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RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1938 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

For those who admire the genuine, solid and reliable racehorse, we can do no better than recommend Logan Derby. The Australian pacer is one of the safest and gamest yet introduced to Addington.

He was a good third in the New Zealand Cup, and there was merit in his placing in the Olivier Handicap, but his true worth was revealed on the last day, when he recorded 4.14 4/5 - a two-mile record for a horse - to fill second berth in the Louisson Handicap.

Later, he capped his performances by winning the Free-For-All in no undecided manner from the best Canterbury could produce against him. He ran his last mile here outside one horse all the way in 2.5 3/5 and fought on like a bulldog, to stamp himself a 24-carat racehorse.

A lazy goer, he has to be asked twice to turn on any speed, but he is a great beginner, will race anywhere in a field, and never makes a mistake in the running.

There was no prouder man in the country than owner Barnes after the Aussie's success in the Free-For-All and he had every right to feel elated. His horse is a model of the highest order.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 16 Nov 1938

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1938 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

SMITHS QUICK THINKING PREVENTED HOLOCAUST IN TROTTING CUP

Another New Zealand Cup has come and gone and the latest, having much in common with its immediate predecessor, was one few would encore. It was not a race as we understand the word - just a mad scramble with ability in any department counting for little. Lady Luck was in full charge, and outstanding qualities in both horseflesh and horsemanship were wasted talents which could not be brought into play at any stage of the two mile journey.

Trouble started with the release of the barrier, when Rey Spec, Bonny Azure and Ginger Jack - a third of the limit horses - refused to get into action and caused more ducking and dodging than any debt collector ever did. In ordinary circumstances the field would have settled down quickly, but there could be no settling down here.

With 20 runners, all of which had to be within reasonable distance of the leaders, it was beyond all expectations that there would be any real order. Horses went where circumstances put them, and drivers were puppets. Some were given hopeless positions close, or comparatively close, to the inner rail; others were forced to commit their Cup hopes to the deep by being made the outside edge of the moving mass. Not that it mattered a great deal which was their lot. The programme committee's idea of a suitable limit had effectively removed all prospects of good judgement entering the question.

The few drivers who were placed where they could alter their positions were frightened to advance or retract and all had to stay where they found themselves. For the greater part of the journey they were like an uncomfortably packed collection of sardines waiting for someone to produce a tin opener.

As was only natural, this scrambling and crowded field could not go the full journey without an accident. At a stage when desperate positions called for desperate measures, Fred Smith met trouble which caused the inner wheel of Ironside's sulky to collapse. In "Truth's" opinion the club should present Fred with a gold medal. Had Fred attempted to stop his horse, as instinct must have prompted him to do, there seems little doubt that Addington racegoers would have witnessed one of the worst smashes in the history of the sport.

One of the leading division and third from the rails, Ironside was hemmed in with no chance of escape. The collapse of his wheel came when he could not go ahead, pull out or pull up. Fred took one look behind him - the New Zealand Cup field must have presented a pretty picture to him at that stage - and his course of action was decided for him. With his broken wheel ploughing up the track, Fred did his best to keep Ironside at full speed ahead. With the leaders going at 2.8 gait, full speed was impossible, but he slowed down sufficiently to allow the scrambling field to flow around and past him without disastrous interference to any. Had Ironside stopped suddenly or had he been allowed to take the swerve his broken wheel would natuarally tend to give him, the Addington officials would have had all the material on hand for a first-class nightmare.

It is to be hoped that with this incident came the awakening that the indescriminate preference for quantity of a questionable class over quality of an undeniable class cannot, and never will be, a sound or sane policy. The race from start to finish, could leave little room for debate on this question.

In spite of everything, there had to be a winner, and Morello emerged from this scramble the apple of Lady Luck's eye. And he deserved his victory. He went away well; did his work like a tradesman and when he was asked a question in the final quarter he came away in a manner that left little doubt that he was built of the right stuff to survive the day and the conditions. Always handily placed, he enjoyed no luck, either good or bad, in the running, and it has to be admitted that his finishing run carried the hallmark of class.

At the same time, he was fortunate that the conditions attached to the Cup allowed him, a pacer assessed on 4.27 when nominations closed, and one which had failed to prove his merit in numerous opportunities, to take his place in the field. He had done little to justify his inclusion here, and this is his seventh season of racing, but the result proved his connections had solid grounds for their faith in him when they accepted the Club's invitation to parade. Although there are people who will claim that Morello had no right in the field, the Club stretched its imagination and the conditions to attract horses not regarded as being in town-hall society, and all had an equal right to share in the spoils.

