This is the eighth 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).
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) held the ID Trotters Championships on six occasions at Addington plus conducted the 2011 Interdominions in Auckland (Alexandra Park) following the February 22nd, 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
1951 ADDINGTON – GAY BELWIN
The second trotters Interdominion was held at Addington three years after the first which ran at Alexandra Park, Auckland in 1948. Apart from the Kiwi trotters, a solitary Victorian trotter Fathers Wish accompanied by another Victorian Claude Derby as the sole Australian pacing representative at these “dual gait” ID’s. Unfortunately Fathers Wish was suffering from corns gave an inglorious display on day one; galloped, paced, galloped then again on day two thus failing to make the Trotters Grand Final field.
The carnival like its Addington predecessor in 1938 was affected by wet weather (four postponements in 1938), delaying opening day from Saturday 10 February to Thursday 14 February. This however, did not detract from a memorable carnival.
Thursday 15 February (postponed from Saturday 10 February), 1¼m : first round of heats
Heat One – HIGHLAND KILT, tr/dr George Noble, T2:40.0/T2:08.0, 4yo record, Lt; Gay Belwin (dr Bob Young) 2nd; Dictation (dr Jim Wilson) 3rd
Heat Two – BARRIER REEF, tr/dr Howard (Howie) Smith, T2:43 1/5/T2:10 ½, Lt; Two Step (dr Jack Pringle) 2nd; Ripcord (dr Stan Edwards) 3rd
Highland Kilt in setting a new four year record provided a flawless display beating Gay Belwin narrowly in the first heat with Dictation establishing a new all comers trotting mark of T2:38 2/5 while Barrier Reef ‘s sterling effort earned him maximum points in the second heat.
Saturday 17 February (postponed from Thursday 15 February), 2 miles : second round of heats
Heat Three – RIPCORD, tr Heber Hewson, dr Stan Edwards, T4:18 1/5/ T2:09.1, 24yds; Gay Belwin (dr Bob Young) 2nd; Billy McElwyn (dr Joe Purdon) 3rd
Heat Four – SWANEE RIVER, tr Merton Argyle, dr Clarry King, T4:23 3/5/T2:11 4/5, Lt; Two Step (dr Jack Pringle) 2nd; Single Task (dr Bob Young) 3rd
Kaikoura trained Ripcord managed a half head victory over Gay Belwin in the opening heat on the second day while Swanee River beat a strong field in the second heat in good style winning by a neck with a nose to third.
Wednesday 21 February (postponed from Saturday 17 February), 1½m : third round of heats
Heat Five : SWANEE RIVER, tr Merton Argyle, dr Clarry King, T3:13 3/5/T2:09 2/5, Lt; Dictation (dr Jim Wilson) 2nd ; Single Task (dr Bob Young) 3rd
Heat Six : GAY BELWIN, tr Jim Young, dr Bob Young, T3:13 2/5/T2:09 1/5Lt; Jimmy Dillon (dr Maurice Holmes) 2nd; Ripcord (dr Stan Edwards) 3rd
Swanee River again prevailed although by the barest of margins over Dictation while Gay Belwin easily disposed of Jimmy Dillon in winning her only heat of the championships in record time.
No fewer than six trotters managed to break Worthy Queen’s T3:14 1/5 record for the one and a half mile distance on the third day of Interdominion heats. The new winning mark was Swanee River’s T3:13 3/5 which stood for an hour prior to Gay Belwin reducing it to T3:13 2/5. Dictation in running second to Swanee River, beaten a head, produced a record placed time of T3:10 4/5 which was still a record when metrics were introduced in 1973. Others to better Worthy Queen’s old record were Single Task and Jimmy Dillon, both T3:12.0, Ripcord T3:12 2/5 while Signal Light equalled Worthy Queen’s time of T3:14 1/5.
Saturday 24 February, 1951 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 1m 5 furlongs, £4,550
GAY BELWIN (1944 Worthy Belwin/Gay Moko gelding, family of Lutie Rodgers U304), owner Mrs EA Berryman (Wellington), trainer Jim Young, driver Bob Young, Lt, T3:29.6/T2:09.2, Neck, 1½l, favourite [T2:15.6, £9,720]
Signal Light, tr/dr Gavin Hampton, 2nd
Dictation, tr/dr Jim Wilson, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Barrier Reef, Highland Kilt, Two Step, Ripcord, Jimmy Dillon, Tatsydale, Billy McElwyn, Swanee River, Single Task
In a fine contest Gay Belwin took the honours after wearing down Signal Light winning by a neck, followed in by Dictation and Barrier Reef. Dictation** lowered Single Task’s 1m 5 furlong Australasian record of T3:27 1/5 to T3:27.0 in finishing third just in front of Barrier Reef. Gay Belwin stumbled and nearly lost his balance with a lap to run and only thanks to skilful reinsmenship by Bob Young and Gay Belwin’s clever footwork little ground was lost. Notable was the interference caused when Highland Kilt broke with five furlongs to run effectively eliminating Swanee River and Ripcord in particular from the contest.
