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1964 NZ DERBY STAKES

Doctor Barry proved what a really good three-year-old he is when he overcame difficulties in the running to win the NZ Derby Stakes in one of the roughest contests in living memory. The majority of runners were buffeted or checked at some stage of the race.

Form worked out well, the first three horses, Doctor Barry, Donald Dundee and Golden Oriole being the best supported. No excuses could be made for those who finished behind Doctor Barry, as he had nothing in his favour from barrier rise; and the leaders paced the last half-mile in 61.8, and the final quater was paced in 29.4 secs. Doctor Barry won by a length and a half from Donald Dundee.

Doctor Barry, who was near the rear early, was beginning to improve at the half-mile, but he ran into trouble at the three furlongs, tangling for a few strides. However, he did not loose much ground. He continued his run, and it was obvious half-way up the straight that he had the result in safe keeping. He ran on strongly.

Donald Dundee raced right up to earlier efforts this season in finishing strongly to cut Golden Oriole out of second place. Donald Dundee did not look like catching the winner, but his performance was a sound one. Like Doctor Barry, Golden Oriole was badly served in the running and she did well to finish where she did. Lady Nugent was in the leading division from the start, and battled on for fourth, followed in by La Garrison, then came Douce, Waiuku, Black Tryax, Russell Gee, Sunset Chief, King Gypsy, Mister Chips, Paranova and Smokey Range last. The last-named was knocked out of the contest after a furlong.

Doctor Barry is a big plain looking three-year-old colt with a prominent roman nose, but very powerfully built. He is by Fallacy from Weekender, a half-sister by Dillon Hall to Falsehood. Doctor Barry was bred by Dr B W Nixon, president of the Greymouth Trotting Club, and Mr J R Steel, Greymouth, and is raced by Dr Nixon and Mr H B Steel, formerly of Greymouth, but now of Christchurch. Doctor Barry is the first horse in which Mr Steel has had an interest, but his father, Mr J R Steel has been a prominent owner and administrator for many years. Mr Steel's interest in Dr Barry is the result of a "lend-lease" arrangement with a brother, Mr R Steel, who owns Weekender in partnership with Dr Nixon. Mr B Steel was loaned his brother's share of Weekender when she was mated with Fallacy. Mr Steel's mother was also represented in the Derby by Russell Gee, who is trained by C S Donald.

Doctor Barry only started racing on October 3, and he has had six starts for a fourth, a second and four wins worth £2495 in stakes. Trained and driven by J D Litten, Doctor Barry gave the West Melton trainer his fourth training and driving success in the NZ Derby. Litten also trained Congo Song up till a short time before the pacer won the event in 1947, but he was not credited with the success as he had to enter hospital a few days before. 'I got the trainer's percentage from the win, so that was something," said Litten.

It is interesting to note that Doctor Barry and Golden Oriole are both by Light Brigade sires, Fallacy and Local Light respectively. Light Brigade, of course, is by Volomite, as is also Flying Song, sire of the second horse, Donald Dundee.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

Ted Lowe, Ces Donald & Cairnbrae

1964 NZ TROTTING CUP

Veterans both, Cairnbrae and C S Donald gave nothing a chance of heading them in the NZ Trotting Cup after taking charge with about half the journey covered, tramping the last mile in 2:04.2 and the last half in 60.2 and crossing the line two lengths and a half clear of Orbiter.

Cairnbrae qualifies for the veteran circle because he was one of three eight-year-olds in the field, the oldest group in this year's Cup.

C S Donald qualifies in age and ability - and with honours thick upon him as the most successful trainer of all time in the Dominion.

Cairnbrae's celebrated family - on both sides - has now produced the winners of seven New Zealand Cups - Cairnbrae's sire U Scott has been represented by Highland Fling (winner twice), Van Dieman and Cairnbrae; and on the dam's side Cairnbrae traces to Tairene whose great tribe included the dual NZ Cup winner Lucky Jack.

For Donald it was a second Cup victory - in 1940 he owned and trained Marlene, who beat Dusky Sound in a desperate finish. Incidentally, Donald also bred that fine mare. This was Donald's first driving success in the Cup. Marlene was driven by his brother Ron.

