The second of four articles covering the harness racing career of Lester Maidens. This is a continuation of our look at his New Zealand history and horses raced by him.
TRICLIFF (1930g Man O’War/Miss Darling, 2:14.8, £415½) – 3/3 for Maidens
Another example of a horse developed by Maidens throughout his entire career, Tricliff commenced racing as a four year old under Maidens charge. In his first four placed starts at Greymouth and Amberley and later at Timaru, he was driven by Greymouth trainer H Frost.
A three time winner for Maidens, twice at four, first by a narrow margin at Timaru (South Canterbury JC) when favourite following solid placed form in the two weeks prior, the other at Ashburton a fortnight later in a field of twenty four. Following his Ashburton victory, Tricliff next placed twice at the Wellington TC mid-September 1935 meeting. First he finished third to future Interdominion champion Grand Mogul as well as running second in a later event. As a five year old, his solitary win came at another local venue Methven, when favourite proving a consistent performer. Tricliff did not maintain form as a six, seven or eight year old for Maidens, never again being placed.
SPORTS REVIEW (1930g Rey De Oro/Bounty, A7, 2:08.0, £1,310) – 1/7 for Maidens
Asa six year old , October 1937 was Sports Review’s first placing for Maidens at the Wellington TC meeting at Hutt Park, coming second in the Borough Hcp beaten a neck by Sandusky. Early January 1938 two days after running third in the Middleton Hcp at Addington, Sports Review recorded his only win (12 yds) for Maidens in the Progressive Hcp at Greymouth TC’s meeting from future Maidens trained pacer Zincali. His final placed effort for Maidens was a one mile saddle event at New Brighton February 1938 ridden by free-lance driver Doug Watts who was in the early stages of his career.
Wins for other trainers included : Greymouth Cup; NZMTC Lincoln Hcp
TONIORO (1931g Rey de Oro/Unregistered, 2:11.4, £494) – 2/4 for Maidens
Cyril White when working for the Vivian brothers at “Shands Track “remembered Tonioro (eight year old) very well as having been set up to win a trot by Lester Maidens at a galloping meeting held at Ashburton (Ashburton County RC) in May 1940 (Rakaia Trot). Having paid fourteen pounds to win, White’s ten bob paid for his new teeth. Whilst Maidens trained him, D Bennett was his driver. An eight year old, this was Tonioro’s first appearance in the Maidens colours.
Winning again later in the year at the Winton Christmas meeting, he was an easy eight length victory in the Farewell Hcp (driver IM Scoon). He had earlier in the day finished a close third in the Winton Trotting Cup won in near Southland record time by Foremost Junior. The 4:27.0 winning time was second only to Willowbank’s record in the previous year’s Cup of 4:23 2/5.
JESSE OWENS (1932g Adioo Guy/Eiffel Tower, N776, 2:08.5, £1,995) – 4/7 wins for Maidens
Jesse Owens (then seven year old) was to win four of his first six starts for Maidens after his training had been taken over following the Addington Easter meeting from Dinny Teahen of Certissimus (leading trotter) fame. Running second to Dusky Sound at Ashburton, Jesse Owens won the Kaikoura Hcp at the Combined Christchurch TC’s (Patriotic Fund Appeal) meeting at Addington in April 1940. In just his second start for Maidens, he comfortably won the day’s principal race (driver L. Frost). This was his second win in sixteen seasonal starts (earlier win at Addington in August 1939) and the previous season he won twice in eighteen starts.
Attaining a double over two days at the Wellington TC meeting at Hutt Park in mid-April just days after the Addington meeting. First was the Wairarapa (Cup) Hcp, which Jesse Owens had won the previous season for a different trainer, at this meeting Maidens provided the favoured bracket and his two stablemates delivered the quinella. Jesse Owens winning easily from Palomar with the favourites paying a shilling more on the place machine as against the win. The second day again successful in the RA Armstrong Memorial outclassing his opponents in a time four seconds slower for the 1½m journey (24 yds handicap) compared to the first day. This was his third victory on end with L. Frost doing the steering in all three.
Jesse Owens fourth successive victory came with ridiculous ease in the Enfield Hcp at Oamaru’s May 1940 meeting. Off 24 yds behind, Maidens handling him for his final success with him. These were to be the sum total of his wins for Maidens. After this win Jesse Owens placed a close third at Addington in the Ollivier Hcp to Sandusky during the 1940 NZ Cup carnival and third again as an early nine year old in the Belgium Hcp in August 1941 at Addington (field included two NZ Cup winners, Bronze Eagle second and Haughty fourth).
PETER SMITH (1933h Peter Bingen/Agie Bell, N65, 2:05.3, £5,405) – 9/15 for Maidens
A high class pacer who came into Maidens barn towards the end of his six year old season (1939/40), Peter Smith in his first placed performances for Maidens at Forbury Park, finished second to Ringtrue in the principal event (Ritchie Memorial) and won Flying Hcp (field reduced from twenty to eight by scratchings) on same day in early May 1940. Joint winner of the Oamaru Presidents Hcp with Great Don (run twice in calendar year 1940; Peter Smith won both, this being the second running) prior to good performances during NZ Cup week 1940 – after finishing third in the Canterbury Hcp, he displayed his fine sprinting powers to win the Le Lievre Hcp by a neck on the second/middle day of meeting.
