LEVIATHAN DUNEDIN OWNER : GEORGE BARTON (Part Four)

This is the fourth of six articles covering the life and racing times of George Johnson Barton, the leviathan and colourful Dunedin owner. Part Four reviews the career of his outstanding champion pacer Indianapolis.

Indianapolis –

Indianapolis – 1929c (Wrack/Estella Amos), 73 starts : 27 wins, 8 2nds, 5 3rds NZ (26 for GJ Barton); 2:00.4TT, £10,257/$20,514, U303 Brown Lancet

Indianapolis

Following dual NZ Cup winner of 1931/1932 Harold Logan, Indianapolis was a personality horse, public idol and champion NZ bred horse of the 1930’s Great Depression years. One of the greatest stayers ever produced in the Dominion, a few salient facts concerning him follow :

• Winner of 27 races, £10,257 ($20,514); meagre stake earnings due to the Depression
• Leading stake earner 1934/5 season : £3,210
• Established mile records 2.01.4TT (19/1/1935 Addington); 2:00.4TT (13/11/1936 Addington); [Lawn Derby was first to better 2 minutes in Australasia – 1:59.4TT 11/11/1938 at Addington]; world 2 mile record 4:15.8 (NZ Cup 1934)
• Winner of NZ Cup/FFA same year 1935
• First three time winner of NZ Cup in successive years 1934/1935/1936 (record shared with False Step 1958/1959/1960)
• Remarkable NZ Cup sequence :

at 5 : 1934 NZ Cup defeated Blue Mountain King & 1931/1932 dual NZ Cup winner Harold Logan

at 6 : 1935 NZ Cup defeated War Buoy and 1933 NZ Cup winner Red Shadow

at 7 : 1936 NZ Cup defeated Red Shadow, War Buoy and Harold Logan

• George Barton’s 3 wins, most NZ Cup wins as an owner, record shared with Jim Smyth (False Step)
• George Barton’s 3 runners in 1936 ( Indianapolis 1st, Cloudy Range 5th, Grand Mogul 6^th) and 1937 (Indianapolis last, Cloudy Range 2^nd last, Tempest 2^nd) shares with Colin (CJ) McLaughlin in 1973 (Royal Ascot 5th, Manawaru 10th, Manaroa 13th) record for most starters in one ownership in NZ Cup
• Trainer Claude (FC) Dunleavy’s 3 NZ Cup wins with Indianapolis (record is 6 – Cecil Devine : Van Dieman, Thunder, False Step (3), Lord Module; and James (Scotty) Bryce : Cathedral Chimes, Great Hope, Ahuriri (2), Kohara. Devine jointly holds the driving record at 6 with Ricky May – Inky Lord, Iraklis, Mainland Banner, Monkey King (2), Terror to Love)
• 1938 Christchurch ID’s, an incredible 5 starters for Barton – Indianapolis, Tempest, Cloudy Range, Grand Mogul and Speedy Boy
• A season by season account of Indianapolis’s career appears later in this article

Indianapolis was bred at Harry (HF) Nicoll’s Durbar Lodge, Ashburton by Freeman Holmes and WH Norton, both of Christchurch. Durbar Lodge was named after the 1908 NZ Cup winner Durbar, an Australian bred who won the 1903 Otahuhu Cup and placed third to Monte Carlo and Norice in the inaugural NZ Cup (1904). The property consisted of 256 acres, established in 1913 at Wakanui, Ashburton county (previous property at Mitcham Road). Andy Pringle trained for Nicoll 1904-1914 before Don Warren took over until 1931. Following Nicoll’s dispersal sale in 1932, Durbar Lodge Ltd was formed and remained in existence until 1938 when son Arthur (AJ) Nicoll took over the stud. It was leased for agriculture during WWII before being returned to horses until Arthur sold it and moved to Ashburton..