Records galore became a habit with Donald long ago - his success as leading trainer in the 1962-63 season meant that he had by then headed this list nine times, thus beating the record previously held equally by himself and the late James Bryce. Bryce's record of heading the trainer's list eight times was established as far back as the 1923-24 season, and Donald equalled it in the 1960-61 season. Donald has now held a trainer's licence for more than 42 years. It was in April 1922, that he took up the training of light-harness horses, and his score of winners to date has reached 857, easily a record for the Dominion.

Cecil Donald has consistently affirmed that the outstanding event in his training career was his win with his own splendid mare Marlene in the 1940 New Zealand Cup, especially since that milestone in the Donald fortunes was attended by the wins of Tan John in the Dominion Handicap and Plutus in the Free-For-All at the same 1940 NZ Cup meeting. That is believed to be a unique 'triple crown.' And at the same carnival he won the mile saddle race with Repeal and the Australasian Handicap with Superior Rank. Donald's first training and driving success was with the trotter Mangoutu in the Seaview Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's Summer Meeting on Thursday, December 14, 1922. Donald has had a mighty cavalcade of great horses through the stables; perhaps the best remembered of his 'greats' of the past would be Lindbergh (a NZ Cup heat winner in 1931), Plutus (a free-for-all specialist), Carmel, Quality, Ferry Post, Clockwork, Bayard, Brahman and Falsehood; and he has also prepared a glittering band of trotters, among them Kempton, Rangefinder, Writer, Wahnooka, Great Way, Captain Bolt and John Mauritius.

Dandy Briar, Jay Ar, Oreti, Gay Reel, Waitaki Hanover and Orbiter were all slow away, Orbiter losing a good 36 yards, and he was well back when the field settled down. After going half mile, King Hal had charge from Vanderford, then came Valcador, Garcon D'Or, Urrall, Deft, Lordship, Cairnbrae, Oreti, Orbiter, Dandy Briar, Waitaki Hanover, Jay Ar and Gay Reel, most of the field racing in pairs. Cairnbrae moved up smartly soon after, and was in front with a mile to run. Following Cairnbrae was King Hal, and then came Vanderford and Valcador, Garcon D'Or and Urrall, Deft and Lordship, Orbiter, Dandy Briar and Oreti. Cairnbrae led into the straight, and it was obvious a furlong out that he had the result in safe keeping. Lordship and Orbiter made game attempts to bridge the gap to Cairnbrae, but neither could do any better, and Orbiter then came on the scene with a strong run to cut Lordship out of second place, with Vanderford fourth. Orbiter could be regarded as a shade unlucky. Oreti was fifth, then came Garcon D'Or, Gay Reel, Deft, Waitaki Hanover, Dandy Briar, Jay Ar, King Hal, Urrall and Valcador last.

Safeguard, the dam of Cairnbrae, was a performer above the average and took a two miles record of 4:18.4. She was bred by the late Mr W T Lowe, who also bred Cairnbrae, now owned by Mr Lowe's son, W E Lowe, of Hinds, where his late father bred many high-class pacers and trotters, notably Lucky Jack, a leading stayer in the late 1930's. He also owned Trampfast, the champion trotter of the early 1930's. Safeguard was by Springfield Globe, a champion Tasmanian pacer trained for many important wins in New Zealand by the late R B Berry, who trained and drove Lucky Jack. Safeguard was out of Molly Direct, a high-class pacer by Jack Potts from Real Girl, a useful winner by imported Real Guy from Tairene. Tairene was by Wildwood Junior (winner of the NZ Cup in 1909 and 1910) from Jessie B, to whom trace close to 100 individual winners.

Cairnbrae has now had 13 wins and 13 placings for £11,680 in stakes. Cairnbrae had the fastest two mile time of 4:12 among the Cup candidates before Tuesday's race. That was recorded when he finished third from 42 yards to Orbiter (Limit) and Great Credit (36 yards) in the New Brighton Cup last February. In his Cup victory he went slightly slower.

