The New South Wales Trotting Club (NSWTC) held their second championships under lights at Harold Park in February 1956 (Grand Final 5 March). This was the fifteenth edition (Sydney’s second) of the Pacers Championships. It wasn’t until 1966 (Sydney’s fourth Pacers Championships) that an ID trotter’s series was held in conjunction with the pacers series at Sydney.
The championships which were due to start 11 February subject to a number of postponements brought about by cyclonic weather conditions bringing persistent rain. In total there were four postponements with flooding caused by heavy rains to the centre of the course. This extended the championships by an extra nine days with the Grand Final being held on a Monday evening. Total crowd numbers of 110,708 over the four nights of racing were only 5,000 less than 1952’s record which were held in perfect weather conditions. A crowd of 34,020 brave souls attended the Grand Finals evening, the numbers being second only to the 1952 Grand Final, no doubt thankful for the considerable sums of money that had been spent on improvements to the Glebe circuit.
The Pacers Championships were determined over three heats of eleven and three quarter furlongs, fifteen and half furlongs and thirteen furlongs with the Grand Final being over 13½ furlongs for a prize of £12,500 and a gold cup valued at £500. Two consolations were run over thirteen and a half furlongs (£1,250) with heats worth £1,000. The ID heats were run in February on Wednesday 15th, Saturday 25th and Tuesday 28th and the Grand Final on Monday 5 March, a total of £36,500 in stakes being distributed during the championships. Qualifying points were awarded on a four, two, one basis for first, second and third respectively with three points for the fastest time of the first five finishers. The winner of the Grand Final automatically became the Grand Champion. New Zealand representatives were Caduceus (in his second series of six; winner at Sydney in 1960), Thelma Globe, General Grattan, Our Roger, Moss Hall, Recent Choice, Highland Flirt, Laureldale, Vedette.
Head numbers usually used throughout USA and at Addington years earlier were used for the first time in Australia during the ID carnival with divided opinions.
Wednesday 15 February, 11¾ furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : first round of heats
Opening night set down for Saturday 11 February was postponed due to rain until Wednesday 15 February.
Heat One – GENTLEMAN JOHN, tr/dr Eric Rothacker, 3:10.4/2:09.6, Lt; Hedonist (dr Jack Roberts) 2nd; Heather Brigade (dr Leo Keys) 3rd
Victorian visitor Gentleman John (20/1) won the opening heat of the championships by 1½l after leading all the way to down Hedonist and Heather Brigade (NZ bred from Sapling Stakes winner Frisco Lady) with favourite Mineral Spring (fifth) and Kiwi challenger Caduceus (eighth) being forced wide in the running.
According to the Sydney Telegraph, Gentleman John used a set of light weight wheels made of aluminium. They were designed by former champion bike rider “Bombo” Fairbairn. Each wheel weighed 3¾lbs, half the weight of the then standard wheel.
Heat Two – SPRINGFIELD GUY, tr Syl Bray/dr Arthur Sindel, 3:10.4/2:09.6, 12 yds; Sparkling Max (dr GD (Darkie) Wilson) 2nd; First Variety (dr Les Blackwell) 3rd
NSW local and son of Springfield Globe, Springfield Guy won the second heat in an identical mile rate and winning distance to that of Gentleman John in the first heat (1½l, 2:09.6). He also led all the way in winning from Sparkling Max with a head back to First Variety (NZ bred winner of NSW Derby and later sire of 1968 Auckland ID Pacer Grand Final winner First Lee).
Heat Three – BLUE GAMBLE, tr/dr Arch Egan, 3:09.0/2:08.6, 12 yds; Van Hall (dr Perc Hall) 2nd; Dainty Rose (dr Bob Parker) 3rd
In what was the fastest heat of the evening (2:08.6), NZ bred but locally (NSW) raced nine year old Blue Gamble (8/1) started off twelve yards to score comfortably from favourite Van Hall (7/4) and Dainty Rose (33/1). He ran clear of the field commencing the final lap. Thelma Globe placed fourth from her back mark of 36 yds pacing the fastest mile rate of 2:08.2.
Saturday 25 February (postponed from Saturday 18 and Wednesday 22 February), 15½ furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : second round of heats
The second night of heats suffered two postponements due to the continual rain, finally being run on what was meant to be Grand Final night.