The Nicoll’s – Harry was an outstanding administrator : President of Ashburton TC  1906-1955; President NZ Trotting Conference 1922-1947; leading owner 1908/9, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13 and 1920/21; horses included – NZ Derby’s Childe Pointer, Ciro, Arethusa 11 wins; GN Derby’s Lady Swithin, Nantwich; Nell Pointer dam of Tempest; imported leading sire Wrack in 1924; also raced gallopers. Son Arthur, OBE succeeded his father as President of Ashburton TC 1955-64, Vice President 26 years, committee member, steward, part owner dual gaited Wrackler 1930 NZ Cup/1932 Dominion Hcp Trot, NZ/GN Derby; Aldershot NZ Derby; Ordeal Dominion Hcp/Rowe Cup/T1:59.3US bred by AJ Nicoll, sold at 1955 Easter sales to Bill Bradley as 3yo filly for 310 guineas – grand dam Arethusa full sister to Wrackler; Tempest 2^nd Sapling Stakes before sold to GJ Barton.

Many of the above winners and a steady supply of Durbar Lodge stock purchased by George Barton were sired by Wrack e.g. Indianapolis, Bitter Sweet, Bracken, Tempest, Wrecker, Cloudy Range. Indianapolis’s sire Wrack was imported by HF Nicoll (sired NZ Cup winners Wrackler, Indianapolis (3), Bronze Eagle; Dominion Hcp Trot winners Wrackler, Sea Gift, Peggotty) while his dam Estella Amos was imported by Freeman Holmes as a yearling filly (early 1923), she by Axworthy sire Dale Axworthy (also imported 1919 NZ Cup winner Trix Pointer – dam of dual gaited Wrackler). Indianapolis was registered as a 2yo in April 1932. He was already 16hh and eventually grew to 17hh – a giant in size which obviously assisted him becoming a mighty stayer. He was purchased by AJ Nicoll from his father’s dispersal sale in 1932 and later sold to George Barton as an early three year old for £500. This was after being trialled by Bill (WJ) Tomkinson who rated him “the greatest pacer ever foaled” – a bargain indeed even for the depression years.

Indianapolis commenced racing as a 2yo (1931/2) and raced until ten. Initially he was trained by Jack Behrns who went to Durbar Lodge as 21yo under Don Warren. Three years later in 1931 he assumed full training duties from Warren at Durbar Lodge where he remained for a further four years. He trained Indianapolis for his first win in the Selma Hcp (1½m) as a 2yo against rivals of all ages at the Ashburton County RC meeting in May 1932 (13^th favourite). Maurice Holmes drove him to win his first race. A couple of weeks later he finished second to Taxpayer in the Sapling Stakes. Indianapolis’s 2yo record was 2:1-1-0, £240

His three year old season (1932/33) proved to be his equal longest season in terms of the number of starts. His record read 13: 6-3-2, £1,282 (5^th leading stake earner). Indianapolis was now owned by GJ Barton and trained /driven for him by leading horseman WJ Tomkinson. Only unplaced twice throughout the season, Indianapolis started off with a second in New Brighton’s  1¼m Summer Hcp in October 1932. A second in Oamaru’s Redcastle Hcp (1½m) followed before Indianapolis registered his opening 3yo season’s win at Hutt Park on 24 October in the Borough Hcp (1½m). Placing second to Taxpayer in the 1,000 sovereigns NZ Derby (1½m), was Indianapolis’s return from the 1932 NZ Cup meeting. His next success was Forbury’s Caversham Hcp (1½m) in late November when driven by Eugene (EC) McDermott.

Taken to Auckland for the Auckland Cup Christmas carnival, Indianapolis was successful in the 600 sovereigns GN Derby (1½m), beating Taxpayer (dr ex Australian George Mouritz) into second by 1½ lengths. Only three horses had lined up to face the starter with McDermott driving him to victory.

At Forbury Park in January 1933, Indianapolis won on both days for WJ Tomkinson – King George Hcp (11 furlongs) and the 1 mile Telegraph Hcp (12 yds) run in a 2:11.0MR. Placings followed in the New Brighton clubs 2m Denton Memorial (36 yds – 2^nd) and the NZMTC Easter meeting’s 2m Wilkin Hcp (48 yds – 3^rd ). His Wilkin Hcp run established a NZR for a 3yo over 2 miles of 4:23.2 which was to last 14 years before being comprehensively lowered to 4:18.0 by Leo Berkett’s Snowflake in Liverpool Hcp (Easter 1947). This 3yo record was still on the books when the change to metrics took place in 1973/4 (Hillcrest 4:18.0MS, 1973). Indianapolis recorded his sixth and final 3yo success taking out the Ashburton Winter Hcp (1½m) in June 1933.