The result was a triumph for the blood of U Scott - Cairnbrae and Orbiter were sired by him and Lordship is out of a U Scott mare. Lordship was a warm favourite. On-course he carried £3108 for a win and £1644 10s for a place; off-course he had £640 for a win and £5747 for a place. The Cairnbrae-King Hal-Urrall bracket carried on-course, £789 10s for a win and £1975 10s for a place, and off-course £584 for a win and £1419 for a place. Total investments on the race were down on last year's figures: the on-course total was £22,503, against £24,147 10s last year; off-course investments totalled £35,013, against £35,930 last year. The totalisator turnover on-course for the day was £216,064 10s, a substantial increase on the £192,254 handled last year, and a record for one day at Addington. This year there were nine races, last year eight. The off- course total this year was £196,592 10s compared with £180,714 15s last year. The attendance was 18,000, compared with 18,500 last year.



Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1964 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Flaming Way confirmed his winning run in the Worthy Queen Handicap on the first day with the gamest of performances to win the Dominion Handicap. Flaming Way's effort was all the more meritorious as he dragged a punctured sulky tyre for the last half-mile of the two mile journey. Flaming Way was skilfully handled by A K Holmes, one of the youngest drivers in the game. Flaming Way had to work hard to catch and beat Queen's Cord, and he stuck to his task with rare determination. Flaming Way's breeder-trainer, J Wilson trained and drove a former champion in Dictation to win the Dominion in 1950, and he was also responsible for the early education and training of Acclamation, who won the race in 1949 when Acclamation was trained by J Young and driven by R Young.

Queen's Cord broke twice during the running and there was a good deal of merit in her performance to beat all but Flaming Way. Queen's Cord has only been lightly raced this season and she could be a much improved trotter later at the meeting.

Front Line made up a big stretch of ground from the half mile to finish third, and he is obviously very close to being right back at his best. Mighty Hanover broke after going less than five furlongs and his lapse made his task a difficult one. He finished on gamely for fourth without really appearing a real danger

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1964 NZ OAKS

Lady Nugent brought her record to four wins and a fourth placing in five starts when she won the New Zealand Oaks at Addington Raceway in clear-cut style. Her fourth placing was in the NZ Derby Stakes.

Lady Nugent was up handy to the leaders early but was later pushed back to about eighth place. Racing to the straight, she had moved up to seventh, and continuing her run she had charge at the furlong to finish on gamely to have a length to spare from Douce at the post, with Golden Oriole and Compromise dead-heating for third.

Lady Nugent is a beautifully-mannered filly. She appeared to be quite unconcerned when the cooler type of rug was being put on her in the birdcage after the race. Her unconcern was so marked that one was led to believe that having a new rug fitted was a everyday occurrence for her. She received a great hand from the crowd lining the birdcage and is another feather in the caps of the Hunter training partnership.

By Garrison Hanover from Golden Circle, Lady Nugent is a chestnut, and she belongs to the same notable family from which have come such winners as Doraldina (winner of the first contest for the NZ Sapling Stakes), Special Edition, Great News, Gold Chief and Daphne de Oro, classic winners in abundance. Golden Circle is by Light Brigade from Melody Maid, by Grattan Loyal-Duslina, by Drusus-Doraldina, by OYM.

In the absence of C S Hunter, who is still recovering from an accident, Lady Nugent was driven by the Prebbleton trainer-driver A M Purdon.

Douce paced a splendid race for second. Golden Oriole and Compromise also performed very creditably. A hot favourite, Golden Oriole became awkwardly placed and had to change course more than once to get a run in the straight. When an opening did appear down on the rails, she made a game attempt to gather in the leaders, but she did not really finish with the dash expected of her by many. Compromise was one of the slowest beginners, and others to loose ground at the start were Douce, Lee, Lornaway, Killin and Snowline.

