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RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 NZ HAMBLETONIAN HCP

Gold Horizon(W J Doyle) middle just shades Dictation(J Wilson) inner with Single Task(R Young), partly obscured on the outer, half a length away. Bulls Eye was fourth ahead of Highland Kilt(outside)



Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Vol 3 No 1

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 NZ TROTTING STAKES

The Light Brigade three-year-old Battle Cry photographed after his Trotting Stakes 'walkover' with his owner, Mr O E Baxter, and trainer-driver C R Berkett. By absolutely outclassing the New Zealand Trotting Stakes field on the second day of Addington's Easter carnival, Battle Cry showed his supremacy over the season's three-year-olds. He coasted home seven lengths clear of Flammula.

This marked Battle Cry's sixth win in nine starts. Besides this he has gained two placings - a wonderful record. He is notable in that he can handle any going - the hallmark of a real champion.

Credit: NZ Hoof Beats Vol 3 No.8

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Adorian

1953 NZ TROTTING CUP

Bridging a gap of 32 years since he drove Sherwood first past the post in the New Zealand Trotting Cup of 1921, F G Holmes won this year's race with Adorian after being no further back than third at any part of the running. Sherwood, on a protest for crossing Reta Peter, was placed second in the 1921 race, so it was F G Holmes's first Cup success.

Once again it was a newcomer's year. Adorian, who qualified for the race by winning the two principal events at the last Metropolitan August Meeting, followed in the footsteps of last year's Cup winner, Mobile Globe, who won the same August double three months before his victory in the premier event. Adorian proved himself every inch a stayer on Tuesday. His 4:13 4-5, while wide of the race record - and world's record - of 4:10 2-5 established by Highland Fling in 1948, was real stamina by any standards, particularly when it is known that he ran the last mile in 2:04 2-5 and the last half mile in better than a minute.

This brilliant climax to a spectacular race on a perfect track and in ideal weather proved to great an ordeal for the gallant favourite, Johnny Globe, who probably lost the race when he cannoned into the breaking Tactics soon after the start, thereby losing his balance and all of 60 yards before he got down to work again. This unfortunate incident drew audible sympathy from the public, who left no doubts by their investments that they had extreme confidence in the glamour horse of today.

Billy Boy, the leader out from the start, was closely attended by Adorian and Pleasant Smile. Meanwhile Tactics, drawn number 1 at the barrier (a position from which, it is claimed, she has never begun correctly yet), broke badly. Lady Rowan also broke, and Tactician set off on a bobble and went scratchily throughout. With just over three furlongs covered, Pleasant Smile ran into a clear lead from Billy Boy and Adorian (on the outer), and then came Thelma Globe, Soangetaha, Burns Night, Tactician, Vedette, Maori Home and Van Dieman, with Johnny Globe making up ground rapidly. There were few changes of any importance in the next six furlongs, but the race brightened up when Johnny Globe moved round the field with three and a half furlongs to go.

Adorian strode confidently to the lead with three furlongs to go and he was clear of Johnny Globe at the home turn. Soangetaha momentarily looked dangerous when he issued a challenge on the inside at the distance, but actually it was a two-horse race over the final furlong and Adorian always held the upper hand. The fourth horse, Burns Night, had every chance. He was two lengths behind Soangetaha. Vedette, who never looked like the champion of old at any stage, was a fair fifth, and then arrived Billy Boy, Maori Home, Van Dieman, Lady Rowan, Pleasant Smile, Tactician and Thelma Globe, with Tactics last. It was stated before the race that Tactics was suffering from seasonal trouble.

For the second year in succession the Australian-bred Springfield Globe sired the winner. It is interesting to speculate on what heights the Globe Derby sallion might have attained as a sire if he had remained in the Dominion instead of returning to Australia some six years ago.

Coquette, the dam of Adorian, who reached Cup class herself, has a 100% record as a producer of winners - her only four foals before her premature death (in 1949) were Vigilant, winner of £2327 in stakes in the Dominion (he has also won races in Australia); Morano, £9025; Forward, £4560; and Adorian, winner of twelve races and £17,217 10s in stakes and trophy - the New Zealand Gold Cup is valued at £250. Coquette's four offspring, therefore have won the grand total of £33,129 10s. Adorian and all the rest of Coquette's progeny were bred by Miss P Norton and F G Holmes, and Coquette was bred by F Holmes (venerable father of F G), and Miss Norton. Coquette was by Grattan Loyal from Bonny Logan, by Logan Pointer from Bonilene, and Grattan Loyal, Logan Pointer and Bonilene were all imported to this country by F Holmes. Springfield Globe, sire of Adorian, was out of a Logan Pointer mare, so Adorian has two close-up strains of this famous blood.

