The New South Wales Trotting Club (NSWTC) held a very successful championship under lights at Harold Park in February 1952 (Grand Final 1 March) racing on an all-weather surface, being the eleventh edition (Sydney’s first) of the Pacers Championships. In 1966 (Sydney’s fourth Pacers Championships), an ID trotter’s series was held at Sydney in conjunction with the pacers series.
Over the four nights 116,000 patrons attended with a Grand Finals night record Harold Park crowd of 38,090 patrons. Sydney had declined the opportunity to run the 1940 Interdominions (Perth hosted) as it was considered the likelihood of financial success or break even was remote, the poor state of the facilities and the club determining they needed night trotting to make the championship viable. With lights installed in 1949, NSW were in a position to stage its first championship series which coincided with their celebrations for 50th anniversary of the formation of NSWTC (1902 – 1952). Leger and additional tote facilities had been added, during ID carnivals the centre car park was fenced to allow patron’s access to bookmakers and portable totes which were installed.
Harold Park (Glebe, inner city Sydney suburb) had a lengthy history even leading up to the 1952 Interdominions – it included :
- 1 January 1890 : first meeting conducted at Lillie Bridge circuit which measured a quarter mile (two furlongs) plus thirty yards. This was a pony track laid outside four 150 yard athletic sprint lanes
- 6 February 1890 : first pony trotting race held under electric light
- 25 December 1899 : attendance reported as 5,000, opening meeting on track converted to five and half furlongs (reduced to four and half furlongs in 1904) and the course renamed Forest Lodge; Pony races only held on 18 December 1899 with the first combined pony and trotting races held 27 February 1900
- 19 November 1902 : course renamed Epping and first meeting held under auspices of NSWTC
- 21 March 1929 : track name changed to Harold Park
- 19 December 1948 : last day meeting held at Harold Park
- 1 October 1949 : first night meeting held under auspices of NSWTC, 810 yds track
- 1952 championship, track diagram in official programme shown as being 807¾yds in circumference. This was extended to four furlongs in 1996
The Pacers Championships were determined over three heats of ten (1¼m), eleven and three quarter furlongs and fifteen and half furlongs, with the Grand Final being run over 13 furlongs for a prize of £10,000 and a gold cup valued at £300. Two consolations were run over thirteen furlongs for £1,250 (heats £1,000). The ID heats were run in February on Tuesday 19th, Saturday 23rd and Tuesday 26th with the Grand Final on Saturday 1 March. A total of £30,300 (£21,800 for ID races) in stakes were distributed during the championship. Qualifying points were awarded on a four, two, one basis for first, second and third with three points for the fastest time of the first five finishers in each heat. Maximum handicaps were declared of 36 yds for the first two night’s heats and 48yds for the third round and Grand Final. The winner of the Grand Final automatically became the Grand Champion.
New Zealand representatives were Indian Game, Ada Scott, Congo Song, Our Smith, Single Direct (Laureldale broke down arrival in Sydney and was withdrawn from series).
Many of the ID starters were war time foals e.g. Jack Hope (1939), winner of fifteen races at Harold Park including 1952 heat/fourth final after placing sixth in 1950 Melbourne Grand Final; Recovered (1942), FFA class pacer who won two Sydney heats and placed second in Grand Final; Avian Derby (1944), winner of two Sydney heats and Grand Final.
However before the series had commenced, controversy reigned due to a spat between the handicapper Bert Creagh and the connections of Avian Derby. Handicapped off 24 yds, connections threatened not to attend the carnival by scratching Avian Derby from the competition. Sanity prevailed and Avian Derby took his place in the championship with connections adamant that he would win off 24 yds.
In a lead up FFA to the championship Avian Derby’s trainer/driver Sylvester Bray had been suspended by NSWTC stewards for three months for severe interference to local First Again. Bray’s appeal against his suspension was dismissed and replacement driver Melbourne based (Dave) Darkie (GD) Wilson took the drive in the championship but further controversies concerning Avian Derby were to occur.
This series was also a great social success, in particular, the Interdominion Ball and the Garden Party for 1,500 invited guests which was held in the middle of Harold Park on Grand Final night.
Tuesday 19 February, 10 furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : first round of heats (101st night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
An opening night crowd of 35,555 witnessed Lord Mayor Alderman, Erne O’Dea officially opening the championship proceedings.
Heat One – RECOVERED, tr/dr Frank Peterson, 2:43.2/2:10.6, Lt; Bruce Hall (dr Harold Mazoudier) 2nd; Tennessee Sky (dr Lyle Wallace) 3rd
In what was Frank Peterson’s second ever winning drive, NSW stallion Recovered opened ID proceedings with a three quarter length victory over NZ bred but Sydney owned Bruce Hall (owner AW Cooper). Bruce Hall was well performed at Harold Park but failed to make the Grand Final field. Tennessee Sky was third a further length in arrears.
