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1934 FREE-FOR-ALL

500 sovs: First past half mile post 50 sovs, and first past one mile and a quarter post 50 sovs: Two miles

The Free-For-All over two miles was the most exciting race of the meeting. Harold Logan was made a hot favourite, with Roi l'Or second in demand.

The greatest excitement was evidenced as the field went away, with Impromptu in the lead and covered the first quarter mile in 33sec. A great race between Impromptu and Harold Logan over the first half mile, resulted in the former collecting a stake of 50 sovs as the lap-winner. At a terrific pace, Impromptu, Harold Logan, and Pegaway carried on to record 2min 9sec for the mile, a mile and a quarter in 2min 40 2/5sec, at that stage Roi l'Or joined issue, and prepared to fight the finish with Harold Logan, the latter winning the second lap prize by a head.

Roi l'Or then took command and led Harold Logan, while Red Shadow closed up. The watch showed a mile and a half in 3min 13sec. Round the top turn Red Shadow reduced the gap but it was left to Roi l'Or and Harold Logan to fight the finish. Roi l'Or was eased up 50 yards from the post, and Harold Logan won by four lengths with Red Shadow a similar distance away. It was one of the most exciting races ever decided on the course, and received the applause it merited.

Harold Logan again showed himself the best horse in New Zealand, and one able to turn on a burst of speed at any stage of a race. He was beaten by a brilliant sprinter in Impromptu for the first lap prize, and had a narrow escape from defeat by Roi l'Orat the end of a mile and a quarter. Determination in sticking to his work gave him well earned victory at the finish.

Roi l'Or also showed that he was little inferior to the recognised champion, and there was a great deal of merit in his race for the lap prize with Harold Logan, and his pace-making for the rest of the journey. Taking into consideration the way the race was run and the extra two stone that Roi l'Or carried in the sulky, the performance of the Waimate gelding was a remarkable one. Red Shadow lost ground in the first two furlongs, but once settled to his work he showed a return to his best form, and at the top of the straight he looked like being troublesome. His Cup running was all wrong.

Impromptu led the field a merry dance over the first half mile, and fairly beat Harold Logan for the first lap prize. Pegaway was trying to pace it with the fliers in the early part, but he was not good enough, and Blue Mountain, to the disappointment of all, failed to leave the mark.



Credit: THE PRESS 9 Nov 1934

1934 NEW ZEALAND FREE-FOR-ALL

Harold Logan, a warm favourite for the Free-For-All, was first away, with Impromptu following closely and Roi l'Or handy. Harold Logan was in front all the way, setting a warm pace, and he came into the straight two clear lengths ahead of Roi l'Or. In the run home Harold Logan was not seriously troubled to win by three lengths from Roi l'Or, with Tempest, who made up a lot of ground in the final.

Credit: THE PRESS 10 Nov 1934

1934 DOMINION HANDICAP

The Dominion Handicap, of a mile and a half, proved one of the most popular betting races of the meeting and more than £5000 was invested on the totalisator. It was a race worthy of a meeting of the best trotters in the Dominion.

Writer went away smartly and had soon established a good lead from Nicoya. Biddy Parrish made her usual slow beginning, and Stanley Bingen broke up. Writer continued to make the pace, and he was not deposed from the lead until two furlongs from home when Trampfast shot past.

The latter led into the straight closely followed by Nicoya and Huon Voyage. Trampfast easily held his own and won handsomely from Nicoya and Huon Voyage, Worthy Queen, Writer, and Olive Nelson. The win was a very popular one for though Trampfast is a great trotter he has been off the winning list for a long time.

On this occasion he did not make a mistake at any stage of the race and his finishing effort was impressive. Nicoya was in a good position early in the race and had every chance, and half a mile from home it seemed likely that Huon Voyage would take a hand in the finish. Both lacked the necessary speed to catch the flying Trampfast and while Worthy Queen gave a good display she could only finish fourth. Writer failed to stay and Wrackler gave a mixed display of pacing and trotting.

Credit: THE PRESS 10 Nov 1934

LAME CUP FAVOURITE WINS AND PUBLIC IS CRITICAL

"I know I am in the gun!"

