This is the third in a series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships conducted over the period 1948 – 2012. These articles will be presented on a track by track basis as opposed to a chronological order with the exception of the first (background and first championship) and last two articles (final championship and statistical analysis).
Adelaide hosted its first Interdominion Championships at Bolivar’s Globe Derby Park (opened June 1969, night trotting from April 1973) after moving from the 2½ furlong saucer like Wayville Showgrounds track (closed April 1973). The six previous Adelaide Pacing only championships had been held at Wayville in 1937, 1949, 1954, 1958, 1963 and 1969.
1976 GLOBE DERBY – BAY JOHNNY
The opening night heats were standing starts with the backmarker being Touch Merchant (30m) while the second night were mobile starts. The New Zealand contingent made up of Cee Ar, Topeka, Slane and Framalda were among the twenty three acceptances.
Saturday 7 February, 2660m : first round of heats
Heat One – TOPEKA, tr Derek Jones, dr Jack Carmichael, T3:32.0/T2:09.3, Lt; Bay Johnny (dr Perc Hall) 2nd; El Cordibes (dr Keith Rawiller) 3rd
Topeka an easy winner of the opening heat was a half-brother to 1971 Christchurch ID Trotting heat winner Merrin. Topeka was raced by Christchurch joinery manufacturer Andy Howell and estate of Gordon Lawson. Although sold to Canadian Yves Baillargeon a few weeks before the series started it was agreed that the transfer would take place after the carnival had concluded. Bay Johnny having his first start for three months ran on for second.
Heat Two – COURT JESTER, tr/DR Dal Fitzpatrick, T3.32.8/T2:09.8, Lt; Derby Royale (dr Kevin Murray) 2nd; Homage (dr Herb Young) 3rd
Equally, Court Jester was just as convincing a winner of his opening night heat after finding the front and closing off with a final 800m in 59.4 leading Derby Royale home by 12 metres. This victory was Court Jester’s sixteenth from seventeen starts and fifteenth on end equalling Delvin Dancer’s Australian record winning streak.
Sensation occurred soon afterwards when Court Jester was scratched for the remainder of the series as a result of Chief Steward Clive Martin ousting trainer/driver Dal Fitzpatrick until after the second night’s heats on the grounds of causing interference to Trail Of Gold (SA). Purchased by his owners Melbourne bookmaker Ray Thompson, sister Maureen and husband Tony Keaney for $2,000, they promptly withdrew Court Jester from his second night engagement as they wished to have Fitzpatrick on board when attempting to continue Court Jester’s winning sequence. They determined to start in the final nights FFA at which point the SA Trotting Control Board stewards relieved them of $200 for scratching for an unacceptable reason.
First night heat times courtesy of “The Advertiser” as supplied by State Library of South Australia.
Wednesday 11 February, 2230mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – DERBY ROYALE, tr Jim Perkins, dr Kevin Murray, T2:53.8/T2:05.4 track record; Cee Ar (dr Colin De Filippi) 2nd; Bright Circle (dr George Gath) 3rd
Cee Ar was pacemaker in this heat over the parked out Derby Royale who managed to run him down right on the line. Derby Royale’s T2:53.8 easily broke Touch Merchant’s previous track record of T2:08.3 for the 2230mM journey.
Heat Four – TOPEKA, tr Derek Jones, dr Jack Carmichael, T2:09.4MR; Touch Merchant (dr Graeme Wilson) 2nd; Stormy Meadow (dr Merv Paddon) 3rd
Topeka backed up his opening nights heat win with another impressive performance after racing parked outside Touch Merchant until the home turn recording a final quarter in 28.6. Topeka was to finish leading point’s scorer with maximum points which ensured his being a 10/4 favourite for the Grand Final.
Heat Five – BAY JOHNNY, tr Snowy Finn, dr Perc Hall, T2:57.0/T2:07.8MR; El Cordibes (dr Keith Rawiller) 2nd; Slane (dr Keith Brook) 3rd
The final heat went to NSW trotter Bay Johnny by ten metres over a gallant El Cordibes. Bay Johnny took T2:57.0 with a speedy last quarter in 28.4 in winning his heat. Slane finished on from the rear for third after an early gallop.
Only mile rate available for second night heat four.
Saturday 14 February, 1976 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3100m, $10,000
Grand Final night consisted of seven races at approximately half hourly intervals.