Heat Two – AVIAN DERBY, tr Syl Bray/dr (Dave) Darkie Wilson, 2:39.6/2:07.6, 24 yds; Floodlight (dr Don Cornish) 2nd; Herald (dr Jim Caffyn) 3rd
In the fastest heat of the night, series favourite Avian Derby made the lead from his 24yds handicap with hardly a furlong run. The Victorian had a length to spare over Tasmanian Floodlight with a head back to Herald. His mile rating of 2:07.6 took 0.2 seconds off the previous Harold Park mile rate record held by Jacky Guy. Both Avian Derby and Retac (winner of final event on the programme) were subjected to swabbing (both negative results). Two winners were swabbed each night, the races involved being drawn by ballot prior to the start of each night’s meeting. Avian Derby was having his first start at Harold Park since his 1949 Qualifying Stakes win.
Heat Three – DAWN VOLO, tr/dr Geddes Luck, 2:42.6/2:10.0, Lt; Indian Game (dr Edgar Kennerley) 2nd; Real Lawn (dr Bill [FW] Wilkins) 3rd
Tasmanian mare Dawn Volo winner of the evening’s final heat in the slowest winning time, three seconds slower than that of Avian Derby, finishing one and half lengths clear of New Zealander Indian Game with a further 1½l back to Real Lawn.
Saturday 23 February, 11¾ furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : second round of heats (102nd night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
Heat Four – INDIAN GAME, tr Fred Cutts/dr Edgar Kennerley, 3:12.1/2:10.8, Lt; Dawn Volo (dr Geddes Luck) 2nd; Bruce Hall (dr Harold Mazoudier) 3rd
Going one better than on opening night, a New Zealand victory was recorded in the first heat of the second night when Indian Game (half-brother by Indianapolis to 1951 Christchurch Trotters Grand Final champion Gay Belwin), prevailed for Edgar Kennerley by a half head over Dawn Volo with Bruce Hall third only a neck away.
Heat Five – RECOVERED, tr/dr Frank Peterson, 3:08.8/2:08.6, Lt; Real Lawn (dr Bill Wilkins) 2nd; Tennessee Sky (dr Lyle Wallace) 3rd
Recovered became the first of two dual heat winners when he completed his double defeating Real Lawn by three quarters of a length with Tennessee Sky again third a length behind.
Heat Six – AVIAN DERBY, tr Syl Bray/dr Darkie Wilson, 3:06.8/2:07.2, 24 yds; Floodlight (dr Don Cornish) 2nd; Court Lady (Alan Thompson) 3rd
Avian Derby broke his Harold Park mile rate record by a further 0.4 seconds in winning the final heat on the second night. His two length victory again over Floodlight came after his driver Darkie Wilson had sent him around the field in the opening lap to sit parked outside leader New Zealander Ada Scott. He raced clear at the Leger to record his second heat win over Floodlight with Court Lady another length in arrears.
Tuesday 26 February, 15½ furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : third round of heats (103rd night trotting meeting at Harold Park)
Avian Derby having won his first two heats was scratched from his third night heat when around 6.30pm stewards received a vet certificate noting a mild dose of colic. The New South Wales Trotting Club stewards ordered two veterinary surgeons to examine Victorian champion Avian Derby. The club’s Veterinary Surgeon Mr. L. A. Monk, Stipendiary Stewards Mr. J. Marx and Mr. V. E. H. Davis went to the Canterbury’ stables of trainer, Syl Bray and with club vet Harry Armstrong examined the horse. They reported the horse’s condition as uncertain but allowed the scratching to stand. The series rules required horses to contest all qualifying heats to be eligible for the final unless otherwise approved by the stewards.
Bray advised that Avian Derby was running a temperature when he came off the track after a trial earlier in the day and refused to eat on his return to the stables. A veterinary surgeon diagnosed the trouble as being colic and after Avian Derby was given a needle he later showed improvement. Bray acknowledged that the horse might .have been well enough to race but the veterinary surgeon advised against starting the horse who had already easily qualified for the Grand Final.
Heat Seven – PICK ON, tr/dr Perc Hall, 4:15.2/2:11.8, Lt; Retinue (dr Goran Kelly) 2nd; Globe Raider (dr E McDonald) 3rd
Pick On, won this night’s first heat being handily placed and never further back than third throughout. Going to the front two furlongs from home and winning by a length from Retinue with a further length back to the fast finishing Globe Raider. Fastest time for the race went to Tennessee Sky at 2.11.6.
