DELVIN DANCER
(Above is U Scott, broodmare sire of Ruer, Dam of Delvin Dancer )
By Jim Hogan
I wrote recently about Hammerhead, and how he had set the harness world alight, being unbeaten in his first 18 months of racing and winning his first 9 races straight. All of that pales into insignificance, however, when compared to the debut of Delvin Dancer. He won his first 15 races straight and was unbeaten in his first two years of racing.
Delvin Dancer was bred to be a champion. He was from the top sire of the day, Meadow Vance, from the beautifully bred NZ mare, Ruer. Seven of her first 8 foals were winners including the very good Victorian pacer, Reminis. Despite all this pacing blood in his veins, Delvin Dancer was an exceptional trotter.
Delvin Dancer never had a race start as a 2yo but he time trialled at Wayville and set a new Australasian 2yo trotting record of 2-7 4/5. Considering that the ‘open’ trotters track record was only a bit over 3 seconds faster, set by the champion Gramel as a 6yo, Delvin Dancer’s time was outstanding for an unraced 2yo. When he made his race debut as a 3yo at Mooroopna on 8-3-65, his ability was no secret and he justified his starting price of 1-8 by winning his debut start by 50 yards. He started at 1-10 when he won his next start at Geelong, and repeated that starting price when he won his third start at Shepparton by 120 yards. Next he went to Bendigo where a 24 yard handicap did nothing to hinder his starting price or the result. He started at 1-15 and won by 110 yards. His next start was the Victorian Trotters Derby at Geelong on 31-3-66, where he started at 1-10 and, once again, won easily.
He then travelled to Sydney for the NSW Trotters Derby at Menangle. His arrival was the end of the race as a betting medium, as he went to the post at 1-20 and beat Dark Cloud by 100 yards. Back to Victoria, and a 36 yard handicap proved no problem at his next start at Kilmore, when he won by 100 yards at the ‘lucrative’ odds of 1-8! At his final 3yo start he went to Cranbourne, on 27-6-66, started from 48 yards and won by 25 yards at odds of 1-15. As a 3yo Delvin Dancer was unbeaten in 8 starts and won the NSW and Victorian Trotter’s Derbies.
Given a 4 month spell, Delvin Dancer resumed as a 4yo on 25-10-66 at Bendigo. From 36 yards he had no trouble winning first up and beat Meadow Vale by 50 yards. Two weeks later he raced at Bendigo again, this time off 48 yards, and won again after starting at 1-15. A week later he won at Ballarat off 60 yards, after starting at 1-10, and won by 25 yards. On 2-12-66 he had his first HP start and, although the local punters were waiting for him, received no value for money when he started at 1-10 and won by 50 yards. It was his 12th consecutive win. Win number 13 came up on the 6th January 1967 at Ballarat where, off 48 yards, he simply toyed with the opposition, starting at 1-8 and winning by 20 yards. His first start on the Melbourne Showgrounds, on 21-1-67, was as easy as the rest, and he won by 20 yards after starting at 1-7. On 4-3-67 he returned to the Showgrounds for win number 15. He started off 24 yards, went to the post as a short 1-8
favourite, and beat Lovely Way by 25 yards.
Just as it was starting to look like he may never lose a race the unthinkable happened, he was beaten! He went to HP on 17-3-67 and started at 4-7 in a FFA, but could only finish 3rd to Rio and Panthers Flight, beaten 14 yards. A week later he had his last start as a 4yo in the HP Trotter’s Cup, off 24 yards and, as a 1-4 favourite, finished 5th to Uncanny. In his 4yo season Delvin Dancer had 9 starts for 7 wins, and ran his win streak to 15 consecutive wins before it was stopped.
He was given 5 months break and resumed on 21-8-67 in a pacer’s race at Kilmore. Off 12 yards and starting at 1-4, he had no trouble defeating Martinelli by 25 yards. Two weeks later he raced again in a pacer’s race at Kilmore, started at the same price, and beat Ambit by 9 yards. Eleven nights later he took on an Invitation field at HP. Off 24 yards and starting at 1-3, he beat Top Command by 4 yards with Uncanny 10 yards away 3rd. A month later he lined up in a FFA at HP, but was beaten a head by Bindaboo Major after starting at 1-3. He then travelled to Melbourne and raced in a FFA on 1-11-67, but only finished 8th to Tamboritha. A little over a month later he raced in another FFA at the Showgrounds and, over 14 furlongs, won by 5 yards and set a new track record, rating a VERY fast 2-7-3/5. He was, of course, favourite at 4-5. Two weeks later he raced in another FFA, once again at the Showgrounds, but despite being 4-5 favourite, could only finish 8th to Tamboritha. He travelled back to HP for a FFA on 12-1-68 but as a a 4-5 favourite could only finish 3rd to Bindaboo Major. He then travelled to NZ for the Inter Dominion Trotters series at Auckland.
Delvin Dancer almost didn’t make the series. He attacked another horse on the plane that was to take them to the ‘Shaky Isles’ and was off-loaded at Melbourne. When he was being led back on by Brian Gath, he seized Brian’s hand and refused to let go. His father, George, sized up the situation quickly and decided to punch Delvin Dancer in the mouth to force him to release Brian. This worked, but Brian had to stay for medical treatment so George Gath took Delvin Dancer to the Inter Dominion.
The trip was a complete disaster for the horse. On the first night of heats over 11 furlongs he ran unplaced to Stylish Major who won in world record time. On the second night of heats he ran 8th to Single Note over the 2 mile journey, and on the final night ran last behind Dispense, and failed to qualify for the final. He was then taken home and sent for a spell. His 5yo season had 11 starts for just 4 wins.
He resumed on 19-8-68 at Kilmore in a pacer’s race and won beating Western Ballet. Two weeks later he had his final start, once again in a pacer’s race at Kilmore, but could only finish 5th to Red Meadow. There were attempts to get him back to the racetrack over the next couple of years, but they gave up in the end and he went to stud as an 8yo.
Delvin Dancer had only 30 starts in a career spanning just 3 years, and won 20 of them. He has the unique distinction of starting an odds on favourite at every one of his Australian starts. He was probably the best juvenile trotter produced in Victoria, but failed to hold his early form as a 5 and 6yo. There was no doubt, however, that for his first 15 starts over his first 2 years of racing, he was the ‘hottest’ young trotter seen to that time.
By Jim Hogan
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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