BAY JOHNNY (1964 Johnny Globe/Snow Jane gelding, family of Trilby N18), owner/trainer Snow Finn, driver Perc Hall, 10m, T4:09.8/T2:09.2, 3m, 2m, 8/1 [T2:07.8, $48,247]
El Cordobies, tr/dr Keith Rawiller, Lt, 2nd
Calm Meadow, tr Jack Keely, dr Kevin Brook, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Rockin Dale, Cee Ar, Slane, Kenny Barry, Topeka, Stormy Meadow, Homage, Touch Merchant, Derby Royale
Eleven year old third favourite Bay Johnny came up trumps in his third attempt to win the Trotters Interdominion having placed third to Precocious at Sydney’s 1973 ID and whilst not making the Grand Final field in the previous season at Auckland he did win the Trotters Consolation in record time. Bay Johnny had not started since October 1975 leading into the Adelaide Interdominions. Favourite Topeka led early before handing up to second favourite Derby Royale who was to lead for most of the way before appearing to choke down around the top turn the last time (600m to run) carting Topeka back through the field with him and extinguishing his chances. Derby Royale ran last and Topeka eighth after breaking on the home turn seeking to improve from back in the field.
Meanwhile Bay Johnny was handily placed from the 10m mark and descended on the leaders turning for home finishing boldly to win by three metres from El Cordibes with South Australian Calm Meadow another two metres further back. Prepared to the minute by 67yo Hawkesbury trainer Snow (WH) Finn, he was driven to perfection by 64yo Perc Hall who was the veteran of fourteen previous Interdominions. After Bay Johnny’s victory, he had an ID driving record of ten pacing heat wins, Pacing Grand Final win with James Scott (1962 Perth) and second with Ribands (six pacing Grand Final drives) plus trotting heat, consolation and Grand Final victory (three trotting Grand Final drives), all with Bay Johnny. Perc Hall achieved the Interdominion driving double with both a Pacers and Trotters Grand Final win.
Consolation : 3100m, $3,000
FIERY LUCK, tr/DR Carl O’Dwyer, T4:11.8/T2:10.0, 10m; Bundanoon Prince (dr Glen Williams) 2nd; Trail Of Gold (dr Barry Nolan) 3rd
The Trotters Consolation was won by seven year old Meadow Vance gelding Fiery Luck who had disappointed on the opening two nights for owners Carl O’Dwyer, Ben Richem and Bill Harding, production manager of O’Dwyers spring steel pacing shoes business.
Bay Johnny was by Johnny Globe from NZ mare Snow Jane (shipped to Australia with Bay Johnny in embryo) that owner Ron Croghan who ran Bangaroo Trotting Stud, St Mary’s, NSW purchased from Harold Kay of Christchurch together with U Scott full sister Scotch Girl. These mares were half-sisters to Cardigan Bay’s grand dam Pleasure Bay (Quite Sure/Helens Bay) who was bought cheaply by Harold Kay in the late 1940’s after she had left Cardigan Bay’s dam Colwyn Bay for Alex Jopp. Kay sold Pleasure Bay to Roydon Lodge Stud in the mid 1950’s after she had produced U Scott mares Scotch Girl (four wins), Toucher (three wins) and unraced Snow Jane for him. For Roydon Lodge, Pleasure Bay left Dorstan (U Scott) and Bay Light (Light Brigade) who were both purchased by Stan Wheatley of Christchurch. Bay Light was dam of 1972 NZ Cup winner Globe Bay. In the late 1950’s, Pleasure Bay was sold to Wellingtonian CH Bryton leaving winners Morris and Lowry Bay and winner producing mares Primrose Bay and Hospitality for him.
Pleasure Bay’s descendants included Cardigan Bay, NZ Cup winners in Hands Down and Globe Bay, Nevermore, Franco Nelson, Spanish Armada to mention a few. Scotch Girl and Snow Jane proved excellent broodmares. The Snow Jane branch of the Trilby family leading from Pleasure Bay is extensive and contains many champion pacers and trotters. Snow Jane not only left Bay Johnny, but smart pacer Tolivar Bay, Snow Globe (second to Poupette in 1965 ID Trotters Grand Final) among others, grand dam of Apri Ski, third dam of Hands Down and so on.