** one of three Australasian trotting records set by Dictation during the carnival (placed times were recognised for record setting purposes at this time).
Gay Belwin was trained by a master with the trotters in Jim Young and driven by his son Bob Young. Gay Belwin’s victory gave the Young’s the unique distinction of having trained and driven both of the ID Trotters Grand Final’s thus far (1948 : Aerial Scott). Bob Young joined Maurice Holmes as the first drivers to have driven two ID Grand Final winners (Homes with pacers Pot Luck 1938 and Vedette 1951). Following this victory Gay Belwin had won ten races and stakes of £8,515.
Gay Belwin was purchased from the Paul family (bred by WN Paul) of Mangere, Auckland in 1950 by Mrs E Berryman of Wellington for £2,500 after winning five races for the Pauls at three and four. Mrs Berryman’s great support of trotters had seen her previously own Kempton (Rowe Cup), Wahnooka, Great Way, Captain Bolt and many other good trotters. Gay Belwin’s sire Worthy Belwin (sire of forty winners including Great Belwin) was imported by Sir John McKenzie from America while her dam the good trotter Gay Moko (Rowe Cup) was by Nelson Bingen, a leading sire of his day particularly trotters – Rowe Cup winners Aerial Bingen, Great Admiral twice, Kempton, Native King (and Dominion Hcp), Pirates Last, Raima twice, Rose Bingen and Dominion Hcp winners Effie Bingen, Norma Bingen, Olive Nelson and leading pacers Great Bingen NZFFA, Nelson Derby AK Cup, Peter Bingen two NZ Cups and NZFFA. Gay Moko’s sixth dam was Jeanie Tracey, one of Robert Wilkins first importations to New Zealand in 1882.
Gay Belwin, the gelded son of Worthy Belwin and Gay Moko was a top performer in a vintage era of trotters. He won eleven races from age three to ten (44 starts for 11 wins, £9,720). His overall record included victories in Association Hcp and Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park followed by Spring Hcp, ID heat and Grand Final victories at Addington. After his ID victories, he only won one more race, Winter Hcp at Addington in 1951/2 season, followed by a second to Barrier Reef in the Worthy Queen Hcp at the NZ Cup meeting the same season. His eight starts at eight, nine and ten produced no placings and he wound down his career back in the North Island. Gay Belwin was leading trotting stake winner in 1950/51 season with stake earnings of £6,396 (five wins) and had a best mile rating of T2:15.6.
1971 ADDINGTON – GEFFIN
A gap of twenty years transpired between the first and second ID Trotters championship at Addington. There had been no Trotters championships at the 1961 Christchurch Interdominions (Addington’s third overall – 1938, 1951, 1961). This year’s championships consisted of three nights of heats with the Grand Final being held as a day meeting.
Saturday 13 February, 2 miles : first round of heats
Heat One – GEFFIN, tr/dr Charlie Hunter, T4:24.6/T2:12.3, Lt; Light View (dr Derek Jones) 2nd; Dingle Bay (dr Dennis Nyhan) 3rd
Geffin won the opening trotters heat when 9/11 in the betting and paying $22.55 for the win. The lightly raced trotter was originally owned by Derek Jones’ wife Norah and was sold after impressively winning a double at Greymouth to Roy McKenzie (Sir) for $4,000. Trained by Charlie Hunter, Geffin ironically defeated Light View who was trained and driven by Derek Jones, Geffin’s former trainer. It was his seventh win (five placings) from nineteen starts.
Heat Two – PHILEMON, tr George Taverner, dr Maurice Holmes, T4:19.0/T2:09.5, Lt; Tutira (dr Bob Nyhan) 2nd; Inferno (dr Ivan Dickie) 3rd
Philemon was also at lengthy odds (11/11, $27.35) when winning his heat for Maurice Holmes. Taking the lead at the mile, he dictated terms finishing off the two miles strongly in T4:19.0. Tutira who raced parked out most of the journey finished second ahead of Inferno. Philemon was one of only five foals produced by his sire, grand pacer Sun Chief (GN/NSW Derbies).