Although this was F G Holmes's first outright win in the New Zealand Cup - he owns and trains Adorian as well - he has been one of the Dominion's most capable trainers and horsemen for close on 40 years, he began driving at a very early age. "It was unjust," he declared when referring during the Cup presentation to the fate of Sherwood in 1921. He also made passing reference to some bad luck he had in one or two previous Cups, and said one of his ambitions, now that he was "not getting any younger," was to make a trip to America. He paid tribute to D McKendry, who looks after Adorian and who played a big part in turning the horse out so fit.

Mr C E Hoy, who congratulated Holmes on his skilful driving and the excellent performance and condition of Adorian, then called for cheers all round and Mrs Hoy decorated the winner with a garland of flowers. The Holmes family have a good record in the New Zealand Cup. Free Holmes, father of F G, Maurice and Allan, trained and drove Trix Pointer in 1919, Maurice drove Wrackler in 1930 and trained and drove Chamfer in 1950, and Allan Holmes drove Harold Logan in 1932 and owned and trained and drove the flying 1945 winner, Gold Bar.

Not at any stage of his career has Adorian been responsible for anything of a dazzling nature. He has been a 'late ripener' with a vengeance, coming to his full powers in easy stages until he has reached his zenith as a six-year-old; a powerful, quality horse of fine balance, a rich bay with little white about him, and no vices. He is a treat to train and drive and have around the place, according to the people who look after him, and he is as reliable and genuine as they come. Quite a reputation for a mere horse, but well earned by Adorian, a 'gentleman' in or out of harness.

Probably due to the fact that, for the first time since double betting was resumed, the first leg was run on the New Zealand Cup, there was a decided fall off in win-and-place betting on the big race. This year's on-course total was £28,331, compared with £38,336 last year; the off-course figures were £29,815 10s, against £33,943 10s last year. The record total on a New Zealand Cup is the £40,907 10s (on-course only) invested in 1951. This year's on-course total was £179,170 15s, compared with £190,930 15s last year, when the off-course figures were £86,475 15s; this year the off-course total soared to £139,707, including £49,031 on the double. The on-course double figures this year were £14,592 5s. The crowd was not as large as in some previous years.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 11Nov53

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 NZ DERBY STAKES

Caduceus caught Santa Amada inside the final furlong of the New Zealand Derby stakes and outstayed her by a length. Caduceus who started from the second row, threaded his way through to be sixth at the end of a quarter, and he was always well placed and travelling confidently after that.

Caduceus is not a big colt, but he is well built and shows plenty of quality. He is by U Scott from Little Ada and is therefore a full-brother in blood to Highland Fling and Highland Kilt. Queen Ayesha, the dam of these two great horses, is by Frank Worthy from Royal Empress, and Little Ada is a full-sister to Queen Ayesha. Caduceus was bred by his owners Messrs Moore Bros., of Wellington, who bought the dam , Little Ada, at the 1949 National Sales at Addington for 260gns.

Santa Amada excelled herself in hanging on for a close second after being in front for more than a mile and three furlongs. Bounden Duty, always one of the first three or four, was right up third, just shading the unlucky favourite, Scottish Brigade. Scottish Brigade was in difficulties throughout. He put in a slight break at the start, and he narrowly averted disaster when Sure King broke with little more than half a mile to go and brought down Notary. Scottish Brigade at that stage was fully eight lengths behind the leader. He made up half of this leeway with a quarter to go and looked like getting a clear run on the outer entering the straight. His driver, however, elected to try for an opening on the inner, and this sealed his doom. He finished full of running without ever finding an opening.

Brahman again took no part, and Buccaneer broke at the start. Buccaneer showed fine speed to reach fourth position with a round to go, but he was forced wide out and was a tired horse in fifth place at the finish. Bobby Brigade drifted in the first quarter. He finished sixth.

Caduceus put up the fast time of 3:13 2-5, which has been bettered only once in the Derby - by Fallacy, who put up the three-year-old Dominion record of 3:12 1-5 in winning in 1951. Like Fallacy, Caduceus is trained and driven by J D Litten, of West Melton. Litten turned Caduceus out in great order and his handling of the colt was masterful.