Bay Johnny commenced racing as a three year old (1967/8) winning on two occasions at Penrith (21 March 1968) and Fairfield. His next wins came as a five year old (1969/70) with four victories, best of T2:13 1/5 at Harold Park (2), Parramatta and Penrith Trotters Cup. His three six year old starts produced nothing while at seven (1971/2) he saluted the judge on three occasions at Harold Park (best of T2:10.2) including an Invitation Stakes and ran third in Summer Trotters Cup. His two Harold Park wins at eight (1972/3) came in the Champion Trotters Invitational and Champion Trotters FFA while placed efforts included a second in Summer Trotters Cup and third in Easter Trotters Cups at Harold Park. His first Interdominion campaign on his home track of Harold Park had produced a fourth and second in his heats with a third placing behind Precocious and Touch Merchant in the Grand Final as well as fourth in the closing nights Dunedin Trotters FFA.
A further three wins were recorded as a nine year old (1973/4), again all at Harold Park, two of which were FFA’s (best mile rate of T2:08.1). His major placings were a second in the Spring Trotters Cup and thirds in Easter Trotters Cup and Champion Trotters Invitational at Harold Park. At ten (1974/5) his horizons were extended with a trip to the 1975 Auckland Interdominions where his best return was a win in the Trotters Consolation (T2:08.4MR). At home, three of his five wins came at Harold Park (two FFA’s and Dubbo Open, best mile rate of T2:08.7), Hawkesbury and Fairfield FFA’s. His main placings came with a second in HP Trotters Invitational and thirds in Spring Trotters Cup and Bankstown FFA.
Whilst in his twilight years as an eleven year old, the 1975/6 season’s two victories both at the Globe Derby Interdominions (heat and Grand Final) as outlined above was his most financially rewarding with stake earnings of $11,610 (career best mile rate of T2:07.8). Placings included seconds in Spring Trotters Cup, Trotters FFA and a third in Trotters Invitational at Harold Park (final start 24 October 1975 prior to Interdominions). Between the Trotters Grand Final and Pacers Final, like a number of ID trotters Bay Johnny ran in the Gawler Trotters Cup won by Homage, Topeka was second with Bay Johnny unplaced. On the Pacers Grand Final night a week later (Sat 21 February), the Jack Roberts Trotters FFA over 2230mM was won by a returning Court Jester (tr/dr Dal Fitzpatrick) in a mile rate of T2:05.7 with a metre to spare over a game Bay Johnny with Homage (dr Herb Young) third. Court Jester’s record advanced to seventeen wins from eighteen starts and earnings of $31,641 to that point of time. At twelve (1976/7) Bay Johnny only had a fourth placing when returning to Globe Derby for the Jack Roberts FFA won by Touch Merchant. His final unplaced start came aged thirteen (1977/8) prior to retirement.
Bay Johnny’s career race record showed twenty one wins in Australia (thirteen at Harold Park), T2:07.8, $45,662; NZ four starts for a win, T2:08.4, $2,585; overall, record of twenty two wins, T2:07.8, $48,247.
1984 GLOBE DERBY – SIR CASTLETON
The Interdominions returned to Adelaide in 1984, part of its then eight city/eight year cycle with an all mobile trotters FFA carnival, the first of its kind. Diminutive NZ trotter Sir Castleton resumed his battle from the 1983 Auckland Interdominions with Australian champion Scotch Notch, a rivalry that was to continue onto Moonee Valley in 1985 before an overall victor could be determined. Sir Castleton and Tussle were New Zealand’s only representatives.
Saturday 11 February, 2650mM : first round of heats
Obvious victories on opening nights to the two outstanding Australasian trotters in Sir Castleton and Scotch Notch. Scotch Notch was considered only ninety percent right by his trainer/driver Graeme Lang leading into the Adelaide championships.
Heat One – SIR CASTLETON, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Paddy Timmins, T3:32.6/T2:09.1; Big Jake (dr Brian Gath) 2nd; Sadie Gale (dr Ted Demmler) 3rd
Handled by Paddy Timmins as opposed to regular driver Doody Townley, Sir Castleton trailed pace making mare Jenny Bear who broke on the home turn. Sir Castleton managed to get through a tight gap on the home turn and went onto win by a metre in a moderate T3:32.6/T2:09.1 mile rate. Victorian Big Jake and Sadie Gale finished best of Sir Castleton’s rivals.