Heat Eight – JACK HOPE, tr/dr Jack Lewis, 4:09.0/2:08.6, 24 yds; Yankiwi (dr Bill [W] Picken) 2nd; Court Lady (dr Alan Thompson) 3rd
Jack Hope, a son of NZ bred Great Hope (winner of GN/NZ Derbies, NZ Cup and 1925 Australasian Championship) had a length and a half to spare over Yankiwi with Court Lady a neck back third, just missing out on a place in the Grand Final.
Heat Nine – MINOR DERBY, tr/dr Frank Smith, 4:07.4/2:07.8, Lt; Recovered (dr Frank Petersen) 2nd; Floodlight (dr Don Cornish) 3rd
The smart South Australian pacer Minor Derby finally fulfilled his potential by winning the final heat of the 1952 Sydney’s ID’s by one and a half lengths from Recovered with another length to Floodlight. The time recorded established a new track record for 15½ furlongs. This was Minor Derby’s forty first win of his career total of 45.
Final points after qualifying heats : Avian Derby (Vic) 14; Recovered (NSW) 10; Dawn Volo (TAS)/Indian Game (NZ) 9; Jack Hope (NSW) 7; Floodlight (TAS)/Real Lawn (NSW) 6; Minor Derby (SA) 5½; Tennessee Sky (NSW) 5; Pick On (NSW) 4. Four Australian states and New Zealand were represented by the finalists.
Avian Derby despite only competing in two of the three rounds of heats was easily leading point’s scorer and clear favourite for the Grand Final which was raced before a crowd of 38,090.
.Saturday 1 March – PACERS GRAND FINAL, 13 furlongsSS £10,000 ($20,000) plus £300 gold cup ($600); 104th night trotting meeting at Harold Park
AVIAN DERBY (1944 Lawn Derby/Avian Lass entire, family of Avian Lass (A612), owner Fred (FT) Hanlon, trainer Syl Bray/driver Darkie Wilson, 24 yds, 3:26.2/2:06.8, 1l, 1l, 6/4 in betting [2:00.0TT]
Recovered, tr/dr Frank Peterson, Lt, 2nd (15/1)
Floodlight, tr/dr Don Cornish, 12 yds, 3rd (8/1)
(also in finishing order) : Jack Hope, Real Lawn, Tennessee Sky, Pick On, Dawn Volo, Indian Game, Minor Derby
Avian Derby shared the back mark of 24yds with Jack Hope and after being checked on several occasions in running became pocketed on the fence in seventh position until the bell lap. In the Leger straight with 600 yards to travel, the outer wheel of his race cart jumped the stay of Floodlights locking on the metal frame. For fifty yards Avian Derby’s cart travelled on one wheel before decoupling.
Dawn Volo made the pace before handing over to Recovered at the Leger. With two furlongs to run Minor Derby broke losing all chance and caused the field to open up to avoid interference. This enabled Darkie Wilson to extricate Avian Derby from the rails and be positioned third on the home turn.
Recovered was still going well but Avian Derby’s flying finish enabled him to pass the post first by a clear length with the same margin back to Floodlight with Jack Hope next best. Avian Derby again broke the Harold Park track record with his mile rate of 2:06.8 – three starts over the carnival each improving the track record. His win compensated for the defeat of his sire Lawn Derby in the 1937 Grand Final (Adelaide).
Recovered raced in six ID series making the final on four occasions, being runner up twice (1952 Sydney, 1954) and fourth in Perth 1953, (winner of a heat). Third placed Floodlight was the winner of thirty six races (Hunter Cup) covering all states except Queensland. He contested three ID’s, finishing seventh in Perth 1953 and fifth in Adelaide 1954, winning a heat.
Following the Interdominions, Victorian owned Avian Derby returned to the Melbourne Showgrounds and broke Single Direct’s Australasian record of 2:01.2 set at Perth in 1951 reducing it to 2:01.0TT on 15 March 1952. A month later he time trialled in two minutes even, the first two minute mile ever run in Australia (Harold Park 16 April 1952) assisted by a galloping pacemaker ridden by Mr C Perry.
Consolations : 13fursSS, £1,250 ($2,500)
COURT LADY, tr/dr Alan (AJ) Thompson, 3:29.4/2:09.0, Lt; Herald (dr Jim Caffyn) 2nd; Retinue (dr Goran Kelly) 3rd
Court Lady led practically all the way to win by two lengths from Herald (8/1).with Retinue (5/2) two lengths away, third.
BRUCE HALL, tr/dr Harold Mazoudier, 3:35.4/2:12.6, Lt; Globe Raider (dr Ewen McDonald) 2nd; Kerry Lawn (dr Perc Hall) 3rd
A particularly good performer at Harold Park, Bruce Hall’s victory in the second of the Consolations was one of his eighteen at this venue. Both consolation winners were bred in New Zealand.