Credit: 'Ribbonwood'writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25N0v53

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

In time only two-fifths of a second outside Gold Bar's mile and a quarter Australasian record of 2:35, Johnny Globe spreadeagled the field in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington on Friday. He was actually easing up at the finish, otherwise he must have at least equalled the record.

From No.1 position at the barrier Johnny Globe began very fast and he led all the way. Rounding the top turn for the run home he left the opposition standing, and Adorian, his Cup victor, never looked like getting near him.

D G Nyhan received a warm and well-earned ovation on returning to the birdcage with his champion. Johnny Globe's time is a 2:04 1-5 mile rate, and it is obvious he would have gone well inside the record if anything had been capable of making him race.

Johnny Globe's winnings have now reached £21,865. He has won 21 races, including seven free-for-alls, which is one more than the previous record totals shared by Johnny Globe with Gold Bar and Great Bingen, each of whom won six of these races; Highland Fling's score was five.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18Nov53

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 DOMINION HANDICAP

Vodka's characteristic slowness in the opening stages of the Dominion Handicap soon gave way to brilliant acceleration, culminating in a dogged finish that gave champion Gold Horizon no earthly chance of conceding him a start of about half a dozen lengths from the home turn.

Although driving tactics on this occasion were not in Gold Horizon's favour, the backmarker was almost on terms with Vodka at the end of two furlongs, and was actually right up beside him with six furlongs to go. The 'drop' Vodka had on Gold Horizon was the result of having the inside running (Vodka was two out and Gold Horizon three out) at this latter stage, contributed largely to Vodka's victory - a decisive one in every way and richly deserved as well.

Vodka, who had run meritorious seconds in both his appearances on the first day, came up a much steadier horse for the Dominion Handicap, in which he trotted solidly and generously throughout.

The result was a vindication of the 6yds barrier, for both Vodka and Gold Horizon started from split marks. J S Shaw stated after the race that his horse was not cramped for room in any way - he was able to stand a yard back from the barrier and had plenty of clearance behind - and made one of his best beginnings, probably the fastest of his career.

Seldom have positions changed so quickly in a big trotters' race as they did in the Dominion Handicap. Fair Isle, the leader out from the start, was supplanted by Swanee River at the end of two furlongs. In the straight the first time Swanee River attempted to slow up the pace, but he was soon surrounded, and Correction was the leader a little further on. Then Highland Kilt took over with about five furlongs covered, and he was run down by Dictation with a little more than a mile to go.

The pace had slackened in the middle stages - the mile showing 2:15. Dictation was challenged by Vodka at the home turn, with a gap to Gold Horizon and Precaution, and Correction and Fair Isle next. Vodka had no sooner disposed of Dictation than Precaution challenged him, but Precaution went into a break under pressure and Vodka carried on to win by five lengths from Gold Horizon, who came home well. Fair Isle was half a length away third with Precaution (who was disqualified for galloping), and correction next.

Mr C E Hoy, in presenting the trophy to Shaw, said the Dominion Handicap had always been a very favoured race with the trotting public. Year after year the trotters had staged wonderful contests. The Dominiom Handicap had been responsible for two Australasian records, Dictation's winning record of 4:16 2-5 in 1950, and the same horse's outright record of 4:15 4-5 in running fourth last year. The owner-driver of Vodka, J S Shaw, was one of the best-known men in trotting; he had spent a lifetime in the sport, and it was no doubt a source of great satisfaction that he drove the winner himself. In reply, Shaw said he wished to thank the club for the handsome stake as well as the trophy. He also thanked the trainer of Vodka, N K MacKenzie, for the perfect way he had produced the horse.

Although this was J S Shaw's first win in the Dominion Handicap, he played a big part in the victory of Whispering Willie in the 1918 race. He trained the horse until two weeks before the race and then had to go into Camp. Whispering Willie was taken over by G H Murfitt, who drove him to win the race. Shaw still has a very warm spot for Whispering Willie. "He was only a pony," he said, "and his dam died soon after he was foaled and Mrs Allington reared him on the bottle. Whispering Willie, in Shaw's opinion, would be a great trotter even by modern standards. His trial before the Dominion Handicap was 4:28 for two miles, pulling an 80lb speed cart - today's (1953) carts weigh only 36lbs. Whispering Willie went through several stables and won for all of them. He was educated by J Bryce. His next trainer was J H Wilson, then Shaw, G H Murfitt and R Mills. For Shaw Whispering Willie won numerous races, including the Summer Cup at Auckland against some of the best pacers in the land. Whispering Willie beat the pacers on a number of occasions and was one of the racecourse idols of his time.

