 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1931
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| Miss Effie Hinds accepts the Cup |
Harold Logan had been transformed from a crock into a champion by Dick Humphreys, and the 1931 Cup was all but conceded to the gelding despite his backmark of 48 yards. After the eight-horse field had been in indian file until two furlongs out and Harold Logan was last, he sprinted brilliantly to win going away from Kingcraft, Free Advice and Wrackler.
Earlier that year, Harold Logan had stunned the trotting world when finishing third at Addington over two miles from 84 yards in 4:13 2/5, which was over five seconds faster than Peter Bingen's national record.
That all paled into insignificance the next year though when Harold Logan, seemingly handicapped out of the Cup on 60 yards and last at the half, circled the field and won easily for a 21-year-old Allan Holmes, who with James Bryce junior remains the youngest Cup-winning driver. A household name by now, Harold Logan returned to a rousing ovation from the appreciative crowd.
He would line up again in the next two Cups from 72 yards, finishing third to Indianapolis in 1934 in 4:12 2/5, and in 1936 and finally in 1938 when 16 years old.
Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03
YEAR: 1931
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1931 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP
HEATS
A solid combination will appeal. For that reason, Maurice Holmes and Wrackler will get big support from punters.
If Harold Logan's driver was as dependable as his horse, that champion would still have a chance of winning the Cup final, for he is likely to be greatly improved by his big effort in the second division of the race. As matters now stand, it is odds on the public will shy clear of him and plonk for something that promises a more safe run in the big event of the day at Addington today.
Dick Humphreys had not a permit to handicap, but he certainly managed to get Harold Logan where he could be beaten in the division and that is more than any handicapper has ever yet managed to do. Lindberg cannot be relied upon to repeat his first day's effort, and it is reported that Vesuvius was very sore after his heat so vic Alborn's charge may not be at his best.
Logan Park was the one horse in the first division that was not unduly knocked about, and both he and Free Advice appeared as though their first race would just top their condition off for the final. That, combined with the manner in which Free Advice won her division, makes them a dangerous pair. Kingcraft is another that may be off his porridge, and not as good after a hard race, and Logan Chief can be given only a plodders chance.
Wracker is the one horse in the race that has all the required credentials for a final heat winner. An iron horse, he is bound to be improved by his first race. His second to Free Advice after getting none the best of the running while Free Advice got a lucky run in the straight, should improve him sufficiently to beat her and be the one that they will all have to beat.
Harold Logan cannot be made to cover any more ground than what he did on the first day. If he is driven with good judgement he may still win, but the public are more likely to put their money into a solid couple like Maurice Holmes and Wrackler and Tomkinson's bracket.
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Considering the early pace set by Vesuvius, his attempt to win from end to end in the first division of the New Zealand Cup was a great effort, and one that nearly bought off success to Vic Alborn. Vesuvius stepped the first mile in just a shade worst than 2.10, and that had the back-markers scratching all the way and left them without a final kick. It was only over the last piece that Lindberg got it on Vesuvius while the rest of the field were floundering. Lindberg proved that when he behaves he is speedy and a good stayer, but although he did everythig right on the first day, there is no guarantee that he will repeat that effort on the second day.
Logan Chief ran his usual honest race, but laked the brilliancy that would carry him home in front of a high-class field, and it was only his honest plodding that got him into the final.
Perhaps the best effort put up was that of Logan Park, which was always last until he made a move three furlongs from home that got him third money. Logan Park will improve with his race, and of the first division field he looks the most likely to get into the money in the final. Dundas Boy ran a fair race, but he faded badly and did not come up to the class, while Dilworth felt the pinch a long way from home. Harold Thorpe never had any show and the sting will have to be out of the ground before he can be expected to shine.
The two northerners, Kohara and Peter Bingen, stopped to a walk over the final piece, and while Peter Bingen will be the most improved by the race, neither look like getting any of the big money. Peter Bingen showed all of his old speed over the early part, and was still in the hunt with a quarter to go but when Wilfred Johnston looked like taking out, Peter Bingen collapsed under pressure. Native Prince looked in great order, but failed where most of the field did, over the last part, and of the four to qualify for the final heat Logan Park looks like being the most dangerous.
Bill Tompkinson strengthened his hand when Free Advice won the second division like a champion. She outstayed and outsprinted then at the finish and had too much brilliancy for Wrackler, which was always in the rear, but which finished with his usual solidity. Wrackler impressed with his bulldog finish, possibly he had the worst run of the race, though being at the tail end meant that he wasn't covering an inch more than was necessary.
Glenrossie didn't hit off too well, and L O Thomas rushed him up to take the lead, and this meant that in doing so Glenrossie used up some of the energy that would have been handy at the death. However, his driver was very uneasy with two to go and though he held on to the straight, he was licked when they straightened up. Kingcraft ran a surprisingly good race to finish third, but he is not the robust kind, and on past efforts may not run another like it.
