A GENINUE HORSEMAN : CARL MIDDLETON
The majority of this article first appeared in Harness Racing International’s July/August (Vol 13, No 4) edition. It has been revised and updated so as to being you a complete picture of an outstanding lifelong career in harness racing. This is the first in a series of four articles..
Tragically for the industry and his many close and good friends, Carl Francis Middleton’s 2¼ year battle with melanoma was lost on Thursday afternoon 3 September 2015. Carl was aged 66 years at the time of his death at Christchurch Hospital. He is survived by his wife Heather, children Robyn (husband Jason) and Greg and grandchildren Piper and Cooper.
It was my special privilege to have known Carl Middleton for just on thirty years. A superb friend, a genuine horseman, particularly adept with a trotter, well respected by his peers and an example for any budding young horseperson to follow. He is sorely missed by his small band of loyal owners and by many others in the industry. It is my pleasure to bring and relate to you his story.
Twenty five years ago, Fraggle Rock provided Carl Middleton with his biggest success when winning the 1991 Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final at Alexandra Park. Described in both print and visual media then as a battler from Mid Canterbury, Middleton achieved much over the years in harness racing. In recent years, he concentrated entirely on the straight out trotter that he loved working with generating considerable success.
First let’s go back to Middleton’s earlier days.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Born into a harness racing family, Middleton’s involvement with the industry has embraced many facets over close to half a century. His grand father Carl Nordqvist, a Swedish immigrant, had success with the likes of Bonny Clare, 2:11.4, (1942f Grattan Loyal/Irish Peach). She won the 1945 Riccarton Stakes -3 (a key lead up race for the NZ Derby) on Cup Day when having her first start. Owned and trained by Nordqvist, she was driven by Peter Gallagher and returned 64pds 16/- for the win. Middleton’s grandfather had to wait until the end of the day after the tote had been balanced before payment of his winning tickets could be made.
Bonny Clare also won the Wai-iti Trot as a three-year-old and numbered the 1948 Timaru Cup amongst her six wins in the mid/late 1940’s. Proprietor (1942g, Grattan Loyal/Hostess) with seven wins was another good performer plus there were a number of good trotters that passed through his hands.
Middleton‘s father Gordon was one of ten children, being a shearer, bulldozer driver, drag line operator before four years in the Army serving in Egypt and Italy. After the war he bought a property next door to Clarrie May before settling on one at Highbank. Training from a neighbouring Highbank property to son Carl, Gordon had considerable success with young pacing stock over the years. The most notable of these originated from the Fallacy mare Idle Fancy (winner of 1969 Leonard Memorial):-
- Fancy Fred (1972h Truant Hanover): 7 2yo wins incl. 1975 Welcome
Stakes, 1975 Kindergarten Stakes - Fancy Dick (1973h Truant Hanover): 1976 Methven 2yo Stakes
- Fancy Matilda (1974f Truant Hanover): 1976 Golden Slipper Stakes, 1977
Kindergarten Stakes (held at Wyndham beating Lord Module) - Fancy Robyn (1975f Truant Hanover): dam of Fancy Ritchie 2.04.6 (3rd
1993 GN Derby) - Fancy Wally (1982g Plat du Jour): 1985 Golden Slipper; $9,480; 2:03.1
In addition, Gordon Middleton prepared Graham Brown (1977g Assault/Pam Hanover) when he set a world record for a pacing yearling at Addington in July 1979 (2:05.9TT). Graham Brown won the NZ Futurity Stakes (Rotorua on grass), Hosking Stakes (Hutt Park) and Spring Time Stakes (Addington, first start) during his two-year-old career. Manawatu HR Club President AND hrnz Executive Member Allan Brown’s father Graham was a tank commander in World War II where Gordon was a tank driver. Gordon named the Assault colt Graham Brown and raced him with his former commander. In the trotting ranks, Gordon Middleton took Laplander (1963h Light Brigade – Marawiti) through to open class ranks and his eight wins included the 1970 West Coast Trotting Stakes. Another good trotter out of Marawiti was Pompano (1968f Tuft) who recorded four wins when trained by son Carl. Gordon Middleton died aged 95 in 2012.
