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HORSES

 

YEAR: 1939

DILLON HALL

When older breeders study the claims made for some recent imported sires and how well they are bred they can be forgiven a weary smile. To here some tell it, it is only in the last few years that NZ studmasters imported top-bred stallions, the inference being that sires of the past were practically given away by their American owners because no stud in that country would look at them.

This is, with respect, a load of rubbish. One example was Guy Parrish imported in the 1920s who was a full brother to the champion American pacer Arion Guy, and an even better one was Dillon Hall, five times leading sire and, if you probe below the surface, a good bet as the finest sire we have had. I would suggest to stud advertisement compilers who browbeat breeders with long lines of statistics and how impressive second and third placings were, that they have yet to be asked to design an advertisement for a better bred stallion than Dillon Hall, who was imported to this country by George Youngson and his wife in 1939, complete with a two-minute record, which was not all that easy to get in those days.

Dillon Hall, who took his two-minute mark at four years was by the Peter The Great horse The Laurel Hall, sire of two-minute performers and a success in the United States before being exported to Italy where he was very popular, his world record holding son Prince Hall, sire of Medoro, also being bought by the Italians. His dam, Margaret Dillon, was the champion pacing mare from 1922 when she recorded 1:58.2 - sensational going then - her record not being beaten for 16 years. She is rated as one of the three greatest pacing mares of all time. Her dam, Margaret Primo, was by Peter The Great, making Dillon Hall line bred to that great progenitor, and was a daughter of another champion racemare in Margaret O. The latter's dam was a full sister to the legendary sire Axworthy making Dillon Hall richly bred to the two greatest sires of this century. It is difficult to think of a better female line among sires imported here.

Dillon Hall sired 397 winners in this country and his cause was helped by his getting the great mudlark Acropolis in his first crop. Acropolis won 11 races and $25,000 but was not his sire's finest offspring despite the good start he gave him. Chamfer won 14 races including the NZ Cup and was a leading sire in Australia. Maori Home won 17 races and $37,000 and Parawa Derby was not far behind winning $32,000 from 15 victories. Blue Mist was a great Dillon Hall mare winning 14 races in NZ and setting a world record over 1½ miles in Australia of 3:03.2. Our Roger also won the Cup and 14 other races for $30,000 odd and Dragoman won 12. Lady Averill was a top performer and Maida Dillon won 13 races for nearly $20,000.

Perhaps one of Dillon Hall's finest sons was First Lord, who had a career interrupted by injury after winning 10 races. He was noted for his acceleration and did fairly well as a sire. Snowflake was another fine Dillon Hall mare, holding the 3-year-old two mile record for many years and winning six races including the Great Northern Derby. Heather Dillon won 12 and Belmont Hall numbered the Champion Stakes among his wins. Centennial Hall, Duncraig (9 wins), Aberhall (11) and Prince Hall (10) were other good winners, and one of his best trotting sons was Swannee River, who won ten races in all. It was surprising that Dillon Hall did not leave more good trotters for his sire was successful in producing horses of that gait in Italy.

These were the cream of his crops but he left a great number of 'bread and butter' horses who were sturdy and long lasting and who liked racing on any tracks, being particularly adept in heavy going. If Dillon Hall had made an indelible impression as a sire his mares were in great demand and today any Dillon Hall blood in the veins of a broodmare in considered highly desirable. And no wonder. Offspring of his mares have left more than 550 winners. To look at the tops there was Orbiter, winner of nearly $400,000, Robin Dundee, winner of 25 races in NZ alone and altogether winner of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. There was Inter-Dominion winner Free Hall, Student Prince, top pacer Don Hall and the brilliant Sun Chief, winner of 12 including the NSW Derby. Moss Hall and King Hal both won 11, Samantha won 15 including a Wellington Cup and Doctor Dan, Gildirect, Seafield Lad, Denbry and Tobacco Road were all top horses. Another was Smokeaway who won 12 races.