Wednesday 17 February, 1m 5 furlongs : second round of heats
Heat Three – MERRIN, tr Bob Day, dr Bob Young, T3:29.0/T2:08.6, Lt; Le Char (dr George Shand); Geffin (dr Charlie Hunter)
Merrin (Court Martial/Tat Scott) driven by Bob Young was fourth favourite ($6.70) when scoring by 1½l, with a further length back to an unlucky Geffin third and former Australian Tony Bear fourth for Wes Butt. Merrin’s half-brother Topeka was to run in the 1976 Globe Derby Trotters Championships.
Heat Four – RETEPS PRIDE, tr/dr Kevin Murray, T3:30.2/T2:09.3, Lt; Johnny Gee (dr Wes Butt) 2nd; Beau Winter (dr Barrie Hamilton) 3rd
Jim Wong of Scotch Notch fame tasted success with his Victorian trotter Reteps Pride who scored by a length, half-length with Light View ending up fourth. She continued the trend of long priced heat winners being ninth favourite and returning $28.65 in this her eleventh victory. Reteps Pride was owned by Jim Wong, trained and driven by former Kiwi Kevin Murray who moved to Australia in 1966 after completing his “apprenticeship” with Halswell trainer Bob Young.
Saturday 20 February, 1¼m : third round of heats
Heat Five – LIGHT VIEW, tr Jack Grant and Derek Jones, dr Derek Jones, T2:36.8/T2:05.4, 12 yds; Paula (dr Dave Gibbons) 2nd; Johnny Gee (dr Wes Butt) 3rd
Light View off 12 yds won the sprint distance heat with 3½l to spare in a new NZ record time of T2:36 4/5 slicing 3/5 second off Ordeal’s former record. Light View was a grand staying trotter with fourteen wins trotting as well as being placed twice pacing from twelve starts, so she could be classified as dual gaited. As a broodmare she was to leave the winners of 27 races (four pacers, two trotters).
Heat Six – GEFFIN, tr/dr Charlie Hunter, T2:39.6/T2:07.6, Lt; Tony Bear (dr Wes Butt) 2nd; Conclusion (dr George Shand) 3rd
Geffin came from well back in the field to win his final heat beating home Tony Bear convincingly by two lengths to confirm his favouritism for the Grand Final.
Saturday 27 February, 1971 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2 miles, $10,000
GEFFIN (1966 King Creed/Craven gelding, family of Fanny Fern by Blind Tuckahoe U302), owner Roy McKenzie (Sir), trainer/driver Charlie Hunter, Lt, T4:23.6/T2:11.8, neck, half neck, 2/3 favourite [T2:06.4, $23,240]
Beau Winter, tr/dr Barrie Hamilton, 2nd
Paula, tr Dave and Arthur Gibbons, dr Dave Gibbons, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Precocious, Tutira, Light View, Tony Bear, Johnny Gee, Cardigan Lass, Fair Play, Reteps Pride, Merrin
Consolation : 2 miles, $3,000
WATERLOO, tr Colin Berkett, dr Maurice Holmes, T4:22.0/T2:11.0; Frosty Lass (dr Bob Young) 2nd; Inferno (dr Ivan Dickie) 3rd
Geffin was in the fifth line, one out and six wide into the home straight where he lost stride momentarily when suffering interference from Light View after which he sustained a powerful sprint finish to the line to win the Trotters Grand Final by a neck from Beau Winter, Paula and Precocious all finishing together in a tight bunch. Paula had not settled in well earlier in the carnival failing to eat up but she improved as the carnival went on. Merrin suffered interference when Reteps Pride broke extinguishing both their chances.
Geffin was yet another top trotter trained by Charlie Hunter, in this case for Wellington owner Sir Roy McKenzie. Geffin was bred by Mrs Nora Jones, wife of Derek, for whom he initially raced (six starts for two Greymouth wins). A Hal Dale line stallion King Creed, a pacer and pacing bred (sire of Lucky Creed, Miracle Mile, 24 race win sequence; Rauka Lad, Easter Cup) from Craven (dam also of ID Trotters heat winner Dupreez for Derek Jones), named after South African Rugby Board President Dr Danie Craven. Geffin was a grandson of Rowe Cup winner Rewa Scott and great great grandson of Trix Pointer (NZ Cup/NZFFA and only NZ Cup winning dam of a NZ Cup winner Wrackler – NZ/GN Derby and Dominion Hcp Trot – dual gaited champion). Other winners of the Dominion Hcp from the Trix Pointer dam line (Fanny Fern by Blind Tuckahoe) were Acclamation and Ordeal. This meant Geffin was from one of NZ’s better maternal families.