Carl Middleton met his future wife Heather Lowe at the 1970 Nelson trots (married 1972). From another harness racing family, Heather was a daughter of Arch Lowe and after his death, step daughter of Ted Lowe. The Lowe family, through Ted’s father Bill enjoyed considerable success especially with respect to winning NZ Cups – a total of four successes beginning with dual winner Lucky Jack (1937, 1939), notable as the dam sire of Idle Fancy with whom Gordon Middleton enjoyed numerous successes, Cairnbrae (1964) and Humphrey (1968). Lucky Jack and Cairnbrae both trace back to foundation mare Jessie B. Ted Lowe etched a prominent part in NZ Harness Racing history and was well known as a fine horseman and gentleman.
Heather Middleton contributed significantly to the training and breeding activities on Millburn Farm. She has been an owner in her own right, part owner with Carl, brother Noel and with other family members. Although the family tradition in harness racing has stoped at Carl, he and Heather produced two children in Greg and Robyn. Together with Jason, Robyn presented Heather and Carl with two active grand children in Piper and Cooper.
EARLY DAYS
With father Gordon enjoying success as a trainer/driver during Middleton’s youth, it was hardly surprising that he entered the industry at a young age. After his initial grounding under his father’s watchful eye, in 1968 Middleton set out on an overseas adventure which eventually led to time in Sweden. Travelling to the States with Bob Townley, Middleton was shortly joined by Wayne Lamb who was working for father Gordon at the time. Lamb, now of Golden Gait Stud, NSW fame, bred 2002 Inter Dominion winner Smooth Satin who was raced out of the stable of Steve Turnbull. Middleton, Lamb and prominent US trainer Kelvin Harrison all played for the same Methven High School second fifteen rugby team in their teens.
First port of call was the United States where a period of two years was spent at White Devon Stud in New York (owned by Marty Tananbaum). Working with a number of stallions both pacing and trotting obviously proved useful for future stud master duties in NZ. Thorpe Hanover, who was a half-brother to successful NZ based export Bachelor Hanover, stood on the property at the time. Trotting stallions included the Hambletonian winner Egyptian Candor (Star’s Pride) and Trowbridge who did stud duties in NZ and Australia in later years with limited success.
Middleton also spent time working for Stanley Dancer (trainer for Marty Tananbaum) at Yonkers Raceway during his holidays, obviously a great learning experience. These American working experiences owed much to Marty Tananbaum, the Yonkers Raceway supremo who was instrumental in establishing the famed Yonkers International Series in the 1960’s.
However, all good things must come to an end and in Middleton‘s case it was a rather hurried exit from the United States as his work permit had expired. Rather than be arrested as an over stayer, he moved onto Sweden and contact with well-known Swedish trainer Hakan Wallner who he had met at the Harrisburg Yearling sales.
Middleton spent some months at Solvalla in Sweden after being asked to go over and help out. During his time there, he observed Wallner’s methods and in particular those of his stable driver Brengt Lindstad – a top horseman who unofficially worked in partnership with Wallner.
On his return to New Zealand, Middleton set about establishing his Millburn Farm training and breeding establishment. Over the years this has consisted of three different properties; ironically the current 115 hectare Millburn Farm property lies directly across the road from the property first purchased on Middleton’s return from America. Except for a period of nine years from the mid 90’s to mid-2005, when located at Winchmore (near Ashburton), Middleton‘s Millburn Farm properties have been at Highbank (near Methven) in the mid Canterbury foothills.
