the third). Berthabell's female progeny included six daughters all of whom bred on leaving large families. It is only possible to provide a subjective snapshot of some of the better performers.

Bell Bingen was her first, foaled in North America and crippled when shipped to New Zealand with her dam. She did not race but produced many foals most of them were female, including Belita: grand dam of Au Fait(Trotting Stakes-three, Dominion Hcp) and sister Precocious(ID Trotting Final, Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA), 5th dam of Admiral Holliday(VIC Derby, Golden Nugget);Mavis Bingen: 4th dam of Spry(NZ/Kaikoura Cups) and Berkleigh(NZ Derby, Ashburton Cup), family of iron horse, Ldle Scott(219 starts-46 wins[36 at Alexandra Park}/75 placings $1/2m, Rowe Cup, National Trot twice, NZ Trotting FFA, Trotter of the Year, NZ Hall of Fame), Tip Your Hat(Qld Derby); Mavis De Oro: Kotare Knight, Deep Court, Henschke(SA Derby); Cyone: left a son of Logan Derby in Vodka(Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, first Australasian winner in North America, NZ Hall of Fame), Mi Coconut(VIC Queen of Pacific), Die Wondering(NSW SS-2f); Parrish Belle(Rowe Cup); Young Travis(Westport Cup).

Bell Nelson, unraced, was the 4th dam of top performer Our Mana(Easter Cup, twice second in NZ Cup/second AK Cup) and a good mile performer(NZ Flying Mile, Down Under Miler/Waikato Flying Miles twice). He was the winner of the inaugural $10,000 West Coast bonus for winning three races on the Christmas circuit. Bertha Bingen, was the winner of two pacing races at Wanganui and grand dam of Indomitable(Rowe Cup). Bessie Bingen, twice a winner whose major credits were Contender(GN Stakes-2, GN Derby) and trotter Bessie Parrish. Corona Bell, winner of one trotting race when raced as a four- to eight-year-old, left Hopeful(Taranaki Cup). Bertha Parrish, Berthabell's final foal, was dam of Sea Gypsy who left NZ Cup winner Our Roger(Louisson Hcp, Ashburton Flying Stakes).

From Berthabell's female branch of the Kate family have come three winners of the Rowe Cup - 1937 Parrish Belle, 1950 Indomitable and 1990 Idle Scott.

Many of Berthabell's male progeny were successful in the breeding shed. Great Parrish(Guy Parrish) raced from a two-until a ten-year-old and was the winner of 14 races including two as a two-year-old (Hawkes Bay), GN Derby and an Auckland Cup at six, the latter two wins for J.T.(Jim) Paul. His 41 winners included Otahuhu Cup winner Parrish Lad, Bonniedene(GN Derby), Bold Venture(AK Cup trial, 2nd AK Cup) and damsire of Indian Parrish(Rowe Cup), champion Australian mare Angelique(VIC Oaks, SA Cup), Gold Horizon(NZ Trotting FFA and NZ Hambletonian twice), Pleasant Smile(Otahuhu Cup). Ringtrue(Travis Axworthy), was the winner of ten races(Five as a three-year-old), nine of which were at Alexandra Park and FPTC's, sire of 46 winners(Parshall) including 21 pacers in Australia having stood at Inverell(NSW) in early 1950's.

Berthabelle produced six brothers by Nelson Bingen who finished top of the sires list in 1928-29 and 1929-30, was five times placed and left 219 winners with stake earnings approaching £191,000. The one gelded son was trotter Great Nelson whose five wins were spread over 6 seasons including NZ Sires Produce - 3T at Forbury Park.

Her siring sons were led by Great Bingen, a high class pacer whose 26 wins(22 NZ, four AUS)including a NZFFA, Australian Championships(four wins, beaten by Taraire in final), Dunedin and Exhibition Cups at Forbury, Christchurch and New Brighton Hcps. He won the York Hcp(108 yards behind) at New Brighton before the Duke of York,(later to become King George VI). He was placed second twice in NZ Cups, fourth on one occasion as well as twice fourth in Auckland Cups, often from lengthy marks. During his career, Great Bingen won six Free-For-Alls. His 2:07.6 placed him among the first hundred NZ horses in 2:10 and in finishing third over two miles in 4:19.8(108 yards) at Alexandra Park, he was the first horse outside America to go under 4:20. Great Bingen was leading stake earner in 1925/6(£4,015) and his total stake winnings of £14,120 stood as a record for 17 years.