The result was a triumph for the Billy Direct horse Garrison Hanover, as Lady Nugent, Douce and Compromise are all by the sire.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1963 NZ FREE-FOR-ALL

Club officials would have every reason to be jubilant when Cardigan Bay's name appeared among the acceptors for the Allan Matson Handicap, principal event on the inaugural night of night trotting at Addington Raceway. His task from 54 yards over a mile and five furlongs should not be beyond him: the main question exercising the minds of trotting enthusiasts is whether anything in front of Cardigan Bay is capable of making him go fast enough to lower the world record for a mile and five furlongs.

The stake of the race is £3500, but it will be possible for Cardigan Bay to win an additional £500. This amount will be paid to the horse finishing in the first four and breaking False Step's world record of 3:21 for a mile and five furlongs.

Cardigan Bay's time, 2:34.6, for a mile and a quarter in the NZ Free-For-All was little more than an 'exercise gallop' for the 'Pacing Powerhouse from Pukuranga'. It is many a day since a free-for-all field was reduced to such minus qualities as were Sun Chief, Vanderford and Co. from the word go last week. The further they went the more assured was Cardigan Bay's victory. Without any intention of detracting one iota from the champion's facile victory, the mountains of effort on the part of the rest of the field yielded only a mouse of competition. The alarming frailties of our free-for-all class - with one horse standing out from the remainder like Mount Everest among the Port Hills - is drawn in bold relief by the times of the minor place-getters: Sun Chief 2:35.2; Vanderford 2:35.8; King Hal 2:36.2. These are fast but not phenomenal times. Why, free-for-all horses were capable of better than that more than 29 years ago!

How poverty stricken is our top class going to be when Cardigan Bay returns north, thence back to Australia...Lordship can't return to the fray quick enough. The remainder of our top horses are very much at sixes and sevens, some of them on the down grade, some of them jaded, and only one or two with their futures in front of them. The top draw will assuredly fill up again, but it will take time. And there are so few left to hold the Cup fort...One consulation is that smart improving pacers such as Flying Blue, Admit, Kingsdowm Patch, Junior Royal, Rustic Lad, Jay Ar and Cairnbrae are among those on the brink of Cup company ...a gloomy picture could brighten overnight.

In the meantime, the Metropolitan Club may be fortunate in retaining Cardigan Bay - for its second night as well - as trotting's greatest drawcard. Not infrequently, some club officials become apprehensive about an 'invincible' champion cramping the betting. This complaint proved to have no substance in fact as far as the NZ Free-For-All last Friday was concerned - it was the largest betting pool of the day, with a combined on and off-course total of £35,231. That is big betting by any standards, and its own answer to the recurring fears of club officials that a 'certainty'in a free-for-all decimates the public's wagering. It has also to be kept constantly in mind that the champions are the horses which make the turnstiles click. 'Monopoly phobia' has invariably proved groundless.

A dominating favourite in the Free-For-All, Cardigan Bay just played with the opposition to gain the easiest of wins by three lengths. From number eight at the barrier he was in front before going 75 yards, and no other runner was prepared to challenge him for the role of pacemaker. At the three furlongs, trainer/driver P T Wolfenden asked his charge for a little more acceleration and he steaked away on his own, nothing else being capable of getting near him.

Cardigan Bay ran the mile and a quarter in 2:34.6, a 2:03.2 mile rate. He took 32.8sec for his first quarter, reached the first half mile in 63.2, clocked 1:35.8 for the first six furlongs and paced his first mile in 2:06.8. Cardigan Bay returned 58.4 for his final half mile, his last quarter being run in a sizzling 27.4sec. He received a rousing reception on his return to the birdcage. Cardigan Bay's success was his second in the race and he was second to Lordship 12 months ago.

As a result of Friday's win the Auckland pacer's stake winnings reached £49,747 15s, and he has won 36 races and been placed several times.

Sun Chief raced in third place most of the way and although no match for Cardigan Bay, he beat the others comfortably. It was his best performance for some time. Vanderford received a good run throughout, in a trailing position, one out, but could make no impression in the run to the post. He has done his share of racing for a four-year-old. King Hal did not get the best of runs and his fourth placing was a useful effort in the circumstances.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov63

1963 NZ DERBY STAKES

Bellajily brought a welcome change of luck to her Templeton trainer, C C Devine, and owner-breeder N Matyasevic, when she came out on top in a close finish to the New Zealand Derby Stakes on Wednesday night.

