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RACING HISTORY

HORSES

MANAROA

Dubbed the 'Ugly Duckling' because of his roach back and rat tail, Manaroa proved that appearances alone do not make a champion racehorse.

A winner of many top-class races, Manaroa would have had a more impressive record but for being unruly at the barrier in many of his races. In NZ Manaroa held a record of a 2:04 rating over 13 furlongs. He also won over two miles in 4:10 1/5 and was joint record holder with Caduceus for 1½ miles standing start in 3:04 2/5. His best NZ time for a mile was 1:59 2/5.

Manaroa won two heats of the 1971 Inter-Dominion at Addington, and finished a neck and a nose behind Junior's Image and Stella Frost in the final, subsequently being promoted to second placing upon the disqualification of Junior's Image. He brilliantly won his three heats of the 1972 Inter-Dominion in Brisbane and was backmarker off 24 yards in the final, but found the handicap, and being forced to race wide for a good portion of the event, too severe and finished fifth.

Manaroa was third behind Bay Foyle and Reichman in the Miracle Mile of 1972, and ran a similar placing in the same race in 1973 behind Reichman and Royal Ascot. From 24 yards in the 1973 Inter-Dominion in Sydney he was successful in one heat and second in another, but failed to qualify for the final because of a poor start in the other heat in which he finished last.

Manaroa was successful in other principal events in Australia. In winning the 1971 NSW Lord Mayor's Cup from 24 yards he defeated Welcome Advise and Lachamfer and rated 2:06 4/5. He ran 2:00 3/5 in winning the NSW Lightning Mile in September, 1972, by 25 yards and lowered the race record previously held by Macaree and Halwes at 2:01.

Against time in October, 1972, Manaroa paced 1:59 3/5 at Harold Park.



Credit: Ron Jenkins: Great Trotters

HORSES

HAPPY GIFT - Mystery Mare

This mare from Timaru won a couple of races in several years of trying and was the only winner by her sire the uncommercial Johnny Kawa. Her dam was by Record Time, another 'household name' and the next sire in the pedigree was Colossal, probably best known for one of his daughter's foals who was able to be registered as Colossal Dick without any objection from officialdom!

Happy Gift maintained the family tradition of going to locally bred stallions when sent to Steven Stock, a top racehorse and underrated sire overwhelmed by the rush of imports in the 1980s. The result was a horse called Happy Sunrise who set the racing world on it's ear in the mid 1980s.

Happy Sunrise went to NZ Cup class in less than 12 months winning 10 of his first 14 starts. This was a record under modern handicapping until broken by Derby soon afterward. One of those wins was in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, beating the subsequent NZ Cup winner Master Mood less than 12 months after starting racing for trainer Brian Saunders and driver Ricky May.

The horse made a mess of the NZ Cup; was fifth in a blanket Free For All finish from the outside second row draw breaking 2:27; and was then off to Australia where he was an anti-climax from the word go never winning a stake over $4000. Part of the problem was temperament. Sometimes Happy Sunrise when getting back to the stables after a win had as much action for spectators than the race itself. But it was electric racing while it lasted.

The family soon returned to obscurity until Kevin Fairbairn obtained a mare from it, sent her to top trotting stallions and got Whatsundermykilt and Glenbogle.



Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed June 2016

HORSES

Mount Eden time trialling at Addington

MOUNT EDEN

After watching Mount Eden's time trial in 1:56 3/5 at Addington on Saturday afternoon, I have no hesitation in naming him the fastest pacer the world has seen.
Given perfect conditions and rated well on Lexington's Big Red Mile in Kentucky, Mount Eden, providing he holds his form, will surely topple Bret Hanover's world record of 1:53 3/5.

And, under mobile start conditions at Yonkers Raceway, with Peter Wolfenden driving him (he has accepted this assignment, offered to him by Mount Eden's trainer Jack Miles), it is hard to imagine his rivals in this year's $170,000 International series living with him.