Great Bingen was the first stallion to stand stud duties for Sir John McKenzie leaving 46 winners including Taxpayer/Double Great(NZ Derby), Refund/Great News(Welligton Stakes - 3) and dual gaited Dark Hazard. His broodmare sire credits included Bintravis(WA Cup), Bonnidene(GN Derby), Powerful Lady(NZ Oaks), Tapuwae(Rowe Cup) and Crocus, grand dam of Sole Command(NZ/AK Cups, Horse of Year). Great Bingen died in May 1945 in his 26th year at Roydon Lodge.

Peter Bingen started his career as a trotter which included a second in the NZ Trotting Stakes - 3. He became a high class pacer, his 16 wins including consecutive NZ Cups and a NZFFA(three times second), National Cup and Canterbury Hcps. He was also placed second in an Auckland Cup and a division of NZ Cup. His 2:07.0 placed him among the first hundred NZ horses in 2:10.

Hid 45 winners included three time Otahuhu Cup winner Double Peter, Peter Smith (FFA/big stake winner), Peters Find (GN Derby) and damsire of NZ Derby winner Single Medoro. Worthy Bingen, recorded four wins in his three seasons of racing. The sire of 33 winners of whom 21 were trotters, he was rated the best sire of the brothers by journalist Karl Scott. He sired Worthy Queen whose T2:03.6TT(took 5.4 seconds off previous record) set in 1934 stood as a NZ Trotters mile record for 28 years and Tan John(Dominion Hcp). Great Peter had three wins as a three-year-old including GN Derby and the final running of the Champion Stakes at Addington in 1927 before its transfer to Ashburton. He won again at Auckland at both four and five before his final three victories(eight in total) came as a six-year-old during the Auckland Summer carnival. He retired after being unplaced at seventh but died shortly thereafter. Baron Bingen won seven races and was exported to the United Kingdom to stand at stud.

Berthabell died at Oinako Stud aged 23, her progeny won close to 100 races and over £35,000 in stakes, much of it during the depression years.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed 2014

BERTHABELL

When a member of the present generation of the Jacobson family writes a further volume of "Tales of Banks Peninsula," many of us will be disappointed if we do not find between the covers a whole chapter devoted to those inseperables, the late Etienne Le Lievre and Berthabell.

In a previous issue of the Calendar we were glad to concede that Akaroa is famous for its cheese, its cocksfoot, its serene loveliness; that it is also renowned as the original nursery of all the beautiful weeping-willow trees that adorn the banks of the Avon.

But when we reminded you that perhaps Akaroa has a greater claim to your particular interest because here Etienne Le Lievre, who inherited his love of horses from his French pioneering father, Francois, installed Berthabell as the grand dame of his already famous "Oinako" stud.

Berthabell's name as a producer will ever remain imperishable. This blood-like mare was foaled in 1909, and in 1913 she had a filly by Bingen, which accompanied her to New Zealand when she was imported from America by Etienne Le Lievre in 1914. She had been stinted to The Harvester, 2.01, and on arrival in New Zealand she foaled a colt, which unfortunately died.

An impression existed for many years that Berthabell did not race in New Zealand, and this idea was probably firmly implanted in the minds of some people by the fact that she was bred from before she came to this country, and is shown in the Stud Book as produced for the next three years after her arrival here; but she managed to edge in a racing career somehow, and in her only five starts she was three times in the money. A pacer, she finished third in the Amateur Handicap at the South Canterbury Trotting Club's meeting in July, 1915, and at New Brighton the same year she finished second to Sinoda over a mile and a half in the Innovation Handicap, the winners time being 3.40 1-5. She also finished second to Sweet Agnes in the Telegraph Handicap of one mile at the Canterbury Park New Year meeting of 1916. The winner's time was 2.22, and as Berthabell started from the same mark as Sweet Agnes, and finished within two lengths of her, it is obvious that Berthabell must has registered at least 2.23, this when she was probably in foal, because the Stud Book shows that in the same year she foaled twins to Nelson Bingen, both of which died.