Bellajily's effort was full of merit, as she started from the outside of the front line, and was a good way from the lead in the middle stages. She ran three wide from the half-mile and was forced four out racing to the straight. Bellajily responded in the gamest fashion to urging on the part of driver D J Townley, who drove Rupee to win the race in 1952.

Bellajily is the first filly to win the race since Scottish Lady was successful in 1942, and the sixth since the race was first run at Addington in 1923. Bellajily had paced a good race for fourth in the NZ Metropolitan Challenge Stakes on the first day of the meeting, and she has proved by far the best filly of her age group. She paced the mile and a half journey in the smart time of 3:12.6. The leaders took 61.6 for the first half mile and 29.8 for the final quarter.

As a two-year-old last season, Bellajily drew attention to her future prospects when, making her first race appearance, she led practically all the way to win the Invitation Stake at Geraldine, beating Rocky Star and Lady Luronne. Later, Bellajily finished a good third to Peerswick and Meadowmac in the NZ Welcome Stakes at Addington, and she finished up the term with a useful fourth in the NZ Sapling Stakes.

Bellajily is a bay fillyby Van Dieman from Malabella (3:11.6), by Doral's Derby-Mala, by Red Shadow-Krina, by Jewel Chimes. Krina, who was a smart saddle mare with a 2:08 record, also produced Rerekohua, Ngarimu, Air Spray, Lady Spray, Sprayman, Son's Gift and Stronghold.

Wildwood Chief did well to get second, as he was not too well placed early, and he, too, had to race wide entering the straight. Peerswick made a game attempt to lead all the way, and he showed courage to hold third place. Lochgair was pushed back at the start, and his fourth placing was a capital performance. He appeals as a pacer of fine potential. Grande Garnison, who started from the second line, was securely pocketed most of the way, and did not get a run in the straight until the race was over. He was fifth to finish.

La Scala, Scottish Advance, Heriot and Lochgair lost ground at the start, and Peerswick was the first to show out from Lottery Song, Khraizon, Full Sovereign (three wide), Falstaff, Space Cadet, Wildwood Chief, Grande Garnison and Bellajily, with two lengths to Lochgair and Melanian. The order changed little until the half mile, where Bellajily was beginning to improve. At this stage Peerswick was still in command, and he led into the straight from Lottery Song, Khraizon, Full Sovereign and Bellajily. Lochgair and Wildwood Chief were showing up wide out, with Grande Garnison having no-where to go down on the inner. Bellajily was the first to challenge Peerswick, and then Wildwood Chief put in his claim, with Lochgair closing fast. All four place-getters were responsible for first class efforts, and Grande Garnison would lose little caste as a result of finishing no closer than fifth.

The record mile and a half time for a three-year-old filly is the 3:11.4 registered by Wendy Dawn when she finished fourth to Tactile, Vanderford and Garcon D'Or in last year's New Zealand Derby.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1963 DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP

Min Scott gained her most important success to date when she finished too well for Mighty Hanover in the Dominion Handicap. Winner of two races earlier this year, Min Scott was prominently placed throughout and her final sprint was reserved till into the straight. Her success was a most convincing affair.

Min Scott cannot boast a great deal in the way of size, but she is beautifully put together, and has a perfect action. By U Scott, she is a five-year-old black mare out of Royal Charge, a half-sister to a one-time most capable pacer in Prince.

Min Scott's success was a real family affair as she is owned by Mrs G N Hunter, whose husband J S Hunter trains Min Scott, who was driven by C S Hunter, a son of the trainer. Min Scott trotted the two mile journey in 4:18.8 from 12 yards - a very smart run.

Mighty Hanover was responsible for most of the pace in the race, and he was far from disgraced in going under to a trotter of the calibre of Min Scott. Front running is something unusual for the Lucky Hanover-Betty Maxegin trotter, but no other runner appeared anxious to take the lead off him. Mighty Hanover attempted to slip the field racing to the straight, but was run down in the race to the post.