Lucky Jack was definitely unlucky not to have made this his second Cup. Like all the backmarkers, he was made to work overtime to get handy to the leaders, and he was forced to cover a ton of ground. When Ironside got in the wars, Lucky Jack was sent back, and he had to start all over again. He finished gamely, but the cards were stacked against him, and he had to be content with second money.

The Aussie, Logan Derby, acted the gentleman and ran a solid race for some of the minor money, while Ginger Jack came from an impossible position to have his number hoisted in fourth place. With a decent beginning it looked as if the latter must have been the winner. Pot Luck, another to begin slowly was right up, while Parisienne, pushed off the face of the earth all the journey, was next and far from disgraced. King's Play, Plutus, Rocks Ahead, Evicus and King's Warrior all went well to a point.

A break at the straight entrance cost Lawn Derby any chance he held. Up to that stage he had put in some great work from the back of the field and he looked like putting in a claim when he left his feet.

The hard luck stories that followed the Cup would fill columns, and none of them had to be invented. There could be nothing but hard luck for the majority of the runners in such a field.

As a race it was a failure, and as an indication of worth in horseflesh it was a farce.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 16 Nov 1938

As in the previous year's Cup, George Barton owned three starters in the race, Tempest was his best performer finishing 2nd some four lengths from the winner Lucky Jack. Cloudy Range starting from the 12 yard mark beat one home and that was his stablemate Indianapolis which stared off 72 yards and finished a long last.

INTERDOMINIONS

ADELAIDE - DAN'S SON
Adelaide, celebrating South Australia's centenary, hosted the second Inter Dominion Series in 1937. On its 2.5 furlong Wayville Saucer, right in town, a drama packed carnival unfolded before crowds of up to 25,000 as Melbourne 7yo Dan's Son (bought for 11gns as a 3yo) emerged victorious.

HORSES

JACK POTTS

How do you go about paying tribute to a sire who achieved as much as Jack Potts?

His record almost comes into the category of awe inspiring. Nine times leading sire, all in succession from 1937 until 1945, is a record achievment, for U Scott who equalled the nine premierships had them spread much further apart. Jack Potts was also leading broodmare sire six times. Altogether he sired 271 individual winners of over $900,000 and his daughters produced over 320 winners, some of them great horses. At one time Jack Potts were sought after in much the same way as gold in the 1860s and when you examined what they achieved this is not surprising.

Foaled in 1920 Jack Potts was imported to this country as a 2 year old by Alex Anderson of Christchurch through Robert A Smith who had a hand in bringing out a number of stallions in those days. Jack Potts was a good racehorse if not a great one though a leg injury he suffered as a young horse always made him a dicky proposition. However from Ces Donald's stable he won nine races and $10,000. He was pipped on the post in the Auckland Cup and was twice placed in the NZ Cup. A very handsome horse and a fine mover Jack Potts's main track victories were the NZMTC Metropolitan, Victoria, Advance, Hagley and Mid-Summer Handicaps and two major handicaps at Auckland.

Jack Potts was 12 years old before his progeny first appeared in 1933-34 winning only $568 that season. By 1935-36 he was third on the sires' list and remained in the top three for 13 seasons. His list of winners has some impressive names. Among them were Emulous who won $45,000 and an Inter-Dominion, dual Cup winner Lucky Jack who won 14 races, Marlene an Auckland and NZ Cup winner, the juvenile champions Pacing Power and Horsepower who won 30 races between them with the former placed in the Cup, Inter-Dominion champion of 1938 in Pot Luck ($17,000), Fine Art winner of 15 races, King Potts winner of 12 including the Easter Cup, Auckland Cup winner Betty Boop, Cup placegetters and major winners in Plunder Bar, Knave of Diamonds and Countless.

Lightning Lady the winner of 14 races, Ingle Belmer winner of 12, Clockwork the 1½ mile national record holder for some years and winner of 12 races, Checkmate (11 wins), free-for-all winner Indian Clipper (12 wins), Ferry Post (unsound, but still the winner of 14 races), Brucus, County Antrim and Accountant were other big winners for Jack Potts but by no means were they finished yet. Jack Potts produced a big number of top juveniles including the Derby winner Gamble and Sapling Stakes winner in Two's Loose, other Sapling winners in Frisco Lady and Sir Julien and G N Derby winner Free Again. Any number of his offspring reached tight assessments including Realm Again, Molly Direct, On Approval, Jack Peterson, Mighty Fine and War Guard. The stock of Jack Potts won four NZ Derbies and three NZ Cups. His offspring favoured the pacing gait and very few trotters by him ever appeared.