Carmel, driven by C Donald, and Terence Dillon were nearer at the finish than at any other stage, whileRoi l'Or after having a show with four to go, faded, to finish fifth. Imprint had the lead for a while, but only on sufference, and was one but last at the finish, and as for King Pointer, he was also there early, but finished unkindly. Harold Logan had a show, but his rider decided that two miles was not enough, and he tried to go about two and a quarter.
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FINAL
Not only was Harold Logan the best horse in the Cup, but he is also one of the best horses of all time, and he will probably prove to be the first two-minute pacer outside of America.
Harold Logan was so far back when the Cup field had gone a mile that he had to record figures better than 2.4 for his last mile of the race, and in doing that he had to come round horses on the home bend.
Whereas Harold Logan had been forced to the outer all the way in his heat of the Cup, the field lined out in Indian file the second day so Dick Humphreys took him on the fence and refused to come out even when the others were going away in the front over the first six furlongs.
What figures he must have recorded over the last three furlongs it would be interesting to know for it was only over the last bit that he was ever asked to do his stuff.
Dick Humphreys deserves a bouquet for getting a horse which was turned down as unsound not only to the highest class but also by the final day of the meeting, the fittest horse at the meeting.
Credit: NZ Truth 12 Nov 1931
YEAR: 1931
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1931 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP
The final of the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington yesterday was a race worthy of the occasion. Nowhere in New Zealand, and probably in few places anywhere, is there a trotting race in which the interest of the public is so intense. At Addington there is always the biggest crowd of the year to see this race for the best proved horses in the country, and it is also a fact, obvious enough to those inside the ground, that many hundreds, possibly a few thousands of people, contrive to spare a half hour or so from daily tasks to see it from points of vantage outside the ground.
Yesterday they saw a very thrilling race. A comparatively slow pace was set with the field strung out almost in single file for a mile, but for the last mile the speed was fierce, and Harold Logan's effort over the last half mile of the race was the most brilliant ever seen on the course. The time recorded, 4mins 18 2/5secs, was two-fifths of a second faster than the previous record for the race made by Peter Bingen in 1929.
The racing in the other events was interesting, and as the track was in its best condition, the times recorded were very fast. The weather was ideal. Only three favourites prevailed, but a number of well-backed runners returned dividends, with the result that the money was kept in circulation, and at times speculation was quite brisk. The sum of £37,803 was handled as against £51,189 on the corresponding day last year, and the total for the two completed days is £69,473 10s, is a shrinkage of £31,044 10s as compared with the total for the first and second days of the 1930 Spring Meeting.
After his disappointing run on Tuesday, Harold Logan receded slightly in public estimation, when he was paraded for the final of the New Zealand Cup, Wrackler being installed favourite, with the Free Advice-Logan Park bracket next in demand.
The field went away to a good start, although Kingcraft made a slight break in the first furlong but he was in front when the stands were reached. Free Advice, Logan Chief, Harold Logan, Lindberg, and Wrackler following in line at length intervals, with Logan Park bringing up the rear, four lengths behind Wrackler. They travelled in this order for a round, when Lindberg and Wrackler moved up and passing the stand with six furlongs to go Kingcraft still held command from Lindberg and Free Advice together, Wrackler and Logan Chief being in line with Harold Logan on the rails behind these two, and Logan Park still a couple of lengths in the rear. The order down the back was Kingcraft, Lindberg, Free Advice, Wrackler, Logan Chief, Harold Logan and Logan Park.
Kingcraft piloted the field into the straight from Free Advice, Lindberg, Wrackler, Harold Logan, Logan Chief and Logan Park. Harold Logan had begun a fast run from the quarter peg, and ranged alongside Kingcraft, Free Advice and Wrackler, who were spread across the track, and continuing his run on the outside, he had Wrackler beaten first, then Free Advice weakened, and he went on to account for Kingcraft by a length, half a length separating Free Advice from the second horse, with Wrackler a further half length away. Logan Park, Lindberg and Logan Chief finished in that order.
It was a triumphant success for Harold Logan, as he was giving a good start to Kingcraft, Free Advice, Lindberg, and Wrackler when turning for home, but the patient driving tactics employed by R J Humphreys on this occasion, bore good results. He was asked for a great effort over the concluding stages, and the manner in which he responded left no doubt as to his superiority at the finish. Kingcraft gave another brilliant display and repeated his first day's form to within one-fifth of a second. He tried to make the pace all the way, and nearly succeeded. Free Advice was always handily-placed, but found Harold Logan's stout-hearted finish too good. Wrackler surprised that he did not finish on better, as the final furlong of a race is always his best. Lindberg evidently felt the strain of Tuesday's race, as he showed no keenness in the fighting finish, and Logan Chief was also lacking dash at the end. Logan Park was last most of the way, his fifth place at the finish being the closest he ever was to the leader.
Credit: THE PRESS 13 Nov 1931