Having his first start since being trained at Belfast by C S Donald, Front Line drew attention to his immediate prospects with a forward showing for third. A full-brother to Battle Cry, Front Line has been a difficult horse to keep sound, but the effort points to him yet living up to the fine promise he showed as a young horse. Our Jimmy pulled hard in behind his stablemate, Mighty Hanover for most of the way in the Dominion and he battled on for fourth. Moon Boy pulled a shoe during the running and finished last. He was showing signs of lameness on returning to the birdcage.

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar20Nov63

1963 NZ TROTTING CUP

"He will have to achieve the impossible to give Vanderford 54 yards start today," declared a seasoned racegoer after examining the track, the favourite, and the backmarker during the New Zealand Cup preliminary at Addington on Tuesday. And the totalisator investments affirmed that our seasoned racegoer was not alone in his dictum. But nothing tickles the palate of the dedicated racegoer - any brand or vintage of racegoer - more than the achievement of the 'impossible' and the warm ovation for Cardigan Bay had already broken out when he took command with two furlongs to go.

Cardigan Bay performed the 'impossible' in irreproachable style - he even exceeded all the highest estimates of his ability and duribility in the fourth fastest Cup in history - Johnny Globe 4:07.6, False Step 4:09, Highland Fling 4:10.6, Cardigan Bay 4:11.2. He reduced all his opponents of any consequence to a struggling, straggling band with surprising rapidity, even for him. This phase of his and Peter Wolfenden's strategy occurred suddenly and unexpectedly - with three furlongs to go. One moment Vanderford was still striding confidently out in front; the next was a complete metamorphosis, with Cardigan Bay taking every advantage of a trail behind the streaking Oreti on the outer, and Vanderford rapidly losing his grip of the situation down on the hub rail. The race was as good as won from that stage. Cardigan Bay, doing it the hard way, nearly three wide, got his head in front at the two furlongs, and his only effective challenger, Robin Dundee, came no closer than two lengths and a half to him in the race from the home turn.

Vanderford's first mile in 2:11.2 was not sensational, due to his slowing down the pace from a 2:07 clip to a 2:15 clip in the second half-mile. Neither was the time for the first mile and a half, 3:17, out of the way for horses of Cup class, and this no doubt was a life-saver for Cardigan Bay, already at least 24 yards closer to the leaders than at the outset. Cardigan Bay was privately timed from post to post in 4:09.6, his first half in 61, mile in 2:06.2, mile and a quarter in 2:38.8, and mile and a half in 3:10.6. So it will be readily gleaned that he tramped his last half mile in 59.6 secs and the last mile in 2.03.4.

A rather surprising third favourite, Sun Chief beat only two horses home - his youthful spring excellence has given way to autumn mediocrity. He is only a shadow of the horse who finished second in the NZ Cup of 1960. Robin Dundee was produced in rare fettle by veteran trainer J Walsh - nothing looked better - and she came home much more resolutely than any of the minor place-fillers. It was a brave showing on the part of this pocket-edition pacer.

Doctor Dan, Grouse, Oreti and King Hal were all a little slow away, and Dandy Briar broke. Vanderford tangled for a few strides but lost very little ground. Blue Prince was first to show out from Sun Chief, Urrall, Master Alan, Vanderford and Robin Dundee, with two lengths to King Hal, Doctor Dan, Oreti and Cardigan Bay last. At the end of two furlongs Vanderford had taken over, and he was followed past the stands by Blue Prince, Sun Chief, Urrall, Robin Dundee, Master Alan, King Hal, Doctor Dan, Oreti, Dandy Briar and Cardigan Bay, still at the rear. Most of the field were racing in pairs by now. There was little change till approached the three furlongs, where Oreti moved up to Vanderford, and Cardigan Bay was beginning to improve from the back in the direct path of Oreti.

Soon after, Vanderford gave way to Oreti, and Cardigan Bay, continuing his run, was in front at the two furlongs. He led into the straight and, shaken up, held his advantage to beat Robin Dundee by two lengths and a half. Robin Dundee finished strongly to beat Master Alan by a head. Two lengths back came Oreti, followed by Doctor Dan, the weakening Vanderford, King Hal, Urrall, Dandy Briar, Sun Chief, Blue Prince and Grouse last.