We could go on for hours but should mention Tobias winner of 17 here, Bramble Hall winner of over $160,000, Bay Foyle now at stud here, Stewart Hanover who has won over $220,000, top Australian pacer Imatoff, Monsignor (1:59) winner of 10, Twinkle Hanover, Smoke Cloud and Miss Step. Then there was Roy Grattan, a half brother to Don Hall, and winner of nine and Global Hall, from the same family, who won 10 trotting including the Rowe Cup. Tutta Bella produced eight good winners of over 45 races, Gaiety Hall produced five winners and Van Brabant has produced four. Maida Dillon has founded a successful tribe including Maida Million winner of over $200,000. Dilly Dally produced top trotter Annual Report and four other winners including Nocatchem and Luck's Way, and Marionette was dam of Inter-Dominion trotting champion Poupette. Doctor Barry, from the Dillon Hall mare Weekender, won 100 including the NZ Derby.

Janet Hall left the top pacer Sleek Line and her sister Ellen Hall left four Australian winners. Laura Dillon won five and left Glene, the dam of Fronto Prontezza, and her sister Laura Hall has left five Australian winners. Medium Blue, Flying Blue and Blue Emperor winners of 28 races among them came from Dillon Hall mares. Lauder Hall, who won nine herself, produced seven winners, a number of them doing well in the US. Dillon Hall was five times leading broodmare sire.

The stallion's success brought tempting offers for his owners. In 1946 the company of Matson's Ltd offered the Youngsons $10,000 for the horse allowing them to keep the full book on the lists for that season. This was a big offer but it was declined.

In all, the stock of Dillon Hall won 1507 races in this country for nearly $1½ million in prize money. His record of having been in the top three of the sire lists for 13 successive seasons is unparalleled when the length of his stud career is considered. When he won his third sire title in 1950-1 he set a new record for money won with $143,285. In Australia he sired top horses in Collaborate and Bruce Hall, the former being a leading sire in Western Australia and the latter being a success in that field as well. Chamfer was leading Australian sire seven times and Gentry, a top class pacer here, was also a successful sire in Australia and NZ. The Dillon Hall male line is defunct in this country but survives across the Tasman. First Lord ultimately went to that country.

One of the finest aspects of Dillon Hall's stud career is apt to be overlooked. That is that while he sired almost as many winners as the great U Scott he had a much shorter stud career than that horse, and shorter also than Light Brigade's. Whereas U Scott was at stud for more than 20 seasons, as was Light Brigade, Dillon Hall had but 15 seasons to make his mark. To be in the top three sires for 13 in succession underlines what a great progenitor he was. His stock generally responded to plenty of galloping and walking with a minimum of hoppled work. Properly handled their hardiness and endurance coupled with the breeding potential of his daughters made the two minute import second to none among imported sires this century.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 13Jul77

 

YEAR: 1980

GEORGE YOUNGSON

Mr George Lindsay Youngson, who died in Gore last month at the age of 91, made an invaluable contribution to standardbred breeding in Southland and NZ with imported sires like Dillon Hall, Hal Tryax, Sandydale and others. Mr Youngson's death severs one of the last links for present day trotting men with the pioneer breeders of yesteryear, who did so much to lay the concrete foundations on which Southland's world-wide reputation as a standardbred nursery has been developed and capitalised on.

Mr Youngson was 22 when he came to NZ with his brother John, from Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was bought up. For several years he worked as a farm hand and ploughman in the Riversdale district of Northern Southland. In 1914, his brother John imported four Clydesdale stallions and the brothers, then based at Wendon, near Riversdale, travelled them around neighbouring faming communities as breeding stallions. Some years ago Mr Youngson stated that the work was particularly onerous and, more so, dangerous, taking into account the strength and sometimes vicious traits the powerful Clydesdale stallions could reveal. He mated many of the mares at district stockyards and hotels where broodmare owners and farmers often gathered.

In 1920, when he was 32, Mr Youngson bought the standardbred stallion Harold Direct from the Cody brothers of Riversdale, and travelled him about for stud purposes at a fee of only five quineas. Mr Youngson's next stud venture in 1928 was the fine Australian pacer Happy Voyage, when he was still domiciled in the Wendon district. Soon after, Mr Youngson met the late Sir John McKenzie's private trainer, Robert Plaxio, an American horseman, who did much to influence him to considering importing American sires. Plaxio, in fact, suggested Adioo Guy, whom he imported in 1929. At 19, Adioo Guy was four years older than Mr Youngson believed he was. Adioo Guy's departure for NZ was delayed a season. In that last season in America, Adioo Guy sired Adioo Volo, dam later of the immortal Adios. Adioo Guy, who died after four years with Mr Youngson, had a respectable percentage of success from the opportunities he received.

