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HORSES

 

YEAR: 1945

WRACK

Wrack came to NZ from the United States in 1924 with outstanding track and breeding credentials. He first stood at a fee of 40gns, the highest up to his time, and higher than any fee being charged today. Wrack reached the head of the sire's list for the first time in the 1932-3 season and remained there in 1933-4 and 1943-5. For the next eight seasons he was either second or third on the list. In 1943-4 he was fourth, and last season he was fifth.

A few of Wrack's early progeny were good, but some of them wavered, and so developed one of those strange 'sets' against the breed that beleaguers many a leading progenitor at some stage of its career. But Wrack survived all prejudices eventually to become the greatest sire of horses of both gaits yet imported to the Dominion. He is the sire of the winners of five NZ Trotting Cups, namely, Wrackler(1930), Indianapolis(1934,5&6) and Bronze Eagle (1944); and of three Dominion Handicap winners, namely Wrackler(1932), Sea Gift(1935) and Peggotty(1941).

Wrack was foaled in Pennsylvania in 1917, imported to NZ by Mr H F Nicoll, Ashburton in 1924. Wrack later went to Southland, and was sold to Tasmania in 1938. He died in New South Wales in 1939. He was by Peter The Great, 2.07¼, the most famous fountainhead of speed ever known. Peter The Great sired more than 600 standard performers, 161 of whom had records of from 1.58¼ (Miss Harris M) to 2.10. He also sired the dams of many hundreds of standard performers, including those of 278 pacers or trotters with records of 2.10 and better. Among the most famous out of Peter The Great mares were Margaret Dillon, 1.58¼, Tilly Brooke, 1.59, Mr McElwyn, 1.59¼, Spencer 1.59¾ and Zombro Hanover 2.00.

Wrack's dam was The Colorado Belle, 2.07½, by Colorado E, 2.04¾, a champion at three years. The Colorado Belle was out of The American Belle, by Rex Americus from Beautiful Chimes, a celebrated brood mare by Chimes, who topped the list of American sires on one occasion. Beautiful Chimes was out of Maid of Honour, by Mambrino King-Betty Mac, etc. Wrack's official record was 2.02¾, but he was credited with running second in a heat in 2.01½, the last half in 58½secs. Wrack raced for three years on the Grand Circuit, and never wore a hopple.

To date Wrack has sired 169 individual winners, but the end is not yet, as he still has a few novices racing who may enter the winning list. Wrack's first winner in the Dominion came to light at Westport in sensational circumstances. This was Bonnie Wrack, a 2-year-old pacer who won an event over eight furlongs and a half at the mid-summer meeting, 1927; but as it was discovered after her fine performance that it is against the rules to race a 2-year-old over more than eight furlongs so early in the season, Bonnie Wrack looked like being deprived of the fruits of her precocity. However, someone stretched a point sonewhere, and she was allowed to go down in the records as the rightful winner of the race. Bonnie Wrack, it is scarcely nesessary to add, was one of Wrack's first season foals, and others foaled in the same year were Wrackler and First Wrack.

Wrackler still ranks as the greatest double-gaited horse bred in the Dominion; for that matter one of the greatest in the world. After finishing third in the Sapling Stakes when a sick 2-year-old, he soon recuperated and scored comfortably in the NZ Derby and Great Northern Derby. Like his sire, Wrackler well earned the title of 'iron horse.' Many of the leading pacing events on the calendar fell to him, culminating in his heat and final victories in the 1930 series for the NZ Trotting Cup. In the final he ran right away from the opposition in the straight for one of the most convincing wins ever seen in the premier event. After finishing fourth in the NZ Cup the following year, Wrackler was changed over to the trotting gait, and with very little race experience he beat a high-class field of pacers in a two-mile event at Addington. He went on to win the Dominion Handicap and other important trotting races, and at one time he held the mile and a half record for a trotter, 3.15 4/5, as well as taking a two-mile record of 4.23 2/5. Only now, nearly 13 years afterwards are Wrackler's great double-gaited feats placed in true perspective. His like may never be seen again.

Wrackler's full-sister, Arethusa, was a great little filly. She was 'ugly as sin,' but what a heart she had! She won the Sapling Stakes and NZ Derby, and at three years she won over two miles in seasoned company and finished up with a two-mile record of 4.24, which stood as a 3-year-old record for some years. She carried on to win many other important races, and was one of the gamest and best of her inches seen up to her time.

