Time trials were initially conducted with a view to improving the applicable NZ
Mile (or longer distance) record. There has been a lower number of time trials run to establish new record times since the 2 minute mark was first reached (pacers, then trotters and age group youngsters), The massive improvement in race times has therefore lessened the impact of time trials. Mares are however still trialling to improve their best mile times and enhance their prospective broodmare careers.
This is not a comprehensive review of all TT’s recorded although it takes a chronologically ordered look at them. The best laid plans didn’t always succeed and a number of unsuccessful time trail attempts are revealed.
Early Years
The great Australian trotter Fritz time trialled at Riccarton racecourse on 2 June 1898. Fritz ran three one mile time trial heats on the inside training grass track rather than the course proper (heavy) as it proved quicker. Attended by well performed galloping pacemaker Magazine, ridden by his trainer Patrick Campbell, Fritz ran his heats in T2:18 2/5 and twice in identical times of T2:14 4/5 – this posted a new NZ record for a trotter over one mile and equalled Fritz’s best Australian mile rate. Following his return to Australia he lowered his national and Australasian records to T2:14.0TT at Brighton, NSW on 25 July 1898/equalled at Forbes show on 3 August 1899.
Eleventh November 1898, Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club provided a 100 sovereigns purse for any horse breaking Fritz’s Australasian record of 4:55 (with flying start) in harness over two miles. Monte Carlo trained/driven by Bert Edwards and paced by Free Holmes on galloper Salvo Shot completed the six laps of the limited circumference at Lancaster Park in a time of 4:53.0TT. Later the same day he won the main two mile handicap harness race in 4:57.0. Trotting was held on a 1/3 mile track at Lancaster Park from 29 May 1886 to 17 June 1893.
Second January 1899 at the Addington A&P Showgrounds track (current Addington Raceway held first meeting Monday 6 November 1899), the Canterbury Trotting Club offered a purse of 100 sovereigns for any horse beating 2:15.0 for the mile. Fritz was the only taker recording T2:13.0TT without being overly extended. Fritz is well known for his unsuccessful match race series with leading pacer Ribbonwood at Addington in April 1903. Fritz returned in 1906 to trot an exhibition mile against time at Tahuna Park, Dunedin (Wednesday 28 February 1906), recording T2:17 2/5TT driven by Claude Piper.
Jessie Palm was a champion juvenile trotter often competing against and beating pacers to whom she conceded long starts. Owned by Tom Yarr (also Monte Carlo’s owner), Jessie Palm ran T2:18.0TT at Addington on 6 June 1901.
On a day when he had already won in NZ record time for two miles (4:35 4/5) in the forerunner to the NZ Cup, the New Zealand Handicap (140 sovereigns, scratch) on 21 February 1903, Ribbonwood attempted to break Fritz’s Australasian mile record of 2:13.0 for a purse of 50 sovereigns. Run at 3.50pm, just over an hour after NZ Hcp (2.30pm), Ribbonwood returned 2:11 2/5TT for the mile. Ribbonwood, driven by owner Dave Price, on day three of the 1903 Easter meeting (18 April), further lowered his NZ record to 2:09.0TT (half 1:04.0), a time which stood until beaten in 1911 by his son King Cole.
Myosotis lowered the Tahuna Park track record from 2:17.0 to 2:16 2/5 under saddle on 16 May 1906, ridden by A. Wilson and prompted by The Unicorn (E. McKewen). The same year Myosotis set a national record of 2:13.0 under saddle at New Brighton.
A century ago, a two year colt named Al Franz was competing in one and two mile events with some success. On the third day of NZMTC meeting (25 April 1908) at Addington, for a purse of 50 sovereigns for any 2yo who could break 2:33 or better, Al Franz put up “a really fine performance” in recording 2:26.0TT.
Lord Elmo attempted to break the 2 mile record on Saturday 3 April 1909 at Alexandra Park. A 100 sovereign’s purse was offered if he could better 4:48.0. Driven by J Milne, he recorded 4:52 3/5.
NZ bred (Jack Farrell, Hinds) but then Australian owned free-legged pacer Dan Patch made three attempts on the Australasian grass track record at Alexandra Park in late April 1910 for a prize of 250 sovereigns if 2:13 could be beaten. He had previously gone 2:10.0 at Richmond, Melbourne in 1908. On a slushy track on day one (Saturday 23 April 1910), he recorded 2:19.0; day two (Wednesday 27 April 1910), he reduced this to 2:11 4/5 without a prompter and on day three (Saturday 30 April 1910) for a further 150 sovereigns if he broke 2:10.0, he produced his best time of 2:09 2/5TT. The entire son of Rothschild was trained by former New Zealander Lou Robertson for Tye brothers, proprietors of Allendale Stock Farm, Victoria.
Revenue was sent out in saddle at Forbury Park in an effort to break Myosotis’s Tahuna Park track record of 2:16 2/5 on Saturday 7 May 1910. For owner JL Jopp/dr Manny Edwards, he trotted T2:11 4/5TT mile which stood as an Australasian record for 22 years until bettered by Todd Lanzia.
Seventh January 1911, Dillon Bell made a 2 mile record attempt for which he would earn connections 250 sovereigns if he went under 4:31 or better in harness or 100 sovereigns if bettering 4:42 in harness. Driven unaccompanied by owner Manny Edwards, he was timed in 4:41.0TT.
