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RACING HISTORY

HORSES

CAPTAIN SANDY - Bargain Buy

Captain Sandy(1944) Cost £550 - Won £43,000(Australasian record when set)

The most remarkable thing about this bargain buy was that it was not made as a yearling or as an untried horse. It was paid after Captain Sandy had won two Auckland Cups and the 1949 Inter Dominion Grand Final!

He had also once ran the mighty Highland Fling at his best to a nose after giving him two lengths start at the top of the Addington straight and had beaten all the other champions in pacing's golden age. He was the leading stake earner of 1949.

However, his trainer Jock Bain had raced Captain Sandy on a lease without options and, when it was up, owner Bob Ludemann tried him with Wes Butt and George Benny without success. The Captain really looked well over the hill, not having won for two years, so Ludemann(and Benny) accepted an offer of £1100 from Aussie trainer Dinny Nolan.

Nolan famously carted Captain Sandy all over the continent on a single horse float including to Perth where he won the 1953 Inter Dominion Final, the first to win two of them.

He set a Standardbred Australasian record in stakes and ran a world record 1:59 in Perth, though it was subsequently disallowed. It remains possibly the most amazing comeback in our harness history.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed 2016

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1944 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Full Result

1st=: Miss J & A F C Rushton's LADY SCOTT. Trained by A F C Rushton, Addington and driven by A Butterfield, started off scratch.

1st=: H M Allan's WILL CARY. Trained by S Easton, Oamaru and driven by G McKendry, started off scratch.

3rd: Est late E G Bridgen's RANGE FINDER. Driven by C S Donald, started off 24yds.

4th: J Wilson's ORDNANCE. Driven by the owner, started off scratch.

There was a dead-heat for first, with two lengths back to third.

Times: 4:36 4-5, 4:36 4-5, 4:35 3-5, 4:38.

Also started: Mohican scr; Douglas McElwyn 60yds; Margin 72yds; Royal Worthy 72yds.

Credit: New Zealand Trotting Calendar 8Nov44

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1944 NEW ZEALAND PREMIER SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP

Pacing Power's grand finishing run to wear down Loyal Friend near the finish and win the NZ Premier Sprint Championship at Addington on Saturday, brought the crowd to it's feet.

Pacing Power had been an unlucky horse for well over a season, and this victory was well-deserved compensation for some bad luck that attended his efforts in big contests. In the 1943 Cup he was the victim of serious interference, and in this year's Cup he had to race on a track that scarcely suited him as well as the fast, dry track he was successful on in the Sprint Championship.

Pacing Power is all horse. Previously his leading role had been that of a stayer, but on Saturday he outstripped the best sprinters in commission, and no matter whether some of the chanpions stood on the mark or not, a championship is a championship calling for good manners and solidity in a horse, as well as speed and stamina. Pacing Power has all these attributes in liberal measure, and, only now six-years-old, he may yet inscribe his name on the roll of NZ Cup winners, because he has not been over-raced and may be just reaching his prime.

He certainly has the right back-ground because he is a descendant of famous Thelma, whose blood will be found in the pedigrees of previous Cup winners in Wildwood Junior(1909 & 1910), Author Dillon(1918), Lucky Jack(1937 & 1939) and Marlene(1940).

Full Result

1st: G Lancaster's PACING POWER. Trained & driven by R B Berry, Yalhurst.

2nd: A J Wilson's LOYAL FRIEND. Driven by F G Holmes.

3rd: B J Wilks's DUSKY SOUND. Driven by L A Maidens.

4th: H W Drewery's JOAN CONQUEST. Driven by J B Pringle.

The winner won by a head, with three lengths back to third.

Times: 2:38 2-5, 2:38 3-5, 2:39 1-5.