Vodka has taken time to get over his tardiness at the start of his races, but patient training and driving have brought their harvest. Vodka has now won 11 races and £6045 in stakes and a trophy.



Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18Nov53

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1953 NEW ZEALAND OAKS

For the second year in succession there was a surprise result in the New Zealand Oaks, an outsider, Bonnie Castle, wearing down the favourite, Santa Amada, in the final furlong to beat her by half a length. Last year's winner was the 12-12 favourite Swallow.

Bonnie Castle was running fourth at the end of half a mile and, when Santa Amada took charge with three furlongs to go, Bonnie Castle came on the outer at the home turn to wear her down. Highland Flirt, who paced unevenly most of the way, finished strongly for third, with Spring Walk fourth and Night Wind fifth. The rest were beaten off.

Bonnie Castle, who was bred at Invercargill by the late T A Agnew, races in the interests of Mr E R Winter and is trained at Springston by his brother, J H Winter. The combination suffered nothing through the driving of J Bryce, Jun. Bonnie Castle is a brown filly by the young Dillon Hall sire Stirling Castle, and her dam is Peace Peal, by Black Globe from Gay Chimes, by Worthy Bond(imp) from Moor Chimes, a good stayer of some 30 years ago. She was by Four Chimes, sire of some of the greatest stayers of the past notably Cathedral Chimes, Taraire and Matchlight.

Santa Amada is a black filly by U Scott from Santa Anita, by Jack Potts from Wee Truman, a half-sister to a good winner in Wee Potts. Highland Flirt, also a black is by Highland Fling from Golden Path, a Dillon Hall mare belonging to the Misfortune family. Spring Walk, a brown, is by Light Brigade from Craigneuk, a Man o' War mare who left Imperial Grattan, 2:10 3-5, Ben Ledi, 4:28 and Our Flicka, 2:48 1-5. The fifth place-filler, Night Wind, is a brown, and is by U Scott from Roydon Star, by Light Brigade from Great Burton, the dam of the free-for-all winner in Burt Scott.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Dec53

SECRETARIES & EXECUTIVE STAFF

H E GOGGIN

Mr Harold Edward Goggin, who died suddenly in Christchurch last week, was secretary for the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs - NZ Metropolitan, Canterbury Park and New Brighton. Mr Goggin was 62.

A long association with trotting for Mr Goggin began when, as a lad of 14, he joined the staff of the Canterbury, Lancaster Park and Heathcote Trotting Clubs. That was in 1904. Apart from three years overseas service in World War I, Mr Goggin has always been on the staff of the Christchurch trotting clubs. He was appointed secretary on the death of Mr A I Rattray in 1941. Just prior to that he had been totalisator manager for about two years.

The smooth running of Christchurch trotting meetings was no accident - Mr Goggin was recognised throughout the Dominion as a most able secretary and a master of detail. A few years ago he inaugurated a conference of trotting club secretaries and these conferences achieved their best results when held in Christchurch.

In his younger days Mr Goggin was a top-ranking player for the Linwood Tennis Club. In later years he played bowls and for a term was president of the Fendalton Bowling Club, of which he was a foundation member. He had previously served for a short time as secretary of the Christchurch Bowling Club. Mr Goggin was a keen supporter and good friend of the Metropolitan Light Harness Sports Club and took an active part in many of its activities.

Mr Goggin contributed a number of articles on trotting to different papers and publications, including the NZ Trotting Calendar, 'The NZ Turf,' an historical review on racing, trotting and breeding as an industry, compiled by E G Sutherland, of Auckland, and 'Pillars of Harness Horsedom,' for which he wrote an appreciation of his late chief, Mr A I Rattray. He was a Past Master of the St Augustine Masonic Lodge.

The funeral was a very large one and floral tributes, numbering more than 100, came from all parts of the Dominion. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev L A Barnes, and the Christchurch RSA paid tribute to "a good soldier and citizen and a fine sportsman." The pall-bearers were Messrs C E Hoy (NZ Metropolitan TC), C S Peate (Canterbury Park TC), A G Jamieson (New Brighton TC), and D C Parker (assistant-secretary to Mr Goggin), and Mr H Rennie and W Buckeridge (members of the Fendalton Bowling Club). Mr Goggin is survived by his widow and their daughter, Mrs G Devore, of Wellington.



Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 17Dec52

PEOPLE

FRED JOHNSTON

Mr Fred Johnston, who died in Christchurch last week, at the age of 86, shod horses for 54 years. He was one of the best known farriers in the Dominion and was the official farrier at Addington meetings for about 25 years.