Is it any wonder, in view of these facts, that such a mare bred a line of champions when she was eventually allowed to retire to the matron's paddock? She found a ready affinity with the sire Nelson Bingen, for to him she left Great Bingen, Worthy Bingen, Peter Bingen, Bessie Bingen, Bertha Bingen, Great Peter, Baron Bingen and Great Nelson, all winners. To other sires she left Great Parrish and Corona Bell (by Guy Parrish), and Ringtrue (by Travis Axworthy).

The progeny of the great mare earned £35,535 in stakes, as follows:-
Great Bingen £14,120 including Australian winnings, Peter Bingen £8,629, Great Parrish £3,317½, Great Peter £2,850, Ringtrue £2,029, Baron Bingen 1,475, Great Nelson £898½, Worthy Bingen £691, Bessie Bingen £215, Corona Bell £175, Bertha Bingen £135.

None of the sons of Berthabell has proved an outstanding success as a sire, but six of them have got winners, namely, Worthy Bingen, Great Bingen, Peter Bingen, Great Nelson, Great Parrish and Ringtrue. Great Nelson's siring merit hangs on a very slender thread, as he left only one very moderate winner, but all the others have sired several winners. Of them all, the siring palm goes to Worthy Bingen, who was a fine trotter, and got Worthy Queen, whose records of 2.03 3-5 for a mile against time, and 3.14 1-5 for a mile and a half in a race still stand. The best horse left by Peter Bingen is Peter Smith, a Free-For-All winner with records of 2.36 for a mile and a quarter, 3.11 2-5 for a mile and a half and 4.15 for two miles. He was a big stake-winner, just fractionally removed from being a champion.

Great Bingen has been represented by several Classic winners including Taxpayer, Refund, Double Great and Great News. To date Taxpayer is probably the best horse he has sired, though Dark Hazard was a bigger stake-earner and a winner of good races at both gaits, while Karangi and Pre-Eminence are two present-day pacers by Great Bingen who should extend their records. Great Parrish has sired winners of both gaits in Auckland, and one of his best to date is Bold Venture, who finished second in an Auckland Cup, and took a two-mile record of 4.19 3-5.

Ringtrue is the sire of a high-class pacer in Parshall, winner of the last Auckland Free-For-All, besides being placed in Cup company at Addington. Parshall has records of 3.13 2-5 for a mile and a half (winning) and 4.15 4-5 for two miles, and will be a competitor in the next NZ Trotting Cup. Other winners left by Ringtrue included the trotter Paiahua, one of the comparatively few to beat the pacers.

Great Peter and Baron Bingen were other sons of Berthabell who at one time gave promise of reaching the best class. Great Peter won the Great Northern Derby, Champion Handicap (Addington) and other races, but he died as a seven-year-old when shaping like a Cup horse. Baron Bingen, who probably had as much speed as any member of the family, was a very excitable horse, and eventually became so temperamental that he was gelded late in life and eventually had to be given up as a racing proposition.

Berthabell's daughters were not a patch on her sons as racehorses. Bell Bingen, of course, was injured on her way out from America, and did not race, but the later fillies, Bessie Bingen, Bertha Bingen, Bell Nelson and Corona Bell never threatened to break any records. The best racemares among them were probably Bessie Bingen and Corona Bell, both trotters. Bertha Bingen won races as a pacer.

Bell Bingen has already established a good family of her own. She left Huia Bird, Mavis Bingen, Belle Axworthy, Parrish Belle, Pearl Parrish and Young Travis, all winners, besides Bertha Dillon, Bingen Bell, Sonoma Bell, Lambeth Walk and Paua Bay. Mavis Bingen's branch of the family has been quite a successful one. Her progeny were Cyone, 4.27 2-5, a good winner; Policy, 3.18 1-5, who also won several races; Range Finder, one of out best trotters of today; and Sonora. Cyone has already produced five winners - Toceetie, 2.40 1-5; Cyone Girl, 3.20 3-5; Cyone Maid, 3.27 2-5; and Manonee, 3.30 4-5. Toceetie is now at Mr E Tatlow's stud in Tasmania. Sonara has not fared so well. Of her seven foals, two died, and none of the other five so much as got to the races. But one of her daughters is now being bred from, and may revive the line, as so often happens.