Soon after the retirement of Arethusa, the 'set' against the Wrack breed was at its height. This unwarranted prejudice became so strong, and the depression years so accentuated it, that the Wracks could scarcely be given away. That is probably the main reason why Tattersalls saw a lot of them go under the hammer for a mere 'song'. There was Sea Gift at 6gns; Nicoya at 4½gns; Peggotty at 4gns, just to mention three of the greatest sale-ring bargains the world over. As is well known to the majority of trotting followers, these three cast-offs developed into trotters of the highest class and won thousands for their lucky purchasers. With the coming of Sea Gift and Nicoya coincided the high-class pacing performances of Cloudy Range, Tempest, Ironside and Reporter, and there also followed a regular stream of high-class juvenile as well as aged trotters. For instance, White Satin and Gerfalcon, both of whom were 3-year-old trotting record holders in their day.

Most of these were in the top class by the time a rangy, overgrown-looking colt named Indianapolis set tongues wagging the day he ran rings round a field of novices of all ages in his very first race as a 2-year-old. He was narrowly beaten by Taxpayer in the Sapling Stakes and the Derby, but after that he rapidly climbed to champion class, winning the NZ Cup three years in succession and taking a mile record of 2.00 2/5 against time. Many trotting men still regard Indianapolis as the greatest pacer foaled in the Dominion. It is certain he would have broken two minutes if he had been specially trained for the purpose, and his best time of 4.15 4/5 for two miles was probably seconds slower than what he would have done if he had not struck wet tracks for his second and third NZ Cup victories.

One could go on for pages and pages writing about this versatile family by Wrack. Members of it, beside all the rich races mentioned above, have won five NZ Derbys(Wrackler, Arethusa, Ciro, Aldershot and Imperial Jade), and Wrackler is not the only trotter of the breed to win against high-class pacers: Sea Gift gained similar distinction, and this great mare's two-mile trotting record of 4.21 2/5, established eight years ago, still stands.

This saga of the Wrack family would by no means be complete without special reference to the somewhat belated greatness of Bronze Eagle. Enough has already been written in these columns about that aspect of his chequered career. Now he ranks as the Dominion's leading stayer, and is sure to be one of the favourites for the NZ Trotting Cup, a race he won last year by sheer grit and superb racing qualities.

Very few of the Wracks were left entire; the greatest of them, Indianapolis, is the sire of Indian Lad, a winner as a 3-year-old last season; Casanova is the sire of Casabianca, a very fine trotter who defeated Fantom, Desmond's Pride and Blue Horizon in the Addington Trotting Stakes as a 4-year-old.

Wrack mares are proving good producers, among the winners out of them being the present champion trotter Sea Max, one of Auckland's crack pacers Medical Student, Canterbury's leading 4-year-old Jack's Son, and other winners in Larissa, Margaret Hall, Poppotunoa, Punctual, Manpower, Maalesh, Ordinance, Turco, Moana Tama(Sapling Stakes), Night Porter, Tara's Hall, Windermere, Mistydale, Calumella, Betty Maxegin, Oregan, Chinook, Jervis Bay, Fire Water, Forecast, Jill, Radiant Scott, Durability and Frank Scott.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 3Oct1945

 

YEAR: 1928

1928 NEW ZEALAND DERBY

The New Zealand Derby Stakes proved a soft victory for Wrackler. Maurice Holmes, took him to the front at the end of a furlong and after driving a heady race in front he brought H. F. Nicoll's candidate home an easy winner.

When the barrier was released Grandlight and Wrackler shot out, setting a 24 yards break on Sonoma Child and Muriel de Oro. Wrackler took them to the first quarter pole in 37 3/5 seconds, and was at the half -mile in 1.13 2/5. Though Grandlight drew level with him with a round to go Wrackler was going very, easily. Rounding the far turn Grandlight, Muriel de Oro, Sonoma Child and Lindbergh were racing in a bunch just behind Wrackler. The ten furlongs were accounted for in 2.53 1/5. As they wheeled for home F. Holmes gave Sonoma Child a tap with the whip, but the gelding could not respond and Muriel de Oro was beaten also. Grandlight made a game effort to reach Wrackler, but Wrackler simply shook his tail at his rival, and won very easily.

Wrackler is a fine advertisement for the American horse, Wrack, which gives evidence of developing into a high-class sire. Grandlight will develop into a good handicap performer, and Lindbergh has a bright future. Sonoma Child was not himself, but he will win good stakes when he strikes form.



Credit: 'The Toff' writing in NZ Truth 15 Nov 1928

 

YEAR: 2012

WRACKLER & HARRY NICOLL: CHAMPIONS BOTH

What a combination it was. On our left was Wrackler rated "on all evidence available the world's best double gaited horse" and still the only one to win both the New Zealand Cup pacing and the Dominion Handicap trotting. On the right was his owner Harry Nicoll, arguably the greatest administrator in the history of the harness sport. An autocrat, he was the president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference (HRNZ) for over 25 years and of his Ashburton club for a staggering 48 years. Without Harry Nicholl the Inter-Dominion Championships would never have got off the ground.