Heat Four – BLUE GAMBLE, tr/dr Arch Egan, 4:16.2/2:12.2, 24 yds; Esquire (dr Syl Bray) 2nd; Andi (dr Ron Ryan) 3rd
Blue Gamble made it a double of heat wins taking out the first of the second nights heats. Starting from 24yds behind in the longest heat of the series, Blue Gamble moved from mid-field into the lead turning for home after coming well back in the field to easily defeat Esquire, Andi and former New Zealander Brucus. He received maximum points for his heat win by recording the fastest time.
Heat Five – THELMA GLOBE, tr/dr Jack Pringle, 4:13.0/2:10.6, 36 yds; Young Wexford (dr Sutton McMillan) 2nd; Van Hall (dr Perc Hall) 3rd
New Zealand raider Thelma Globe, a daughter of Springfield Globe, proved her earlier Auckland Cup win over two miles a good guide when she recorded the fastest time over 15½ furlongs (2:10.6) taking maximum points of four for the win and three for fastest time. Off the back mark of 36 yards, a Jack Pringle “special” saw her home after being placed eleventh at the bell and into the back straight for the final time, winning by a length and a half over Young Wexford and Dainty Rose. She swept around the field to be third into the home straight recording the events fastest time. Young Wexford had come from the rear taking second ahead of warm favourite Van Hall.
Heat Six – MINERAL SPRING, tr/dr Merv Adams, 4:14.2/2:11.2, 12 yds; Caduceus (dr Jack Watts) 2nd; Frosty Nelson (dr Fred Hough) 3rd
Mineral Spring won the final heat of the second night after starting off 12 yds and being prominent throughout defeating Caduceus by one and a half lengths with Frosty Nelson in third place. Caduceus was wide throughout off his back mark of 36 yds, fourth at the turn putting up the best performance and recording the fastest mile rate of the evening (2:10.4).
Tuesday 28 February, 13 furlongsSS, £1,000 ($2,000) : third round of heats
Heat Seven – ACTIVE AYR, tr/dr Bon Farrell, 3:28.8/2:08.6, 12yds; Frosty Nelson (dr Fred Hough) 2nd; Caduceus (dr Jack Watts) 3rd
The grey entire Active Ayr (Van Ayr/Rose Royal), known as “Grey Ghost” and an idol of the Harold Park crowds won the opening heat of the third round of heats trailing pace maker Frosty Nelson early before taking the lead for the final two laps winning by a half-length. Caduceus finished a neck third after running on from tenth at the bell, his mile rating of 2:07.4 was the fastest of the night. Caduceus was handled throughout the carnival (except first night) by local horseman Jack Watts after trainer/driver Jack Litten returned to NZ on news that his daughter was ill.
This race was considered one of the roughest ever seen at Harold Park – at the start First Variety and James Dillon broke. James Dillon ran only a few strides and fell in a tangled heap. Horses and drivers had to go wide to avoid him over the next two laps. Approaching the final lap five horses were involved in a scrimmage partially due to James Dillon laying prone on the track. Esquire suddenly faltered, his cart smashing under him. Gentleman John finished the race dragging his smashed cart. Together with South Australian Illawarra Wrack, Gentleman John suffered interference on three occasions during the race.
Heat Eight – PARA STEP, tr Harold Bambridge/dr Ken Bambridge, 3:35.2/2:12.4, Lt; General Grattan (dr Bert Alley) 2nd; Brucus (dr Bill Picken) 3rd
South Australian Para Step saluted the judge at the juicy odds of 200/1 in the second heat, driven by part owner Army sergeant Ken Bambridge. After being handy he took the lead into the home straight wining by ¾l from General Grattan, Brucus and Blue Gamble. Mineral Spring raced with a flat tyre from the second lap plus suffered interference on the home turn eventually finishing sixth. Mineral Spring was to set the first mobile start record (2:01.2) at Harold Park (2 November 1956).
Heat Nine – SET POINT, tr/dr Mick Bottles, 3:32.0/2:10.4, 12yds; Master Barry (dr Jack Stamford) 2nd; Andi (dr Ron Ryan) 3rd
Four year old NSW pacer Set Point’s win in the third heat took him to the Grand Final field as Para Step and Active Ayr (all four points) had done earlier in the evening. Another son of Lawn Derby, he enjoyed the perfect run to win from Master Barry, Andi and Avondale.