Seven year old King Cole removed his sire Ribbonwood’s Australasian mile from the record books on 26 August 1911 before 300 fans at Addington when establishing a new record of 2:08 3/5TT for owner RO Duncan and trainer Newton Price.
Bred, owned and trained by Randle McDowell, champion pacing mare Emmeline lowered her previous best mile rate and equalled King Cole’s record of 2:08 3/5TT (31 2/5, 1:02.0), at Forbury Park on 3 May 1912, assisted by a galloping prompter ridden by Mr Allan. The Forbury club presented McDowell with a cheque for £100 and a Houghton sulky which was used 45 years later by Caduceus which he recorded 1:57 3/5 against time at Addington. Gold Bar used a Houghton sulky when setting his 1:59 3/5TT in 1942. With a strong easterly breeze blowing, on 16 December 1912, Emmeline broke Myosotis’s New Brighton track/national record under saddle of 2:13.0 when recording 2:11 1/5TT (first quarter 33 2/5, half 1:04 1/5).
Denver Huon set a new Australasian 2 mile record during the Auckland Cup meeting on 31 December 1913 driven by Manny Edwards. His 4:28 1/5 earned owner Ray Geddes 100 sovereigns. Earlier he set Australian records for 2yo pacers race mile in 2:37½ at Ascot, Melbourne 1907 and 1½m record in saddle of 3:24.0.
Country Belle set her Australasian record mile time of 2:07 1/5TT (half 62.0) at 6.30am in the morning at Addington on Thursday 16 December 1915, accompanied by well known hurdler Kingsway ridden by Free Holmes. The two mile TT record set by Denver Huon of 4:28 1/5 was Country Belle’s target on the third day of Auckland Cup carnival (31 December 1915). A stake of 100 sovereigns was offered together with a further 150 sovereigns if the record was beaten by more than 2 seconds. With breeder/owner/trainer/driver Bill Morland in the sulky, Country Belle’s 4:22 4/5TT easily accounted for the record (66:0, 2:10 3/5, 3:15 2/5). She was paced throughout by Black Northern with AJ (Tartar) Julian in saddle. Country Belle earlier made two attempts on her own Australasian mile record of 2:07 1/5 – on opening day of carnival (28 December 1915), 2:08.0TT (61:0, 1:34¾ before slowing in her final quarter); second day (30 December 1915) she recorded 2:08 3/5TT. Her driver James (Scotty) Bryce had eight drives for seven wins over the carnival.
Manny Edwards training in Australia brought Adelaide Direct to NZ where she lowered the Australasian mile record to 2:06 2/5TT (half 64.0) at Alexandra Park on 30 December 1916 for a stake of 100 sovereigns. Earlier she was unplaced in Cathedral Chimes NZ Cup and from 96 yds in Admiral Woods Auckland Cup.
Eight year old stallion Our Thorpe’s established a new Australasian record mile time of 2:06 1/5TT on 6 September 1918 at Addington.
Author Dillon’s attempt to break Our Thorpe’s record of 2:06 1/5 at Alexandra Park on 30 December 1918 failed when he came up 3/5 second short (2:06 4/5TT). The track had been affected by a few showers. His driver Ben Jarden was accompanied by pace maker Seville (AJ [Tartar] Julian). Author Dillon had earlier in the day finished sixth in the Summer Cup and fifth in the Auckland Cup at the Christmas carnival.
Once claimed as a world record and standing as an Australasian record for many years, champion mare Onyx ran 1½m in 3:13.0TT (2:08.6MR) at New Brighton on 12 December 1925.
Happy Voyage’s 2:04 1/5TT (grass) at New Brighton on 14 April 1923 was not equalled until Impromptu recorded the same time 11 years later at Claudelands. Dual gaited Happy Voyage (initial wins were trotting) for Bill Tomkinson had earlier recorded the same time at Alexandra Park but it was claimed that the pacemaker had got in front and broken the wind for him. All doubts were removed with his second recording of 2:04 1/5TT at New Brighton. This was just one of five mile records established by Happy Voyage in Australia and New Zealand. Sold to stand at stud in New Zealand he went on to sire the dam of Haughty, first two minute mare in Australasia while his daughters have left millionaires in Il Vicolo, Gotta Go Cullen, Royal Cee Cee, Smooth Satin, Shakamaker and Stunin Cullen.
The mighty pacer Harold Logan’s best mile time set a new track record at Forbury Park on 26 November 1931 of 2:04 2/5TT which stood for five years.
Leading trotter Todd Lanzia produced a number of time trials starting with his 2yo clocking of T2:22 2/5TT at Forbury Park on 8 May 1930. He established NZ all age records of T2:11 1/5TT at Forbury Park on 24 November 1932 and reclaimed his record at Addington with a T2:09.0TT on 2 January 1933 although he did break on several occasions during this attempt.
A month after Todd Lanzia had set his first all age NZ record, Olive Nelson on a heavy track at Westport on Boxing Day 1932 ran a very credible T2:11.0TT to set a new record. The Westport track was then situated on the Mill St racecourse (now named George Craddock Park) used from 1903 – 1944.
Part Two : mid 1930’s/late 1950’s time trials
Peter Craig
24 March 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