Indianapolis’s four year old season (1933/4) proved very successful, a testimony to the training prowess of WJ Tomkinson. His seasonal stats showed 12:7-2-1, £1,720 (2^nd leading stake earner). Unplaced on two occasions, he commenced racing at the NZMTC’s National meeting in August 1933 just 7 weeks after his last 3yo start winning on the first two days of the meeting – 1¼m Selwyn Hcp on opening day and the 1¼m Lincoln Hcp (12 yds) on the second day in a time nearly 5 seconds quicker, Indianapolis ran second in the 2m Heathcote Hcp (36 yds) on the third and final day of the National meeting. Back to winning form at the Oamaru meeting on Labour Day Monday in the 1¼m Weston Hcp (forerunner to Hannon Memorial, instigated in 1938) preceded his performances at the 1933 NZ Cup carnival. On NZ Cup Day, he was an easy victor by 4 lengths in the 1¼m Empire Hcp (36 yds) and on second day in the 1¼m Hornby Hcp (36 yds), unable to overcome his handicap and finished second.

For the second season running Indianapolis was taken to Auckland for the Christmas Cup carnival, entering the big league, his first real test against the open class horses he proved up to the job taking out the 1933 Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park winning by a length and a half in a time of 4:26.4. It was his only start at the carnival but a richly rewarding one for Barton as the stake for the 2m Cup stood at £750 (plus £50 trophy).  Unplaced in the Dunedin Cup (won by Lindbergh) was followed on the second day of the January 1934 Forbury meeting with a third in the 1¼m Au Revoir Hcp. Back in winning mode again, Indianapolis took out the NZMTC 1¼m Craven Hcp at the February meeting in record 2:37.0. His only other start this season was at Hutt Park in mid May in the 2m Dominion Hcp which he won in the hands of EC McDermott. The race prior to the Dominion Hcp was one of a series of match races run throughout NZ in the April/May 1934 period when the Australian great Walla Walla was in the country. This particular Invitation Match race for £250 over 1¼m resulted in : 1^st Harold Logan, 2^nd Impromptu, 3^rd Red Shadow, 4^th Glenrossie; also started Walla Walla, Auburn Lad and Lindbergh. A top level line up of very good horses including two NZ Cup winners. At the height of Indianapolis’s 4yo season, Barton turned down an offer of $20,000 (£10,000) from a visiting American sportsman.

During Indianapolis’s 5yo season (1934/5), his previous year’s record of seven wins was equalled – 13:7-1-1, £3,210 (leading stake earner of year). With the passing of WJ Tomkinson at the end of the previous season (trained Indianapolis for 13 wins; driver on ten occasions; EC McDermott driver on three occasions), Claude (FC) Dunleavy took over the training of Barton’s horses. Dunleavy didn’t have immediate success : Indianapolis placed second in the 2m King George Hcp (winner Silver de Oro) on day 2 of the NZMTC August National meeting before easily winning the 2m National Hcp by 5 lengths on day 3 which qualified him for a NZ Cup start, on both occasions EC McDermott drove him. Continuing his preparations for the 1934 NZ Cup carnival, Indianapolis headed to Oamaru where on Labour Day Monday he was successful in the 2m Oamaru Hcp (48 yds) with Dunleavy driving. An unconventional final outing before the NZ Cup itself eventuated when Indianapolis (276 yds) was unplaced in the Little River Hcp Trot at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting in late October 1934 (Tempest was unplaced off 216 yds).

Indianapolis nearly didn’t make it to his first NZ Cup due to a brittle foot, one of his hooves split from the toe right up to the coronet with the heel also giving concern. Addington farrier F. Archer, skilfully riveted the heel and deadened the affected parts (cocaine was mentioned). This enabled Indianapolis to overcome lameness and register his first NZ Cup victory on Tuesday 6 November 1934. The Truth reported

“the rumour that Indianapolis was lame on Cup morning was no eyewash to lengthen the late price. It was only too true …. Right up to the last hour there could be no certainty that he would be able to start“. The Press reported “Indianapolis, who had been under veterinary treatment for an injury to a foot, had not missed a workout, and he confounded those critics who had doubts about his soundness. He appeared tender when being brought to the birdcage, but on the softer track he was better when warmed up. His stable connections were a little perturbed, however, over his condition.”

