CLICK HERE TO GO TO TIME LINE

INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

Charles Lindberg flies solo non-stop across the North Atlantic in the "Spirit of St Loius," a single-engined monoplane. The flight took off from Long Island on 20 May and landed at Le Bourget near Paris 33 hours and 32 minutes later.

"The Jazz Singer" is the first 'talkie' (movie with sound).

LOCAL HISTORY

March 12-15 - Visit of Duke of York (later King George VI)to Ch-Ch.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY 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

RACING HISTORY 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Ahuriri had to be withdrawn with an injury, but with McKenzie adding Acron and Great Bingen to Bryce's bracket of Kohara and Great Hope, the stable practically had it won before the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

RACING HISTORY 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

RACING HISTORY 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