An oarsman of international standard in his youth, it was said that Harry had never been to a trotting meeting until 1906 when the Ashburton club invited him to its meeting. It was not quite true. But the club was almost broke and Nicoll, a local business who successfully raced gallopers as "Mr J Case" and ran the local Racing Club was seen as a possible saviour.

Within two years Nicoll had embraced trotting and won the New Zealand Cup with Durbar, a 12-year-old he had bought here from an Australian and who raced on until he was 18. Nicoll was soon the leading owner and leading the code into class racing and handicapping by yards instead of clocks. After being thwarted by politics from heading the NZ Trotting Association he upset the famed Aucklander James Rowe for the chairmanship of the Conference in 1922 and won every election held from then until retiring in 1947.

By 1931 he was an honorary life member of every trotting club in New Zealand, joint president of the NZ Metropolitan club and later Predident of the Australasian Trotting Association. It was his offer to bankroll New Zealand horses going to Perth for the first Inter-Dominion which made the concept feasible. His Ashburton club was offering £3000 for three classic races in the 1920's making it the most successful in Australasia regardless of size.

Nicoll's Durbar Lodge near Ashburton was the leading stable with the renowned Andy Pringle as his private trainer. Nicoll bought from the United States the free-legged pacer, Wrack, by the world's leading sire Peter The Great, and the first genuine Grand Circuit horse to come to this country. He had paced 2.02.4 in Ohio shortly before his arrival - faster than later pacing supersire Hal Dale. Nicoll charged 40 guineas a service, a fee not matched for over 25 years and one Wrack could not sustain. History records he was a great success but for a time he was rejected by breeders until trainers like Bill Tomkinson, Don Warren and Roy Berry realised they did not handle high speed work and the tide was turned.

Nicoll was no sentimentalist. He sold up a lot of his horses during the Depression including Wrackler, and filly freak Arethusa, both retained by his son, Arthur. He sold his boom youngster, Indianapolis, Wrack's greatest son, knowing what he might become. In 1938 after the stallion had served 72 mares Nicoll sold Wrack to Tasmania. He died in Sydney in virtual exile the following year. It was a finale which did not sit well with many sportsmen here.

Nicoll was also controversial when Maurice Holmes, having knocked down half the field in the New Zealand Derby driving Nicoll's Arethusa, was given a suspension which ended the day before he was to drive her in the Northern Derby. "The judicial decision" raged the Truth newspaper, "could not have been more ridiculous had it decreed that in future Holmes was allowed to carry a sawn off shotgun to assist him bringing down what he desired."

Wrackler was all American-bred and his dam Trix Pointer the only Cup winning mare to leave a Cup winner. He was the champion 3-year-old and at four won the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup in Wellington, a unique achievement for one that age. Wrackler was prepared by Don Warren to win the 1930 NZ Cup easily. It was a vintage pacing era so the Cup was run in divisions and Wrack horses thrived on hard racing. The day produced an amazing double because the Derby was the same day and won by Wrackler's sister, Arethusa, also driven by Maurice Holmes. Both horses wre typical Wracks - plain as pikestaffs, lean as whippets but with great stamina.

Warren was an expert and popular horseman with heart and personal problems. In August 1931 he was demoted by Nicoll as the Durbar Lodge trainer in favour of his assistant Jackie Behrns. A few weeks later Warren made a cup of tea for his wife and Behrns, chatted for a while and then went behind the barn and blew his head off with a shotgun. His health and demotion had devastared him. He was only 43.

At a War Relief meeting at Addington in July 1932 Behrns, having persuaded Arthur Nicoll who now owned him to try Wrackler as a trotter, won a feature at Addington at 8/8 in the betting which qualified him for the Dominion Handicap which he won four months later. At Addington about the same time he finished second in the big trot and in the very next race took on the "cream of the Dominion's pacers" in a high class race. His mixing of gaits could confuse him. In the 1934 Dominion he slid into a pace and lost his chance.

Wrackler was retired in 1935 but later returned to racing under Lester Maidens and won top trotting races at Addington as a 10-year-old. He lived a long and contented retirement carrying children to school on his back daily for many years before dying at the age of 27 in 1951.

It is virtually impossible his feat can be repeated in the modern era. Nor will any of Nicoll's successors be permitted to hold office for a quarter of a century. Wrackler and Harry Nicoll certainly like setting records.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in HRWeekly 8Aug2012

 

YEAR: 1928

BETTY WRACK

BETTY WRACK (1928 Wrack-Nonnie), NZ family of Pride of Lincoln; 2:15.4; £1,367, 4 wins;10 foals, 6 winners. Breeder: W Warren, New Brighton. Foals bred by W Warren (Jill, Bessie Calumet, Betty Grattan, Super Globe); all other foals bred by F J August.

