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RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1928 DOMINION HANDICAP

So "Scotty" Bryce broke evens after all! He collected the thick end of the purse m the Dominion Handicap for trotters. But the shrewd Bryce was dead lucky. After a mile and five furlongs had been covered, Engagement, which was running in second place, shot a foot through one of Trampfast's sulky wheels. Over went the carts and down went the drivers. Peter Swift, which was moving nicely, was upset by the mix-up, so over the last half-mile Young Blake, Native Star and Moneyspider were well clear of the field.

A hundred yards from the winning post Young Blake jumped in the air when he looked home, and dried. Young Edwards was compelled to jerk Native Star out to avoid an accident and, of course, unsteadied his charge in the process. "Scotty" Bryce, driving on the outside, saw a chance and he tapped Moneyspider. The bay stuck to his work and he shot home a comfortable winner.

The pace was slow over the first mile, Kempton then being in the lead. Donald's horse tired badly three furlongs from home and dropped out of the contest. Sister Beatrice spoilt any chance she had by breaking in the middle stages of the race. Elzear left the mark galloping and lost all her handicap.

Moneyspider trotted the last two furlongs in 33 4/5 sec.


Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 8 Nov 1928

PEOPLE

FRANK MacFARLANE

One of the biggest trainers in Victoria in the 1920's, the wealthy MacFarlane (From movie theatres) brought his top pace Nimble Direct here in 1927 with moderate results but returned with a six strong team in 1928 and stayed for a year.

Nimble Direct was still up to the best classes but the star was the trotter Huon Voyage who won the Dominion Handicap for local trainer, Dick Humphreys soon after MacFarlane's return. Frank was popular, if controversial figure in his home state. At one stage he triggered an owner's strike in his support when his nominations in Melbourne were refused after he criticised stake levels.

He was the first Australian owner to win a Dominion Handicap.

TRIVIA FACT: When auctioning his horses to return to Australia MacFarlane would only auction the lease on Nimble Direct ("like a member of the family") and Jack Shaw won the bidding at 21%. MacFarlane guaranteed payment for the horse's return trip to Australia whe she retired.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Jan 2017

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1927 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Due to the display on the part of New Zealand's greatest pacer, Great Bingen, the Free-for-All was a very disappointing contest. Great Bingen took fright at the start and galloped a furlong and a half before he could be induced to strike his gait. By that time the field was well on its journey and he had no chance of making up his ground.

The winner, Native Chief can-canned at the start, lost several lengths and then had the race won at the head of the stretch. It wasn't a race at the finish, Native Chief winning easily in the slow time of 2.11 1-5. He really went in 2.8. That is from the time he left the starting peg.

Bell Harold and Loganwood loafed over the first half-mile which took 1.8 to cover, hence it is easy to understand why Native Chief gathered them so easily. In the straight, Peter Bingen put in his claim for second money and got it without doing any damge from a record point of view. Great Hope went away badly. Had Bonny Logan been able to have got clear m the straight she would have made the finish more interesting.


Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 17 Nov 1927

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1927 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

The New Zealand Derby Stakes saw some good three-year-olds in action and it took a high class filly in Daphne de Oro to gain the honors.

Admirably handled by F. G. Holmes, she got on the journey nicely and after mixing it with her opponents for nine furlongs she drew away to give her pilot "a ride in the park" down the straight. She won very easily.

For second money there was a keen set-to between Eugene de Oro and Harvest Child. Both youngsters answered gamely to the demands made upon them in the straight and it was only after a real battling finish that Eugene de Oro gained the upper hand. The honors of the race from a sire's point of view were all with Rey de Oro, which is the father of both Daphne de Oro and Eugene de Oro.

Donard did his best to get the money. He is a real pacer and one that will take Maurice Holmes first home on several occasions later m the season.


Credit: NZ Truth 17 Nov 1927

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Lady Rhodes presents the Cup to Kohara's owner J L Webb

1927 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

James Bryce was back again with another Cathedral Chimes stallion in Kohara to win for the fourth time in five years.

Ahuriri had to be withdrawn with an injury, but with McKenzie adding Acron and Great Bingen to Bryce's bracket of Kohara and Great Hope, the stable practically had it won before the start. Bryce opted to handle Great Hope and gifted the plum drive of Kohara, from 24 yards, to his son Andy to emulate the feat of his brother James junior with Great Hope.

Rain had made track conditions difficult that year, but with a lap to go most in the 17-horse field still had a chance with Kohara leading. Kohara stayed on too well however for the fast finishing Cardinal Logan, noted 13-year-old mudlark Man O'War and Great Bingen, who from 84 yards was making a great run at the three furlongs only to be yanked to the outside fence to avoid the breaking Imprint.