In the late 1920s Mr Youngson visited England to buy another Clydesdale stallion and, seeing the progeny of the American standardbred sire Wellington Direct soon after imported that horse. Frank Dewey, another American horse, followed in 1930. Mr Youngson's next importation was the Abbedale horse Sandydale, sire of General Sandy and Captain Sandy, and maternal sire of Johnny Globe. That successful stallion was soon passed on to noted Oamaru breeder Mr Johnny Johnson.

Dillon Hall was imported to NZ by Mr Youngson during World War 2. The son of The Laurel Hall and the great racemare Margaret Dillon was the first 2:00 pacer imported to NZ and topped the NZ sires' list in the 1948-49 season with the winners of 124 races and 275 placegetters. Dillon Hall carried on to top the NZ broodmare sires' list five times, which has recently been acclaimed as a remarkable feat for a sire who was only around for 15 years. Robin Dundee, Parlez Vous, Lunar Chance and Bay Foyle were only four top pacers out of mares by Dillon Hall, who also figures prominently in the pedigrees of Black Watch, Tobias, Lord Module and countless others.

Logan Derby, the sire of Johnny Globe, was Mr Youngson's next stud venture but better was to follow in the Tryax horse Hal Tryax, a horse he didn't really want but finally agreed to import relatively cheaply. Hal Tryax's career as a sire has been acclaimed as one of the most colourful and tragic in NZ breeding history. The first 2:00 3-year-old pacer imported to this country, Hal Tryax topped the NZ sires' list in the 1963-64 season with only three crops of racing age. His progeny included the first standardbred millionaire in the world, Cardigan Bay, champion racemare Robin Dundee and other top performers of the calibre of Tactile, Holy Hal, Blue Prince, Jurist, King Hal and so on. Although his daughters were relatively few in number, they made an outstanding contribution as matrons. One of the best performers from a daughter of Hal Tryax has been the champion Young Quinn. Tragically, Hal Tryax soon after became infertile and after topping the sires' list in the 1963-64 season he was pensioned off to The Chaslands, where he is still in retirement at the age of 33.

The noted broodmare Rustic Maid, whom Mr Youngson bought from the Canterbury horseman, the late Mr Bill Morland, was one of the most successful matrons in Southland breeding history, leaving Chamfer (1950 NZ Cup and later champion Australian sire), Free Fight (NZ Derby), Highland Scott (nine wins), Congruent (good sire in Aust), Slavonic (NZ Sapling Stakes) and others. One of her daughters, Scottish Lady, won the NZ Derby, and, in turn, left two Great Northern Derby winners, Scottish Brigade and Gentry, both later successful sires.

In earlier years Mr Youngson was involved in the importation and development of small grass seeds.

As long as there is trotting in Southland, George Youngson's influence, together with that of the stallions he imported and stood, will always be of marked significance. The light harness industry owes much to pioneer breeders of his foresight, enthusiasm and successful involvement.

Credit: Don Wright writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Apr80

 

YEAR: 1932

MARGARET HALL

Margaret Hall (1932 Dillon Hall/ Tondeleyo), USA family of Brown Lancet; 2:10.4; £8,730; 11 foals, 8 winners. Breeder: W Kerr, Christchurch. Foals bred by H W Drewery (Rowan Star, Light Brigade filly, Rosslyn Rowan, Rocky Rowan, Cappy Rowan, Sandra Hall (exported to Aust); all other foals bred by W L (Bill) Bagrie.

Margaret Hall's sire Dillon Hall was among the first 100 2-minute horses in North America (p4, 2:00.0US) before his importation to New Zealand, by George Youngson of Gore, in 1939. His sire The Laurel Hall was by Peter The Great who appears in his strong maternal pedigree as sire of his granddam. He dam Margaret Dillon (Dillon Axworthy by Axworthy) held the American Pacing Mile record of 1:58¼TT with Miss Harris M (set 1918) until 1938. Dillon Hall represented the then golden cross of Peter The Great and Axworthy.