Betty Wrack's sire was Peter The Great's free legged pacing son Wrack (2:02¾). Imported by Harry Nicoll and standing at Durbar Lodge, Ashburton, he was one of the most successful of our earliest imported stallions. Wrack was NZ's leading sire on three occasions leaving 193 winners of both gaits (128 pacers, 65 trotters). Wrack's dam The American Belle, won the Kentucky-3T before producing several classic winners. Wracks progeny left eight Derby winners (NZ:5, GN:3, Aldershot, Arethusa, Ciro, Imperial Jade, Indianapolis, Tempest, Wrackler(2)), five NZ Cup winners (Indianapolis (3), Wrackler, Bronze Eagle) and three Dominion Hcp winners (Wrackler, Sea Gift, Peggotty). His standouts were Indianapolis (Three NZ Cups, NZFFA, AK Cup, GN Derby) and dual gaited Wrackler (GN/NZ Derbies, NZ Cup and Dominion Handicap).

Dam Nonnie, was by Galindo out of Ardzigular with Pride of Lincoln being her third dam, Galindo was exported to NZ from North America in 1905 and subsequently to Australia in 1922 (died in 1923). He proved a productive sire leaving 57 winners (46 pacers, 11 trotters), including Kola Girl (WA Cup, WA Easter Cup, Australian C/S heat1/final2, Aust mile record 2:07.8TT), Michael Galindo (Dominion Handicap twice) and was dam sire of Kolect (WA Cup), Logan Lou (National Cup Hcp twice), Onyx (National/ Ashburton Cups), Trampfast (Dominion Handicap). As well as Betty Wrack, Nonnie left Dilnon (male) and Nonnie Wrack who bred on.

The Pride of Lincoln family stands out in the top echelon of Australasian maternal families. It is the leading NZ family as proven by its six NZ Cup winners (Wildwoods Junior twice, Author Dillon, Invicta, Bee Bee Cee and Christian Cullen). Regina, Millie C, Dairy Maid, Kate and Fanny Fern are next best with four winners. Exported to NZ, Pride of Lincoln generated a majority of her descendants through her daughter Thelma (Kentucky from imported sire Berlin).

The family contains a massive number of classic performers. Apart from the NZ Cup winners above, leading performers have included Author Dillon (3 NZFFA's, NZ Derby, sire), Kates First (NZ/ QLD Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, AK Cup), Welcome Advice (VIC Derby, ID Final, sire), Rip Van Winkle (NSW/ QLD Derby, Aus Pacing C/S, Sir Clive Uhr C/S, sire), Christian Cullen (millionaire, leading colonial bred stallion, NZSS-3, Treuer Memorial, Miracle Mile, AK Cup, NZ Cup, FFA). On the 1:50 list are Franco Catapult (1:49.2 US) and the mare Ulrica Bromac (1:49.3 US) and the family's Australasian fastest is Teo Enteo's 1:51.7 (NZ - Christian Cullen 1:54.1). Leading trotters tracing back to Pride of Lincoln include ID Champions Tussle (Rowe Cup, Dominion Handicap), True Roman (Dullard Cup twice, Aust Trotting C/S) and millionaire Take A Moment (ID Trot final twice, three Dominion Handicaps, Rowe Cup, NZ Trotting FFA/ National Trot/ Bill Collins Mile twice, Aust Grand Prix). The family's fastest trotter is Stig (T1:55.2).

Betty Wrack commenced her race career as a three-year-old in the 1931/2 season when she had two pacing wins (Addington - Christchurch Hunt meeting). Placed at four, her final two wins came as a five-year-old (Blenheim Hcp - Marlborough TC/ Dash Hcp - Greymouth). She continued racing at six (placings only) before he final three unplaced starts as a seven-year-old in the 1935/6 season.

In the broodmare barn, Betty Wrack's fillies included:

1. Fair Isle (Light Brigade), won the Rowe Cup (dr Vic Alborn, owner Vic Alborn and E J August) and Bridgens Memorial at Alexandra Park as a six-year-old; the Dominion Hcp as a nine-year-old (dr Maurice Holmes) as well as Christchurch Hcp Trot, CPTC Stewards Hcp Trot among her twelve Victories (five at Addington). She left no foals.
2. Betty Grattan, had one unplaced start as a six-year-old but bred on being grand dam of Hilton Highway (Southland Futurity-3).
3. Fairfield, had a few unplaced starts at three and four. She bred on being fifth dam of Whitecliff Whistler (Junior FFA, QLD FFA's) and Atom Sam (Rangiora Cup), with descendants in Shake It Mama (Bathurst Gold Tiara-2f, AUS Oaks), Lady Octavia (TAS Oaks).
4. Fortuna, was a winner of eleven races overall. These included Metropolitan Stakes-4(Addington), Electric/Ranfurly Handicap(2) at Alexandra Park, Flying Mile on Show Day in 2:05.6 and Farewell FFA at Addington National meeting. She bred on being dam of Forbid (Geraldine Cup) and Lady Fortuna who was 3rd dam of Mai Mai (AP Flying Mile, Flying Stakes-3, Cambridge Classic-4, Waikato Flying Mile twice, ID heat) and Return With Care (Tiwai/Invercargill 4/5yo C/S).
5. Jill, won the final Westport Cup run at Craddock Park in 1944 (clay track 1903-1944, originally known as Mill St Racecourse) before moving to the current track at Patterson Park (grass 1945). She won four races in total, two each at Greymouth and Westport. Jill was grand dam of Smooth Hanover, minor sire in NZ (Karalea Roxburgh Cup, Patinor Wyndham Cup); 3rd dam of good trotter Jillinda (Ordeal Cup, BPTC Trotting Cup); 4th dam of Joshua Tree (NSWSS-2c, Newcastle Mile) and 5th dam of Placid Arc (good winner in SA/WA).
6. Tui Scott, the winner of seven races over six seasons, four of them at Alexandra Park, was dam of:
. Don't Retreat (QLD Derby, Sir Clive Uhr C/S, WA Cup, Winfield Gold Cup, 4 ID hts, Australian Horse Of The Year, sire of 40 AUS winners.
. Alecane (ID ht)
. Eva Storm: dam of -
..Eva Thor - Raith Memorial, granddam of Astrazaani (Leonard Memorial).
..Stormy Pat, dam of Seaswift Franco (Caduceus Club Classic-2f).
..Three Little Pigs (Methven Cup).
..Silver Halo, dam of Cup class pacer Kotare Legend (14 wins, Ash Flying Stakes, National Hcp, second NZ Cup, sire of 22 winners
and Eva Storm is granddam of Jimmy Johnstone (Methven Cup), Royal Counsel (Southland Oaks); 4th dam of About To Rock ($½, Hunter Cup, TAS Pacing C/s).

Betty Wrack's male progeny included:

1.Fillmore, a gelding who recorded four wins over eight seasons of racing including a Thames Pacing Cup at Parawai Racecourse (grass).
2.Super Globe's 3 wins all came at four including NZ Pacing Stakes 3/4yo at Addington. He sired several winners prior to his death in 1959, including Congo Boy (Nelson Winter Cup), Empire Globe (Westport/ Reefton Cups) and dam sire of Belmartial (NZ Trotting Stakes-2).
Congo Boy was very closely inbred (1/2 to Super Globe).
3.Cossack Post was a minor winner of 3 races with two of these at Reefton.



Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Feb 2015

 

YEAR: 1932

1932 SPRING MEETING

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Spring Meeting was opened at Addington yesterday under ideal weather conditions and before a very big attendance.

The New Zealand Cup was the principal attraction, and the race itself caused the greatest excitement, Harold Logan winning after a stern tussle in 4min 16 2/5sec, time which stands as a world's winning race record. Harold Logan was set what seemed an impossible task, but, capably driven, he fairly buried the remainder for speed over the last three furlongs. It was one of the most popular wins in the history of the race, and horse and driver received a great reception on returning to scale.

The Dominion Handicap also provided a sterling performance by Wrackler, who had gained most of his success as a hoppled pacer, but now has proved himself amongst the best trotters the Dominion has known. Like Harold Logan he established a record for the race.

The track at Addington has seldom been in better order than it was yesterday, and as the weather was beautifully fine, it was only to be expected that fast times would be registered. Few however, were prepared for the great reductions in handicap times that were made during the day, and in the first race Todd Lonzia, handicapped to do a mile and a half in 3min 26sec, registered 3min 16 3/5sec, time that has seldom been beaten in New Zealand by an unhoppled trotter.

Later in the day Gold Country registered 4min 21sec from a 4min 30sec mark, a remarkably good performance, and Dilworth had to do 4min 19 4/5sec to gain third money. The times in other races were correspondingly fast, and never in the history of Addington have such performances been registered.

In winning the New Zealand Cup for the second year in succession, Harold Logan added his name to the elite few who have twice won this race, besides which he established a record for the race and a world's race-winning record. It was a remarkable performance, and the task he was set, to win off 4min 21sec, had been accomplished only once, and then by the mighty, Great Bingen.

With half the journey gone, Harold Logan was lying in behind the field, his young driver, Alan Holmes, saving all the ground possible. His chance looked a forlorn one, but half a mile from home he unwound a terrific burst of speed that carried him past one horse after another. Even when he was making this run it seemed that the strain must tell the tale, but the little champion stayed on better than anything else in the race and was one of the least distressed.