At the time of the Interdominions in Sydney, Avian Derby was a seven year old, by the Southern Hemisphere’s first two minute horse Lawn Derby (1:59.4TT at Addington on 11 November 1938), bred by FM Cranney, Cowra and registered in NSW as was his legendary grand sire Logan Derby.
Lawn Derby (1930, Robert Derby/Roselawn, 1:59.4TT), bred at Cowra. He was a descendent of Childe Harolde (both paternal and maternal sides) after whom Harold Park was named. Racing from three to nine years, Lawn Derby won thirty one races including NSW Derby, TAS Easter Cup, Auckland Presidents Hcp and an Adelaide ID heat. Apart from his sub two minute time trial at Addington, he set an Australian record of 2:02.0TT at Harold Park on 5 February 1940. He won cups and handicap races off long marks such as 96, 108 and 120 yards. Lawn Derby was a free legged pacer racing without a head check, hopples or boots.
Siring over 270 winners including Interdominion Pacing winner Avian Derby, Ribands (1:58.7TT at Harold Park in 1954, ID heats, Hunter Cup, sire), ID heat winners Andi, Belgrave (NSW Derby), Claude Derby, Set Point and winners of NSW Derby Johnnie Lawn, Miss Lawnham (mare), Peak Hill (sire of Silver Peak). Lawn Derby’s broodmare credits included dual ID heat winner Red Adios and September Flight (SA Derby).
Avian Derby was inducted into the Victorian Hall of Fame in 2011.
Avian Derby’s dam was the short bred unraced Joe Avian mare Avian Lass from Daisy Bell (A612) by Hawkesbury. Bred by D Ewers of Gulargambobe, NSW, she left eight foals, all six that raced were winners. They were Avian Derby, Joys Lawn (2:15.0, dam of four winners), Bandons Girl (2:12.8), Avian Lawn (2:14.8, sire), Avians Fling (2:08.2, sire; broodmare sire of Good Lookin Byrd, VIC SS – 3f) and Avian Again (2:04.5TT at Echuca, 13 November 1954), winner of fourteen races in succession, Ararat/Echuca/Autumn Cups; sire of over fifty winners including Angelique (VIC Oaks, SA Cup, two ID heats; dam of Gallagher, Ballarat/Bendigo/Cranbourne Cups), Maria Vassallo (VIC/SA Oaks); leading broodmare sire of trotters (stakes – 1984), Amazon (1:57.7TT, Aust Trotting Championship), Annastere (VIC Derby/Oaks), Gallagher (see above), Taronga (Kilmore/Bendigo/Ararat Cups).
The family of Avian Lass’s (A612) only credits are Avian Derby and Avian Again.
Avian Derby commenced racing as a three year old from Cowra owner master baker F Lynch’s stable, he dabbled with a few trotting mares breeding his own stock. Syl Bray initially saw Avian Derby when raced against his mare Gwendella at the Cootamundra Show (NSW) in 1948. Avian Derby gave Bray’s mare a 24yd start winning easily. Bray approached Lynch to see if Avian Derby was for sale and on commission for a Victorian sportsman after the purchase spelled him at his Temora base.
Bray’s wife took up ownership of Avian Derby racing him in her maiden name of Miss J Harvey. Raced twice at Woodend in early 1949, Avian Derby won on the first occasion at 4/1 but was beaten when 6/4 on by Main Spring in his second race for the Bray’s. Disappointed with this second run, the Bray’s decided to dispense with the ownership and he was purchased by A Bell of Morang winning the majority of his races in Bell’s colours including an ID heat in Melbourne in 1950 and AG Hunter Cup in 1951.
After the Hunter Cup victory he was sold to VRC and TCB registered bookmaker Fred Hanlon under whose ownership he remained for racing and stud career purposes. Having won twenty three of his last twenty eight starts for trainer/driver Bray, the last thirteen in succession when taking out the Pacers Grand Final. Avian Derby won further races at Wayville, Christmas/ANA Cups included prior to retirement and stud duties. Earlier races won included Terang/Miss Victoria Cups and FFA’s at Melbourne Showgrounds and Wayville.
At stud, Avian Derby proved moderately successful producing over fifty winners, a small number making the 2:10 winners list. Among these winners were servings made during light stud duties in 1949 when from his five progeny, Feature Point and Avians Best were both first start winners. His major successes were Tasmanian Commerical Lad (2:10.4), winner at three of Hobart Derby, Tasmanian Guineas and a heat of Victoria Derby, as an aged horse Tasmanian Easter Plate, Danbury Park/Carrick Cups and FFA’s at Hobart/Launceston and as a broodmare sire useful Tasmanian youngster Tripper (2:02.0, $18,555, Tasmanian Guineas).
Peter Craig
24 November 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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