Starting favourite (paid £3 5s), he established a world record time for the 2m staying journey of 4:15.8, last mile and a quarter in 2:35.0, last mile 2:03.6, last half 59.6, a searching test of his stamina. The previous record of 4:16.0 was set by Satin King in the 1933 Courtenay Hcp (48 yds). Against 11 rivals, Indianapolis started off 12yds in the £1,500 Cup (plus £100 trophy), leading from 3 furlongs out he was driven to a 1 length victory over Blue Mountain King and dual 1931/1932 winner Harold Logan (72 yds) by EC McDermott [the 1939 NZ Cup was marred by death of McDermott driving Colonel Grattan. He went to the front at the half mile peg, led to within 100yds of quarter mile peg where McDermott collapsed and fell from the sulky. No interference was caused to any other runner.. McDermott died of a heart attack suffered in the ambulance on the way to hospital].

Indianapolis started on day 3 of the Cup meeting, Friday A&P (Agricultural and Pastoral) Show Day, in the 2m Christchurch Hcp (36 yds), winning by 2 lengths and almost equalling his Cup record time recording 4:16.2. He broke a hopple after a furlong, raced with broken gear dangling dangerously between his hooves, hoppled on one side and free legged the other, he won easily for McDermott. For the third year running, Indianapolis made an appearance at Auckland’s 1934 Christmas Cup carnival. Unsuccessful in defending his AK Cup (48 yds) crown from the previous year (winner Roi L‘Or); won the 1¼m Champion Hcp (24 yds) in the hands of Jack (J) Fraser jnr on the second day and unplaced on day 3 in the 2m Presidents Hcp (48 yds) won by Worthy Light.

Indianapolis had his next start at the NZMTC Royal meeting of 19 January 1935, easily winning the appropriately named 1¼m Windsor Hcp (12 yds) by 6 lengths in the hands of Fraser jnr. On the same day he won an exhibition mile in a NZR 2:01.4, taking a second off the Australasian record (2:02.4TT) jointly held by Auburn Lad and Walla Walla. Indianapolis’s splits were : 2 furlongs 30 seconds, half mile 60.8 seconds (joined by galloping prompter Compass for balance of distance), 6 furlongs 1m 31 seconds with last quarter in 30.4 seconds. He won the Bullock Lade Cup donated by Arthur Rose, Christchurch on behalf of Bullock Lade Distillery Co for the first horse to establish a new mile record. His next two starts were at the April Easter NZMTC meetings – successful on day 1 in the 1¼m Flying Hcp (24 yds) and third in the 1¼m Final Hcp (36 yds) on day 2, concluding Indianapolis’s 5yo season.

Indianapolis as a 6yo (1935/6) won half of his 8 starts. His record shows 8:4-1-0, £1,780 (2^nd leading stake earner). Beginning his season in August (Speedway Sprint) and September with two unplaced runs off long marks which obviously honed his fitness, he commenced an unbeaten sequence of four straight wins. Starting with the Oamaru club’s 1¼m 1935 Weston Hcp on Labour Day Monday, a fortnight before the NZ Cup, Indianapolis won this event for the second time (see also 1933) equalling Harold Logan‘s NZR. Winning by a neck in a track record 2:36.6, he came from the rear with two furlongs to go running his last quarter in better than 28 seconds.

His next start in the 1935 NZ Cup, where again favourite (paid £1 16s), Indianapolis successfully defended his title against ten other starters. Run on Tuesday 12 November 1935, the Cup was worth £1,500 (plus £100 trophy), Indianapolis was handicapped off 48 yds, driven by J Fraser jnr. He defeated War Buoy and 1933 NZ Cup winner Red Shadow by 3 lengths in the slow time of 4:44.0 due to a heavy track after overnight rain and a showery day. Slow away, Indianapolis moved from last to first at the five furlong mark taking over from War Buoy and eventually winning easily. He won again on the second day of the meeting in the 1 mile Clarkson Memorial (48 yds) in 2:09.2 (track still heavy), beating stable mate Tempest into second (dr Doug (DC) Watts). One of only six starters, Indianapolis completed a carnival clean sweep the next day winning the 1¼m NZFFA of £400 (dr Fraser jnr), with Tempest (Watts) second one length in arrears.