This remarkable assertion was made to "Truth" by George Barton, owner of Indianapolis, the bst pacer this country has ever seen. Barton sensed, as did very many more, that his horse's success in the Trotting Cup was not popular. That usual outburst of enthusiasm was missing. It was only a half-hearted cheer that greeted Indianapolis and driver Eugene McDermott as they returned to the 'cage when, in point of merit, the multitude should have roared it's head off. A winner of the Trotting Cup run in world's record time, and hardly a cheer!

Why this frigid reception, this handing out of the icy dook? Did punters, in light of the successive sensational rumours as to the condition of Indianapolis reset unkindly when the result of the race showed he had been able to put up a wonderful performance? Owner Barton thinks that this was the reason for the artic tinge and in an exclusive interview with "Truth" explains everything. After hearing George we can well hear him exclaiming: Save me from my friends!

Taking the public completely into one's confidence does not always pay and it was for so acting that Barton has been pilloried. George knew that Indianapolis was going to be a hot favourite for the Cup, and in his zeal to keep the thousands of the big pacer's supporters on guard, he decreed, from the moment the burst hoof started to give trouble every inquiry as to his condition should be truthfully answered. There was to be no equivocation or camoflage. It was just the old case of forewarned being forearmed, but as ill report followed ill report punters became apprehensive, and started to look around for something else to bet on.

The culminating stage was reached on Cup morning. Rumour had it that Indianapolis was lame. Rumour became established fact when this information was given out over the air, along with the statement that the pacer would start. Lame horses do not win Trotting Cups, so reasoned many, and this final announcement caused hundreds who had been saving up for months to be with him,to desert.

Came the race. No horse has ever undergone such a critical examination as did Indianapolis. The rest of the field were merely glanced at - the Barton horse was scrutinised and figuratively X-rayed. Then he moved out to do his prelim. Was he lame? A thousand mouths asked that question. "No - Yes by jove he is!" Nearly all answered that way. There was no doubt that the Barton horse was tender, and, well, a horse has to be fighting fit to win a Cup.

To the totes moved the multitude, and for a good while the Indianapolis - Mountain Dell bracket was not so well supported as Harold Logan and Red Shadow. Finally the coupled pair hit the top rung, but even at the finish of betting the price was a great one: in fact about twice the odds most expected to obtain after his win on the track at National time.

Came the race. 'Tis now history. Indianapolis, beginning slowly as per usual, soon was striding out, and, tucked in behind his stable-mate Mountain Dell, was kept there just behind the leaders till the last round was entered on. There he and the mare took the lead. Over at the tanks McDermott let the big fellow's head loose, and in a flash he opened up a gap, which Blue Mountain reduced to a length at the post. The lame horse had won!

Came the usual summeries attached to the Cup, but an indifferent crowd wasn't interested. Barton took the trophy, expressed his sorrow in not having the late Bill Tomkinson on his right on that day of days, and another Cup was over.

At least it should have been over, but tongues went on wagging - at both ends and the middle. All manner of accusations were hurled, the main allegation being that the stories were put into circulation for the purpose of "blowing" Indianapolis in the market. So wild, not to mention cruel, were the gossipers that "Truth" approached Barton and asked him to explain, an opportunity he spontaneously accepted.

"Yes, I know I'm in the gun. You can tell 'Truth' readers, however, that the rumour that Indianapolis was lame on Cup morning was no eyewash to lengthen the late price. It was only too true," emphatically said George. "Right up to the last hour there could be no certainty that he would be able to start, and even when he did line up with the others, both his trainer and myself were shivering with fear that the best horse in the world would go 'bung' in a race that I have been trying for years to win, and that those who stuck to their guns, and backed him, would lose their money on a lame horse. That's the reason both my friends, and the public, were warned of what was likely to happen. I considered it my duty to tell everbody. Had the horse gone wrong in the race, without any warning from me, it was on the cards I would never have forgiven myself. How he won is now history, but I do not think those doing the blaming have been quite fair. I only did what I thought to be best in a very awkward predicament."