Cardigan Bay has now won 35 races and £48,447 in stakes and trophies. He shares with War Buoy the best winning sequence for a harness horse in the Dominion - 10. He is the first horse ever to win a New Zealand Cup and an Inter-Dominion Championship, a 'double' that eluded such greats as Highland Fling, Caduceus, Johnny Globe and False Step - one way or the other. He holds the New Zealand and Australian mile record, 1:57.6, jointly with Caduceus. He is one of the most perfect pacing 'machines' ever seen in this country - reliable, brilliant, and a renowned stayer or unflinching courage. Only two horses have won the Cup from longer marks than Cardigan Bay's 54 yards: Harold Logan and Highland Fling both won from 60 yards.

An odds-on favourite, Vanderford carried £3697 for a win on-course and £8976 off-course; for a place he carried £3580 10s on-course and £4003 off-course. Cardigan Bay, second favourite, earned £1488 10s for a win on-course and £3197 off-course; his place totals were £1666 10s on-course and £3681 off-course. The betting totals on the Cup were slightly down on last year: on-course total was £24,147 10s, compared with £24,828 10s last year; and the off-course figure was £35,930, against £36,176 last year. The on-course total for the day was £192,254, a substantial increase on the £183,633 10s handled last year; but the off-course figures showed a corresponding decrease - this year's total was £180,714 15s, against £188,535 last year. The attendance this year, 18,500, was almost the same as last year.

The result was a triumph for the Southland sire Hal Tryax (imp), who sired the first and second horses, Cardigan Bay and Robin Dundee. Colwyn Bay, the dam of Cardigan Bay, recently produced a filly foal, a full sister to the Cup winner, and there is also an older filly of the same breeding. Colwyn Bay was a brilliant pacer herself, but unsoundness cut short her racing career. She is by Josedale Dictator (imp) from Pleasure Bay, by Quite Sure (imp) from Helen's Bay, by Guy Parrish (imp) from Gold Patch, by Geo M Patchen.

Cardigan Bay was bred was developed by the Mataura trainer, D Todd. He was raced by D Todd's brother, Mr A Todd, of Mataura, who sold him to Mrs Deans. Mrs Deans related how she had decided to buy a pacer and that she and her husband had followed closely the newspaper comments made on the form and performances of Cardigan Bay. "We were quite certain that Cardigan Bay would be the horse we would buy - we had never seen him - and when we read there were some northern inquiries for him, we decided there and then to buy him before anyone else did," she said. The champion cost Mrs Dean £2500 after contingencies had been met.

Cardigan Bay's mixed fortune at the 1962 Inter-Dominion Championship in Perth is too widely known to require repetition here. His recovery will always rank as a miracle of racing. He made no mistakes about the 1963 series - his form was 'bang on' and he outclassed the opposition he met in Suoth Australia.

Describing the race as "one of the great Cups, and one of the best fields for many years" the president of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club, Mr J K Davidson, congratulated the owner and trainer-driver on a "magnificent performance in which the result was under control some distance from home." After Mrs Davidson decorated Cardigan Bay with a garland of flowers, Mrs Dean replied. She paid a warm tribute to P T Wolfenden for his "careful training and skilful driving" and also thanked "Noel Bennett, who has so capably looked after the horse.




Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

1963 ALLAN MATSON HANDICAP

Cardigan Bay's fantastic time of 2:59.8 for the last mile and a half of the Allan Matson Handicap at the Addington Raceway on Wednesday night, November 20, is not only 3.6sec inside the world race record (unofficial of course) for the distance held jointly by the American pacers Stephan Smith (1961) and Royal Rick (1962) - it is also the first time in world harness history that two-minute speed has been sustained by any horse beyond a mile and a quarter - and Cardigan Bay also ran his last mile in 2:00 flat.