Standing at stud in NZ for fifteen seasons, Dillon Hall was leading sire (top three for 13 consecutive seasons) and broodmare sire on five occasions and an inductee into NZ Trotting Hall of Famer. His 410 winners included Acropolis, Macall & Snowflake (GN Derby), Blue Mist (3 ID heats), Cabra (Dominion Hcp), Chamfer (G N Derby, NZ Cup), Maori Home & Parawa Derby (NZFFA), Our Roger (NZ Cup), Swanee River (2 ID Trot heats). His damsire credits exceed 550 including Annual Report (Dominion Hcp), Bass Strait, Doctor Barry, Student Prince & Tobacco Road (NZ Derby), Bay Foyle (NZFFA, Miracle Mile), Free Hall (ID Pacing Final), Garry Dillon (NZ Cup, ID Consolation), Global Hall (Rowe Cup), King Hal, Sun Chief & Tutta Tryax (GN Derby), Lunar Chance (NZ Cup, FFA), Poupette (ID Trot Final), Robin Dundee (NZ Oaks, NZFFA, ID Final, AK Cup, Miracle Mile). Dillon Hall was also sire of the second dam of Scotch Notch (Ada Hall).

Her dam Tondeleyo had only four winning offspring (plus classic producing broodmares) included in CF results information warrants an article in her own right. Briefly, she resulted from the matching of one of our most successful early imported sires, Wrack with Estella Amos (others include Imperial Jade, Indianapolis, Miraculous). Estella Amos (by Axworthy stallion Dale Axworthy) was imported by Free Holmes in 1923. After leaving Indianapolis, she was sold to Harry Nicoll's Durbar Lodge establishment together with the Wrack filly Tondeleyo. Despite being a full sister to Indianapolis and Miraculous, Tondeleyo was purchased by Lyttelton greengrocer Frank Woolley at a Christchurch Tattersall's sale in 1942 for 40 guineas. Tondeleyo had earlier left Margaret Hall before being purchased by Woolley for whom she founded a major winning family. Margaret Hall's siblings included sisters Loyal Guest (family of Hilarious Guest, Speedy Guest), Paramount (family of Seel N Print) and Gypsy Belle (family of Albas Reign).

Brown Lancet, the founding mare of this American family dates back to the 1870's . This family in particular through Estella Amos/ Tondeleyo dominates the two NZ Derbys with 10 winners to date (NZ-6: Imperial Jade, Bachelor Star, Main Adios, Game Adios, Hilarious Guest, Albas Reign; GN-4: Indianapolis, Speedy Guest, Main Star, Fiery Falcon). Other prominent family descendants include millionaires The Falcon Strike and Highview Tommy; Garry Rowan, Bionic Chance, Oaxaca Lass, Montana Vance, The Sentry, In Or Out. The family's fastest are My Temudjin (1:49.4US), Seel N Print (1:50.2AUS) and Le Sol (1:54.3 at Wyndham).

A fine racemare, Margaret Hall distinguished herself in winning seven races. Unplaced in her only start at two in the Welcome Stakes, she did not appear again until her 4yo season where her one win was at a Banks Peninsula RC meeting. Six wins at five were recorded at Greymouth, Westport/Reefton Cups and three races at Alexandra Park with two on the same day - 2m Hobson Hcp and 1¼m Freyberg Hcp as well as Farewell Hcp. Following this standout season with eight placings at six and a final season at age seven with four unplaced runs, she became an outstanding broodmare.

Margaret Hall's male progeny included:

1. Cappy Rowan, a gelded trotter, the winner of six races. Racing from age three, he recorded his first two victories at Morrinsville as a 6yo. Keen to repeat dual victories at the same track, he won twice at Cambridge at seven and Alexandra Park at eight (Whitford Hcp).
2. Late Frost, was the winner of six races beginning with the New Brighton and Hutt Park Challenge Stakes at three. A victory at Ashburton at four was followed at five with a win at Westport (seconds at Westport, Nelson and Rangiora Winter Cups). His final two successes came as a six-year-old at Hutt Park and in the Roxburgh Cup.
3. Rocky Rowan won a race at the Cromwell JC meeting as a six-year-old in his only season at the races.