George then went on to explain the trials and tribulations of both himself and trainer, Claude Dunleavy, during that morning of anxiety. "When I arrived at the stable, about 8.30, Claude met me with a face a yard long and told me that Indianapolis had taken a turn for the worse and was decidedly lame. He was then waiting for the vet. When the surgeon the horse was taken out and was so sore he could not pace at all. Up to then he had been wearing a shoe with a piece under the crack cut out to relieve the pressure. We decided that it might be better to have that shoe taken off and a full shoe put on. When that was done he was a lot better, though he was still walking with a limp. From then on he was constantly in hot fermentations until about an hour and a-half before the race, when the vet used a 'deadener' - cocaine, I think - and the treatment was kept up right to the time he went to the course.

"The committee sent one of their number to ask that unless Indianapolis was all right I should not start him, and then I went to Chief Stipe, Mr Beer to ask permission to scratch him if he should be lame in the preliminary. As far as I am concerned Indianapolis has never been a big betting horse for me. The horse has always been in the boom and the odds to be got about him in any of his races did not make wagering of big sums worth the risk attendant to all gambling on racecourses.

"He is the kind of horse I have been longing for ever since I broke into the game, and had he not been able to take his place and make a dream come true, I would have finished with trotting for good and all, as I realise only too well that it is very seldom an owner has the luck to get a second opportunity in a lifetime.
I am wonderfully pleased to have won the Cup, and if anybody blames me for what happened I can only say that I'm sorry, but I honestly thought it was for the best," concluded Barton.

"Truth," who has cheered for Indianapolis right through his career, knows only too well that the owner's statement is studded with fact. As Barton says he thought he was doing everything for the best. He did, only for his motives to be grossly and outrageously misinterperated. The insults and slanders heaped upon George's shoulder since Trotting Cup day may drive him out of ther game. We hope he will realise that the section of the game which counts appreciated his efforts.

That Barton knew what he was talking about when he said "the best horse in the world" was proved on the last day of the meeting when Indianapolis staged what must have been the most wonderful performance ever put up anywhere in the world. Giving away 36yds in the big race he broke the offside hopple before he had gone a furlong. With the loose strap tangling round his hind leg at every stride - with occasional slathers underneath for good measure - home he came, going 4.16.

"Truth" made him go his last mile under these difficulties in 2.4 with the last half-mile just on minute flat. Over that last half the hopple that was not broken was hanging below his hock and tripping him up at every stride.

ONLY A CHAMPION WITH THE STUFF THAT REAL RACEHORSES ARE MADE OF COULD HAVE MADE THE GRADE.


Credit: NZ Truth 14 Nov 1934

1934 SPRING HANDICAP

250 sovs: Unhoppled Trotters: One Mile & A Half

Sea Gift and Teviot Downs practically monopolised the betting in the Spring Handicap, and both were backed down to very short prices. Sea Gift made two breaks early in the running, but afterwards trotted very steadily, and when Teviot Downs got out of control half a mile from home she had the race in safe keeping.

Teviot Downs made all the early running, with Sea Gift in second place and New Metford always in the picture, while Cannonball, who had gone steadily throughout, put in a belated dash to rob Worthy Queen of third money.

The winner had previously shown herself a trotter of ability, and on this occasion she further confirmed the view that she is one of the most improved trotters racing at the present time. But for two breaks Sea Gift gave a fine display, and should win again before the meeting closes.

New Metford showed further improvement and a lot of speed in running second, and he always looked like being in the money. Cannonball went steadily throughout and put in a fast run in the straight.

Worthy Queen(132 yds) gave a remarkable display, finishing fourth; and she would have had to do record time to have won.

For a mile Teviot Downs trotted soundly, but at this stage a rein broke and, out of control, he galloped for the rest of the journey. Luckily he kept in his track and interfered with nothing in the race. Raclaim faded out just when the real business commenced and Merce Bingen did better than Louis Bingen, Great Burton and Don Chenault.

The pace at which the race was run found weaknesses in the majority. From a 3min 32sec mark the winner went 3min 23 1/5sec.

Credit: THE PRESS 7 Nov 1934

1934 MIDDLETON HANDICAP

400 sovs: Unhoppled Trotters: 4min 38 class: Two miles

In the Middleton Handicap backers again pinned their faith to an Aucklander in Nell Volo, who had come from the north with a great reputation. Up to a point she justified this reputation, but a bad break two furlongs from home effectively settled her chances. Lough Guy made practically all the running, closely attended by Fifa and Explosion, while Garner, First Wrack, and Great Way were always handy.

