CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

RACING HISTORY

HORSES

SPANGLED QUEEN - Classic Winner Producing Mare

Spangled Queen (1950 Light Brigade - Spangled Scott), USA family of Lady Cabot, unraced, 16 foals, 10 winners.
Breeder: Roydon Lodge Stud Ltd, Yaldhurst and breeder of all foals bred except Honey Bun (J.W.G.Irving; Garrison Hanover colt(1970 Mrs Rona Mackay).

Her sire Light Brigade was one of the greatest stallions in the history of the breed in the Southern Hemisphere. Imported to NZ by Sir John McKenzie from Walnut Hall Farm, Kentucky in 1940 at a cost of US$2,500, Light Brigade won five races. A son of Volomite from the great broodmare Spinster, who founded a top family led by daughter The Old Maid, Light Brigade led the sires list on four occasions, topped the broodmare sires list eight times, leading trotting sire on 15 occasions and leading Australian broodmare sire once (winners). Light Brigade sired 451 winners with top performers including Battle Cry (ID Trotters Grand Final, Rowe Cup), Lookaway (NZ Cup & FFA), Thunder (NZ Cup & Easter Cup twice), Soangetaha (GN Derby, @ Auck Cups), Ordeal (US1:58.3, Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup), Vedette (ID Pacing Grand Final, NZFFA) and numerous group race winners.

Light Brigade's daughters sealed his great siring career, damsire of Au Fait, Berkleigh, Bonnie Frost, Dainty's Daughter, Easton Light, Garcon Roux, Globe Bay, Gramel, Humphrey, Johnny Gee, Miss Debra, Petite Evander, Precocious, Rondel, Roydon Roux, Speedy Guest, Spry, Tactile, Yamamoto to name a few.

Unraced granddam Spangled Maiden (Volomite/Margaret Spangler) arrived as a 2yo in 1939, another Sir John McKenzie purchase. She produced Spangled Scott in 1942 who left 14 foals including Jay Ar (ID Pacing Grand Final), Spangled Brigade (dam of Scottish Laddie (GN Derby); Scottish Warrior (Messenger); Julie Hanover, (10 wins) and Spangled Queen. Spangled Maiden's other fillies were Scottish Maiden (Argent-VIC/NSW Derbies & Oaks, 18 wins, dam of Gyro, NSW Derby, 20 wins, sire), Spangled Star (3rd dam of champion Australian trotter Court Jester - NSW/VIC/SA Trotters Derbies, Dullard Cup) and Great Star (dam of eight winners).

The Lady Cabot family influence in NZ comes from Spangled Maiden whose dam Margaret Spangler left outstanding North American performers Chief Counsel, Blackstone, Kings Counsel and Attorney. Australasian descendants include Vanderport, Table Card, Howard Bromac.

Spangled Queen, unraced, became a very productive mare primarily for Roydon Lodge. She died in 1977. Spangled Queen's male progeny included:
1 Adioson, won on five occasions during three seasons of racing. Winner of the Rangiora Raceway Stakes at two (NZR 2:39.9, 1¼m), placed second in the Timaru Nursery and third in the Golden Slipper & Kindergarten Stakes. Three wins at three came in 3/4yo events at Alexandra Park as did his final win at four.
2 Adioway, plagued by unsoundness was a smart performer winning nine races spaced over five seasons of racing from two to eleven. He did not race at three, five, six, eight or nine. At two, Adioway won the Canterbury Juvenile Stakes at his first start and was placed in his other start. Seen again at four, he won two of four starts at Stratford and Oamaru. His best season came at seven when successful on five occasions (Hutt Park, Alexandra Park-3 and Churchill Hcp, Addington, fourth day of Cup carnival), placed third in a Forbury ID heat (1965). Not seen again until aged 10, he won CPTC Flying Mile FFA (2:01.2), was second in the CPTC Winter Cup and unplaced as an eleven-year-old before siring a few winners.
3 Frosty Junior, a dual-gaited winner of 11 races in Australia during an eight-year career. Four of his wins were at Harold Park (NSW Summer Trotters Cup).
4 Meadowmac, won the Timaru Nursery- two races at his first start, placed second in the Welcome Stakes and third in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, Meadowmac was placed at three and four.
5 Roydon Prince, Trans Tasman winner commencing his career in NZ as a 2yo winning on three occasions (Addington, Hutt Park - Hosking Stakes, Alexandra Park). Placed at three, he was exported to Australia as a 4yo where he had 4 wins.