4. Margaret Hall's stand out foal was the brilliant pacer Orbiter, by U Scott, Dillon Hall was his broodmare sire with Indianapolis's sister Tondeleyo being his granddam. The winner of 17 races in NZ for stakes of £19,490 and setting a NZ/ Australasian mile race record of 1:58.8 at Cambridge Raceway on 5 January 1966 (1st 100 NZ 2:00 pacers). Orbiter was the third in NZ to record a two minute race record after Tactician and Robin Dundee and tenth overall (other seven were time trials).
Orbiter recorded his first victory at Nelson as a three-year-old. His eight wins (Fourth leading money winner) at four were at Ashburton, Forbury Park, Kaikoura Cup, two victories during 1963 NZ Cup meeting including the D F Glanville Hcp at the inaugural night meeting at Addington - Wed 20 November 1963 and Harold Logan Hcp, New Brighton Cup (first time run at Addington after closure of New Brighton grass track in 1963) and Raceway Hcp, rounding out his season with the Easter Cup.
Only managing two wins at five, he recorded many meritorious placings. Wins came in New Brighton's Johns Hcp and Hannon Memorial. Second placings included National Hcp, NZ Cup to Cairnbrae, NZFFA/Alan Matson FFA to Lordship and third in the MG Pezaro Memorial at Auckland.
Orbiter's final season in NZ aged six where six wins placed him second on the money winners list with £10,065 earnt. Wins were in the Alan Matson FFA, Ollivier Hcp, Pezaro Memorial, Champion FFA, Cambridge Flying Mile and Dunedin Festival Cup. Placings included thirds in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, Hannon Memorial, NZFFA and Auckland Cup to Robin Dundee.
Orbiter's departure to North America from owner/trainer Bill Bagrie's Ohoka, North Canterbury, barn to clients of Del Insko's for $120,000 was arranged through Noel Simpson. Racing in the 1966 Yonkers International Series he placed seventh, third and sixth when struck with a virus prior to these races. Cardigan Bay made a clean sweep of international, Good Time and National Championship Paces. Orbiter finished a close second to Adios Vic in the 1967 edition of the Good Time Pace clocking an identical time to the winner of 2:29.8 (1¼m), fifth of a second outside the then world record time. Orbiter went on to become an international pacing star following in the footsteps of other Dillon Hall female offspring, Smoke Cloud and Robin Dundee, amassing total earnings of $380,894.

Margaret Hall's fillies bred on including:

1. Kinsella, a seven win race mare commenced with single victories in her four (Cheviot/ Rangiora) and five (Wellington) year old seasons. At six, she won on five occasions including twice at Cambridge (Hannon Memorial, Cambridge), Forbury Park, Alexandra Park and at NZMTC's Easter meeting (Bryndwr Hcp). Kinsella was the dam of:
- Dalestar, Orari Challenge Stakes-3 and 2:01.2US
- Hallfield Mike, NSW Winter C/S
- Kindalla, dam of Margaret Fields (Robin Dundee Crown) and Montana Vance (Cardigan Bay Stakes-2, NZSS-2c, Thames/Spring Cups, Messenger, 2/4yo Pacer of the Year); granddam of Field Officer (Rangiora Classic, Gold Coast Cup), Valiant Soldier (Amberley Cup, WA Higgins Memorial) and 3rd dam of Pacific Fleet (Greymouth Cup), Valiant Sue and Ben Junior (NSW Schweppes Cup).
- Morpheus (first 100 NZ Bred pacers in 2:00, 1:59.4US, $209,509).
2. Orbette, won one race, the event immediately after owner/trainer/driver Bill Bagrie had won the 1969 Roxburgh Cup with her half brother Last Frost. Orbette was the dam of:
- Delalee, trotting winner; dam of good class trotter Aron Del (Challenge Stakes, Morrinsville Cup and Alexandra Park FFA's), dam of Classic Comment (VIC Lightfoot Laurels) and granddam of In Tina Turner (T1:57.7 at Menangle in 2011).