Bertha Dillon produced only one foal, a colt named Jack Parrish, who did not amount to anything; there is no record of Bingen Bell having produced at all, but Sonoma Bell is the dam of a useful winner in Surprise Potts.

Belle Axworthy, herself a good winner, looks like being a real success as a brood mare, for already she is the dam of Modest Maid, one of the best trottters in Auckland at the present time, and Young Pointer, who won races and ended up with a mile and a quarter record of 2.44 3-5. Belle Axworthy's later progeny include two by Indianapolis.

Pearl Parrish has produced Pearl Scott and Pearloro, 2.50 2-5, but there is no record of Parrish Belle, who at one time held a mile and a quarter trotting record of 2.46 3-5, having produced anything. She was a nice trotter.

Bessie Bingen's first foal was Bessie Parrish, 3.19, a good trotter who reached high-class company. Then followed Lady Bunker, a winner at the trotting gait, and Contender, who won the Great Northern Stakes and Great Northern Derby. Bessie Bingen was still breeding up to 1942, her last two foals being by Worthy Belwin(imp).

Bertha Bingen is the dam of Iolaire, Endurance, Self (winner of several races. Queen Bertha, 3.31 4-5, and Opportunity, 2.52 3-5. She had no foals after 1934.

Berthabell's later daughters, Bell Nelson and Corona Bell, may have produced, but the Stud Book authorities have received no advice of it if they have. Every now and then the name of Berthabell comes to the top. The latest promising member of the "Oinako" mare's household is Karangi, a son of Great Bingen.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18 Oct 44

GOLD QUEEN - Mystery Mare

Roi L'or and Harold Logan the 'Springfield Sensations' of the 1930s were two champions of their era. At one stage both held the world's two-mile record one on grass and the other on 'all weather.' They were two of the best known horses in New Zealand of either code.

Their mothers had grazed together in the paddocks of the Springfield Hotel before a change of scenery by the publican. That meant both were later sold to Waimate Drover/stock dealer/farmer, Percy Brown, for $400 along with one of the mare's foal, then 18 months old. That foal was virtually given to Brown to fellow drover, Fred Legge, and eventually became the superstar pacer Harold Logan, though not for Legge. Brown kept the other mare's foal, named Roi L'or. He raced (Mostly) from Brown's stable for 10 seasons and won over $20,000. You could buy a few farms with that sort of money in the Great Depression. The mare also left a smart trotter Louis Bingen.

It is a fairytale story but with a mystery beginning. One of the mares, Ivy Cole, was a complete dunce, and Gold Queen a moderate performer in her racing days. Both were getting on in years and both had public pedigrees as short as a baby's arm. Roi L'or's granddam was from a non-Standardbred family nobody admitted to knowing much about. She only got into the Stud Book by trotting standard time, not on pedigree.

Harold Logan's granddam, a three quarter thoroughbred, was by a colt who happened to be handy at the time and never sired another Standardbred. The mare was a road trotter with ability but failed on the track. The one thing these two had in common was being by King Cole(by Ribbonwood and a one time mile record holder for Australasia) and out of mares with close up thoroughbred blood. So Mr Coffey from the Springfield Hotel might have known more than history gives him credit for.
That such underperforming mares sharing the same hotel paddock while producing two horses of such ability is an amazing coincidence.

Just as amazing was how the legacy of the two mares disappeared as quickly as it came. Gold Queen never let a filly though Ken Chapman had some success with a horse called Toronto Boy, who was a three quarter brother in blood to Roi L'or. Harold Logan stands alone, the greatest freak breeding story in our history. Nothing came before. Nothing came after. In between came a thunder-bolt.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed June 2016

PETER SCOTT (1910)

Peter The Great - Jenny Scott - Bryson

SIRE LINE - (Thru Scotland) Speedy Scot, Sundon - Speedy Crown, Speedy Somoli - Valley Victory, Armbro Invasion, Muscles Yankee etc.

