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BELLE LOGAN - Classic Winner Producing Mares

BELLE LOGAN(1916 Logan Pointer/Curfew Bell), NZ family of Bonnie Belle; 2:20¾; £640, two wins; 11 foals, 9 winners. Breeder: W J Morland, Rakaia. Foals - 1926 Dillon Logan bred by D Rodgers, Rangiora, mare then shipped to Edgar Tatlow, Hayley, Tasmania in 1929; all other foaled in Australia including 1929 foal Pendant (in foal to Native King NZ).

Belle Logan's sire Logan Pointer (1909) was imported to NZ by Free Holmes in 1915. He sired 191 winners, Harold Logan being the stand out (two NZ Cups, three NZFFAs). His broodmare credits included InterDominion Champions Logan Derby, Grand Mogul and Springfield Globe. He was influential as broodmare sire of a numberof the progeny of Bonny Logan (Admiration, Bayard, Captain Morant, Coquette, Safety Pin) as well as Belle Logan (Jean Logan, Logan Derby, Lone Raider, Pendant). A member of the Tom Hal sire line, Logan Pointer was leading sire on seven occasions in NZ in a career shortened by his death in 1924.

Curfew Bell (Wildwood/Bonnie Belle), a half sister to Country Belle was the dam of Belle Logan and grand dam of Logan Derby, sire of Johnny Globe, in turn sire of Lordship etc. Bonnie Belle (Lincoln Yet/arab mare from the stud of Sir John Cracroft Wilson, Cashmere) was the foundation mare of this classic winner producing family. Her daughter Country Belle (1915 NZ Cup) will be reviewed with regards to the deeds of classic producing mare Rustic Maid in a future article.

Belle Logan had four unplaced starts as a four-year-old in 1919/20 before recording her only two wins(FPTC and Waimate RC). She raced as a five and six-year-old and she had one start as a seven-year-old. She only recorded one further placing. Belle Logan's progeny included the legendary Logan Derby, a son of Globe Derby and winner of 57½ races for prize money in excess of £10,000. These included being undefeated in the inaugural IDs in Perth 1936(three heats/final) and champion on points (heat winner, two thirds and fastest times from long marks) in 1940 also in Perth. Under the championship rules, Logan Derby with 18 points was proclaimed champion from Master Dixie(13½) and Grand Mogul(13⅓). Grand Mogul received £1,000 for his Grand Final victory, the same amount as Logan Derby who received a gold cup. During the ID carnival, Logan Derby established his 2:04TT record placing him among the first six horses to better the 2:05 mark in Australia.

Logan Derby spent time in NZ in late 1938 where in seven starts he won on three occasions and placed in the other four starts. His record showed: thirds in NZ Cup(Morello)/ Ollivier Hcp, second in Louisson Hcp before winning NZFFA - all during 1938 Cup carnival with three starts at Forbury Park resulting in wins in Forbury Hcp and Forbury Presidents Hcp before a second in his final NZ Start, Recovery Hcp. His NZ earnings amounted to £1,795.

Exported to NZ(1944) to F J Smith after initially standing at stud in Perth in 1943 for J P(John) Stratton) following his retirement at age 13, he sired 98 winners(36 in Aust). These included champion Johnny Globe(winner of 34 races/45 places, 15 FFAs, four world records, NZ/GN Derby, NZ Cup, NZFFA(2), leading sire/broodmare sire including Lordship, NZ Hall of Fame), Fabius(GN Derby), Jewel Derby/ Tapuwae(Rowe Cup), Vodka(Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, first Australasian winner in North America, NZ Hall of Fame). He was dam sire of Logan Count(Dominion Hcp), Master Dean(NZFFA, five classic race mile wins). Logan Derby passed through a number of hands during his siring career - after Smith's death he went to Edgar Kennerley, then Tamahare owner RC Mason stood him for a number of years before being sold to George Youngson at Gore.

Pendant, was a winner in Tasmania including a heat of the 1939 IDs held at Elphin raceway, Launceston and grand dam of High Pendant(left four winners), sire of 16 winners including Sally Alla, Australian Broodmare of Year in 1987 & 1988. She was dam of Rowleyalla($½m, NSW Breeders Plate-2, HSW SS-3, Qld/NSW Derby, Qld Winter Cup, Aust 2YO mile record 1:55.0TT, Aust Mile record 1:52.6TT) and Grand Thor(ID heat). Jean Logan, won the Tasmanian Easter Cup but did not breed on.

Dillon Logan, recorded 11 wins(seven as a four-year-old) in NZ including Hawera/ Dunedin Cups and Oamaru Hcp. Lone Raider(Raider) whose nine wins included the CPTC Winter Cup. Van Logan (Van Derby), a winner in Australia was exported to NZ(1947) to stand at stud being a minor sire leaving 15 winners(four Aust). Other minor winners in Australia included Beaudesert, Speedy Logan and Logan Globe(dam of two winners). Non winning mare Para Belle left 11 foals for three winners.

Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Dec 2014

EDGAR TATLOW

'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 13Jun62

Mr Edgar Tatlow, who came to Christchurch all the way from Epping, Victoria, primarily to see the Canterbury Park Starting Gate in action (and was pleased with what he saw), travelled as far south as Invercargill on this latest of his many visits to NZ. Mr Tatlow's association with trotting goes back nearly 60 years. On most of his trips to NZ he has usually bought a horse, or horses, and he has taken away some gems.

He first took an active interest in the sport when in Tasmania, where he owned, trained and drove his own horses with a good measure of success. Since those early days he has been a keen student of breeding, and his judgement has been proved time and again by his successful record. His memory for pedigrees, performances and people continues to be prodigious.

Among many horses Mr Tatlow raced in Tasmania was Vendome. The Globe Derby mare won a Tasmanian Easter Cup, a major event, and one in which saddle or harness was optional. As a 7-year-old in 1928, Vendome was sold to the late J J Kennerley, and in three seasons racing in NZ she won six races, including the International Handicap at Addington, and gained 11 minor placings for £2055. She returned to Australia at the end of her racing career.

On a 1929 visit to the Dominion, Mr Tatlow, through the agency of H Matson & Co, purchased the broodmare Belle Logan from Mr H W Aker, of New Brighton, for 75gns. Mr Tatlow was the first Australian client to deal through the Matson firm. By Logan Pointer from the Wildwood mare, Curfew Bell, Belle Logan was bred in 1916 by the late Mr W J Morland. She raced in the interest of Mr D Rodgers and won two races as a 4-year-old, after which she became Mr Aker's property. For Mr Rodgers, Belle Logan produced the brilliant Dillon Logan (by John Dillon). Dillon Logan won 11 races for Mr Rodgers, for whom he was trained by W Barron.

Mr Tatlow put Belle Logan to Australia's outstanding sire, Globe Derby, and in 1930 she produced Logan Derby. After being sold by Mr Tatlow to Mr Harry Barnes, of Tasmania, Logan Derby developed brilliant form. He won 60 races, including the Inter-Dominion Championship in 1940. He raced seven times in NZ for three wins, including a free-for-all at Addington, in which he beat such good pacers as Harold Logan, Pot Luck, Parisienne, Supertax, Grand Mogul, Lucky Jack, King's Warrior and Plutus. Not a great success as a sire in Australia, Logan Derby was brought to the Dominion late in life by the late F J Smith, and he left an indelible imprint on standardbred history by siring mighty Johnny Globe, Vodka, Jewel Derby and others. That is why Mr Tatlow takes pride in the deeds of Lordship, a son of Johnny Globe. Mr Tatlow bred other good winners from Belle Logan, including Lone Raider (by Raider), who built up a fine record when trained in NZ for his breeder by the late F J Smith.

Another high-class pacer and sire owned by Mr Tatlow was Van Derby (by Globe Derby from Roselawn). After winning numerous races in Australia, Van Derby came to NZ and notched several major successes against our best horses. In June of the 1938-39 season, he recorded 3.09 3/5 in a trial against time at a matinee meeting held at Addington. This was then a NZ and Australian record.

In 1932 Mr Tatlow paid 37½gns to secure the Logan Pointer-Precision mare, Ayr, at a sale at Tattersalls in Christchurch. Ayr was offered on account of the late Mr H F Nicoll. Mr Tatlow mated Ayr with Globe Derby, and the result was Springfield Globe. Mr Tatlow sold Springfield Globe, as a yearling to the late Mr C J McCarthy, of Junee, New South Wales, and he became a champion pacer in Australia, crowning his career there by winning the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championship at Launceston in 1939. He was a 5-year-old when his owner sent him to Addington to be trained by the late R B Berry, for whom he became a champion, including a free-for-all among his numerous wins. His successes in NZ are well remembered by all those who saw him race. He was a grand specimen.

Springfield Globe became the most successful Colonial-bred sire in Australasia of the last quarter-century, and probably the greatest since Rothschild. He was at the stud in NZ for six seasons, and produced such great pacers as Adorian(NZ Cup), Mobile Globe(NZ Cup), Thelma Globe(4.11, mares world record), Tactician(1.59 4/5, NZ race record), Fortuna, Victory Globe, Mighty Song, Lady Joss, Lady Rowan and Au Revoir.

Besides Springfield Globe, Ayr left eight other first-class winners, including Cloudy Range, Our Globe, Van Ayr and Commotion.