His victory was accomplished in convincing manner, and it was a much easier win than when he scored 12 months ago. On this performance Harold Logan must be regarded as the greatest horse New Zealand has known, and his trainer, R J Humphreys, and driver A Holmes, are entitled to high praise for the part they played in the victory.

Royal Silk and Red Shadow, who were the bracketed favourites for the race, had every chance, and both were in the running until the final stages were reached. It was a good clean race, and from start to finish there was a minimum of interference.

The winner, Harold Logan, has had a chequered career, for after winning his first race he broke down so badly that it was almost impossible to train him. He was always of a perfect racing temperament and was known to possess exceptional speed. Perseverence on the part of his trainer, aided by veterinary treatment, has overcome the unsoundness, and Harold Logan has done a good deal more racing - and certainly more winning - than the great majority.

Until the last half-mile was commenced the Dominion Handicap was not a good race, for the field was strung-out a long way, and the back-markers appeared to have no chance. The pace-makers however, began to feel the strain, and the real stayers took a hand, Wrackler, Huon Voyage, and Olive Nelson all trotted splendidly, and Wrackler, won in convincing style from Huon Voyage, while Olive Nelson, to gain third money, registered 4min 24 3/5sec, time that has been beaten only once by an unhoppled trotter.

Wrackler established a singular record in winning the highest-class trotters race in the New Zealand calendar, for he had previously won the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies and the New Zealand Cup as a hoppled Pacer. He seems equally good at either gait. By Wrack, an unhoppled pacer, his dam is Trix Pointer, who also won the New Zealand Cup and other good races.

Biddy Parrish, a warm favourite for the race, refused to leave the mark, and her chance was hopeless from the start. Olive Nelson proved herself to be one of the greatest trotters ever produced in New Zealand by conceeding starts of up to 96 yards and finished a good third, while Huon Voyage, who has been under veterinary treatment for some time, surprised even his most ardent admirers by the manner of his trotting. The race may do him good, and success may yet come the way of his Australian owner.

The day's proceedings were got off without any unpleasantness, and the racing generally was clean and full of interest. The totaliator investments, which ammounted to £41,801 10s represented an increase of £10,281 10s over last year's figures for the corresponding day, but the comparison is hardly fair for this year the Cup was run in one race, while last year the divisions were decided on the opening day and the final on the second day of the Meeting.


Credit: THE PRESS 9Nov 1932

 

YEAR: 1934

Indianapolis winner of the 1934,5&6 NZ Cups
INDIANAPOLIS

Indianapolis, as one of only two horses (False Step is the other) with three victories in the NZ Trotting Cup to his credit, will always rank as one of the grandest stayers produced in NZ.

Most of us who saw him race are never likely to forget his giant strides, his mighty physique and his regal bearing. Among the outstanding incidents of a meteoric career - he was already in champion class at four years - were his last quarter in better than 28 secs in winning the Weston Handicap at Oamaru, his mile in 2 00.4 at Addington on a two-mile preparation and his then winning records of 4:15.8 for two miles and 2:36.6 for a mile and a quarter.

Indianapolis was bred at Durbar Lodge, Ashburton. Although apparently overgrown and not suitably built for two-year-old racing, he took the public unawares by winning at his very first start as a two-year-old on May 21, 1932, being 13th in the order of favoritism; he won very easily the Selma Handicap at Ashburton from a field of all ages. Taxpayer beat him in the NZ Sapling Stakes and NZ Derby Stakes, but he had his revenge in the Great Northern Derby and from thence forward he was always a class above his gallant little rival.

Indianapolis was sold by Mr A J Nicoll to Mr G J Barton as an early three-year-old. The late W J Tomkinson upon whose advice Mr Barton bought the horse, was never florid in his description of youngsters of either gait (so much could slip between the trial and the Cup); but all his reserve was broken down when he had a drive behind Indianapolis. "This is the greatest pacer ever foaled." was his enthusiastic declaration to Mr G J Barton and there and then Indianapolis was sold to the Dunedin sportsman.

During his three-year-old season, Indianapolis lowered the two mile record for that age to 4:23.2 (a record which stood for 14 years), and the following season he won the Craven Handicap, of a mile and a quarter at Addington in 2:37, then a record for the distance.

At five years of age he went 4:20 for two miles in August, and in winning his first NZ Cup three months later he made the then world's race-winning record figures of 4:15.8 for two miles. It was a searching test of stamina, and Indianapolis came through it with honours by pacing his last mile in 2:3.6 and the last half-mile in 59.6.