As a sire of broodmares Jack Potts was even more successful. Among the major winners his daughters produced were Tactician, our first two-minute racehorse who won 20 races including an Inter-Dominion and $40,000; Van Dieman winner of 18 and $42,000; Merval winner of 11 and holder for a time of a world's race record for a mare over a mile; the great Rupee winner of 14; Thelma Globe who won 17 races and also held a world mark over 1¼ miles; Globe Direct another record holder and winner of 14; Young Charles who won 11 races and would have won more if fully sound and a champion juvenile horse; Excelsa (10 wins) who ironically prevented Rupee from winning 10 successive tote races; Auditor, Lady Rowan, Trueco, Gough's Pride, Wayward Peter and Whipster who between them won nearly 70 races and Starbeam, Signal Light, Court Martial, Gay Knight (13 wins) were other big winners from Jack Potts mares.

Lottie Location an unraced daughter produced Local Gold who won nine and produced Arania (1:57, 12 wins) and Local Light, Sure Potts produced Florita who won nine. The unraced Anita Patch produced Patchwork (12 wins, Easter Cup) and Aladdin who won 8. Ingle Belmer, a Jack Potts-Purple Patch mare was the dam of Lady Belmer winner of 13. Lightning Lady produced six winners including Dresden Lady who won 10 and Ladyship the dam of Lordship. Kaulala, a daughter of Horotane produced Great Wonder winner of 10 while another daughter of that mare in Nightbeam (6 wins herself) produced the Broodmare of the Year in Nancy Lee in addition to those mentioned. Joan Potts produced the good racehorse and broodmare in La Fey while Aurie's Star in addition to Young Charles produced Ohio who won seven for Sir John McKenzie. Windermere produced Johnny Guitar who won nine including the Wellington Cup, Santa Anita produced eight winners and a daughter of the Jack Potts mare Suda Bay produced the grandam of Nigel Craig in addition to others. Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan, Impressario and Maharajah were some of the good winners produced from Jack Potts mares

In all the direct offspring of Jack Potts won more than 1200 races. For a number of years the stallion was a showring champion as well and he died in 1948 at 28 years of age. He was buried close to the Donald homestead. Apart from his first two seasons when he stood at M B (Dil) Edwards's Yaldhurst establishment he spent all his stud career at Donald's. His initial fee was seven guineas which seem ludicrous today. At the height of his career he stood at 25 guineas and later 50 guineas in his last year. Perhaps then it is not surprising that Ces Donald was quoted in later years as saying that the stud side of his operation did not make a significant profit. In his early years Jack Potts was not rushed by breeders either though he was fortunate to have the fine juvenile pacer Gamble from his first crop.

A number of Jack Potts sons were stood at stud including Gamble, Emulous, Lucky Jack, Pacing Power, Globe Direct, Realm Again (as a colt), Colossal and Tsana. Some of his sons including Gamble and Pacing Power did well in Australia and his daughters which went to that country also did well producing among others the West Australian champion Mark David.

Even though it was inevitablethat it would be superseded Jack Potts achieved a magnificent feat in siring the winners of nearly a million dollars, particularly as during the war years when he was king of the walk, racing was severely curtailed. His place in trotting is secure as one of the three greatest sires ever to have stood in this country.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 19Jan77

HORSES

CUPS KINGS - LIGHT BRIGADE

INTRODUCTION
Bettor's Delight in just about ready to make the list as a "Cups King"- the most influential stallion in the two major all-aged races on out calendar, the Auckland and New Zealand Cups. He already has three winners and given his domination that might grow rapidly.

But topping some of the "old timers" won't be that easy, even if he has gone past many already. Who are the best? My top 10, based on the following statistical model.
- 10 points for each winner of the New Zealand or Auckland Cup.
- 5 point bonus for each individual winner greater than one.
- 5 points for each broodmare sire win.
- 1 point for each winner sired by a stallion son.