While in the United States in 1954 Mr Tatlow secured two high-class stallions. The first of these, Stanton Hal, is a son of Hal Dale(2.02 1/4) and Ellen Volo(2.10, 2 yrs). Before breaking a sesamoid bone as a 6-year-old, Stanton Hal won 18 races and $66,311, and took a record of 2.01 3/5 on a half mile track in a race. The second stallion is Volo Chief, who took a record of 2.03 in a race on a half-mile track. Volo Chief won 20 races and $32,895. He is by Chief Abbedale, sire of seven performers in 2.00, from Camay, 2.03 3/5(trotting at 3yrs). Camay is also the dam of Cami Colby, 2.03(free-legged at 3yrs), and Volo Colby, 2.04 2/5(trotting at 2yrs). She is by Volomite, 2.03 1/4(sire of 33 in 2.00) from Lady Lux 2.14(full-sister to Margaret Arion, 2.10 1/2, at 3yrs and dam of 3 in 2.07), by Guy Axworthy from Margaret Parrish. Margaret Arion produced Protector(3), 1.59 1/4,The Marchiness(3), 1.59 1/4, His Excellency(3), 1.59 3/4 and Princess Peg(3), 2.00 3/4. Both Stanton Hal and Volo Chief are making the grade as sires in Australia. Last season Stanton Hal was fourth and Volo Chief seventh on the Victorian sires' list.

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One of the best known trotting personalities in Australia and NZ, Mr Edgar Tatlow died at his home, 'Derby Lodge' stud, Epping, Victoria, last week.

Mr Tatlow was Australia's most successful standardbred breeder. Most of the broodmares at his studs in both Tasmania and Victoria were purchased in NZ, many from Southland, and he was a regular visitor to America where he purchased the successful sires Raider, Volo Chief, Stanton Hall and Meadow Vance.

Mr Tatlow had been associated with trotting for over 65 years. In 1927 he purchased the celebrated sire Globe Derby to stand at his newly-established 'Derby Lodge' stud at Hagley, Tasmania. The great foundation mare Belle Logan was purchased by Mr Tatlow from NZ, and when mated to Globe Derby she produced Logan Derby.

In 1932 Mr Tatlow secured the Logan Pointer-Precision mare Ayr for 37½ guineas at Tattersall's sale in Christchurch. Mated with Globe Derby, she produced Springfield Globe. When Globe Derby reached retirement age, Mr Tatlow went to America and selected Raider, a double-gaited two-minute horse who also became Australia's leading sire.

Mr Tatlow was in America in 1954 and secured the two high-class stallions Stanton Hall and Volo Chief, both of whom have been successful sires. His latest purchase, Meadow Vance has been up near the top for the last two seasons.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Mar68

VODKA

Vodka, winner of 11 races in the United States and holder of the NZ winning record for one mile and five furlongs, had to be destroyed recently at Saratoga Springs, USA. In a race there, Vodka suffered a badly shattered pastern.

When first campaigned in America by owner-trainer J S Shaw, Vodka won eight races, finished second twice, third once and fourth once in 17 starts. On the return of Mr Shaw to NZ, Vodka was leased to Earl Nelson, who won three more races with the Logan Derby gelding. Mr Shaw stated to the calendar that Nelson, who had grown very attached to the horse, was very upset over the loss.

Prior to the accident, Vodka had been working exceptionally well and it was thought he would win. Including his NZ winnings, Vodka has won over $34,000. Before being put into training this season in the USA, Vodka was taken to Canada, where it was thought he might not encounter so many difficulties, as that country is under the British flag. However, his career there was stopped before it ever started, as the powers that be refused to register Vodka. The reason given was that Vodka was not a standardbred. No horse is a standardbred over there unless it is completely American-bred. Vodka was registered in America as non-standard-bred.

In one race at Saratoga in which Vodka finished fifth after losing a big stretch of ground at the start, he was timed to trot the last six furlongs on a half-mile track in 1.29 1/5sec.

Vodka was a champion of scintillating brilliance when raced in the Dominion, and he made history when he crossed the Pacific Ocean to race in America. It was a gigantic undertaking and Jack Shaw did not fully realise what he had taken on till he was well on the way. A rough passage on the ship was experienced to start with and on arrival there, Vodka took some time to settle down in the new climate and different surroundings. Change of feed was also no small hurdle to surmount. However, Vodka, in the skilled hands of Shaw, eventually won out, but it was not without a grim struggle. Dollars were short and Vodka and his owner-trainer-driver were almost on their own in a strange land. Jack Shaw had previously been to the States to buy two stallions for two well-known NZ breeders and he was well received on that trip.

Vodka had always been very fast. When he was winning races in the North Island for his first trainer, J K Hughes, he already had amazing speed. He beat horses of all ages as a 3-year-old, winning four races that season. Vodka started out as a pacer - he finished fourth in the Manawatu Futurity Stakes, for 2-year-olds, to Red Slipper, Johnny Globe and Ohio and had several more starts as a pacer that season. Then he took time off from the racetrack while Hughes converted him to the trotting gait. He was an apt pupil.