Also started: Bronze Eagle bracketed with the winner; Fine Art bracketed with the third horse; Gold Bar; Happy Man; Haughty; Integrity; Indian Clipper; Ronald Logan bracketed with the fourth horse; Parshall.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 15Nov44

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Trainer Roy Berry, Owner W J Suttie and Driver George Noble

1944 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

"Black Sheep" of the last trotting Cup field, and looked upon until he joined R B Berry's stable as a pacer who had missed his mission in life, Bronze Eagle showed his real worth on Saturday by as game a performance as any ever put up by a Cup winner. Trained to the minute by R B Berry, and driven with consumate judgement by G B Noble, Bronze Eagle proved that years and years of near misses and frustrated endeavour had not left him with any inferiority complex.

It takes the great to make history; it takes a horse like Bronze Eagle to bury a mediocre past, toss precedents to the wind, and shine forth as one of the greatest stayers of his time. Here was the horse that went dangerously close to being eliminated from the last Cup. This was the 'ghouri' that broke in that race, caused interference, and led the committee to sigh and express a heartfelt wish that they had included Bronze Eagle among those eliminated. And here also is the horse that has sent one of the writer's long-cherished precedents for a six right out of the paddock! We have been telling you for years that horses that fail signally in the Cup do not win in later attempts. Well, Bronze Eagle has put 'paid' to that pet theory with a vengeance; we promise you it will not rear its ugly head again.

We can only admire Bronze Eagle's delayed-action triumph. His redemption, which began when he won the principal event at a Patriotic Meeting in July, came late, but now that it has come, we are glad to concede this handsome chestnut stallion his rightful place among the champions of his decade; to acknowledge that, after all, he was no Sunday horse when he worked well enough in training years ago to win any race in the land. He was merely hiding his light under a bushel, and waiting for the day when a combination par excellence, such as the Bronze Eagle-Berry-Noble trinity, should eventually come to pass.

Bronze Eagle's share of the Cup stake is £3250, and in addition, his owner, Mr W J Suttie, receives the handsome gold cup valued at £100. Bronze Eagle's total winnings now exceed £8000. He was bred by Mrs M A Tasker, Christchurch, and is an eight-year-old chestnut stallion by Wrack 2:02¾, from Lady Bridget, by Guy Parrish (imp) from Bridget Galindo, a full sister to Michael Galindo, one of the best trotters of his day and winner of the Dominion Handicap. Bridget Galindo was by Galindo (imp) from Mavoureen, by Prince Imperial from Moino, by General Tracey. This is a stout pedigree, and should give Bronze Eagle a stud value later on. Wrack was the leading sire of the Dominion for three seasons and is still prominent on the list. Wrack has now sired the winners of five NZ Cups, namely Wrackler (1930), Indianapolis(1934-35-36) and Bronze Eagle. Guy Parrish sired some good winners and trotters, notably Wild Guy (National Cup), Great Parrish (Auckland Cup) and Biddy Parrish, 2:08 trotter. He was a full-brother to Arion Guy, 1:59¾, sire of the dam of Certissimus. Galindo sired some good horses of both gaits. Prince Imperial was one of the most potent breeding forces of his time, and his blood is prominent in the pedigrees of Haughty, Gold Bar and other great ones. General Tracey, by Berlin (imp) from Jeanie Tracey (imp) was one of the best-bred horses of the early days.

Phenomenal is the only way to describe Integrity's effort to run second after losing, at a conservative estimate, 84 yards at the start. He did not settle down until Haughty, the backmarker, was well clear of him, and he could actually be counted out with half a mile covered. He certainly made up most of his lost ground by the time the last quarter was entered upon, but with Haughty now in the lead, and Pacing Power, Bronze Eagle and Countless among the others also in front of him, few were prepared for his spectacular dash down the outside of the track which took him momentarily to the front. He had disposed of Haughty, Pacing Power and Countless, and for a split second he looked like the winner, but then Bronze Eagle flashed through on the inside, where the going was not so good, and he outstayed Integrity by a length and a half.

Bronze Eagle has found a warm spot in the hearts of horselovers who know all about his struggle to reach the top, and enthusiasm knew no bounds when the horses were returned to the birdcage. Thousands literally broke the barriers and crowded onto the track to give Bronze Eagle and George Noble a memorable reception. Again, when Mr A L Matson, president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, and Mr Forde, Deputy-Prime Minister of Australia, spoke to the presentation of the Cup, the crowd showed approval in whole-hearted fashion.