LIGHT BRIGADE 1937
(Volomite-Spinster-Spencer)(Died aged 27)
Four WINS, Three WINNERS, Four BROODMARE WINS, seven SIRE SON WINNERS = 77 points

Light Brigade's Cup records could be considered a shade underwhelming but for the huge success of his sons. Further, his own winners were compressed into a four year cycle while he was at stud for about 20 years. He and his son Fallacy between them left five NZ Cup winners in succession with Thunder, Lookaway and False Step(Three). A record hard to beat.

Local Light (sire of Captain Harcourt and Leading Light) was a star and Fallacy makes Light Brigade the only stallion here to also have a son on it.

Rated by George Noble as the best stayer he trained (he was heavy topped and had leg problems), Light Brigade like U Scott, left as many outstanding trotters as pacers. His versatility made him the "go to" stallion for many years. His Volomite cross with U Scott's Scotland line was made in breeding heaven. Light Brigade only won two sires premierships but was broodmare champion eight times.

TRIVIAL FACT: Sir Roy McKenzie recalled that Light Brigade loved apples and would pick up a stick in his mouth to knock them out of the trees. He did the same with walnuts, eating the nut and spitting out the shell. Brains as well as Brawn.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Nov 2016

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Viscount Galway presents the Cup to Bill Lowe

1937 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

With Indianapolis back on 72 yards in a 16-horse field and given no chance the next year, particularly when his preparation was badly affected by a stone bruise, the Cup was a relatively tame affair as Lucky Jack won easily from fellow frontmarkers Gamble and Tempest.

Owned by his breeder Bill Lowe and driven by trainer Roy Berry, Lucky Jack was however a fine stayer in his own right and repeated two years later in a close and exciting finish over the stablemates Cantata and Blair Athol. He was unlucky not to match Indianapolis' feat, finishing a fine second in 1938 from 48 yards.

Roy Berry had ridden Sinapis to win the New Zealand Galloping Cup at Riccarton in 1913, equalling Free Holmes feat in that respect, and would win another Trotting Cup with Bronze Eagle in 1944, while the Lowe family had further success with Cairnbrae and Humphrey in the 60s.

Lucky Jack's second triumph was overshadowed though by the death of Eugene McDermott after leading with Colonel Grattan just two furlongs from home in the Cup. The popular horseman had shot clear in the backstraight, but fell from the sulky soon after and died on his way to hospital from the heart attack.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1937 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Lap Prizes Must Never Be Repeated

The majority of light-harness followers expect the contest for the New Zealand Cup to be a real race - something worth going a long way to see and something to remember. This year, as a spectacle, it was almost a farce and only worth remembering when clubs are considering classes and conditions for big races in the future. Last week's Cup should see the end of lap prizes, with time restrictions, and the finish of big fields in events where class is supposed to be the dominant feature.

The only description to do the event justice is to say it was a crazy, dusty scramble, with luck playing an outsize part in preventing a serious accident. Those who opposed the 4.28 limit from the outset - and "Truth" strongly criticised the failure to tighten the class - had their opposition well justified, the results proved that the unweildy field ruined the Cup for contestants and spectators.

Interference was rife throughout, and altogether it was a race that gave cause for a great deal of reflection. The first mile and a half was nothing short of a shambles. It is doubtful if many were looking to win the lap prizes, but because a few set out with thnat object in view, the rest of the field was scrambling all the way, trying either to get into decent positions, or out of trouble, and more often than not getting neither.

In "Truth's" opinion those who supported the Auckland bracket, King's Warrior and Bonny Azure, had no reason to feel pleased with the tactics employed. King's Warrior was the popular selection of this pair, but there is little doubt that he was solidly supported in the belief that Bonny Azure formed a strong second string and was a possibility to finish in the money. In our opinion, the manner in which she was driven deprived the public of an expected strong second string. Slowly away, she was rushed to the front and driven into the ground. To "Truth" it appeared as if she were in the field for no other reason than to win the lap prizes. This she did. But to gain the lap money she forfeited any chance she had of winning or being in the money.

The tactics employed with Bonny Azure supplied the greatest argument yet advanced in favour of the abolition of lap prizes. The public support horses to win or be placed, but if the public cash is to be sacrificed in this manner it is time the lap prizes were forgotten.

It would be foolish to suggest the Bonny Azure was not driven to win the New Zealand Cup. At the same time few will suggest that she was driven in a manner calculated to win the New Zealand Cup, and that is not a state of affairs that should be invited again by the Metropolitan Club.