Heat Two – SCOTCH NOTCH, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T3.30.5/T2:07.8; Another Touch (dr Jim Hurley) 2nd; Yankees Purchase (dr Ray Globe) 3rd
Scotch Notch’s pace making eight metre victory in the faster time of T3:30.5/T2:07.8, final quarter in 29.2 over South Australian trotter Another Touch with five metres to the trailing Yankees Purchase was achieved with the minimum of fuss.
Wednesday 15 February, 2230mM : second round of heats
Identical results were the order of the day in that the two trans-Tasman standouts, Scotch Notch and Sir Castleton were again heat winners on a night of seven races, all Interdominion heats, something unique for Interdominion carnivals (Pacers raced in five one mile heats).
Heat Three – SIR CASTLETON, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Paddy Timmins, T2:53.3/T2:05.0; Another Touch (dr Jim Hurley) 2nd; Tussle (dr Peter Jones) 3rd
Paddy Timmins who half an hour later drove NZ pacer Mai Mai to victory in his mile heat on the second night, easily won again with Sir Castleton leading for the majority of the 2230mM journey which he cut out in the faster heat winning time of T2:53.3, half in 61.6 and final quarter in 29.4. Another Touch again finished second in this heat from a luckless Tussle and Yankees Purchase.
Heat Four – SCOTCH NOTCH, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T2:55.2/T2:06.8; Big Jake (dr Brian Gath) 2nd; Sadie Gale (dr Ted Demmler) 3rd
Scotch Notch still impressed in her pace making win in the final championship heat in a T2:55.2 time. Big Jake, five metres back and Sadie Gale were again second and third, this time behind Scotch Notch as opposed to Sir Castleton on opening night.
Saturday 18 February, 1984 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3100mM, $30,000
Grand Final night consisted of seven races at approximately half hourly intervals.
SIR CASTLETON (1976 Game Pride/Castletons Queen gelding, family of Jane Hunt U10), owner/trainer Mawson MacPherson, driver Paddy Timmins, T4:03.9/T2:06.5, 3m, 10m, 14/10 second favourite [T2:02.0, $302,043]
Scotch Notch, tr/dr Graeme Lang, 2nd
Tussle, tr Derek Jones, dr Peter Jones, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Sadie Gale, Big Jake, Another Touch, Downsouth Clare, Big General, Joanie Toliver, Yankees Purchase
Sir Castleton drew two but started from barrier one due to a scratching in the mobile final while Scotch Notch ended up starting from the inside of the second line on Sir Castleton’s back. Tussle sped to the lead after 50 metres before trailing Sadie Girl from the 1800m. Meanwhile, Sir Castleton the 14/10 second favourite was locked up on the inside for much of the race being three back the rails when Sadie Gale went to the front. He was further inconvenienced by the tiring Downsouth Clare at the 400m. Scotch Notch had been four back on the rails behind Sir Castleton until with 900m to run she circled around the field three and four wide, engaging in a battle first with Big Jake before dashing past Sadie Gale to be several lengths clear at the 300m. Still on the rails with 600m to go, driver Paddy Timmins found clear room for Sir Castleton to produce a blistering turn of speed wide out hauling in Scotch Notch in the closing stages to win by three metres. Winning the 1984 ID Trotters Grand Final proved the pinnacle of Sir Castleton’s career. This came after winning an ID heat at Alexandra Park in 1983 and running third to Scotch Notch and Jenner in the Grand Final. With an overall time of T4:03.9/T2:06.5, Sir Castleton’s last mile was cut out in 2:01.2, half in 60.4 and quarter in better than 29 seconds.
Consolation : 3100mM, $7,000
BRAVADO VALE, tr/dr Frank Hoban, T4:07.0/T2:08.2; Jenny Bear (dr Ian Smith) 2nd; Honey John (dr Les Harding) 3rd. Times for consolation courtesy of “The Advertiser” as supplied by State Library of South Australia.
Consolation winner Bravado Vale had finished last in both his heats prior to scoring on Trotters Grand Final night.