Indianapolis first went against the mile record at Addington in 1934, and lowered it to 2:1.4. In 1936, the year of his third NZ Cup victory, he was again asked to go against time for a mile. This was only a couple of days after the NZ Cup. He had been trained for two miles, not a mile, and the fact that he then went 2:00.4 showed his versatility and greatness only too clearly. If he had had a special preparation for a mile, there is no shadow of doubt that he would have been the first two-minute pacer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Other happenings that always come to the top in any discussion about him are that Mr G J Barton refused an offer of 20,000 dollars from a visiting American sportsman when the great pacer was at the height of his four-year-old magnificence; and that he broke his hopples at the start of the Christchurch Handicap at Addington on November 9, 1934, and went on to victory with the broken gear dangling round his legs, truly a tantalising and breath-taking affair. It was in the Weston Handicap at Oamaru that he registered 2:36.6 which stood as a winning record (equal with Harold Logan) for some years. In that race Indianapolis was last with two furlongs to go, and it was also in this race that he paced his last quarter in better than 28 secs.

A bay horse by Wrack from Estella Amos, both American-bred, Indianapolis won 27 races and £10,257 ($20,514) in stakes. It was estimated that the same races were worth £33,000 ($66,000) in 1948. Yet all this fame and fortune once hung upon the slenderest of threads. A brittle foot went within an ace of terminating Indianapolis's career on the eve of his first NZ Trotting Cup. One of his fore hooves split from the toe right up to the coronet, and the heel also gave cause for much anxiety. Skilful riveting of the hoof, an operation that will always be remembered as a stroke of genius on the part of the late F Archer, Addington farrier, enabled Indianapolis, with the help of a "deadener" in the affected parts, to overcome a decided lameness and triumph over his painful disabilities. At that particular time Larwood's toe and Indianapolis's hoof were vieing with each other as front page news!

The late W J Tomkinson did not live to enjoy the full harvest of his fine judgement with Indianapolis, who was trained for all of his NZ Cup victories by Tomkinson's "first lieutenant," F C Dunleavy. Tomkinson trained Indianapolis for 11 of his wins, including the Great Northern Derby, Auckland Cup (as a four-year-old) and Metropolitan Craven Handicap, and it was at the close of Indianapolis's four-year-old in 1934 that Tomkinson died. In the training of a pacer or trotter that had been put through the rudimentary stages, Tomkinson was acknowledged to have no peer. As a younger man he was a driving "ace" and many a time he drove solely with his hands to win uncannily by the narrowest of margins. He was known to study the peculiarities of each of his charges with meticulous care, and the results speak for themselves.

Credit: Pillars of Harness Horsedom: Karl Scott

 

YEAR: 1944

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

 

YEAR: 1908

1908 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Bookmakers had two terms of legal betting in New Zealand. In the early days they were licensed by the clubs, which worked with or without totalisator betting. By the turn of the century bookmakers had been banned, but in 1908 they were back, operating on the course only, at the whim of the clubs. The situation lasted until 1911, when they were finally denied access to the courses. The 1908 Gaming Act also prohibited the publication of totalisator dividends. This prohibition was not lifted until 1950, when the Totalisator Agency Board was established and off-course betting was legalised.

The Metropolitan Club issued a large number of bookmakers' licences in 1908 and they operated in the public and members enclosures. Their operations affected first-day turnover, which dropped to £10,606, compared with £13,168 on the first day of the 1907 carnival. On the second day, 24 bookmakers operated, providing the club with £480 in fees, and on the third day 30 bookmakers took out licences. On Cup Day, despite the bookmakers, a record £18,404 was handled by the totalisator. The three-day total of £41,432 was a drop of £1209 from the previous year.

At his third attempt, Durbar, owned by Harry Nicoll and trained by Andy Pringle, a combination of owner, trainer and driver that was to become a familiar sight at Addington, won a grand contest.

On the first day, Addington patrons had their first opportunity in the new seasonto see the very good four-year-old Wildwood Junior. Bill Kerr's star easily beat 14 others, most of them Cup contenders, in the Courtenay Handicap. Dick Fly was second and St Simon third. Wildwood Junior did not have a Cup run.

A small field of nine faced the starter in the New Zealand Cup. Advance, the early favourite, went amiss and was withdrawn from the carnival. Albertorious was the favourite again, after his eight-length win in the Christchurch Handicap the day before the Cup. But Albertorious, driven by Jim August, was last all the way. He was bracketed with Fusee, driven by Newton Price. Fusee fared worse. His sulky broke just after the start and he was pulled up.

Florin took an early lead and led until the last lap, when Terra Nova took control from Dick Fly, Master Poole, Lord Elmo and Durbar. Pringle sent Durbar after the leaders and he won by two lengths to Terra Nova, with eight lengths to Lord Elmo. At considerable intervals came Dick Fly and Master Poole, with the others well beaten. Durbar's time of 4:36 was just outside Ribbonwood's national record. The stake for the Cup was raised to 500 sovereigns, and for the first of many times the qualifying mark was tightened, on this occasion to 4:48.