Four furlongs from home Nell Volo, who was trotting very steadily, made a forward move and was just behind Lough Guy and Explosion, with Garner and First Wrack handy. Just when it seemed that Nell Volo would pass her field she broke badly and Explosion and Lough Guy came away from the rest.

Explosion won nicely in the finish, but Lough Guy was all out to beat Nell Volo, who, again settled to her work, finished very fast to gain third money from First Wrack, Nicoya and Olive Nelson.

Explosion scored his first win - a very popular one - since he came to Canterbury. He made a better beginning than usual, and did not make a mistake. It was a performance that draws attention to his prospects of winning more races. Of his speed there is no question, and now on the winning list he should go further successes. Lough Guy, now trained by M Holmes, gave the best showing of his career, and was unlucky in running against a good trotter at the top of his form.

There is no doubt of Nell Volo's speed, and but for her one break she would almost certainly have won. Her form during the rest of the meeting will be watched with the greatest interest. Naturally a slow beginner, she has a beautiful action once on he way.

Of the unplaced division both Nicoya and Olive Nelson, from the back marks(84 & 108 yds respectively) gave high-class displays of trotting. Both are in excellent fettle for the tighter class races on the two remaining days. Mountain Mist, Writer, Garner, and Great Way spoiled their chances by breaking.

Credit: THE PRESS 7 Nov 1934

1934 YALDHURST HANDICAP

500 sovs: 4min 30sec class: Two Miles

The Auckland gelding Worthy Light was made a better favourite than Harvest Child in the Yaldhurst Handicap and though he made a good beginning he appeared to drift in the first two furlongs, when Arethusa and Trampfast were carrying on the running from a closely bunched field. The pair made the pace until the back stretch was reached, when Arethusa dropped out and Trampfast had had enough a furlong further on.

In the run to the post Harvest Child came very fast and though Gold Tinge and Arymont Chimes both made determined challenges Harvest Child held his own to win decisively. It was a fine performance, for after being on of the leaders in the early stages he got into what appeared to be in a bad position. He won by his excellent staying powers. He has proved a fine investment for his owner-trainer, L A Maidens, who drove him in the race.

Gold Tinge gave her best showing for some time, and though not well placed early in the race she finished very fast. At her best she is a very speedy pacer and a good stayer. Arymont Chimes was going faster at the finish than at any other part of the race, and his display promises well. Trampfast surprised everyone by being first out of the barrier and assisting to make the pace for the greater part of the journey. Worthy Light did not impress by his display, but he covered a lot of extra ground, and may do better later at the meeting. Avernus went a fair race but Roddy found the journey too far.

The time, 4min 22 2/5sec, from a 4min 29sec mark represented another good performance.


Credit: THE PRESS 7 Nov 1934

1934 COURTENAY HANDICAP

750 sovs: 4min 26sec class: Two miles

A reversal of form was shown in the Courtenay Handicap, when Worthy Light, who had run unplaced on the first day, won in the manner of a champion pacer. A very mixed reception greeted the Aucklander on his return to the birdcage. On the opening day Worthy Light had shown speed in patches, but he failed to run on and was well beaten.

Yesterday he hopped off smartly, but gradually drifted back until six furlongs from home he was following Gold Tinge, Silver de Oro, Sunny Morn, Wrecker, Kingcraft, Sir Guy, and Harvest Child, and his position was not much improved at the half-mile post. Two and a half furlongs from home Silver de Oro slipped up on the inside of the leader, Gold Tinge, and appeared to have the race in safe keeping, while Sir Guy put in a fast challenge. Fifty yards from the post Worthy Light appeared on the scene and McKendry drew the whip on Silver de Oro, who at once went to a tangle and effectively settled Harvest Child, who was behind her.
Worthy Light put in a great finish and was going away from the field at the end. It was a brilliant effort and in striking contrast to first day's form.

Silver de Oro was driven a peculiar race, for with one round covered she dashed to the front and was then robbed of the lead by Gold Tinge. She was lucky enough to find an opening on the rails at the top of the straight and this should have given her the race. Her break spoiled her good chance.