Peter Scott, quite a rough-actioned trotter was beaten first up in feature racing just after a record $US30,000 had been paid for him but he had the last laugh. Peter Scott was never beaten again and retired the record stake earner of all time among trotters.

He was not an immediate superstar as a sire. He never won a premiership and his son Scotland, his lifeline to posterity, won only one. But his line of trotters has blossomed amazingly in recent times. Scotland (sire of U Scott who was converted to pace in New Zealand) had an unusual career in that after being beaten in the Hambletonian at three, he was not raced again until he was five. He was prolific at stud and a smoother trotter than his sire which helped.

A feature of this line has been its ability to produce a super trotting sire succession tradition. It has a record number of successive champion trotting sires and it shows no sign of slowing.

The Scotland pacing line (U Scott and sons; Scottish Hanover etc) has died out in this country.

TRIVIA FACT - Peter Scott was the third leg in a remarkable father-sons domination of harness racing. His sire is generally regarded as the most dominant sire of the last century - at least until the Hal Dale line came along. He left 2100 foals and 189 siring sons - sensational stats then and maybe still. His best son, Peter Volo broke some of his records and both he and Peter Scott were bred on similar crosses on the maternal line. For over 25 years the three were the dominant stallion influences world-wide.

Credit: Dave McCarthy writing in Harnessed Mar 2017

PETER VOLO (1910)

Peter The Great - Nervolo Belle - Nervolo

SIRE LINE - (Through Direct Scooter) In The Pocket (Christian Cullen, Courage Under Fire, Tinted Cloud etc), Mach Three (Auckland Reactor, Somebeachsomwhere, Changeover).
(Through Star's Pride) Game Pride, S J's Photo, Continental Man, C R Commando.
(Though Noble Victory) Angus Hall, (Majestic Son) Monkey Bones, The Pres, Monarchy.

Peter Volo had an extraordinary backstory, a classic example of how stallions with the right genes can overcome major setbacks to prove their greatness.

In his era, he was the fastest trotter in every year he performed as a yearling(time trial) two, three and four-year-old trotter before being retired with record stakes won. But he was sent to the same stud where his legendary sire, Peter The Great was standing. It was an establishment (Patchem Stud Farm) in serious decline and what top mares were available all went to Peter The Great even though the stud's owner rather bizarrely tended to hide away his prized possession from public view.

When that stud was broken up Peter Volo, with no stock of note, was sold to stand at Walnut Hall Farm after attracting few bids. Then about 1925 when in middle age he suddenly blossomed from better opportunities into the stallion, a title he won five years in succession, also going on to be leading broodmare sire.

His influence now is chiefly through his great son Volomite, a much better gaited horse than his sire and able to leave pacers and trotters equally as good. New Zealand owners generally couldn't afford Peter Volo stock though Quite Sure was a success for Julia Cuff in the 1940's. Volomite's son Light Brigade was a huge success here and as in the US his cross with sons and daughters of Peter Scott's son Scotland was notably successful. When the combination of gaits is considered, Volomite has become legend material.

TRIVIA FACT - Peter Volo's dam, Nervolo Belle should never have been foaled. Her dam was booked to Rob McGregor, a popular stallion then but through an error by stud staff she was bred to a moderate stallion, Nervolo whom her owner would not have even considered. The rest, as they say, is history.



Credit: Dave McCarthy writing in Harnessed March 2017

Advance and Imperialism

Advance and Imperialism, stars of the Victorian era, mock claims juvenile racing is something new. Advance, 16hh at two, beat an all aged field at Ashburton as an April juvenile and in August beat a Cup class field in the 1907 National Handicap, the third biggest open race in the country. He was two years and 10 months old. He is still the only three year old to place in the NZ Cup. Imperialism, a high class filly, won at Ashburton only eight weeks after being broken in.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in HRWeekly 28 Mar 2012