The naming of Millburn Farm is an interesting story.. The former owner of the Middleton‘s initial farm called it “Millburn“, so a private company titled Millburn Farm Ltd was established. The former owner of the current Millburn Farm property was J.W. (Bill) Thomas, a well-known Methven trotting owner, a patron of Pat O‘Reilly senior. He raced horses of the calibre of 1968 NZ Oaks winner Local Lie and Black Diamond to name but two. Thomas was a big fan of Adios and Meadow Chief, who both stood at the Meadowlands for Delvin Miller. Thomas named his property “Meadowlands“ and to this day it appears on the farm gate. Local maps and even correspondence received still refer to the property as Meadowlands or Millburn Farm, Meadowlands.. So it can be seen that for over 50 years, horses have been raised on the current Millburn Farm property at Highbank.
As well as a jog track, Carl carried out fast work on either an 812m sand training track or an 1140m straight line track. The straight line track concept is very European in origin and is one not copied by many NZ trainers (Tim Butt, Mark Purdon). Straight line tracks (equivalent to beach training) are a Swedish concept and in conjunction with interval training feature prominently in Middleton’s training methods. Straight lining proved very successful once implemented at the Highbank property.
Farming at Millburn Farm included the provision of an off farm grazing facility for dairy farmers. This consisted of grazing, grain, hay, silage etc for approximately 400 cows to supplement the horse training income stream.
INITIAL YEARS
Middleton took out his training licence in 1972 after his return to NZ at the time of purchasing his initial Highbank property. He also commenced stud master duties that were to form part of his harness racing involvement over the following couple of decades. Among the stallions to have stood at Millburn Farm were :
- Truant Hanover USA (Adios) – stood his first season in 1970/71 and remained until exported to Australia in 1977/78. In his best season, he served 69 mares (when 7000 – 8000 mares were being bred from). Middleton commented that Truant Hanover was a lovely horse in all regards.. Among his better performed progeny were : Hano Direct (T2:06.2US, ID Trot Final, Dullard Cup); Truant Armagh (Hunter Cup); El Cordobies (NSW Trotters Derby) plus dam sire of Bee Bee Cee (NZ Cup, NZFFA); Popular Alm (1:53.2TT, $710,883 – Australian Horse of the Year). Interestingly Hano Direct, bred by South Canterbury breeder Clem Scott from his mare Indirect, would have been served at Millburn Farm, thereby marking Middleton’s first connection with the Inter Dominion Championships
- Huirapa NZ (Bachelor Hanover) – unraced sire who left nine winners (8 pacers)
- Farm Timer USA (Race Time) – stood initially with Jim Dalgety and for a period of two seasons in Otago with Fergie Mathieson in the late 1980’ Farm Timer left 73 winners – 67 pacers (12 in 2:00) and 6 trotters (1 in 2:00). Included amongst his top performers were: Blossom Lady (1:56.0 – $1,334,808, NZ Cup, NZFFA, two Hunter Cups); Guardian Angel (Banks Peninsula Trot Cup) whilst his dam sire credits include Merinai (T2:00.8 – Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup); Breenys Fella (1:56.9 – $638,979, Victoria Cup) and Mister DG (1:55.9 – $795,749, Hunter Cup)
- My Striking Force USA (Strike Out) – stood initially for Jim Dalgety and left 15 winners, 13 pacers (3 in 2:00). Middleton also stood the very well performed Waitaki Hanover (Garrison Hanover) for one season.
Middleton had his first drive on Laplander in the Malvern Handicap at the Hororata meeting on 23rd December 1967 and his first winning drive was also on Laplander in the two mile Ripcord Handicap at the Cheviot meeting at Rangiora raceway on 16th March 1968. The first training success came when Pompano led all the way to win the North Beach C3 Hcp over 2600m at the New Brighton TC meeting at Addington on 1st December 1973.
The period through the 1970’s and 1980’s tended to produce a few winners annually without many standout performers. This was primarily due to the time taken up with the stallion business and the “financial” necessity to borrow mares to breed from, many of which were to prove very ordinary.