Sir Guy was always well placed and had an uninterupted passage. He put a lot of dash into his work and finished very strongly, and Sunny Morn also gave an improved performance. Harvest Child was on the rails all the way, and was well pocketed in the straight. Glenrossie was close up to the leaders at the finish, and Kingcraft after being well placed early, faded right out of the race. Rollo and Wrackler were never dangerous.



Credit: THE PRESS 9 Nov 1934

1934 SPRING MEETING SECOND DAY

In perfect weather the New Zealand Metropolitan Club held the second day's racing of its spring meeting at Addington yesterday, and with a very fast track fast times were registered. While the race for the New Zealand Cup on the opening day drew a very big attendance and created the greatest excitement, it is doubtful whether any race decided on the track caused a greater display of enthusiasm than was shown in the battle of the champions in the Free-For-All of two miles.

The Derby, the Blue Riband of New Zealand trotting, attracted the best field of three-year-olds ever assembled in New Zealand, and though Gamble won very easily at the finish he set a great task for all the others engaged. Gamble proved himself a brilliant juvenile pacer, and he received a fine reception as he was decorated by Mrs J H Williams with the blue riband.

The first race on the programme provided all the thrills the trotting public loves, for though Teviot Downs was the popular fancy, the victory of Sea Gift was such an impressive one that even backers of the favourite did not fail to appreciate a particularly fine exhibition of trotting. The time 3min 19sec for a mile and a half, might be expected only from the high-grade pacers, but made by what is generally regarded as a trotter in the second class, it bordered on the sensational. Had she been pressed, the young mare could have improved considerably on the time she registered.

Following the race for unhoppled trotters there was paraded the elite of the juvenile pacers and here was shown the advance that has been made in the development of early speed. It was a well-conditioned field, each three-year-old showing the care that had been bestowed during a very trying time. The public selected Gamble, who was coupled with Boltaire, as the best of good things, and the handsome youngster looked the part. A golden chestnut he walked round the birdcage as though a race meeting was an everyday affair with him, and it could then be seen there was a perfect understanding between the trainer, M B Edwards, and his handsome colt. When being decorated after the race Gamble showed the manners of a Harold Logan, standing quietly when the ribbon was draped around his neck. Gamble looked the gentleman of the party when on parade, but there were other good-looking horses differing in size and conformation, but all fairly representative of the best type of standard-bred.

Grace McElwyn, a diminutive daughter of Jack Potts and Jean McElwyn, greatly resembles her dam, both in conformation and in her style of pacing, and she is a fine filly with bright prospects ahead. Ironside looked as though he had done solid work, and trainer J S Shaw had high hopes of success. Donalds, a particularly well grown gelding, trained at Dunedin by B Jarden, has not the placid temperament of some of the others, and Graham Direct and Red Ranger are both highly strung.
Subsidy and Drag Harlan are of the plain every-day type and can be depended upon to do their best when asked, and there is no doubt of the quality of Moana Tama, who won the Sapling Stakes, but looked a bit light, compared with the others. Floodlight has yet to develop properly, but his turn will come later, and Lord Axworthy is a typical son of his sire, Travis Axworthy, and his race was in accordance with his breeding. To the students of blood lines and good judges of horse-flesh the New Zealand Derby field provided food for endless dicussion

Several wins recorded during the day showed a big reversal of form compared with first days running, but evidently the stipendiary stewards saw nothing amiss and only one enquiry was held during the afternoon. Any disappointment that may been felt over apparently inconsistent running however, was forgotten in the excitement for the race for the Free-For-All over two miles, into which the novelty of awarding lap prizes was introduced. There was doubt in the minds of many as to how the race would be run, but no sooner had the select field started on its journey than spectators realised they were in for a rare treat. The speed was on from the start, and many who had imagined present-day pacers to have only one burst in a race were disillusioned when Harold Logan was called on to fight three desperate finishes, in two of which he was successful. It was the finest display of sustained effort ever witnessed on a New Zealand racecourse and so long as drivers enter into the spirit of a contest, as they did yesterday and great horses are provided for them to drive, so long will Free-For-All races with lap prizes prove popular. The idea of introducing such a race was a good one, and the Metropolitan Club is to be congratulated on the seccess of its first venture.

Totalisator investments for the day amounted to £27,528, an increase on the £27,406 put through on the second day last year, when the win and place system of betting was in operation.