Most of the Cup horses lined up again in ther seventh race, the Provincial Handicap, where Lord Elmo improved on his third placing in the Cup. He gave Wildwood Junior a two-second start and beat him by eight lengths. Durbar, also off two seconds was third.

Durbar was a 12-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Vancleve. Terra Nova was by Young Irvington and Lord Elmo was by Rothschild. All three sires were outstandingly successful. A tough old campaigner, Durbar raced until he was an 18-year-old, and unsuccessfully contested the 1909 and 1910 Cups. He was the top stake-earner in 1908-09, with £682. For the fifth consecutive season, John Buckland was top owner, his horses winnnig a record £1391.

In 1881 John Kerr, of Nelson, and Robert Wilkin, of Christchurch, had imported some American stock, which laid the foundation for harness racing breeding in this country. Among Kerr's stock was Irvington, and among Wilkin's importations was Vancleve, who stayed only a short whilein New Zealand and did not serve any mares before being sold to a trotting enthusiast in Sydney. He became one of the most successful sires identified with the Australian and New Zealand breeding scenes. Apart from the great trotter Fritz, and Durbar, he sired Quincey (Dominion Handicap), and a number of other top performers who were brought from Australia to win races in this country. More than 60 individual winners of hundreds of races on New Zealand tracks were sired by Vancleve, a remarkable record for a horse who spent his stud life in Australia. Vancleve mares also found their way into New Zealand studs, the most celebrated being Vanquish - granddam of the immortal Worthy Queen, who created a miler record for trotters of 2:03.6 at Addington in 1934.

Irvington was used for only a few seasons in New Zealand before he too, went to Australia. Irvington was a poor foaler. He sired only two winners - Lady Ashley and Young Irvington - and it is through the latter that the name survived. Bred in 1886 by Tom Free at New Brighton, Young Irvington was a good racehorse, not only the first "pacer" seen on Canterbury tracks, but also a natural or free-legged pacer, racing without straps. Young Irvington left about 60 winners, and his daughters were also outstanding producers at stud. Early on they produced Ribbonwood (Dolly), Our Thorpe (Lady Thorpe) and Admiral Wood (D.I.C.).

Durbar's owner, Harry Nicoll, who raced both thoroughbreds and standardbreds, was also a breeder and top administrator. For many years he was president of the Ashburton Trotting and Racing Clubs. He retired from the presidency of the New Zealand Trooting Conference in 1947, after holding that office for an uninterrupted period of 25 years. He owned his first horse in 1902 then, in 1905, Andy Pringle became Nicoll's private trainer and they started a long and successful association. Pringle was an astute horseman, often sought by other owners and trainers to drive their horses. He was top reinsman in 1914-15 and again in 1916-17 and 1917-18. His son, Jack Pringle, was also a top horseman, winning the trainers' and drivers' premierships in 1950-51. Nicoll was top owner in 1910-11 (£1547 10s), 1911-12 (£1222), 1912-13 (£987 10s) and 1920-21 (£4161). His Ashburton stud, named Durbar Lodge after his first Cup winner, produced some great pacers and trotters, with Indianapolis, Wrackler, Seas Gift and Bronze Eagle foremost. All were bred by Wrack, who was bought by Nicoll from American owners.

Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup

 

YEAR: 1922

CUP KINGS - WRACK 1922

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.

7= WRACK 1922
(Peter The Great-Colorado Belle-Colorado E)(Died aged 19)
Six WINS, Three WINNERS, Zero BROODMARES, Zero SIRE SON WINNERS = 70 points.

There was no middle ground with Wrack who stood his first season at a record high fee for New Zealand at Ashburton. Trainers either liked them or they drove them to distraction.
Plus that his owners had most of his early stars, not the ones paying the high fees. He had been a rough and tough free-for-all horse in the States with an official race "half" of 58.5 as a free legged pacer. He won three stallion premierships here but long term had less influence than other much cheaper stallions of his time.
Of Wrack's six major Cup winners Indianapolis, a great horse but a failure at stud, won three. One of the others, Wrackler, from his first crop, later won a Dominion as well. Bronze Eagle, the upset in the 1944 NZ Cup, was his last. None of Wrack's daughters produced Cup winners and none of his sons amounted to much.
The Wracks were, like him, generally plain lookers. His major influence would be through his trotters. He left three Dominion Handicap winners and not many on this list had that sort of versatility.

TRIVIA FACT - wrack met a rather sad end. When Harry Nicoll retired him from breeding he sold Wrack (at 17) to Edgar Tatlow of Tasmania as a replacement option for Globe Derby. After one season the world double-gaited champion Raider (the last US horse allowed into Australia for a decade) became available earlier than expected. Wrack was virtually given to a New South Wales breeder but died suddenly before serving a mare there.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Nov 2016



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