Spangled Queen's fillies included:
1 High Spangle, won three in Australia including her first start at Kapunda. She was the dam of:
. Rosso Cute, WA Champagne Classic-2.
. Tarport Spangle, granddam of Vero Prince (WA Golden Nugget & Romeo Hanover-4.
2 Honey Bun, successful in Australia (dam of Humouresque) and granddam of Heros Knight (WA Parliamentarians Cup, WA Championship-4&5), Holme And Away (Manawatu Cup).
3 Loch Katrine, two unplaced starts at three before producing:
. Brigadoon, dam of Brickcam (WA Narrogin & Harvey Cups), Hanover Lad (WA Spring Gift-3, WA Triple Crown-3c), Smooth Lord (USA Fireball series); granddam of Diwali (NSW Albury Pacers Cup).
. Spangled Mary, dam of Spangled Lord (Westport & Nelson Cups), Shirls Lord (Invercargill Breeders Stakes); granddam of Spangled Chance (Central Victoria Pacing Championship), French Lord (Southland Futurity, Timaru Cup); 3rd dam of Howard Bromac ($½m, Southern Supremacy-3, AK Cup, NZFFA, ID heat, Waikato Flying Mile).
. Spangled Time, granddam of Wendy The Witch (NZSSSI 4/5 mares)
. Spangled Win, dam of El Trafford (VIC Gurry Cup)
4 Spangled Derby, three unplaced starts as a 6yo before foaling:
. Sarah Derby, granddam of Joe Albert (Bathurst 2yo Classic)
. Spangled Reign, granddam of Red Check Raider (WA Central Wheatbelt 3yo Classic).
5 Spangled Key, a five win trotting mare. Four wins at four (Marlborough, Addington-2, Forbury) with final victory in the Dictation Hcp on the second night of the Cup carnival as a 5yo. Dam of:
. Game Key, dam of Toomuch To Do (Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, ID heat)
. Spangled Game, granddam of Rockolina (VIC Lightfoot Laurels; dam of Miracle- VIC Lombo 2T)
6 Minor winners: Spangled Princess, winner at Banks Peninsula and second day of 1961 Addington InterDominions (4yo Stakes), injured in a float accident and destroyed. Shortland, two wins at Kumeu equalisator meeting as a 4yo and Rotorua as an 8yo.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed July 2015

HORSES

YOUNG IRVINGTON

It is scarcely credible these days that an unregistered horse could win several races and become one of the best pacers and sires of his time. Yet Young Irvington, who was something of a star in the very early days of trotting and who became the most successful broodmare sire of his day, could not be included among the Colonial-bred sires in Volume X of the Trotting Stud Book because there was no official record of his registration.

Young Irvington, by Irvington-Bess, was a handsome black horse, one of the best-loking stallions ever seen on a race-track in NZ up to his time. Among his get were the dams of such notables as Ribbonwood, Our Thorpe, Almont, Lord Althorpe, Ghoai, Fushia, Manuka, Silver Princess, Monica, Miss Florrie C, Mauretania, Weary, Woodthorpe Maid, Ianto, Roseberry, Bright, Lady Child, Inwood and Prince Akwood.

Young Irvington was a natural pacer, never wearing a hopple or boot.

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

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

MAURICE HOLMES - CHAMFER 1950

With great horsemen the fact nothing exceptional happened in a race they won might be the highest compliment you can pay.

so it was with Chamfer, one of the hottest favourites in the history of the Cup, and one of the more moderate winners. Heck, he wasn't even the best horse in the stable. But Maurice Holmes trained and drove him and that was enough for most.

Chamfer hopped into the trail, worked clear in the straight and won easily from what was a moderate lot. He was a good horse but had a sprint about as long as your arm. Being cuddled up for one run was not a clever driving plan. The punters just never doubted Morrie could do it.

A few months later the real stable star Vedette, won the Inter Dominion Final at Addington with a drive for the ages, probably the most famous in a fabulous career. But that is another story.