-o0o-

1934 SPRING MEETING THIRD DAY

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club was again lucky enough to have ideal weather for its meeting at Addington yesterday, and though the totalisator investments showed a decrease on last year's figures the meeting was the most successful held for some years. On each day the attendance was bigger than on the corresponding day last year. The racing was of the highest standard and sensational performances were registered by horses the equal of any that have raced in New Zealand. Not in the history of trotting in the Dominion have so many high-class horses paraded at a single meeting and never have such fast times been registered. The meeting proved that horses must be prepared to improve a great deal on the times thay are assessed to do to have any chance of winning a stake at Addington. The great development of speed during the last few years may be attributed to the adoption of a handicapping system which allows a horse to win its full value in prize money before he finishes his racing career.

Harold Logan, New Zealand's champoin pacer, started three times at the meeting, and while he registered the phenomenal time of 4min 12 2/5sec for third place, he proved his superiority by taking both Free-For-All races, showing himself a true stayer and a crack sprinter. Harold Logan, by his sterling displays of speed and stamina, his wonderful racing temperament, and his consistency, has become the idol of the racing public, and no horse more richly deserves the honour.

Next to Harold Logan must be placed the five-year-old stallion Indianapolis, winner of the New Zealand Cup and the Christchurch Handicap, the latter race after one of the most remarkable performances in history. The breaking of his gear put him at a big disadvantage, and only a horse with a perfect racing temperament would have performed so well as he did.

The best four-year-old was the unbeaten War Buoy, a grand young pacer with the stamina and gameness of his sire, Man o' War. In a particularly good field of three-year-olds Gamble takes pride of place, and he looks like going on to enter the highest class.

The unhoppled trotters were right up to the highest class, and the nine horses that paraded for the Dominion proved that while the pacers are developing extreme speed our trotters are also making a steady advance. The unhoppled trotter is popular with the public, and if clubs will only follow the lead of the New Zealand Metropolitan Clun in awarding good stakes for good trotters there will come a day when breeders will make the trotter, and not the pacer, their first consideration. Trampfast gave a display that gladdened the hearts of every follower of the light-harness sport, and the 3min 15 2/5sec he registered for a mile and a half has seldom been equalled. In Nell Volo and Sea Gift are two mares that have yet to reach the highest class, but already give promise of developing into high-grade performers.

A word of praise is due Mr J Highsted, caretaker at Addington, for the excellent condition of the track, which was in a large measure responsible for the fast times registered. Without being flintlike in its surface, the course possessed that resiliency that does not jar the horses' joints, but rather encourages them to hit out with perfect freedom.

The attendance yesterday was about the largest seen at Addington for five or six years, and while the grandstands and enclosures were filled to capacity the centre of the racing oval was a popular ground for thousands of men, women and children, who seized the holiday as a good opportunity for a picinic with the added enjoyment of excellent racing. Not for many years has there been such a crowd on the oval, and a not displeasing feature was the large number of people who viewed the racing from the "Scotsmen's Grandstand" which for many in this case was the high iron fence at the back of the course, the buildings bordering the track at the showgrounds turn, or the long line of railway trucks so conveniently shunted to a spot from which an excellent view of the racing could be obtained.

It was People's Day at the trotting track as well as at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show. Thousands who watched the racing had no thought of the totalisator, but they enjoyed some excellent entertainment at a nominal outlay. It was a great meeting, well managed by honorary officials and staff, and no one had more reason to be satisfied than the popular president, Mr J H Williams and Secretary, Mr A L Rattray. The 1934 carnival at Addington is one that will live long in memory as a gathering of champion racehorses and good sportsmen from all parts of the Dominion.

Credit: THE PRESS 9 & 10Nov 1934

1933 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Scotty Bryce's sixth Cup win with Red Shadow was also significant in the fact that his owner, Mrs M Harrall, also raced the runner-up Royal Silk.

Bryce had bred Red Shadow, but following an ownership dispute was forced to offer him at public auction the previous March.

He was in quite brilliant form at the meeting and after also winning the sprint event later on Cup Day, won the feature race double on the last day, emulating the feat of Cello Sydney Wilkes in 1919 in winning four races at the meeting.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03