The six-furlong Addington track throughout Saturday morning received a thorough drenching by driving rain. Mount Eden's trial, scheduled for noon, had to be postponed for more than five hours until after the last race. Throughout the day the racing was affected by the 'off' track, and the final event, run about 20 minutes before Mount Eden's mile attempt, was won by Radiant Globe in the fastest time of the day, 3:27 for the 13 furlongs - a 2:07 mile rate.

The track was then scraped, but still remained quite damp - especially on the turn out of the front straight which occupied most of the second quarter-mile section of the mile. Miles, who drove Mount Eden, later likened this part of the track to porridge. Miles said: "I had to nurse him all the way around that bend, as I didn't want the horse to slip or knuckle over at speed and leave me with no horse, and I reckon that cost me a full second.

"Down the back the galloper was no use to me. I kept yelling to Jim (Jim Dalgety, driver of the galloping prompter, thoroughbred Maxwelton) to keep him up, but he shouted back he couldn't." Before the time trial, experienced horsemen agreed that Mount Eden would be lucky to break 2:00. To accomplish a time only 2/5 sec outside Cardigan Bay's NZ and Australian record in such conditions was phenomenal. There seems not much doubt that in the Miracle Mile in Sydney on Friday week, when Mount Eden will meet Stella Frost and Manaroa among others over mobile start mile conditions, given good conditions the remarkable 4-year-old will have little difficulty in breaking Halwes' 1:57 3/5 Australian record, accomplished in the same race in 1968.

Miles and his co-owner Bernie Ogden have also agreed to produce Mount Eden in Melbourne before he leaves for the United States and his Yonkers International bid. On the three-furlong Melbourne Showgrounds track, Mount Eden, for a $5000 incentive will attack the track record of 2:00 3/5, which seems at his mercy.

On Saturday at Addington my sectional times for Mount Eden were: first quarter 30 2/5 sec; second quarter 29 sec; third quarter 28 4/5; fourth quarter 28 2/5. It was the fifth time in 18 days, since he astonished trackwatchers with a casual 1:58 1/5 mile in his first serious workout in NZ, that Mount Eden had penetrated well inside the two-minute barrier; and each time his clocking was faster. His mightiest race here, though he finished only sixth, was in the third round of heats, when, over 13 furlongs, he lost three-quarters of a furlong at the start and was reliably timed to come his last mile and a half in an unheard of 2:56 4/5, his final mile in 1:56 4/5.

Mount Eden's $2000 for breaking 2:00 in the time trial (virtually appearance money) pushed his earning to only $21,160. His racing record is 13 wins and two placings from 20 starts. In the next few weeks in Australia he should double his bankroll, while when he reaches America his earning rate should really rocket. Mr Ogden said on Saturday night that several attractive offers have been made for Mount Eden, and that some are still being considered, but no deals have been made at this stage. Mr Ogden does not expect to go to America with Miles and Mount Eden, but said he might fly from Perth to New York to see him contest the $100,000 International Pace on June 4.

Mount Eden may be a freak but he is no fluke of breeding. He is by the imported Adios horse Morris Eden (p, 2:01 1/5 and $88,000), a three-quarter brother to the crack American 3-year-old of last year, Columbia George (p,3, 1:56). Owned by Noel Simpson, Morris Eden, after a successful stint in NZ, is now standing in Victoria, Australia, under Ron Hutchins. His place at Jack Hughes' Glencoe Stud at Pukekohe, has been taken by Good Time Eden, a half-brother by Good Time to Morris Eden.

Blankets, the dam of Mount Eden, was unraced. She was by the Light Brigade (by Volomite) horse Aksarben, who won eight races and had a big reputation but was restricted in his race career by recurring leg trouble. Blue Revue, the dam of Aksarben, was a fine producer. She also left Blue (2:09 1/5, world's record for a yearling; eight wins including the NZ Sapling Stakes, NZ Derby and NSW Derby) and several other less important winners.