Among the great horses he put shoes on were Author Dillon, Red Child, Kentucky, Thelma, Bellflower, Durbar, Marian, Aberfeldy, Dan Patch and Wildwood Junior.

Fred Johnston, who was still attending meetings at Addington and New Brighton up till the close of last season, saw all the champions from Fritz and Ribbonwood down to the present time, and he declared right up till the end that Wildwood Junior was the best horse he ever shod. Wildwood Junior won the NZ Cup twice, and Fred was convinced he would have won the race a third time if he had not broken down. Wildwood Junior was one of the finest specimens of the standard breed seen on Dominion tracks up to his day - and later. Fred Johnston, in an interview with the writer some years ago said of Wildwood Junior: "He was a treat to put shoes on. His four shoes weighed only 13ozs in all. We had made some progress even in those days, as you see," said Johnston.

Wildwood Junior, a pacer, won the NZ Cup in the years 1909 and 1910. "But," he continued, "what a headache the early trotters used to give us! They were nearly all speedy cutters, and the pacers were mostly cross-firers, and I used to lie awake at night trying to puzzle out ways and means of improving their gait. You see, in the early days the breed wasn't there. The farrier was expected to make trotters out of cart horses. Today, they are so well bred they are gaited, so to speak, as soon as they are foaled."

Johnston thought knee-knockers were at their worst about 40 years ago. In later years knee-knockers, in his view, were not worth going on with. It would always remain a hard defect to cure. He recalled that when Peter Riddle, a very successful Australian trainer, first came to NZ with a team of horses, he had had the pleasure of shoeing Riddle's horses. Riddle remarked to Johnston: "If you can't get a horse that doesn't knock its knees , don't have one at all." That is what Riddle thought of knee-knockers. Other authorities, Gus Milsom and Bob McMillan, were of the same opinion.

"But in the early days we had no option. There were few good-gaited horses about. Round about 1897 a man named Bob Day came to Sydenham with a team of horses, among them Gazelle, a trotter, and the first to break five minutes for two miles at Lancaster Park. I mention this mare in particular because she was easy to shoe, wearing only a 4oz shoe on each foot," said Johnston, who often referred to the axiom: "No foot, no horse!" "That's as true today as ever it was," he said. The foot was the one essential thing about a horse; a defect in any other part may not make it useless, but a bad foot could make it unsuitable for anything except breeding.

Fred Johnston's passing emphasises the acute depletion of the ranks of the Dominion's farriers. At the last meeting of the NZ Trotting Conference, in Christchurch, the Ashburton delegate, Mr A J McNicoll, drew the attention of delegates to the plight of the horse-shoeing trade. "Farriers are a dying race," he said. There is not a single farrier in Ashburton. The nearest one was in Tinwald, and he was an elderly man. He urged Conference to promote some scheme for the training of young men as farriers. "In a short time, if nothing is done about it, it will be practically impossible to get a horse shod," warned Mr Nicoll.

Mr W G Clark (Winton) said it was a very live question. There was little incentive for a 'young fellow' to become a farrier and the authorities were apparently apathetic to their interests. After Mr A L Matson (President) had spoken, Mr Nicoll agreed that the matter be left to the incoming Executive with a recommendation that everything possible should be done to encourage young men to become farriers.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Aug52

PEOPLE

W E SIMES

Mr Walter Edwin Simes, who died in Christchurch last week, was aged 75. He had been a well-known estate agent and auctioneer since 1900.

Mr Simes had had a long association with trotting, as an owner, breeder and administrator. He was president of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association about 35 years ago; he was a member of the NZ Trotting Association; and was a steward of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1940-41. Mr Simes was a member of the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs. He joined the Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1905.

Mr Simes was probably better known as a breeders of trotters. He bred a number of high-class performers, many of which he raced himself. He raced a number of horses under the name of M Clarice. The veteran trainer F Holmes, and his son, F G Holmes, prepared most of them. Mr Simes made several trips to the United States and imported Belle McKinney, who left a fine race mare in Muriel de Oro, and other winners in Shirley McKinney and Edna Worthy. She also left Tijuana, the dam of a brilliant pacer in Clockwork, who at one time held the NZ mile and a half winning record of 3.09 4/5.

Mr Simes also bred Masterpiece, a recent winner at Hutt Park. Other good horses he bred included Law Chimes, Jewel Pointer (a successful sire), and Lady Barrister. He also raced good winners in Mystic and Pax.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 24Sep52