Shortly after his purchase by Sir Roy McKenzie, Geffin won NZ Trotting Stakes – 3. In winning the 1971 Inter-Dominion at Addington when a 4-year-old, together with Our Real Force (1990 Addington) they are only four year olds to have won the Trotters Grand Final. Geffin had gone into that series as a six-win horse winning two heats and finishing third in the other before annexing the Grand Final to his CV at only his twenty second start.
After the Interdominions Geffin won five straight – Hutt Park (twice), Alexandra Park and Addington (twice, Canterbury Park meetings) before being unplaced at a New Brighton meeting bringing to a close his four year old career. After just one start on the grass at Wanganui at five in October of 1971, seven starts after his ID Trotters triumph, ongoing unsoundness as result of various foot issues ended his all too short career. Hunter rated Geffin as easily the best trotter he had trained or driven to that point of time. His twenty nine starts saw him win on 14 occasions (Addington six, Alexandra Park/Hutt Park/Greymouth two each and Palmerston North/Nelson one) and placed third on three occasions, T2:06.2, $22,990.
1979 ADDINGTON – NO RESPONSE
This was the third Trotters ID championships at Addington (fifth overall), with an eight year/venue cycle in place throughout Australia. These championships consisted of two nights of heats with the Trotters Grand Final on the third night and Pacers Grand Final/NZ Trotting Championship being held the following Saturday as a day meeting. March 1971 was the year of the big “wet” in Christchurch with this particular March being the wettest on record to that time. While Australian champion Maoris idol was missing due to injury, Australian representation was provided by Silken, Hilton Adios, Abbey Logan and Hecs Hope. It was however the year of No Response, no fluke!!! It was also my first ever attendance at an Interdominion carnival – what a way to start off a lifetime of twenty three Interdominion championships to date.
Saturday 10 March, 2600m : first round of heats
Heat One – HANO DIRECT, tr/dr Doody Townley, T3:31.8/T2:11.0, Lt; Diogenes (dr Robin Butt) 2nd; Waipounamu (dr Stewie Sutherland) 3rd
The opening trotters heat was the first of two South Island heat victories on the night as future Grand Final winning mare Hano Direct (1980 Harold Park) enjoyed the trail behind leader Diogenes beating him home by a length . Waipounamu was a battling third ahead of Victorian Silken who finished on from a rearward position. Hot favourite Scotch Tar in the hands of Peter Wolfenden refused to trot losing 100 metres at the start before recovering for a close fifth after racing three and four wide from the 1000m, covering his last 2400m in 3:06.0.
Heat Two – NO RESPONSE, tr/dr Richard Brosnan, T3:26.4/T2:07.7, 10m; Even Speed (dr Wes Butt) 2nd; Our One (dr Ali Malcolmson) 3rd
No Response confirmed his Inter-Dom favouritism with a classy win over Even Speed, Our One and Hilton Adios in the second heat. His brilliant late finish around the leaders from the home turn saw him home by a half neck from Even Speed who was having his first start for fifteen months and a head back to Our One with Victorian Hilton Adios after positioning in the one by one was fourth three quarters of a length back. Leader to the home turn when resuming before fading to tenth was former leading juvenile and grand trotter Spartan Prince, the subject of ownership disputes that were resolved by his sale at public auction. He failed again on the second night and was withdrawn from the series and set aside for the season. No Response’s winning time was five and a half seconds quicker than that recorded by Hano Direct.
Wednesday 14 March, 3200m : second round of heats
Heat Three – NO RESPONSE, tr/dr Richard Brosnan, T4:17.2/T2:09.3, 15m; Silken (dr Kevin Murray) 2nd; Albey Logan (dr Graham Kirkwood) 3rd
No Response was even more impressive in putting away Silken and Albey Logan by four lengths from 15 metres over 3200m on the second night. No Response was at the rear of the field until the 700m before Brosnan set him alight. In front, early in the home straight his final 400m passed by in 29 seconds easing down. Silken who was well back early moved to be handy in the middle stages battling on gamely for second ahead of another Australian outsider Albey Logan who after being slow early was in front at the 2100m, finishing 1½l in arrears of Silken.