Shepherd's Brook, the dam of Blankets, was by the good racehorse and sire, Nelson Derby. She won three races and apart from Blankets left Midday (6 wins), Midnight (four), Wallacetown (four) and Forenoon (four, and dam of Selena, 7 wins). Shepherd's Brook's dam, the unraced Queen's Treasure, produced Hardy Oak (12 wins), Jack's Treasure (four), Buccaneer (three), Single Star (six), Mareeta (five) and Manoa (four). And Single Star became the dam of a champion NZ filly of her day, Riviera, as well as Petro Star (six wins and dam of six winners including the latest NZ Futurity winner, True Temper).

-o0o-

Ron Jenkins: Great Trotters

One of the most sensational pacers to race in Australia was the NZ-bred, WA-owned pacer Mount Eden who first gained attention as a 3-year-old in winning the WA Sires' Produce Stakes. In recording a mile rate of 2:04 in the mile and a half race from a standing start Mount Eden created a world record for a 3-year-old. In the following season he entered the world spotlight in harness racing. In little more than two months he recorded nine runs in less than two minutes for a timed flying mile.

Mount Eden contested the 1971 Inter-Dominion series at Addington, after recording 1:58 4/5 in a time trial before the series began. He failed to qualify for the final as he performed poorly at the start in each of his heats but was timed to run a flying mile in under two minutes in all three heats. Mount Eden's connections were later invited to run their pacer in a time trial on the day of the final and despite the damp conditions, he ran 1:56 3/5, just two-fifths of a second outside Cardigan Bay's Australasian record.

On his return to Australia, Mount Eden won the Craven Filter Miracle Mile by 15 yards in 1:58 4/5 after losing some six lengths at the start when he mixed his gait. He paced 1:56.7 in a time trial attempt at Harold Park, replacing Halwes' Australian record of 1:57.3. This was followed by runs of 1:59.8 in Melbourne and 1:57.8 at the Gloucester Park, WA, track in other time trials.

Mount Eden was sold to an American owner in April, 1971, for $268,000, making him the most expensive horse, galloper or trotter, to ever be sold in Australia. He left for America having won 14 races from 20 starts and $43,000 in prizemoney. After a time in which he was plagued with injury, Mount Eden was retired to the stud without contesting a race in America.

Credit: 'R B' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 3Mar71

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1971 NZ OAKS

Shalimar, a speedy Garrison Hanover filly whose racing this season has been plagued with the wrong sort of luck, received a reward for perseverance when she easily won the NZ Oaks from Gay Hal. This time much of the running was in her favour. The only time when she could have been in difficulty was with three furlongs to go when the leader, Tiawana, ran out under pressure and forced Shalimar three wide.

Trainer R W Stockdale then decided to press on and hope the filly was as good as her breeding may suggest. And although Gay Hal climbed out of the ruck and came fast from there, Shalimar was never really in bother of defeat over the concluding stages and won convincingly.

Shalimar is the first out of the speedy Morano mare, Fury River. She is raced by Mr A G Blank and the estate of Mr G J Francis, one of the principals here being Mr W J Francis, who as a birdcage steward of the New Brighton Trotting Club, was right in the thick of things.

Credit: mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

True Averil with Clarrie & Mrs Rhodes and driver Doody Townley

1971 NZ TROTTING CUP

Every horse, without exception, looked muscled up and bright for the $30,000 challenge and little time was lost once the 15 runners was in the starter's hands. Rain Again and James failed to begin cleanly, Manaroa was a shade slow but pacing just the same and the others all headed off without further ado.

Sam Tryax, driven by D G Jones, was out fast and took the field through the first quarter in 32.6 sec., from Western Ridge, Intrepid on the fence, Radiant Globe on the outside of Jacquinot Bay, Upper Class, Rauka Lad, Garcon Roux, Robalan, Rain Again, Valencia, True Averil in a gap, Bay Foyle, James and Manaroa.

Western Ridge headed Sam Tryax after half a mile reached in 64, but only briefly, for Upper Class then sought the lead, making the first six furlongs in 1:35.4 and the mile in 2:06.6. At that stage Western Ridge was under cover with Sam Tryax and Radiant Globe further along the fence, then Rauka Lad one out with Jacquinot Bay, Robalan, Garcon Roux, Rain Again and True Averil in close contact. Robalan moved fast racing into the six furlongs, tabbing the watches at 2:36.6 for the mile and a quarter, but soon had the company of Radiant Globe.