The dust was terrific. It was almost impossible to recognise other than the leaders, and those horses well back in the handicaps raced in a cloud of dust, with most drivers 'flying blind.' The size of the field, coupled with the dust was responsible for a great deal of interference taking place, and for the accident that put King's Warrior and Indianapolis out of the race. In the thick of the dust, Fred Smith appeared to put King's Warrior where there was not sufficient room for him, the result being that that pacer hit Graham Direct's sulky and fell, stopping Indianapolis and interfering with Graham Direct and De Soto. Scarcely a horse covered the full distance without meeting some trouble, either major or minor.

Over the final furlong the majority of the field was like a swamp hen's tail - going up and down in the one place - and Lucky Jack was the only one which could raise anything like a sprint home. He was the lucky one in the scramble but he deserved his victory. Owner Bill Lowe is one of our best sportsmen, and the win was popular. Gamble was a tired horse in second place, with Tempest, reserved for a final dash, third. De Soto was fourth, followed by Bonny Azure the only other one within photographic range of the winner.

The second horse was unlucky. He was forced to cover a ton of extra ground from the start, and with a better run he would have won, but he was a very tired horse when he left his feet a chain from the post. Tempest ran a good race, but De Soto was unlucky to run into trouble when King's Warrior fell. More patiently driven Bonny Azure might have won. War Buoy, which went to a tangle a furlong from home; Pot Luck, Reporter, Cloudy Range, Indianapolis, Graham Direct, King's Warrior and others returned to the birdcage with their tales of bad luck and woe attributed to the size of the field and the dust.

The track was watered after the Cup. Earlier in the day there was the promise of rain, and for that reason the watering waggons were not brought into action before the big event. The promise of rain, however, was not sufficient to settle the dust, and it appeared that those responsible erred badly in leaving things to nature.

Altogether, it was a most unsatisfactory contest - a crazy, dusty scramble - and "Truth" trusts that the conditions ruling this year will never be repeated.

Credit: NZ TRUTH 17 Nov 1937

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1937 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

Until last week the question of three-year-old supremacy was open to wide debate, but the New Zealand Derby Stakes cleared the air, and now there is no doubt regarding the position.

Twos Loose made hacks of his opposition and never left the question in doubt to win pulling up by five lengths. On the day he was in a class of his own, and there is not the slightest doubt that there is not another juvenile in the country to come up to his standard.

Always in the firing line, he left the opposition behind with half a mile to go and came home, running his last mile in 2.9 1-5 and his final four furlongs in 1.2 1-5. This makes his third win, all classics, in four starts. He was defeated in Wellington by Refund and Sandusky, but previous to that Dil Edwards had not been able to give him the work necessary to bring him to his best and there was good reason for his defeat.

Although Twos Loose was given his early education by Arthur Cox, and some kudos must be given to that trainer for the ground work, he is a wonderful credit to Edwards. He has natural speed and stamina, and he is the best mannered youngster in commission. The type that will improve and carry on, time should find him further emphasising his superiority over the season's crop of three-year-olds

Refund was disappointing. He had every chance, getting the run of the race, but he failed badly, to finish a long way behind the winner and only a short distance in front of the last horse. He was a winner in his only two starts before the Derby, but it would seem that he is more at home with the sting out of the ground. At the same time, he is a handsome colt which should redeem himself with a bit more time.

Each time Sandusky has been in the South Island he has left with the credit of being good but unlucky. He got in all the trouble going here over the first mile, and he could not raise anything above the ordinary in the final four furlongs, being beaten by a head for second money. There was a tendancy to regard him as a good thing beaten, but "Truth" does not support that contention. Sandusky is a good colt and he will improve to be a class performer. At the moment, however, he is not outstanding. To our way of thinking he has been unlucky for the simple reason that he has not been good enough - has not had the ability - to get out of trouble.

Perula is a solid little pacer which has a good deal to be said in his favour. He behaves and does his work like a gentleman and although he lacks some of the dash others of his age put into their racing, he is a worth while propostion.

Outside the winner, probably most speed was shown by Taruna, which finished fourth. He was poorly served at the start, and lost a great deal at the start. His last mile was run at a merry clip and when he learns to jump into action smartly, he will do well for himself. Horsepower and Bayard performed only fairly, and Rerekahau showed nothing to justify his presence in the field.

Credit: THE TRUTH 17 Nov 1937

Dunedin owner George Barton had three starters in the Cup namely Indianapolis (won the Cup for the third successive year), Cloudy Range (5th) and Grand Mogul (6th).