Indianapolis was unplaced in his next start in January 1936 to Barton owned Cloudy Range in the NZMTC Craven Hcp (108 yds). A courageous second to Rey Spec (12 yds) in the 1936 2m Dunedin Cup – winner 4:27.4, Indianapolis 4:21.6 (84 yds), this  was his last start at six although he raced against time on the second day of the Forbury meeting on 1 February 1936.

This was reported in the West Australian on 7 January 1936 : “The New Zealand “Referee” says that Mr.G.Barton has advised the Forbury Park Trotting Club that he will send Indianapolis against the mile record at the club’s next meeting at the end of this month. The club has offered £100 to the successful applicant …. The mile record at Forbury Park is at present held by Harold Logan, who against the watch in November 1931 [26/11/1931], recorded 2:04.4 …”. Indianapolis was prompted by Mr EN Didham’s galloper Hauteur – ridden by Arthur (AE) Didham – driven by J Fraser jnr, cut out the mile in 2:03.6 in a classic exhibition of speed and giant strides. He earned a prolonged round of applause from an appreciative crowd.

On the same day, Mr FW McGill’s chestnut mare Rocks Ahead (Happy Voyage/First Water), ridden by J Walsh, established a track record over a mile in saddle of 2:09.4 winning the Telegraph Hcp. The mile time recorded by Indianapolis was not lowered until Highland Fling’s TT2:01.0 on 1/5/1948 where later the same day he won the Otago Pacing FFA (11furlongs tr/dr Leo Berkett, 2:55.0). Highland Fling further lowered the Forbury track record to 1:58.0TT in 1949 (extracts concerning Indianapolis exploits at Forbury Park appear from an unpublished history of trotting in Dunedin, courtesy of FPTC and information provided by Ken Dempster, FPTC).

As a 7yo (1936/7), Indianapolis had the one win, but a mighty important one, his third successive NZ Cup victory, the first of only two horses to ever achieve this feat (False Step 1958-1960). His 7yo record read 6:1-0-0, £1,100 (16^th on stake earners list). After a nine month spell since January 1936, two unplaced runs, both off 108 yds began his season in October in New Brighton’s Avon Hcp and Oamaru’s Presidents Hcp.

Next on Tuesday 10 November 1936 came a third NZ Cup triumph for Indianapolis. Starting off a 48 yd handicap in the £2,000 Cup (plus £100 trophy) for dr J Fraser jnr, Indianapolis ran the 2 mile journey on the 6 furlong clay track (heavy but improving after overnight rain) in 4:30.6 to win by one length, defeating Red Shadow, War Buoy and Harold Logan. Red Shadow had gone three lengths clear at the 3 furlongs where Fraser jnr sent Indianapolis after him. With big strides and a hard drive under the whip, he gained ground over the last 100 yds to prevail. Indianapolis was again favourite paying £1 5s 6d to win (shortest favourite ever) and returning 16s 6d (less than money back) for a place. This was the first year since 1901 that a win and 3 place pool was available (previously just a win and second place pool only operated). The same two horses were placed for the second year in a row, albeit in reverse order from 1935 (same occurrence in 1958/1959 with Caduceus and Gentry placing to False Step).

Indianapolis TT2:00.4, galloping pacemaker Cleaner ridden by top jockey JL (Jimmy) Ellis

Having undergone a 2 mile preparation, Indianapolis confounded all pundits by appearing three days later on Show Day (13/11/1936) and time trialling in his best ever recorded mile time of 2:00.4. Driven by J Fraser jnr, his galloping prompter was Cleaner ridden by top jockey Jimmy Ellis. Indianapolis’s splits were : 2 furlongs 29½ seconds, half mile 59 seconds, 6 furlongs 1m 29 seconds before weakening slightly over the final quarter. The same day unplaced in the 1¼m NZFFA (won by Harold Logan), Indianapolis’s half brother Ganton (Drusus/Estella Amos) won the Whiteleigh Hcp on Show Day. His two remaining unplaced efforts came in January’s NZMTC Midsummer Hcp (96 yds) and Forbury’s 1937 Dunedin Cup (84 yds), an event won by Willow Wave with Barton stable mate’s Grand Mogul (2^nd) and Tempest (3^rd), this concluded his 7yo season.