Radiant Globe looked to have the others in a spot of bother when he opened up a small gap on passing the half mile in 3:07.4. Even when Radiant Globe increased his lead passing the three furlong mark, it distinctly appeared as though his genial Blenheim owners, Bob White and Jack Hart, were in for the kill, because Townley, who at one stage had been four wide, had touched True Averil with his whip when asking him to race three wide past Robalan and Manaroa.

True Averil never looked likely to catch Radiant Globe outside the furlong; inside it was by no means cut and dried, and on the line, with both horses tuckered out after 4:11 of epic racing. True Averil had proved a better horse on the day by a neck. Intrepid, after being pushed back, ran an excellent third, being no more impressive than Bay Foyle, a solid finisher after being well off the pace. Manaroa battled on in dour style for his fifth without ever looking like winning, and then came Valencia, running on, Sam Tryax, Garcon Roux, Rauka Lad, James, Western Ridge, Upper Class, Rain Again and Jacquinot Bay.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1971 NZ DERBY STAKES

The voice crackled through the loudspeaker: "Would Mr R M Cameron please report to the Secretary's office." It was early last Wednesday evening, and Cameron, up from the southern township of Wyndham with his two-year-old, Great Twinkle, hurried the 200 paces to the top of the straight to honour the call. His mind was still was still at work on the cause of such a request when he entered the office where, standing to receive him were Highbank trainer Alister Kerslake and Templeton reinsman, Derek Jones.

A few minutes later Cameron left their company in high spirits, for not only had he been asked to handle Kerslake's promising three-year-old, Bachelor Star, that evening, but also in the New Zealand Derby the following Saturday. And after being thrilled with the colt's first night effort, Cameron rated the rich-ginger son of Bachelor Hanover perfectly to cuff stablemate Golden Guest a few yards short of the $7225 and then hit the wire with a fast-diminishing long neck advantage over the gamest of fillies in Van Glory.

Owned in the Christchurch suburb of Spreydon by Mr W F Woolley, who is now well into his eighties and still handling the distance admirably, Bachelor Star is out of the Captain Adios mare, Adio Star. Before leaving Bachelor Star, Adio Star had combined with Garrison Hanover to leave the top class but ill-fated pacer, Loyal Adios, and then to Goodland's cover left the consistent pacer, Colonel Adios, a 2:14 horse.

Bachelor Star's fourth dam was the imported mare, Estella Amos, who as well as establishing a winning family that is fast carving out a niche here and overseas, left the great Indianapolis, three times winner of the NZ Cup. Tondeleyo, a daughter of Estella Amos and Wrack, proved a great broodmare, being responsible for Margaret Hall and Loyal Guest, who between them left some top winners including Orbiter (1:58.8), Kinsella, Cappy Rowan, Late Frost, Orbette, Rowan Star, Snell, Rosslyn Rowan, True Guest, Grand March and Adio Star. As a racehorse, Tondeleyo had little in her favour, and after three chances, left the scene. Loyal Guest, by Grattan Loyal, and second dam of Bachelor Star, is also the granddam of Golden Guest, True Forbes, Worthy Guest, Special Dream, Overland and Goldstep, all of whom won races.

This was Bachelor Star's fifth win - he won two last season as a juvenile - and he won in a manner that pointed to staying potential; previously he had been recognised as a shorter-course specialist more than anything else. But after racing three back and one out, tracking Star Land three-wide passing the three furlong peg and then firing a dogged finishing thrust in the stretch, Bachelor Star looked the ideal racehorse in beating Van Glory by a long neck.