TRIVIA FACT: Maurice Holmes might have had a fourth Cup win with True Averil(1971) who, like Morrie's 1957 winner Lookaway, was raced by his brother-in-law, Clarrie Rhodes. However the story was, there had been a difference of opinion over the terms of the Lookaway win and as a result Maurice declined the True Averil drive in the big race.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Oct 2016

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1950 DOMINION HANDICAP

Dictation's winning run in the Dominion Handicap was momentous in every way. He not only spreadeagled the field in the Australasian winning record time for a trotter of 4:16 2-5, but also put up the phenomenal figures of 3:09 2-5 for the last mile and a half, time which compares with the performances of some of the greatest pacers that have raced in this country. The only time that Dictation's figures have been bettered by a trotter in this country was when Fantom was placed in 4:16 on the same track last year.

There were only three horses in the race at the finish, Dictation, Ripcord and Single Task, and Dictation was more than equal to the challenges of the other two from the home turn. On this occasion Dictation trotted solidly throughout, and his outstanding effort was not lost on the public, who gave him a warm ovation.

"The time may not be far distant," said Mr C S Thomas during his speech to the presentation of a trophy to the owner-trainer-driver of the winner, J Wilson, "when our best trotters are once again racing against our best pacers in the NZ Cup. There is no thrill," he declared, "like a race amongst the best trotters," and went on to pay tribute to the excellence of the performances of Highland Kilt and Dictation that day. He referred to the brilliance of Dictation's two records at the meeting, his mile and a quarter in 2:38 3-5 on the first day and his new winning record of 4:16 2-5 on Show Day. "This Club has pursued a policy of catering for the trotter and will continue to do so," said Mr Thomas, who then called upon Mrs Thomas to present the trophy to the owner.

Wilson bought Dictation as a yearling for £100. He picked him out of several in a paddock. Wilson remarked during his reply to the presentation of the trophy that for years "other people have been getting the cream" of his training of trotters. Wilson has certainly been one of our most successful trainers of trotters over a long period and richly deserves his fortune with Dictation, who was, in his own words, "a handful from the day I broke him in." He had never knocked the horse about, otherwise he could not have gone far. No horse which is doing its best deserves to be whipped," said Wilson.

Other good trotters Wilson raced were Quincey Thorpe and King Oscar back in the twenties, and later Ordinance and Calumella. He educated and first raced Acclaimation, and laid the foundation of her eventual champion's calibre.

Dictation is by Josedale Dictator (imp), from Seal Globe, by the Australian pacer New Derby from Thelma Axworthy, who traces back to Thelma.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1950 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Parawa Derby, who had won impressively on the first day of the meeting, was at surprisingly good odds when he won the NZ Free-For-All with a last-second dab that gave him a head victory over Congo Song. Parawa Derby received a lucky opening on the rails over the last 50yds or he could not have been in the money. It was a wonderful finish in which less than half a length would have covered the first four horses.

Parawa Derby's performance was outstanding, as he was drawn in the second line at the barrier and looked effectively snowed in when the leaders, Gantree, Gay Knight, Captain Sandy, Globe Direct, Single Direct, Nebula and Congo Song wheeled for home.

Parawa Derby, now on 4:22 for two miles, looks sure to become the early favourite for the £5000 Auckland Cup. Since he began racing as a four-year-old in the 1947-48 season, Parawa Derby has won 12 races and £9613 in stakes.

Parawa Derby was bred by his owner, Mr L T Padget, of Invercargill, and is by Dillon Hall from War Betty, a useful Southland winner by Man o' War from Betty Martin, by Prince Imperial from Peri, by Imperious (imp) from Fairy, whose descendants include such good ones as Todd Lonzia, Great Venture, Belmont Hall, Bulldozer and Talent.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1950 NEW ZEALAND OAKS

Vivanti had a close call in the NZ Oaks, and a photo-finish showed her winning by the proverbial whisker. She was one of the smartest to begin, but after two furlongs was content to surrender the lead to Spring Princess. She was never further back than fourth at any stage of the race, and when she took the lead with a furlong to go she looked in for a comfortable win.

Riviera, however, came again with a late run and very nearly brought about the defeat of the win favourite. Riviera, a daughter of U Scott and Single Star, has inherited all the family speed, as after losing nearly 60 yards at the start she took over the lead with more than a mile to go, a position she shared with Spring Princess for most of the journey. After appearing to be beaten in the run to the post, she came again with impressive tenacity.