At his third start as a 3-year-old he was a winner, and he took two more winning tricks in a row. He finished up that season on a tight line for a 3-year-old trotter, line 11, or marks of 3:33 for a mile and a half, 3:52 for a mile and five furlongs and 4:47 for two miles.

He opened his 4-year-old career by winning at his first start and he won two more races for Hughes that season before being sent south to Shaw, in whose colours he has raced since. As a young trotter Vodka had an ungainly action. At the outset he used to hit himself behind. Later he trotted cleanly and he did not touch himself anywhere, as his exceptional speed showed. "It used to take really half a mile before he got trotting," Shaw said. "Due to his early experience as a pacer he got confused at the start of his races and was liable to go away on the pace."

Vodka gradually overcame those disabilities and in his record-breaking winning run at Addington before leaving for America he was at full speed within a furlong; for the next half mile he put up the astonishing time of 58 2/5sec - a 1.56 4/5 mile rate. The 'hop, step and jump' method of locomotion once employed by Vodka in the early part of his races had been practically ironed out of his system by patience and careful study of his feet and shoeing and the improvement in his speed after he conquered his tendency to 'put down three and carry one' was phenomenal. It seemed certain that, given the opportunity, Vodka would have been the first two-minute trotter in NZ.

Mr Hoskings received several substantial offers for Vodka as a 3-year-old, one of £1500, but he would not sell him. J S Shaw asked him one day: "What are you going to do with him?" "When he runs out of the North Island classes I'm going to give him to you and you'll have a trotter who will take Worthy Queen's place, because some day he will be fast enough to break her record and will be the best two-mile trotter in the country as well," declared Mr Hosking.

In one race at Addington Shaw timed him the last mile and a quarter in 2:34 3-5, the last half mile in 1:00 4-5. On several occasions, after breaking at the start, he trotted the last mile and a half in 3:06 4/5 and 3:09, and on one notable occasion a middle mile in 2.00 2/5.

It is of interest to note that Vodka's pedigree was predominantly pacing. Both his sire, Logan Derby, and dam Cyone Girl, were pacers, and so were all four of his grand-parents, Globe Derby and Belle Logan (sire and dam of Logan Derby), and Tsana and Cyone (sire and dam of Cyone Girl). All too, were winners of the pacing gait. Vodka carried no fewer than three strains of the blood of Logan Pointer, a famous American-bred pacing sire who left very few trotters, although one of those was a champion in Trampfast. Vodka was by Logan Derby, a champion pacer by Globe Derby from Belle Logan, by Logan Pointer, and Vodka's dam, Cyone Girl, was got by Tsana, a little-known sire by another famous pacing sire in Jack Potts (who left only one trotting winner, Implacable), from Abyssinia, by Logan Pointer. Cyone Girl's dam Cyone, was also by Logan Pointer.

Cyone was out of Mavis Bingen, by Huia Dillon (Harold Dillon, imp-Grattanette, imp) from Belle Bingen(imp) by Bingen (famous American sire), from Bertha Belle(imp), the dam of champion pacers Great Bingen and Peter Bingen, and several other good winners, including the trotter Worthy Bingen, the sire of Worthy Queen, whose mile trotting record of 2.03 3/5 has now stood since 1934. Shaw trained and drove Worthy Queen.

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'Irvington' writing in the NZ Trotting Calendar 1956

Vodka returned one of the finest exhibitions of trotting ever seen at Addington when he won the Holmes Handicap from the long mark of 102 yards and set a new world's winning record for one mile and five furlongs, lowering his own record by one second. He trotted one of his half-miles in 58.4 secs, probably the fastest for a trotter ever recorded in the Dominion.

Vodka began safely, and it was apparent passing the stands with a round to go that he had more than an average chance of winning. The crowd was quick to recognise this fact and he was given a good hand as he approached the showgrounds bend. The Logan Derby trotter moved forward at the three furlongs, and when the field straightened up for the run to the post he soon gathered up the leaders to win by a length and a half. The merit of his performance was fully appreciated by the crowd, who gave him and his driver, J S Shaw, a wonderful ovation on their return to the birdcage.

This was Vodka's final race appearance in New Zealand before leaving for America.

Postscript:
Vodka and Jack Shaw made light-harness history when they left for the United States at the end of February 1956, for this was the first occasion that a standardbred had been taken fron New Zealand to be raced in America.

Dave Cannan, in his book Unhoppled Heroes, notes that "There were no overnight flights to the states in those days. For Vodka and Shaw it was a 4000-mile sea voyage which lasted nearly five weeks and proved very arduous for both horse and owner."

Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 17Sep583