Van Glory tried hard to reach Bachelor Star, but this tough little filly gave him too much of a start from where she was lodged at the back of the field and had to be content with the $2225 cheque. A plain bay, Van Glory in a filly to be proud of; she certainly put her whole heart in the attempt of bettering the place filling roles in this same event of her parents, Van Dieman and Malabella. Golden Guest, who appeared to have the race won inside the furlong until she gave it away just short of the line, ran a mighty race, although she had a great deal more in her favour than the luckless Roydon Roux, who came fast and late to run fourth. Armbro Free, after a poor run early, battled on for fifth.

Bachelor Star is trained by Mr Woolley's son-in-law, Alister Kerslake, who gained experience in the stable of M B Edwards, before moving to a butcher shop in Methven. Then, feeling tired of the whole business one day about three years ago, he erected a sign in the window advising customers he wouldn't be back. Instead, he branched out into training, taking over Mr Woolley's string of trotters and soon experiencing success with a team of about 12 horses that was climaxed by the New Zealand Derby win of Bachelor Star. There is no chance of him donning the striped apron and wielding the carving knife again. As Cameron quipped after the race: "This meat you've got now would be a bit too good for the shop."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ trotting Calendar

STARTERS & STARTING

MOVING BARRIER

A Sydney consulting engineer, Mr B W Ireland, flew into Christchurch last week with a film on a moving starting barrier which he showed to officials of the three Christchurch Trotting clubs and the NZ Trotting Conference. Called the Space Mobile Barrier, most of the gathering seemed fairly interested in its potential, and Mr Ireland was then put through the grill after the six-minute colour film was run twice.

The barrier is controlled by a starter who can control the speed or make it uniform. It consists of tapes stretched across the track attached to high poles on the running rail. The tapes come down to between the ears and eyes of the horse, travels 50 yards, and then is lifted high above the runners.

The apparatus was set up at Harold Park for the experiment. The trials involved four horses off the front and four off the 12 yard mark. They were marshalled two furlongs from the start where they proceeded to walk up to the barrier. Their speed was increased to nothing more than a jog, the tapes then came down from above, and travelled at that speed for 50 yards before the start was reached.

Although the experiment seemed full of merit, there were a number of difficulties that would have to be overcome before the system could be practical under NZ conditions or applied to our tracks. Shadows littered the track during the daytime; these would have to be kept to a minimum. Mr Ireland also advised that the distances of some of our races would need to be changed as the barrier's operation on bends had not as yet been contemplated. The only other problem that would eventuate is that of starting a large number of horses off different marks and catering for the second liners, the latter an awkward one. Undoubtedly the system has merit and if these initial problems were to be solved consideration would need to be given regarding its introduction to this country.

Mr Ireland has kindly allowed the film to remain in NZ so that other club officials and representatives may receive the opportunity of viewing it and assessing the worth of the scheme. Obviously those in charge of the film should make every endeavour to ensure that a number of trainers and drivers see it. Their reaction to the Space Mobile Barrier is imperative; they should be in the box seats.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 15Apr70

PEOPLE

GEORGE MURFITT

In October, 1858, the good ship 'Strathallan' grated against the side of a newly-built wharf in the settlement of Lyttleton after a rough sea crossing lasting many week from the old country...England.

On board and full of hope for a new life in a new land was a Mr John Murfitt, his wife, and son Harry, who was born during the voyage. The young family arriving only eight years after the first four ships had deposited the first of Canterbury's colonists, trekked over the 'bridal path' and settled in Woodend, a 20 mile journey from Christchurch, where John started work as a timber carter. Work was hard with the horse and cart as the trip from Oxford to Christchurch was over unbroken rugged country unable to be called roads. Harry, when he was old enough, went to work with his father, and then afterwards began a career that was to involve his son, Mr G H Murfitt, of Southbrook, for approximately 88 years.

Times were difficult in those early pioneering days before the turn of the century and Harry's new livelihood of training both gallopers and trotters was a hard struggle. Before long Mr G H (George) Murfitt was in the saddle breaking in young horses, and like most of the young boys in those days possessed 'no fear'. He was soon riding in races - at Oxford, Riccarton, Amberley and Ohoka, and these were nearly all either steeplechase or hurdle races. At one Amberley meeting in the late 1890s before a very big crowd and the 'bookies' he vividly recalls winning the first four races - all over jumps.