Moreto, who was always well placed stayed on well to earn third money. Manoa, who lost ground at the start, finished a very creditable fourth. Spring Princess, who was prominent most of the way, should develop winning form eventually. By Springfield Globe, she is out of Princess Maritza, a mare who reached quite good class. Alouette, who was sixth to finish, is a neat type of filly who looks like improving. Heather Brigade, a good looking filly by Light Brigade from a Sapling Stakes winner in Frisco Lady, returned a useful effort. She was seventh to finish.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 6Dec50

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1950 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

Johnny Globe, dogged by bad luck for most of the running in the NZ Derby Stakes, was good enough to overcome it all and get up with a brilliant last-furlong dash to shade Vivanti in a photo finish.

Drawn in the second row at the start, Johnny Globe became awkwardly placed from barrier rise. He appeared to reach clear running, racing to the three furlongs, but was immediately in a fix again and it was not until well into the straight that he was able to race clear and go in pursuit of Vivanti. If it had not been a winning run it would have been one of the real hard luck stories of the Derby, because if ever everything seemed to be loaded against a Derby horse it was in the case of Johnny Globe.

Johnny Globe had not won a classic race since he was an easy winner of the Timaru Nursery Stakes last season, but he had been a model of consistency in the interim, finishing fourth in the Welcome Stakes, second in the Manawatu Futurity Stakes, second in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes and fourth in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes, all at two years, and second in the Canterbury Three-Year-Old Stakes and third in the Riccarton Stakes, besides winning in open class at New Brighton before his Derby success on Friday.

Johnny Globe is the first New Zealand winner by a great little Australian champion in Logan Derby, who has been at stud in Auckland for some four years now. Logan Derby, by Globe Derby from the New Zealand bred mare Bell Logan, is closely related on the dam's side to the NZ Cup winner, Chamfer. Sandfast, dam of Johnny Globe, is by Sandydale (imp) from Slapfast, a mare imported from America by Sir John McKenzie as a two-year-old in 1926, and who held a yearling record of 2:22.25 in the States. Slapfast bred winners in Greatfast, Prince Roydon and Silk Lady for Sir John before being sent up for auction at Tattersalls, where she was knocked down at the gift price of 12gns and became the property of the late F E Ward, of Pahiatua.

To Rey de Oro Slapfast left a more than useful pacer in Gold Flight, who died just when he appeared on the verge of high-class form. Johnny Globe, who was bought as a yearling by D G Nyhan for £50, is Sandfast's first living foal.

Vivanti began like a rocket and led out of the straight. Going through the back the first time she dropped in behind Kapeen and was content to accept the trail until the home turn was reached, where she came through on the fence to displace Adorian, Kapeen and Irish Orator and establish what looked like a winning break until Johnny Globe got out of his predicament. Kapeen, third, was merely solid, and Irish Orator never looked like doing any better than a minor placing. Adorian failed to stay. First Victory, Dual Flight, and Regal Parade lost a lot of ground at the start, and Prince Charming reared up and took no part in the race.

The first quarter was run in 35 2-5sec, the mile in 2:13 3-5, and the full journey in the race record time of 3:15.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov50

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Mr & Mrs McFarlane, Lord & Lady Freyberg, Chamfer & Maurice Holmes

1950 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Narrowly averting disaster when Checkmate broke in front of him with a little more than half a mile to go in the New Zealand Cup, Chamfer came on from fourth position at that stage to unwind a sizzling last-furlong dash and leave such seasoned campaigners as Plunder Bar and Single Direct literally standing.

Except for the one hazard referred to Chamfer had a charmed run from barrier rise - he was nursed as no Plunket nurse has ever handled any ailing infant, by the Sir Truby King of trotting drivers, M Holmes, and when the Dillon Hall horse was switched out smartly from behind Single Direct at the distance he promptly flashed past the tiring backmarker and drew away to a three-length's victory over Plunder Bar, who kept Single Direct at bay by a head.

Any fears that the race would develop into a half-mile sprint were put at rest by repeated replacements in the role of pacemaker. Congo Song bounded out of the barrier to put a break of two lengths on Gantree; but C King, Congo Song's driver, emphatically indicated his reluctance to maintain his role by lying out flat in the sulky and bringing Congo Song's head into his chest. Gantree obliged by going to the front but had no sooner done so when Globe Direct streaked round from his rear mark to draw almost level with Gantree, who was the definite leader again at the end of four furlongs. At this stage Checkmate had raced into third place and Plunder Bar was 'going for the doctor' round the field. He was up second with six and a half furlongs covered and ran through to a clear lead with little more than a mile to go.