Heat Four – SCOTCH TAR, tr Slim Dykman, dr Peter Wolfenden, T4:17.2/T2:09.3, 15m; Hano Direct (dr Doody Townley) 2nd; Waipounamu (dr Henry Skinner) 3rd
Scotch Tar was just as impressive in recording an identical time to No Response’s when at his brilliant best later in the night. Scotch Tar missed away from 15 metres before circling the field to sit outside pacemaker Hilton Adios. He won easily by two lengths over opening night heat winner Hano Direct, a solid second 1¼l ahead of Waipounamu with two lengths back to Game Folly.
Saturday 17 March 1979 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2700m, $30,000
NO RESPONSE (1971 Hodgens Surprise/Cordsworth gelding, family of Marguerite U311), owner Fred Black, trainer/driver Richard Brosnan, 10m, T3:25.9/T2:07.5, 2l, 1½l, head, favourite [T2:04.9, $134,940]
Albey Logan, tr Tim Butt, dr Graham Kirkwood, 2nd
Silken, tr Shaun McCaffrey, dr Kevin Murray, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Pointer Hanover, Josephus, Game Folly, Scotch Tar, About Now, Waipounamu, Hano Direct, Even Speed, Diogenes
Trotting Consolation and Invitation Hcp : 2600m, $3,250 : note contained other than ID contestants and not strictly an ID Trotters Consolation.
HILTON ADIOS, tr Vic Rothacker, dr Stuart Rothacker, T3:30.0/T2:09.9; Colim (dr Clarrie Woodward) 2nd; Yankee Talent (dr Peter Wolfenden) 3rd
With 13,202 in attendance despite hefty gate charges and thousands watching live on television, this was a sensational Interdominion Trotters Grand Final. Scotch Tar ruined his chances yet again by breaking at the start and losing too much ground (over 100 metres) to make up although he did finish seventh timed to run his final 2000m in 2:33.4. The only city class NSW trotter nine year old Albey Logan (Logan Adios/Lady Forbes) driven by Grahame Kirkwood, husband of owner/trainer Noleen Kirkwood led at a merry clip from the start with Even Speed engaging him in a fierce battle in the middle stages. Noleen Kirkwood was attempting to become the first woman to officially prepare an Interdominion Grand Final winner (achieved twenty two years later by Lorraine Nolan with Yulestar in the 2001 Pacers Grand Final at Albion Park). Meanwhile No Response well back in the running seemed less and less of a chance of succeeding.
Turning for home $1.60 favourite No Response was a hundred to one to win. With a hundred metres to run an Australian quinella of Silken and Albey Logan appeared the likely result. Silken had improved after racing at the rear to threaten Albey Logan, however No Response had other ideas. Still well back at the 600m, he had begun threading his way through the field and after turning for home unwound so quickly changing ground for gaps three times in the home straight stormed to an emphatic victory going away by two lengths from Albey Logan, with Silken, Pointer Hanover (in trail throughout) and rank outsider Josephus (third line trail) almost in line for third a length and a half away. It was a performance that had to be seen to be believed and I for one was very grateful to have been in attendance to witness it. Following this victory No Response’s record stood at thirty starts for seventeen wins and three minor placings for $72,300 ($60,300 to date for the 1978/9 season).
Victorian Hilton Adios (Dick Adios/Nora Scott) took out the consolation by 1½l for owner/trainer Vic Rothacker driven by his son Stuart. Well back until a lap from home, he made ground to the midfield with 700m to run. Sprinting up to challenge the leaders turning for home, from here he proved too strong for the pacemaker Colim.
After winning his heats on the first two nights and the Trotters Grand Final, No Response won the NZ Trotting Championship (T2:04.9, his best ever mile rate) on the fourth day of the ID carnival (day meeting for the Pacers Grand Final won by Rondel) to post his tenth successive win and twelfth from sixteen starts as a seven year old and an ID carnival clean sweep. No Response beat Scotch Tar by a neck in an epic battle over the final 500m where they drew clear of the rest of the field ending up ten lengths ahead at the line. The two grand trotters waged a private war whilst No Response who had the easier run trailing Scotch Tar, just got home over his arch rival by a neck. No Response’s winning time of T3:21.9/T2:04.9 for the 2600mM journey created a new national record, 1.1 seconds inside Easton Light’s 1975 time (T3:23.0) also established at Addington.