As well as riding for his father he also rode for a Mr Cassidy and a Miss Buttons. Cassidy, who lived on the West Coast, ran stage coaches which connected the Coast to Christchurch. His uncle, Mr G B Murfitt, also raced a large team of gallopers and trotters from Cobden. One day his uncle raced a pacer called Daystar at a Coast meeting, and tied his three stone son, Eddie, onto the horses back to make sure he didn't fall off. The horse won, but little Eddie was later killed in the Great World War. George also cackles when he thinks about the time when the late 'Free' Holmes was running second to him in a race at Ohoka. After the race 'Free' entered a protest against George's horse, who was owned by a banker, as it was on the forfeit list. The stewards had little option but to disqualify George's mount and promote the second horse.

When the First World War started in 1914, weight problems and family ties finally forced George to hand in his galloping licence, and he then took on trotters. Rangiora, where George trained his horses, was nowhere near as big as it is today, and his stable was in the middle of the township. As well as training horses, George ran the livery stable and two days a week this was a thriving and bustling concern. "It was sale day every Tuesday and shopping day every Friday, and they would all come to town, and leave their horses at the livery," he explained. "Sometimes we would have over 100 horses and have to run a wire along to tie them all up. It cost a bob a stand and a bob a feed." Among those who used the livery was Mr Jack Matson, a well known auctioneer with the old stock firm of National Mortgage and Agency Company for many years.

Between the First and Second World Wars a horse fair was held one day a month in Rangiora, George had the responsibility of trucking the 40 or 50 unbroken horses, ponies, and other types to be sold from the railway trucks to the saleyards. After noting the markings on them all, the horses would be driven at midnight past the Red Lion Pub, through the main street of Rangiora to the yards, where they were all assembled back in the same groups as they were when they disembarked.

One of his cunning tricks was to buy an unbroken quarter draught horse at one sale - take it home and run the clippers over it after quickly breaking it in. At the next monthly sale he would take it back looking
every bit a show horse, and after prancing it around the ring with a pair of sharp spurs on, sell it at a handy profit.

Getting on towards 30 years ago he sold his Rangiora stables to a panel beater and the Rangiora Fire Brigade and moved out to his present 100 acre stud at Southbrook.

Since he began training many good pacers and trotters have passed through George's hands including Header, Pearl Logan, Harvestin, Karaki and Harbour Light. Header, an attractive black gelding by Sonoma Harvester out of a mare by Wildwood Junior, was probably the best horse he had. At the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting back in 1935, Header, driven by M Holmes, raced twice and won twice on the same day, the second time off 84 yards. In March, 1936, Header returned to Wellington finishing second at his first start, then winning later in the day off 60 yards. Purchased by Sir John McKenzie, Header reached the very best class of trotters. Karaki, is the horse he reserves most affection for, and in his words "he was never done." He too, reached the top class of trotters.

One incident he recalls was on board the horse train going to a meeting in the North Island. "The train was going through Palmerston North and we heard that the brakes wouoldn't work. Three or four hundred yards past the station the brakes suddenly locked and the horses were all thrown forward. When the train stopped a bolt had stuck in his horse's head. There was no compensation from the railway in those days, so we patched up the wound and had to race Header on one of the later days to get some expenses," he relates.

On another occasion he was at the Wellington meeting with Header. At the same meeting was M Holmes, who had gone to the meeting to drive Renegade in the same race as the Murfitt owned and trained trotter. For some reason Maurice, according to George, was taken off Renegade, and came to him to ask for the drive behind Header. Maurice was anxiuos to beat Renegade. And he did, for Header won both starts, while Renegade could do no better than a third and a fourth. This continued a long association between the Murfitts and the Holmes's.