Commencing the last round Plunder Bar was closely attended by Single Direct and Checkmate, with Gantree and Chamfer next and Gough's Pride showing up on the outer. Nothing else except Lady Averil and Attack ever looked a possibility after that and neither of these at any time looked like matching the final run of Chamfer. Gough's Pride, who looked more like a show-ring exhibit than a race-horse was the first beaten; she began to give ground with five furlongs to run and was down the track at the finish. Attack got into the backwash in the middle stages or he might have paid a dividend. He was fifth and was followed in by Gantree, Navigate, Congo Song, Dundee Sandy and Docter Ted. The last named broke early. That there was no loitering at any stage is revealed by the sectional times of 33 4-5 for the first quarter, 67 for the half, 1:39 for six furlongs, 2:09 2-5 for the mile, 2:44 2-5 for the mile and a quarter, 3:14 4-5 for the mile and a half, 3:46 3-5 for the mile and three quarters, and 4:17 1-5 for the full journey by Chamfer.

The crowd was little, if anything, smaller than last year's, and the total investments on the race were only a few hundred pounds short of last year's record total. The public lost no time in installing the Chamfer- Globe Direct bracket a scorching favourite and the combination finished up with £4920/10/- for a win and £4338 for a place. Second in favour was Gough's Pride with £2501 and £2875/10/-, then Attack, Checkmate and Single Direct.

Chamfer is Mr D McFarlane's first NZ Cup winner, he is the first of the progeny of Dillon Hall to win the race, and is also the first winner of thr premier event trained by M Holmes, who drove Wrackler to victory in 1930 when that pacer was trained by the late D Warren; and finally the first winner of the race bred by Mr G Youngson. Chamfer is held on lease by Mr McFarlane from his breeder, Mr G Youngson, of Gore, who imported the sire, Dillon Hall, 2:00, from America. Rustic Maid, the dam of Chamfer, was bred by the late W J Morland, and was bought at auction for 250gns by Mr Youngson when Mr Morland's horses were disposed of at auction in 1943. At that time Rustic Maid was in foal to Light Brigade and there duly arrived a colt foal that raced during a short career with distinction as Free Fight, among his wins being the NZ Derby Stakes, Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes and Metropolitan Autumn Stakes. Every foal out of Rustic Maid that has raced has been a winner - 10 in all. Rustic Maid was a daughter of Rey de Oro and Country Belle, winner of the NZ Cup in 1915, so Chamfer has proved a worthy grandson.

Chamfer's Cup stake of £5125 (including the £250 gold cup) brings his total since he began racing as a two-year-old to £16,175; at his first start he won the Timaru Nursery Stakes. At three his wins included the NZ Metropolitan Challenge Stakes and Great Northern Derby Stakes, and last season, as a four-year-old, he won five races including the Premier Handicap at Auckland in the smart time of 2:38 for the mile and a quarter and the G W C Smithson Handicap at Addington in 4:16 2-5. This season he had won two races before his NZ Cup victory, the National Handicap at Addington and the Campbell Handicap at Auckland.

Additional distinctions he enjoys are of being the last horse to qualify for this year's Cup and the youngest of the field, a five-year-old, thus joining a select group of horses of this age to win the premier event during the past 20 years - Wrackler, Indianapolis, Lucky Jack and Highland Fling.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 8Nov50

Doubles were permitted.

STARTERS & STARTING

HARRY REYNOLDS

Mr Harry Reynolds of Redcliffs, a well-known breeder, trainer-driver and administrator of trotting in Christchurch died recently at the age of 86. He was connected with sport for more than 60 years, and he also invented one of the first automatic totalisators and produced the first pneumatically-tyred sulky. Starting barriers used by some clubs in Canterbury were also invented by Mr Reynolds.

Mr Reynolds was a watchmaker by trade. His health failed in 1893, and he was ordered to take up an outside occupation. He bought a mare for £12/5/- and renamed her Sapphire, and she turned out to be the greatest trotter of the day, at one stage winning nine races in succession.

Mr Reynolds was a member of the committee which formed the New Brighton Trotting Club. He was a life member of three racing clubs in Canterbury. In 1890 Mr Reynolds invented a starting clock and was appointed a starter. This prevented him from racing horse but he was one of the nine men invited by the late Mr H Mace to his home, Brooklyn Lodge, North Brighton where the New Brighton Trotting Club was formed. Mr Reynolds later resigned as starter and took up the position of timekeeper.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Jul49