It was a magnificent race, a popular victory, and the largest crowd ever to attend Addington watched it with bated breath. The totalisator investments on the race, £31,758, are a record, and the £154,064/10/- put through the totalisator for the day is a record for the South Island.

It was another red-letter day in a chain of red-letter days that bedeck the history of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.

Full Result

1st: W J Suttie's BRONZE EAGLE. Trained by R B Berry, Yaldhurst and driven by G B Noble, started off 24yds.

2nd: V Leeming's INTEGRITY. Driven by D C Watts, started off scratch.

3rd: G Lancaster's PACING POWER. Driven by R B Berry, started off 36yds. Bracketed with the winner.

4th: F McKendry's COUNTLESS. Driven by G McKendry, started off 24yds.

The winner won by a length and a half, with three lengths to third and a further four lengths to fourth.

Times: 4:24 4-5, 4:30 1-5, 4:28 2-5, 4:30 2-5.

Also started: Clockwork scr, Hardy Oak 12 and Haughty 60 bracketed; Parshall scr; Shadow Maid scr; Burt Scott 12; Gold Bar 12; Horsepower 12; Indian Clipper 12; Loyal Friend 12.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1944 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

"It was my lucky day, the day I bought Roulpard," said Mr A W Moore, owner and breeder of Air Marshall.

"After several tries, I finally made a deal with her owner-breeder, Mr A Rice, of Clarkville, one Sunday early in December 1938, for the modest sum of £10, with a contingency of £10 if she should breed a foal. She was mated with Jack Potts, and produced a filly foal. The next season she missed to the same sire, but produced a colt foal in the third season. The next was a miss to Springfield Globe, but she foaled a filly to that sire the following season. She was then mated with Light Brigade, and now has a beautiful colt foal at foot to that sire, and has been mated again with Jack Potts. I said I was lucky because Mr Rice had tried to breed from the mare with several horses."

"The first foal Roulpard bred for me, a filly, was registered as Mona's Isle, and was running along nicely when she met with an accident. She was then mated with Springfield Globe, and now she has a filly foal at foot. The second foal, a colt, was the 1944 Derby winner Air Marshall. The third is a yearling filly, and the fourth a colt foal at foot."

"Air Marshall was always a kind, docile colt, a bit playful, but never did anything mean. He was always a lazy track worker, and the driver had to show him a waddy now and again or he would walk, and not too fast either. He always ran an honest race, both at trials and races proper, but I could see he needed a more experienced man than I to finish his preparation for a hard-to-win race like the Derby, and C S Donald was my choice of the man for the job. I took him to the Belfast stable on Friday, October 13 (Black Friday), just four weeks before the Derby, and while Air Marshall was in Donald's care he occupied the same 'suite' as the 'old mare,' the Auckland and New Zealand Cup winner, Marlene."

"Air Marshall is by Jack Potts-Roulpard, by Logan Pointer-Rose Dillon, by Harold Dillon-Roseshield, by Rothschild-Wilwood mare. Air Marshall has blood in his veins of a straight row of four leading sires, and is bred to go fast as well as stay. Owing to Air Marshall being a late foal (Boxing Day) he was not entered for any of the two-year-old classics," concluded Mr Moore.

Full Result

1st: A W Moore's AIR MARSHALL. Trained by C S Donald, Belfast and driven by R Donald.

2nd: F Fine's WORTHY GOLD. Driven by A Holmes.

3rd: F A Bridgen's JOSIE DELL. Driven by M Stewart.

4th: BEXLEY'S PRIDE (bracketed with the third horse).

The winner won by a head, with three lengths back to third.

Times: 3:21 4-5, 3:22, 3:22 3-5.