His 8yo (1937/8) season saw Indianapolis out of the limelight and into the twilight of his career. His 8yo record shows 12:1-0-1, £315 (46^th equal on stake earners list). His numerous unplaced runs came off long marks in races such as Oamaru’s Weston Hcp (84 yds); 1937 NZ Cup (72 yds, won by Lucky Jack, finishing a long last after having to be eased in work a week before Cup due to bruised foot); Auckland Cup (60 yds); Auckland’s Presidents Hcp (60 yds); Ashburton’s Inter State Hcp (84 yds pre 1938 ID’s) and All Aged Stakes in June (72 yds; won by Horse Power, later addition to Barton ownership), his final outing for the season. His one placing came in the ATC 1½m Champion Hcp (72 yds). At the 1938 ID’s held in late April/early May at Addington, Barton had five representatives – Indianapolis unplaced all three heats (1¼m 48 yds and off 60 yds in 1½m and 2m), Grand Mogul, Cloudy Range (only runner to make Grand Final), Tempest and Speedy Boy (only started day one). Indianapolis reserved his best for Grand Final day by taking out the second ID Consolation, £450, 1m 5 furlongs (60yds) in 3:33.0 for tr J Fraser jnr/dr DC Watts. He won by a head from Reporter having been off the winning list since his third successive NZ Cup.

His final two seasons produced little reward from a handful of starts. As a nine year old (1938/9), Indianapolis was unplaced at New Brighton (96 yds); boxed in up the straight in the NZFFA; unplaced in the Ashburton Cup (72 yds) and CPTC Selwyn Hcp (48 yds) in early January 1939. His only placed effort came in the New Brighton FFA run in February 1939 when a fast finishing third to Pluto and Nervies Last, beaten 2 lengths over the 9½ furlong journey (2:34.4). J Fraser jnr did the steering as well as the training of Indianapolis whose 9yo record was 5:0-0-1, £50. Two unplaced starts in the 1939/40 season completed the impressive career of Indianapolis – the New Brighton club’s Mace Memorial (60 yds) in December 1939 and the Autumn FFA (1¼m) on day 3 of the NZMTC Easter 1940 meeting, won by Fine Art, were his final starts. His 10yo record was 2:0-0-0, £0.

Retired to stud, Indianapolis sired 75 individual winners (53 pacers, 5 in 2:0; 22 trotters; 7 Aust winners – 5 pacers, 1 in 2:10; 2 trotters). Classic Families (CF) records his producing 46 classic offspring (Indian Game – ID ht, Indian Parrish – Rowe Cup) and being dam sire of 27 (Jewel Derby – Rowe Cup; brother and sister pair Le Chant – ID Trot Consolation, Trotting FFA, Trotting C/S and Stylish Major – ID Trot ht & Final; Sugar’n Spice – Aust Trot C/S)). Indianapolis died in 1951.

Siblings of Indianapolis were also prominent performers – full brothers Miraculous won 2 heats of the 1947 Perth ID’s (4^th in final to Bandbox) and in good company at Harold Park (sire of 55 winners; dam sire of good Australian trotters Just Money, Miracle Note) and Imperial Jade won 1939 NZ Derby. His full sister Tondelyo, initially founded a large winning family for Lyttleton green grocer Frank Woolley. She has continued a phenomenally successful branch of the Estella Amos (Brown Lancet) family – a few of the notables include Margaret Hal; Orbiter; Derby specialists descending from Tondelyo : NZ – Bachelor Star, Main Adios, Game Adios, Hilarious Guest, Albas Reign; GN – Speedy Guest, Main Star, Fiery Falcon; Bionic Chance; Oaxaca Lass; Lancome; Highview Tommy; The Falcon Strike.

PART FIVE : will review the career of his ID winner Grand Mogul.

Peter Craig

25 August 2016

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