These years were relatively lean overall apart from when Acapulco won six races pacing (Otaki Cup) for Middleton in the early to mid-eighties. It was at this point that the writer met up with Middleton for the first time at a Forbury Park Festival meeting in January 1984, following one of Acapulco’s victories. Acapulco had high speed and could stay.. Middleton considered he should have made Cup class but despite numerous veterinary bills his problems were never sorted out. Other notable winners for Middleton in the earlier years included Pompano, True Anna, Perilly, Olso, Helsinki. True Anna is also noteworthy as recording the fastest mile rate (2:11.5) on the first day of the new all-weather track at Gore on 16th April 1977 and for this Middleton received a stop watch, one he still prides himself in using to this very day.
Forbury Park holds many winning memories for Middleton over the years, it being unusual for him to return home without some financial reward. Forbury Park was a track he continued to support throughout his career with both his horses and sponsorship. Carl drove 57 winners, his first for Lorraine Watson (later Grant) and trained 58 winners at Forbury Park from early 1970‘s to 2015. In the period from 1985/6 – 2014/5 seasons, his driving stats were : 394 starts for 46 wins, 39 seconds and 36 thirds; in the training field, from 1982/3 – 2014/5 seasons, he had 404 starters for 51 winners, 41 seconds and 36 thirds. Between 20 – 25% of all his victories came at Forbury Park.
A great supporter of the smaller clubs, in earlier years frequent trips to the West Coast and Greymouth meetings were embarked upon and even more challenging, but often successful, were crossings of the Cook Strait seeking rewards at Hutt Park (Wellington). A favourite track of Middleton’s, due to the track layout and good surface with plenty of top on it, Hutt Park was the scene of numerous victories prior to the track’s demise in the early 21st century. Middleton’s horses liked Hutt Park, a track designed by none other than George Noble – a man ahead of his time in many regards.
One particularly successful Hutt Park horse that Middleton trained was Millburn Dave (My Striking Force) who was out of Onedin Lass, a mare borrowed from Christchurch chef Dave Moore. Millburn Dave won four of his five NZ races at Hutt Park and was spotted by Des Parr who stabled Valley Champ with Middleton during the 1995 Addington Inter Dominions. Parr trialled Millburn Dave and liking what he saw, he purchased him for export to Australia, where he ended up winning a further four races. During the 1993/94 season, Middleton placed second to Ricky May in the driver’s award and second to Graham Pearson in the trainer’s award conducted by the Wellington Trotting Club.
Never one frightened to travel away from his home track based triangle of Addington/Ashburton/Methven, many kilometres were totalled up in visits to race at the likes of Greymouth, Forbury Park, Invercargill, Hutt Park, Manawatu, let alone Inter Dominion and other feature trotting race ventures to Alexandra Park and Cambridge.
Another area where Middleton tested the “normal” boundaries related to his employment of stable hands. In the earlier years, locally NZ domiciled staff assisted with daily operations.. The first notable influence came with Neil Costello, a Sydney based trainer who worked for Middleton in the mid 1970‘s. During the late 80’s/early 90’s Middleton relied on locals such as Dale Forbes (Ashburton horseman not currently licensed), Barry Molly Jnr, David Whittle and Scott Dickson (Hunterville based horseman) to assist with training..
However by the mid-nineties, somewhat frustrated with the lack of suitable local staff, Middleton engaged with the Agri Venture farm cadet scheme to recruit overseas students for up to 12 month periods. This proved very successful over the years with many Scandinavian, Dutch and Canadian youngsters making Millburn Farm home during their stay in NZ. Interestingly, all but two, both Dutchman, have been female and they have proven themselves more than capable of completing the tasks required. One Dutchman, Steph van der Weide touts himself as being the only Dutchman to ever drive a winner at Invercargill (Uppsala on 11 April 2003 for Middleton).
PART TWO : will commence a review of Middleton’s Golden Years – 1990’s, in particular the impact of Fraggle Rock.
Peter Craig
12 May 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