Also started: Admiration; Bohemian & Little Warmie bracketed; Impartial; Jackie Guy & Prince Dale bracketed; Renown's Pride bracketed with the second horse; Slavonic.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 22Nov44

WAR YEARS

MATINEE MEETING

What amounted to a gift of several hundreds of pounds to owners was provided by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club in stake-money at its matinee non-totalisator meeting held at Addington an Saturday, January 23.

The provision of several races for maiden and improving pacers and trotters, with stakes on a liberal scale, is filling a great want and giving an incentive to breeding. Besides, it is a means of meeting the shortage of races for this class of horse. At on stage it looked as though the horses in the lower classes had become nobody's business, and the Metropolitan Trotting Club's generous response to the plight of owners of the maiden and improving horse is deserving of the highest praise.

One well-known owner, whose interest in the young horse has always been uppermost, sent along a donation to the club, explaining that he greatly appreciated the club's move. The inclusion of a 2-year-old parade over seven furlongs also proved most popular with owners. Trophies were presented by the club to the winners. Nominations were large, and, to give the youngsters plenty of room at the starting barrier, the club decided to run the event in two divisions. This met with the approval of all concerned. With early 2-year-old events in the offing, the parade provided most valuable education for the baby pacers, and the club is sure to be approached with a view to this parade becoming a permanent institution.

In every way the Metropolitan Club's Matinee Meeting was a success, and a red-letter day for many owners; and the social side was by no means negelected. Stewards set themselves out to entertain those interested in the sport, and the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association conducted a series of sweeps for patriotic funds. There was a good attendance of the public, and under the experienced management of the secretary, Mr H E Goggin, and his staff, the meeting was run without a hitch.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 3Feb1943

PEOPLE

W HAYWARD

The death occurred last Saturday week of Mr William Hayward, well known throughout the Dominion for the prominent part he took in politics, local body affairs, and sporting activities. Mr Hayward earned an unrivalled reputation for his many acts of generosity and the interest which he manifested in all affairs pertaining to the good of the community.

Born in Christchurch in 1868, Mr Hayward was the son of the late William Hayward, who was one of the founders of the transport industry in Canterbury. He was educated at St Leo's High School, Christchurch, and started work with his father in the Rink Stables, a company which later became the present firm of Rink Taxis, Ltd. As a youth he worked for his father on the old Sumner coach. When the motor-car was beginning to usurp the place of the horse in transport Mr Hayward's company was the first to introduce motor taxis in Christchurch.

Mr Hayward retained his connections with the transport industry until the time of his death. For many years he was chairman of directors of Rink Taxis, Ltd and was keenly interested in all new developments in the industry. He was chairman of directors of Hayward Brothers and Company, Ltd., and of Lamb and Hayward, Ltd. His other business interests were wide and varied, and he was respected as a man of sound and upright judgement.

Mr Hayward took a very prominent part in local body affairs in Christchurch. At various times he was a member of the Christchurch Tramway Board (of which he was chairman in 1929) and of the Technical College Board of Governors. In 1931 he contested the Mayoralty against the Hon. D G Sullivan, and in 1935 was elected a member of the Christchurch City Council. In 1923 to 1925 he was president of the Canterbury Employers' Association, and from 1926 to 1927 chairman of the Christchurch Citizens' Association. In 1915 he was president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

In 1934 Mr Hayward was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, but was not reappointed at the expiry of his term of office. He was chairman of the Christchurch branch of the National Party and on the executive of the National Club. About five years ago he was appointed a sinking fund commissioner for the City of Christchurch, and at the time of his death was chairman of the commission.

Of an outstandingly generous nature, Mr Hayward was the benefactor of many deserving causes in the city. For many years he was a member of the committee of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association and was directly associated with many philanthropic and charitable organisations. A member of the Roman Catholic Church, he did not confine his acts of generosity to the organisations of any one church. He was actively associated with the work of his own church in many diffent spheres, the most notable of his contributions to its social work being the part he played in founding St Christopher's Boy's Club at St Mary's Church, Manchester Street. Mr Hayward endowed one of the 'houses' of this club in memory of his brother and perioically gave lectures to the boys for whom the club was founded.