Gentle George, an entire half brother of Orbiter's, won eight races including the Hororata Challenge Stakes. He is one of only five pacers to win four races during a NZ Cup carnival (1978 for tr: Bill Bagrie, dr: Peter Bagrie, C4-C7 paces, Flying 2000m/ Cashmere3200m/ November 2600m/ Final Hcp 2600m, all standing starts). The other four race NZ Cup meeting winners were: four races over Cup carnival but not spread over four days were Cello Sydney Wilkes 1919, Red Shadow 1933, while Cardigan Bay 1963, Tutira 1969 and Gentle George won on all four days of Cup meeting. Gentle George was sire of eight winners, died August 1983. Bill Bagrie's son in law Henderson Hunter won the NZ Cup with Trusty Scot during the same (1978) Cup carnival.

Patronette, granddam of Margaux H (Robin Dundee Crown), 3rd dam of Arnoux (Caduceus Club of Southland Stake-4).

Roshelle, 3rd dam of Elrama (NSW Christmas Gift), Louis Lad (NSWMuiracle Mile Night MO C/S).

Rosslyn Rowan, won at Nelson as a three-year-old before recording placings at four and five and with no successes at six or seven, was retired to the broodmare barn. She was the dam of:
- Andrele, Wauipa Challenge-3, granddam of Andross (SA Breeders Plate-2), Stylish Scooter (first 100 Aust bred 1:55 pacers; 1:53.0US).
- Ellen Guiry, third dam of Asian Paradise( WA Empress Stakes< 1:53.0US)
- Kenwood Rowan, dam of Lady Alba( 2f Pacer of Year, dam of Ladys Day granddam of millionaire Highview Tommy), Precious Fella (1:53.4US, $311,520), Smooth Rowan (granddam of Better To B Bad (Waimate Cup/ Southern Belle Speed Series) and granddam of The Falcom Strike (millionaire, 7 Group Ones).
- Rosslyn Frost, granddam of Colonel Grace (Rising Stars-3, Timaru Nursery, Kurow Cup), General Grace (Waikouaiti Cup twice), My Lord Grace (Timaru Nursery-2); 3rd dam of Ho Wong (Taylor Mile), Toretto (WA Christmas Gift).
- Rowan Valley, granddam of Hammer (NZSS-2c, first $100,000 earners in NZ); third dam of Hummer(all time NZ 1:50 Pacers list, 1:50.0US), Rowan Countess (Cambridge Gold Cup); 4th dam of Rowan Direct (VIC 4/5 C/S).

Rowan Star, the winner of eight races starting off with five wins at four following unplaced efforts at two and a solitary placing at three. These five wins came at Timaru (2), Greymouth (Westland Cup), Addington and Ashburton. Her solitary win at five came at Forbury Park before her final two successes at six - NZMTC (Express Hcp during Cup week) and Adams Memorial (3rd CF Mark Memorial) at Auckland. Her final season at seven, saw her place in the Louisson / Express Hcps and fourth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. Rowan Star was the dam of:
- Cathpete, Waimate Cup.
- Dingle, among first 100 2:5 pacers in Australia (2:02.8, Fairfield, May 13, 1967
- Friendly Lass, winner and dam of Trusty Dream, minor sire in USA
- Garry Rowan (Granddam Margaret Hall), bred by Clem Scott, top pacer and sire in Australia. Winner of ID heat, SA/ Laidlaw/ HR Boyd/ Temora Cups, VIC Lyn White FFA twice). Sire of167 winners (Broodmare sire of 301 winners, 2 in NZ) including Classic Garry (WAGolden Nugget, leading sire/ Broodmare sire in Australia), Garrys Advice (Tatlow Memorial, VIC Derby), Special Garry (WA Derby); damsire of Ben's Image (AUS 2yo Pacers mile record 1:56.7TT),Rainbows Idol (VIC Trotters Oaks, NSW Trotters Derby, VICSS-4T; dam of Rainbow Billie- VIC Trotters Oaks, VICSS-3T; granddam of Rostevarren- VICSS-2T, Holmfield)
- Snell, winner of NSW Cowra Cup.




Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Apr 2015



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