Mid Canterbury Owner/Trainer of Sir Castleton was Mawson Macpherson with his wife Margaret MacPherson listed as Sir Castleton’s breeder. By leading sire Game Pride (sire of two ID Trotting Grand Final winners, the other being Fraggle Rock) out of a Widower Scott (sire of Dominion Hcp winner Spinster Scott and dam sire of two ID Trotters Grand Final winners in Castletons Pride and Sir Castleton) mare in Castletons Queen, Sir Castleton was a half-brother to 1975 Auckland Inter-Dominion Trotters Grand Final winner, Castleton’s Pride (Tuft). MacPherson first got into this family (Jane Hunt U10) when purchasing Sir Castleton’s grand dam Highland Gift for 32½ guineas at auction in 1957. Highland Gift was a daughter of top trotter Highland Kilt (brother of Highland Fling) and American mare Espirit whose NZ family descendants on the trotting side include Johnny Gee, Game Folly, Arnees Frolic and pacers like ID Champion Golden Reign, Nemisis (1:48.1US), millionaire Has the Answers etc. Half-sister Highland Gift’s prominent trotting descendants include Castletons Gift, Castletons Queen (dam of two ID Trotting Champions Castletons Pride, Sir Castleton), George Castleton, Castletons King, Castletons Mission (second ID Trotters Final), Castletonian to name a few.
Not racing until aged four, the diminutive fourteen hand gelding Sir Castleton set out to make up for lost time winning nine of his twelve starts in 1980/81 season including two Scan Carriers three and four year old trots at Hutt Park, three at Addington, two at Forbury Park (Dunedin Trotting Cup) and Alexandra Park (Petite Evander Hcp lead up to Rowe Cup in which he finished tenth at his twelfth start). Having graduated so soon to open class his five year old season (1981/2) yielded just the four wins from eighteen starts, at Addington (Winter Hcp, Ordeal Cup, Reta Peter Hcp) and White Star FFA at Alexandra Park a week before a third in the Rowe Cup.
At six (1982/3), the winner of ten of his twenty four starts which included Winter Hcp, Ordeal Cup, NZ Trotting Championship at Addington, Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup (Motukarara), DB Trotting FFA (Timaru) and at Alexandra Park a heat of 1983 Auckland Trotters ID (eighth in other heat, third to Scotch Notch in Grand Final) and in final run for season Rowe Cup. Sir Castleton was placed second in NZ Trotting FFA, third in Dominion Hcp and National Trot.
Sir Castletons seven wins from twenty NZ starts were complemented by his three Globe Derby ID wins (outlined above) from five Australian starts at age seven (1983/4). The NZ wins were recorded in NZ Trotting FFA, one of four at Addington (other three as well as many starts off lengthy back marks) and three at Alexandra Park including Rhodes Flying Mile and National Trot. His run of second placings included Ordeal Cup, Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting Championship, Rowe Cup and in final start for season Canterbury Park Winter Cup against pacers off 40m; thirds recorded in Canterbury Park Trotting Cup and Timaru’s DB FFA.
His Australian starts yielded earnings of $30,840 (three at Interdominions plus two unplaced efforts at Moonee Valley) meant that at the end of the 1983/4 season his CV to date showed 74 NZ starts for thirty wins ($193,222, T2:02.0), AUS five starts for three wins ($30,840, T2:05.0AUS), overall thirty three wins for stakes of $224,062. Sir Castleton was to share the 1983/4 season Horse of the Year honours with the NZ Cup winner Steel Jaw. He was only the second trotter to have won the Horse of the Year joining No Response who won it in 1978/9.
Partaking in the Interdominions as an eight year old (1984/5), Sir Castleton’s six NZ wins were a result of twenty starts complemented by two 1985 Moonee Valley heat wins and a second to Scotch Notch in the Trotters Grand Final. His NZ wins included three at Addington (Christchurch Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA), two at Alexandra Park and McMillan Flying Mile at Cambridge. He finished second in Ordeal Cup, Rhodes Flying Mile and National Trot. His short nine year season consists of three starts for three wins, all at Addington for new trainer WG Smart after Mawson MacPherson’s sudden death at age 67. Due to lameness Sir Castleton was retired just three months after MacPherson’s death finishing his career (mid-September 1985) with thirty nine NZ wins and thirty placings from 97 starts ($255,252, T2:02.0) and five Australian wins and a placing from eight starts ($46,790, T2:04.2), total of forty four wins from 105 starts, $302,042, T2:02.0. Sir Castleton was inducted into the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.
Next time : Globe Derby Trotters Interdominions – part two.
Peter Craig
25 April 2018
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