Harbour Light would undoubtedly be the most profitable winner that he has raced. She was bred in 1957 by Light Brigade out of Sure Phoebe and won $26,095, the result of 14 wins and numerous placings against the best trotters in the Dominion. Harbour Light's wins included the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (twice, once dead-heating with Flaming Way after a late run from the back), the Greyhound and Stewards' Handicaps at Addington, and the first heat of the NZ Trotting Championship at Addington in 1966 when she also dead-heated, this time with Grand Charge.

For more than 30 years, since he stood his first stallion, Proud Child, at his Rangiora property, he has always had a horse at the stud. Highland Chief is one that he particularly remembers. Bred in 1944, Highland Chief was by U Scott out of Pearl Logan, who also left Frank Logan, Calumet Pointer and Logan Scott. His present stallion is Larnie Scott, who was bred in 1950 by Light Brigade out of Lady Scott. Although he reached the best class as a trotter, 'Larnie' was also a competent pacer. His oldest stock are now 8-year-olds and his progeny include a top race mare in Stereo Light, recent trotting winner in Doctor Scott, as well as Kilarno, Haughty Scott, Copper Wire and Shot Silk.

As well as seeing to the day to day running of the stud, George, and his good wife, Wyn, are working about seven horses, most of them yearlings. George Murfitt still takes part in all stable chores, and drives all the team, including young horses in training. At 88 years and with every faculty working perfectly, he is a remarkable old gentleman, who would surely claim the honour of being the oldest active trainer in NZ.

He could relate interesting yarns on the old days for hours and hours. "Just recently," he said "the parson at Amberley asked me to write a book on my life. And I said to him I might be put in goal if I did." With too many stories like the Sunday mornings he would meet his mates in a Rangiora barn armed with their bantam roosters, he would certainly be running a close race with the law. "After all the fighting was over, we would bring them home, put them in a basin of water to wash the blood off and get them ready for the next Sunday," he recalled. "Life was hard in those days," he sighed.

But what a life and what terrific memories he must have collected through his 88 eventful years. And it's by no means over yet.




Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 21Oct70

PEOPLE

DOUG MANGOS

One of the many pleasures of working within the trotting industry is meeting people. Such a meeting was that with dapper Doug Mangos. A proper little gentleman, Mangos is in the top flight of NZ reinsmen, and his services are now keenly in demand. Short and stocky with an affable character and a dry sense of humour, Mangos has worked at Roydon Lodge Stud since he left school some 18 years ago.

An ex-West Coaster, he was born in Reefton and came to live in Christchurch with his parents when aged 14. He spent a year at the Christchurch Technical College and then terminated his education to join the Roydon Lodge staff under the watchful eye of private trainer to Mr R A McKenzie, George Noble. It was in 1952 when he started work at 5am in the morning as a stablehand, and shortly after marrying a Christchurch girl in 1957, he received his probationary driver's licence.

His first win came behind the top class Highland Air at Forbury Park in the Winter Handicap. It was important in more ways than one because the second horse, La Mignon, was driven by 'the boss,' George Noble. With six wins the next season his career was taking shape, and he displayed the potential necessary to reach the top of his profession. But it was going to take time. his winning share in the next four seasons was not great and with seasonal winning totals of six, six, five, three, four and four progress appeared slow.

In the 1964-65 season he drove 10 winners, and then when George Noble retired from driving the next season on reaching the compulsory age limit of 65, Mangos came into his own with 21 successes. That was the turning point and from that stage on he has not looked back. The next season brought in 18 winners followed in the 1967-68 season by a record 22, which put him in ninth place in the drivers' premiership. Last season when fellow stable horseman John Noble scored well, Mangos's total dropped to 11.

However he is making amends this season and so far has reined 11 winners, including two in a row at the recent Canterbury Park meeting where he won with Robin Rose and Valencia. This pushed his total winning drives to 122. "Arania was a terrific horse for speed," he replied when I asked him the name of the best horses he had driven in his career. He added that he won a lot of races with her, but remarked that Jay Ar "was the best horse I got results with." Others to hold special memories for him were Danny's Pal and Julie Hanover. His greatest thrill came when he drove La Mignon to victory in the Louisson Handicap at the NZMTC's national meeting at Addington in 1958. Trainer George Noble was in America at the time, and the team was under the management of R H Bonnington. That day he defeated Invicta(R Morris), Light Nurse(C R Berkett) and Auditor(F E Newfield).