Dating from the earliest years of his career, Mr Hayward's interest in the sport of trotting was maintained throughout his life. He first took part in the sport as an amateur driver and trainer of his own horses. Later he became well known a club member, owner, and as a member of the board of the NZ Trotting Association, of which he was vice-president and at one time chairman of the licensing committee. Since about 1918 he had been a steward and member of the committee of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club. The last horse he raced was The Toff, a winner at Addington. Mr Hayward was much in demand as a judge of light horses at agricultural shows and was himself a successful exhibitor.

In his young days Mr Hayward was one of the best athletes in Canterbury and won races in all parts of NZ, competing successfully as a sprinter in Dominion championships.

In 1895 Mr Hayward married Miss Anne Harrington. He is survived by his widow, three sons and four daughters.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar: 16Jun1943

PEOPLE

T H McGIRR

Mr T H McGirr, who died recently, was a well-known figure in the trotting world. Living in the Methven district, it was only natural that Mr McGirr should be closely connected with trotters and pacers, as the district is a strong one for the sport.

The deceased became most prominent when he purchased the Australian pacer Man o' War, who was thought, at the time, to be past his racing career; but to the surprise of many, that fine pacer came out and defeated a very strong field in a free-for-all at Ashburton. It was a splendid contest.

On going to the stud, Man o' War sired a number of good performers, including War Buoy, Sabu, Happy Man, Waress, Warfield, Marceres, Battlefield, Lady Milne, Warplane and Navy Blue.

A pacer who raced very successfully for Mr McGirr was Reporter, winner of two August Handicaps and many other important events; and recently Native Man had carried his colours successfully.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Jan1943

MESCELLANY

MATCH RACE 27 March 1943

The match race between Haughty and Gold Bar at Addington on March 27 is acknowledged by veteran sportsmen who have seen all the big match races between two horses, to have been the best of all these contests.
Not because a new match race of 2.00 2/5 was made by the winner Haughty, and not because of the interest it created.

The Ribbonwood-Fritz match brought a record crowd from all parts of the Dominion and the Native Chief-Great Bingen was another highly-publicised event that drew many thousands from Auckland to the Bluff. But the Haughty-Gold Bar match was a "last-minute" arrangement, and there was no large purse to act as a spur to record-breaking. And so the majority of the public were expecting little and came away highly delighted at being treated to such a magnificent duel.

The general idea before the race seemed to be that a mile in around 2.04, with a last half in about a minute, would be all that would be asked of the champions, and the fact that the speed was on all the way and the first half was run in 59 1/5 secs was a pleasant surprise for the thousands of lovers of a good horse who were present. They accepted it as a nice compliment on the part of the owners and drivers to their interest in the sport, and it is safe to say that all connected to the two horses have gone up considerably in the estimation of all sporting folk.

Mr Ben Grice was as pleased at winnnig this match race as he was at winning the NZ Cup, and so was the driver, O E Hooper. Free Holmes, who drove Gold Bar, was a real factor in the success of the contest because of the manner in which he got Gold Bar away on terms with Haughty at the first time of asking. There was no suggestion of 'sparring.' In fact, the co-ordination between starter A J Hastings, the drivers and the horses was clockwork in its precision. And it was certainly a great day for the Grices.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 7Apr1943

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1943 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

With the Second World War in full swing, the 1942 Cup Meeting was restricted to two Saturdays, but a record crowd turned out to see Haughty prevail, again in record time thanks entirely to Gold Bar.

Haughty was owned and trained by her breeder Ben Grice of Tinwald and was by his Auckland Cup winner Nelson Derby, a son of Norice, and for reinsman Ossie Hooper it was a case of 13th time lucky, having recorded only one previous placing.

Haughty was just as convincing in 1943 and remains the only pacing mare to be a dual winner, while she also had the distinction of being the first mare outside America to enter the 2:00 list when following Lawn Derby and Gold Bar in 1944.

Credit: NZ HRWeekly 8Oct03