The mile and a quarter record is held by Irvin Paul, who bettered two-minute speed when he registered 2:29.6 in a race at Westbury, New York, last year. Just what 'Cardy' (as the Auckland public have nicknamed him) would be capable of under trial conditions from a flying start with a galloping pacemaker defies the imagination - no matter what the distance. Nothing he met at Addington could give him any hint of competition - particularly when he paced his dazzling 3:18.2 for a mile and five furlongs and lowered False Step's world record by nearly 3secs. His nett time (4.5secs deducted for his handicap of 54 yards) is a mile rating of 2:02 from a standing start (the world mile record from a standing start is Johnny Globe's 2:01.2).

The world record for a mile and a half still stands to the credit of Greyhound, the 'grey ghost' of tremendous stride who trotted 3:02.5 as a five-year-old at Indianapolis away back in 1937. No pacer of world class, to the writers knowledge, has ever been set against time for the distance, and there is also very few mile and a half races in the USA in any season except when 'international' events are staged. Other world records for main distances not already referred to in this article are Adios Butler's mile in 1:54.6 and Greyhound's two miles in 4:06, both made against time.

Long since the trotting scribes ran out of superlatives to fit Cardigan Bay's outstanding feats. Suffice it to say he is the greatest horse the Calendar writers have ever seen, that his Allan Matson Handicap performance was unbelievable when the time was first announced, i.e., THE most outstanding performance it has ever been our good fortune to see: that Cardigan Bay is the 'MOST' - that nothing in the world today, in our view, could match his incredible, searing brilliance and utterly dependable racing qualities. It was not altogether his record time and the unbeliefthat attended his post-to-post mile and a half time which rocked us: it was the bewildering ease with which he shook of anything that resembled a challenge once he had zoomed past his fields as though they were tied to the hub-rail.

A tribute, too, for Peter Wolfenden, Cardigan Bay's 28-year-old trainer-driver who is just as imperturbable and consistent and reliable as the prodigious steed he handles with such consumate skill and mastery. Here, then, is another affinity between man and beast that may well rank with the immortal horse lore of truth and legend of the past, the uncanny mutual understanding that had produced the incomparable combination that alone made the New Zealand Cup Carnival and Addington Raceway's Inaugural Night an unqualified sporting success. There were other good performances over the meeting, especially among the trotters, but all were mere ripples compared with the fout-in-a-row clean sweep of the Pacing Powerhouse from Pakuranga and Peter the Phantom of the same address.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 27Nov63

1963 NZ OAKS

Balcairn was responsible for a major upset in the NZ Oaks when she comfortably held off the short priced favourite, Bellajily.

Balcairn made most of the pace (not a particularly fast one), and shot clear turning for home and soon established a winning break. Bellajily became awkwardly placed on the rails, and the result was in safe keeping by the time she worked clear. Lin Dor raced up to her earlier form in running third, and the same could be said of Lady Luronne, fourth.

Bellajily was one of the quickest to begin and was taken to the front soon after the start. With nine furlongs and a half to go, Bellajily surrendered the lead to Balcairn, who made all her own rules from that stage. With a mile to run the order was Balcairn, Bellajily, Lady Luronne, Lin Dor, Bossa Nova, Surely Not, Boutique, Disband, Flying Step, Ulove, False Tax and Scottish Advance, most of the field racing in pairs.

Balcairn was still doing her work well at the straight entrance where Surely Not, Bossa Nova, Lady Luronne, Disband and Lin Dor were all showing up, and Bellajily was still securely pocketed down on the rails. In the run home, Balcairn did not look like being beaten, and Bellajily finished fast once in the clear. After Lady Luronne came Disband, Flying Step, Scottish Advance, False Tax, Surely Not and Orient Belle.

Balcairn is a fine type of filly by Light Brigade from the U Scott mare, Gold Cloud, whose dam was Gold Peg, a smart performer, especially in heavy going. Gold Peg had the distinction of beating Highland Fling twice on heavy tracks. Balcairn was bred by G S and H McL Benny, who race the filly in partnership. Balcairn is trained by G S Benny, and was driven on Saturday by N S Benny.

Balcairn paced the full journey in 3:19. The last half mile was run in 63.4 and the last quarter in 30.6secs.


Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 11Dec63