Kohara had also been bred and raced by R M Morten until a year prior to his Cup win, when he was bought by Auckland's J L Webb and thus became the first North Island owned winner.

-o0o-

The Toff writing in NZ Truth 10 Nov 1927

J L Webb's black horse Kohara won the NZ Trotting Cup in an airey manner from Cardinal Logan which suffered two inconveniences on the trip.

Kohara began fast and was early in a handy position. With a round to go he was head and head with the leader, Logan Chief, the pair going to the ten-furlong disc in 3.4 2/5. Going out of ther straight, Kohara had Logan Chief doing his best. As they flew past the twelve-furlong peg in 3.39 4/5, Kohara drew out from Logan Chief, Peter Bingen, Man o' War, Prince Pointer, Cardinal Logan, Black Admiral, Loganwood, Great Hope, Audacious, Talaro and Great Bingen.

As they negotiated the mile and three-quaters, the watch read 4.14 3/5. Kohara was just at the head of Peter Bingen, Man o' War, Prince Pointer, Logan Chief, Cardinal Logan, Loganwood and Great Bingen. In the race to the judge, Kohara held his advantage to win by two lengths from Cardinal Logan, which finished in great style. Man o' War was a similar distance away third and Great Bingen fourth.

Acron, Sea Pearl and Queen's Own failed to move off properly. With five and a half furlongs to go, Cardinal Logan suffered interference, which he unintentionaly passed on to Sea Pearl, causing Imprint and Great Bingen to go very wide to avoid a smash. The incident cost Great Bingen fully six lengths.

The winner was driven by A Bryce, son of J Bryce, and is by Cathedral Times from Bright Alice.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly

August - The first race meeting to be broadcast in NZ (and probably the first full day's coverage in the world), was at the CJC meeting at Riccarton. Alan Allardyce, who had just pioneered Rugby commentaries, was not permitted to broadcast from the stands in case he should distract the patrons. He sat on a haystack on the far side of the course with a private telephone line to station 3AC, Christchurch. One of the jockeys reported "a crazy b.... sitting on a haystack talking to himself".

BUILDINGS & FACILITIES

TOTALISATOR

Crowds round the inside totalisator.£39,708 was on the totalisator on Cup Day 1926.



Credit: NZ HRWeekly 16Nov88

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

J Bryce & R Morten after the1925 NZ Cup

1926 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

In 1925 and the following year Ahuriri was successful in the Cup. His dam was the great mare Muricata. Muricata was by Mauritius, imported from America by the late R McMillan in 1905, and was a son of Bingen, Mauritius served a few mares before being sent to Australia, amongst them being Queen Wave,the dam of Muricata. Muricata was a roan mare favouring her dam in colour and a great trotter in her time, winning freguently against the pacers. The late Mr N L Price, who trained her for most of her races, once stated that she was the only trotter he had ever known who could change from trotting to the pacing gait at top speed, and for that reason he was always on "pins and needles" when racing her in trotting races.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 31 October 1945

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1926 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

The Free-for-All was won by J. R. McKenzie's wonder horse, Great Bingen, which, after making a recovery from his indisposition, beat a select field of the eight best horses in training.

It was unfortunate that Waitaki Girl and Acron should break at the start and a greater pity that Native Chief should tangle and lose fully three lengths. Hendricksen allowed him to find his feet and moved him up gradually until he was in fourth place. He got that position four furlongs from home and putting in a sensational run in the straight he gained the distinction of beating all but Great Bingen. The first half-mile was negotiated in 1.6 and the last in 1.3, the concluding two furlongs were cut out in 3O l/5secs.

After tne race J. R. McKenzie stated that, he was so delighted With Great Bingens performance and the fact of his good horse having regained his health sufficiently to win that he had decided to donate half of the stake to Lady Truby King's fellowship fund.


Credit: NZ Truth 18 Nov 1926

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1926 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

Though only four three-year-olds went out to contest the New Zealand Derby stakes, the contest was one of the best nerve tingles of the meeting. The coupled youngsters Richore and Shadowland were elected a few tickets better favorites than Rey Logan.

Richore broke at the start and lost about eight lengths. He ran up to the leader with a round to go but when the speed was turned on over the final quarter he quickly took the knock. He finished third, but don't forget that he was 50 yards behind the second horse.
Tomkinson had the bat on Shadowland at the end of half a mile, to which the three-year-old responded. He got to the front, but Rey Logan was doing his work on the bit and so with Shadowland in front, Richore alongside of him, and Rey Logan trailing, they set out to complete the final circuit.

Two furlongs from home Rey Logan set out to beat his two rivals, the fourth candidate, Petronius, being well down the course. Richore was soon left behind, and Rey Logan and Shadowland set out to fight out every inch of the straight, Shadowland getting to the judge a neck in front of Rey Logan.

Credit: NZ Truth 18 Nov 1926