Whilst twenty two horses scored points during the series of heats, the ten that made the final were : Blue Gamble (12½), Thelma Globe (10), Caduceus (9), Springfield Guy (7), Andi (5), Mineral Spring, Gentleman John, Active Ayr, Para Step, Set Point(4).
Gentleman John was one of five horses scoring four points that made the Grand Final field. Of the ten starters, only Para Step started off the front line, five off 12 yds, two off 24 yds and off 36 yds were the New Zealand pair of backmarkers Caduceus and Thelma Globe. Eight of the ten finalists were descendants of Globe Derby – Springfield Globe represented by : Springfield Guy, Mineral Spring, Thelma Globe; Van Ayr : Active Ayr; One Step : Para Step; Lawn Derby : Andi, Set Point; New Derby : Gentleman John with only Caduceus (U Scott) and Blue Gamble (Gamble/Jack Potts) not being Globe Derby descendants. Apart from Blue Gamble winning two heats, all other heats/final were won by Globe Derby line horses
Monday 5 March (postponed from Friday 2 March) – PACERS GRAND FINAL, 13½ furlongsSS £12,500 ($25,000) plus £500 gold cup
GENTLEMAN JOHN (1948 New Derby/Park Pool gelding, family of Dutch Girl (A35), owner/trainer/driver Eric Rothacker, 12 yds, 3:37.4/2:08.8, hd, 1¼l, 15/1 in betting [2:08.8]
Mineral Spring, tr/dr Merv Adams, 12 yds, 2nd
Caduceus, tr/dr Jack Watts, 36 yds, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Para Step, Blue Gamble, Springfield Guy, Set Point, Andi, Thelma Globe, Active Ayr
Springfield Guy was driven hard for the lead after Active Ayr and Thelma Globe had broken badly at the start. Meanwhile Gentleman John was given a patient drive settling into third position on the fence not far from the leaders. Whilst Springfield Guy led at the bell, challenges a plenty came during the final lap. Blue Gamble and Caduceus made their bids wide from well back, Mineral Spring positioned fourth or fifth throughout made his move for the lead halfway up the back straight for driver Merv Adams.
Turning for home, Mineral Spring was well clear and at the half furlong appeared the likely winner. Gentleman John had improved his position turning for home setting out after Mineral Spring (backed to win £10,000 with bookmakers). With the leader shortening stride, Gentleman John got up late to beat Mineral Spring by a head in a thrilling photo finish. Caduceus finished a further 1¼l back after having only two behind him starting the bell lap. Four wide rounding the home turn, Caduceus recorded the fastest time of 2:07.8. This was Gentleman John’s twenty fourth race day victory in the hands of 26yo Eric Rothacker, then youngest driver of an ID winner.
Eric Rothacker was given Gentleman John as a yearling foal by his father Vic who wanted him to take an interest in trotting. The Rothacker’s were a well-known Victorian trotting family with Eric’s father Vic, uncle Bill Rothacker and cousin Gordon making their marks in Australian harness racing. Eric remained associated with Gentleman John throughout his entire career, having him in work for only twelve weeks at his property located 120 miles from Melbourne prior to the Interdominions.
Winning the opening heat of the championships, Gentleman John placed fifth in both his second and third heats prior to the Grand Final, achieving his best mile rate in the Grand Final with the win taking his earnings to £19,000.
Consolations : 13½fursSS, £1,250 ($2,500)
GENERAL GRATTAN, tr Fred Smith/dr Bert Alley, 3:34.4/2:12.0, 12yds; Finleys Air (dr Colin Daley) 2nd; Esquire (dr Syl Bray) 3rd
The nine year old New Zealand entire, a son of 1941 NZ Cup winner Josedale Grattan, General Grattan settled sixth before being third into line maintaining a good run to win by a length and a half from Finleys Air with a neck back to Esquire, Lulin and Recovered at his sixth Interdominions (1950 – 1954, 1956).
SALOON BAR, tr/dr Mick Xuerub, 3:29.8/2:09.2, Lt; Silver Hero (dr Jack Binskin) 2nd; Brucus (dr Bill Picken) 3rd
NSW entire Saloon Bar, by Fire Bar a son of 1945 NZ Cup winner Gold Bar, led all the way, often out by four to five lengths before winning by two lengths from Silver Halo with three quarters length to Brucus and Heather Brigade in fourth position.