Breeder/owner of No Response was Pleasant Point (South Canterbury) and in later years St Kilda, South Dunedin resident Fred Black. A real gentleman that I had the pleasure of meeting on many occasions at Forbury Park, Fred actually trained No Response for his first two wins before Richard Brosnan took over. No Response was a gelding from Noel Simpson’s imported Axworthy line pacing stallion Hodgen’s Surprise (sire of Ashburton Cup winner Trevor Hodgen; dam sire of Keystone Surprise) out of Ripcord mare Cordsworth (two trotting wins, dam of six winners from ten foals including No Response and No Illusion, grand dam of Mataki Maximus T2:00.3 WA Trotters Cup and Whitney Grace, dam of Elegant Image, T1:55.2, $414,829, VICSS – 3T, Breeders Crown – 4T, Knight Pistol Trotters Cup.
Black had been given No Response’s unraced grand dam First Axworth by Dave Hansen, a small time trainer of trotters at Palmerston North. First Axworth was by imported Peter The Brewer stallion Calumet Axworth (imported by Cecil Devine) from Native King mare Native Star. First Axworth produced a number of moderately performed trotting winners for the Hansens. Fred Black bred Cordsworth by Quite Sure trotter Ripcord (won eleven races, Ashburton Cup for Kaikoura breeder Heber Hewson) from First Axworth. She was to win three races for him before being destroyed aged twenty three in 1978 because of distemper.
This is the family of Marguerite (U311), through her granddaughter Muriel Madison whose New Zealand descendants after her importation from USA by Robert McMillan in 1905 include trotters No Response, Yankee Talent, Elegant Image (AUS) and pacers Bonniedene, Bonny Azure, County Antrim, Koala King (ID Pacers Grand Final), Jack Cade, Lord Lenny.
No Response did not commence racing until he was aged six in 1977/8 season. His seventeen starts yielded six wins and three placings, wins coming at Geraldine (Orari racecourse paying $19.30 for the win), Timaru, Forbury Park (two) and Addington (two) together with a third in his season ending Rowe Cup start. At seven, his ID Trotters Grand Final season (1978/9), from sixteen starts he recorded twelve victories including ten in succession. These included six at Addington (Winter Hcp, Ordeal Trotting Cup, two Trotters ID heats and Grand Final, NZ Trotting Championship), five at Alexandra Park (Ngapuhi Hcp, Challenge Stakes, National Trot, Bridgens Memorial in national record T2:53.5/T2:06.8 for 2200m, Easton Light Hcp in national record T3:34.7/T2:07.9 for 2700m) and DB Trotting FFA at Timaru. He was undefeated from 21 October 1978 to 24 March 1979, only misses being in Christchurch Hcp (first up fourth for season at Addington) and at Alexandra Park (fourths in Committee Hcp, Gentry Lodge Stud FFA and fifth in Bells Whiskey Hcp). This ten race streak was a record for a trotter in NZ.
As an eight year old from six starts, he had a second in Worthy Queen Hcp and third in Timaru’s DB Trotting FFA. Off the scene then for nine months, he resumed what was his final year of racing at nine in October 1980. His sixteen NZ starts saw five wins (Addington : Stewards Trotting FFA, NZ Trotting Championship; Timaru DB Trotting FFA; Alexandra Park Gentry Lodge Stud FFA, Rowe Cup final career start and victory), two seconds (Worthy Queen Hcp, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup) and two thirds (Dominion Hcp dead heating with Game Way, Dunedin Trotting Cup). In Australia, his five starts saw him win a heat of Australasian Trotting Championship, second in the final to Stormy Morn and a third for stakes of $8,750 (T2:07.3AUS).
Unsound with recurring osteo-arthritis No Response was retired as a ten year old in early November 1981, with a career record of twenty four wins (ten at Addington, seven at Alexandra Park), six seconds and five thirds (includes Australian stats) from sixty starts, $135,128, T2:04.9. No Response was the 1978/79 NZ Five Year and older Trotter of Year, Trotter of Year, Stake earning Trotter of Year and first ever trotter to be crowned NZ Harness Horse of the Year. An inductee into the NZ Trotting Hall of Fame, he won the Addington Horse of Year title in 1979. Dying aged twenty eight, he spent his retirement on the Kerrytown property leased by Brosnan to David Gaffaney, where he had been trained by Richard Brosnan.
Peter Craig
30 May 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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