A proud possession in the Mangos home is the trophy he won by scoring the highest number of points in the drivers' championship at the Auckland Inter-Dominions two years ago. At the conclusion of the racing on the final night, Kevin Newman, Peter Wolfenden and Mangos all totalled the same number of points. So they decided to toss coins to see who would take the expnsive tea set. Reg Lewis, president of the Auckland Trotting Club loaned them a coin each, and on the first toss all three turned up heads. On the play-offs all three coins turned up tails, and it was not until the third flick that Mangos threw up an odd face. This meeting was the most successful one away from home recalled Mangos. With George Noble, he took seven horses north and all of them won races. Mangos has played no small part in the success of the Roydon Lodge Stud racing team. He has now taken out a trainers' licence in the absence of Noble in Australia and he will be in charge of the team until the end of June.

Mangos, a family man with three children, is a credit to the trotting industry. He has many good years ahead of him, and if and when he decides to branch out on his own accord, there will be no dearth of people anxious to assist him to become established. Meatime he will remain in his present capacity at Roydon Lodge Stud where over the years he has proved a tradesman of the highest order. Trotting would be well served by more persons of the calibre of Doug Mangos.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Feb70

PEOPLE

Jack Litten, Caduceus & Marty Tananbaum

MARTIN TANANBAUM

The death last week of Yonkers Raceway president Martin Tananbaum removed one of trotting's world figures.

Mr Tananbaum, who died at his New York home of a heart attack, aged only 54, entered harness horsedom in 1956, he and his brothers Alfred and Stanley, buying the controlling shares in Yonkers Raceway. As Yonkers president, Marty (as he became widely known) quickly realised the great public appeal of international racing.

At the suggestion of former Aucklander Noel Simpson, now of NSW, Mr Tananbaum first visited NZ and Australia in 1960, and, after seeing the crack NZ pacer of the time, Caduceus win the Inter-Dominion Championship Grand Final at Harold Park, Sydney, he persuaded the horse's owners, the Moore brothers, and trainer-driver Jack Litten to race Caduceus in the first running of the now-famous International Pace Series at Yonkers. Caduceus performed with distinction in that series and in his subsequent American racing became a public idol, as he had been in NZ and Australia.

Every year after that Mr Tananbaum made his annual 'Down Under' crusade, scouting for talent for his Raceway. He did not buy. He merely offered enticements to owners of top horses to either accept invitations to Yonkers or sell to American owners who would. Apmat, False Step, Arania, Smoke Cloud, Cardigan Bay, Cardinal King and First Lee were among the better-performed NZ and Australian horses whose owners yeilded to the Tananbaum entreaties.

And the Yonkers chief was proudest of all about his accomplishment in persuading successful New Jersey horseman Stanley Dancer to buy Cardigan Bay as an aged gelding for $100,000 in 1964. It is now history that Cardigan Bay swept all before him in America to become the sport's one and only million dollar earner.

Convinced of the worth of NZ and Australia as breeding grounds, Mr Tananbaum in recent years shipped all of 20 fashionably-bred stallions to stand at stud on lease in this part of the world. It was his intention to breed and race young horses here before shipping them to his homeland for further racing and eventual stud service at his newly-established White Devon Farm in upstate New York. And, with this in view, he was a ready spender at various standardbred sales in NZ and Australia on his latest visit made only weeks before his death.

The $9500 he paid for a filly at the national sales in Christchurch earlier last month was a record. She was from Arania, a Roy McKenzie owned mare he invited to America in 1961 and who, before returning home, distinguished herself in no uncertain terms with a 1:57 time trial around the big Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.

In his brief time in trotting Martin Tananbaum pushed the sport along in grand style. Future generations will look back on his contribution as of great significance to this Dominion in its emergence as a world trotting nursery.

Credit: 'R B' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 1Apr70