Gentleman John was by New Derby, a son of Globe Derby from NZ Greta (sister of Attwood), a daughter of breeder J Cow of Ashburton’s Prince Imperial mare by Wildwood Junior. New Derby was acquired as a foal at foot by Mr LJ King, Quambrook, part of a package deal for 80 guineas and given to farmer Charlie Robertson to train.
New Derby, though farm trained, was one of Globe Derby’s fastest sons (2:02.5TT in an exhibition at Gloucester Park, 19 February 1936; Evicus 2:03.0TT same night). In 1933 he set a track record at Ascot of 3:20 for 1½m winning a £500 handicap; later winning two heats at the inaugural Interdominion Championships held in Perth (1936) including establishing a new Australian two mile record of 4:24.0. Proving a very successful son of Globe Derby at stud (sire of 161 winners including Gentleman John and Main Derby, 1939 Launceston/1940 Perth (2) ID heat winner; dam sire of leading NZ Trotter Dictation and Rising Flood, ID Pacing consolation winner).
Gentleman John’s dam was 1933 Globepool mare Park Pool from Polly Peanuts, an Australian bred mare from Owyhee Lass (A35 Dutch Girl). Park Pool (2:17.6, heat of 1926 Australasian Championship in Perth), bred by JT Parkes, Coma, NSW, left eleven foals for ten winners. Her foals were bred by Vic (VJ) Rothacker, Serpentine, Victoria, Eric Rothacker’s father.
Sire Globepool (1918 Globe Derby/Whirlpool), 2:12.0, bred by Mrs M Dennis, Adelong, NSW, was the winner of five NSW Flying (two Epping, three Harold Park), Australian Trot Hcp (Victoria Park), Epping Hcp and two Australian Flying races at Victoria Park, standing at stud in both NSW and Victoria, died in 1940. Globepool was sire of twenty five pacers and broodmare sire of eleven winners including :
- Parksure (VIC Trotters Derby; bred on, third dam of VIC Trotters Oaks winner Shady Park)
- descendants from Park Pool included :
- Gentleman John
- Amazing Pool (two SA Trotters Cups)
- Supreme Report (VIC Italian Cup)
- Main Pool (dam of Bendigo Cup winner Raiarmagh Pool)
- Olympic Pool (dam of six winners including Olympic Medal, dam of four winners including Trinket (25 wins, T2:07.0, $117,869, Shepparton [twice] Trotters Cup, heat AUST Trotters Championship; dam of Ornamental Jewel [dam of False Gem – VIC Central Trotting Championship, Lightfoot Laurels, dam of Shetland T1:57.6], Diamond Drop [dam of Drop of Gin, $146,564], Gewgaw [Connelly Crystal Bucket]); Sure Victor (Warragul Derby/Guineas, Woodend Derby/Sires Produce)
Grand dam Polly Peanuts (192- Directway/Owyhee Lass), unraced mare bred by Vic Rothacker, Victoria, dam of three foals :
- Lucky Flossie (Royal Mac filly), 2:24.8, dam of one foal
- Park Pool (as above)
- Winsome Mac (Baby Mac filly), unraced, dam of two foals including Open Fire, 2:20.6, grand dam of Rockin Butler, 2:09,1. $8,305, NSW Inter City Pace
Third dam Owyhee Lass (1917 by Owyhee Chief), 2:15.5, winner of FFA at Western Australian Cricket Ground, dam of Polly Peanuts (see above) and Owyhee Dixie, 2:11¼, WA Stratton Cup, heat WA Cup, successful sire.
Fourth dam Dutch Girl, unraced, two foals bred by A McLellan, Derrinal, Victoria in Owyhee Lass and Dutch Siam.
Both Gentleman John’s sire (New Derby) and broodmare sire (Globepool) were by Globe Derby – a product of successful inbreeding (2×3 to Globe Derby). The winner of a Hunter Cup, three VIC Globe Derby Championships, three Melbourne Showground FFA’s, Horsham Easter Cup FFA and Wimmera FFA at the first night trotting meeting in Horsham (6 January 1954; Minor Derby was third). Gentleman John’s major victory was achieved at the 1956 Sydney Interdominions as a seven year old gelding. Gentleman John was inducted into the Victorian Hall of Fame in 2018.
Peter Craig
1 December 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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