The late November two day Forbury Park meeting came with thirds on both days in the staying tests by Peter Smith and victory in the sprint event by three lengths (Eden Hcp) on the second day. Victory on Boxing Day 1940 in the Ashburton Cup by a neck thanks to a superbly judged drive by Maidens who also won the next event with Little Derby (McLean Hcp). Placings followed at the two day Canterbury Park TC’s New Year’s meeting – third in Canterbury Hcp and second in Selwyn Hcp, a head in arrears of Sandusky driven by Maurice Holmes who was “found guilty of jostling … fined £20 for this offence”. Two further thirds at Timaru and at NZMTC’s 1941 Easter meeting (Easter Cup; neck, head from winner King Potts) rounded out Peter Smith’s first season for Maidens – five wins.
Peter Smith started his winning way as a seven year old (1941/2 season) with an impressive performance against a Hannon Memorial field containing at least six NZ Cup horses. Coming away from the field in the straight, this commanding performance was his best for some time. Kenworthy finished well for second with Nelson Eddy next best of the Cup horses in fifth place. This performance highlighted Peter Smith’s Cup credentials as seen in early November 1941 when he finished third to Josedale Grattan when fourth favourite (3l, 2l, 4:15.0).
Fast forward twelve months to the 1942 NZ Cup where Peter Smith (sixth favourite) finished fifth to Haughty (4:13.8), trained by Ben Grice. A week later on the second day of the Cup carnival, Peter Smith received rousing applause after prevailing in a close finish (head, neck, head) from Burt Scott and Lady Milne in the Ollivier Hcp. Unlucky in two successive NZ Cups when setting the pace for Josedale Grattan (1941) and taking the field up to tearaway pacemaker Gold Bar in Haughty’s success in 1942, his was a high class performance as turning for home he had seven horses in front of him. Burt Scott with the run of the race was in front with a furlong to run before being headed by Peter Smith in the last stride. On the same day he placed fourth to Gold Bar (set new NZ 1¼m record) in the NZ Premier Sprint Championship, following top draw horses in Gold Bar, Haughty and Josedale Grattan.
After winning the Boxing Day Hcp at Ashburton, placed efforts were his lot at New Brighton (second), thirds in NZMTC Metropolitan FFA (Gold Bar), Flying/JH Williams Hcps. On the same day as the JH Wiliams Hcp in late April 1943 he won the Champion FFA at Addington defeating Haughty by a head. This was his ninth and final success for Maidens.
Wins for trainers other than Maidens included : Oamaru Presidents Hcp; Cambridge Cup
ZINCALI (1933g Jack Potts/Zara, N76, 2:07.0, £3,202) – 6/11 for Maiden
Zincali was already a race winner when he arrived in Maidens stables aged seven in 1940/41 season. And what a season it turned out to be. Zincali went onto win six races for Maidens, making him leading stake earner in NZ with winnings of £2,164, a considerable sum of money at the time of the Second World War when opportunities for racing had been curtailed.
Zincali was raced by West Coast All Black Jack Steel, initially from the stables of leading horsemen Maurice McTigue and Dil Edwards. His first placed performance for Maidens was a second in the Methven Cup (paying more than a “score” £20 on the place machine) followed a week later with victory after losing considerable ground at the start over a mile in the Farewell Hcp (saddle race) at New Brighton (2:07 2/5) ridden by G Withers.
A series of placings followed over the next couple of months at venues such as Hutt Park, Addington, New Brighton and Timaru. Zincali returned to Hutt Park for a two day meeting at the end of January 1941, finishing second on the opening day to Gold Bar before annexing the Wellington Cup on the second. Although losing 36 yards at the start, he held off all comers including Gold Bar who only finished seventh. Two starts at the Canterbury Park TC meeting at Addington a week later resulted in a second and another win in the Au Revoir Hcp. Zincali’s seasonal record stood at three wins, seven seconds and a third at this stage. Another third placing followed at the New Brighton meeting the following week.
A hat trick of wins followed over the next six weeks, his final starts for Maidens. A comfortable all the way win by five lengths in the Timaru Cup was followed by a NZ/Australasian 1½m record in the Durbar Hcp (36 yds) at Ashburton (3:10 3/5). The Christchurch Press report suggested it may even have been a world record time. He won the Flying Hcp at the NZMTC Easter meeting after good performances in the All Aged Stakes and Presidents Hcp’s earlier at the carnival.
Wins for trainers other than Maidens included : Manawatu Cup
DUSKY SOUND (1933g Happy Voyage/Hectors Own, N609, 2:07.8, £7,777) – 2/10 for Maidens
At his best one of the better horses racing at the time in NZ, Dusky Sound raced over two seasons from the Maidens stable for whom he first appeared as a ten year old. After a promising second in the Hannon Memorial leading up to the NZ Cup, his Cup effort behind Haughty was somewhat underwhelming finishing second last (14th). He fared little better in the Ollivier Hcp the following week. With much improved performances at the 1944 Easter carnival, fourth placed finishes both days – Easter Hcp (Cup) and Champion Pacing FFA with Indian Clipper winning them both.
A third in the Timaru Cup preceded his first win for Maidens in Ashburton’s All Aged Stakes on Kings Birthday Monday in early June 1944. Later the same day Dusky Sound ran second in the Winter Hcp. Dusky Sound completed his first season with Maidens with placed performances (second, fourth) at the July Canterbury Park TC Patriotic meeting at Addington.
A new season commenced at the NZMTC’s August National meeting, Dusky Sound achieving two placed efforts. A third placing in a fine field of top class pacers in the NZ Premier Sprint Championship behind Pacing Power and Loyal Friend was his sole return from the 1944 NZ Cup meeting. His final stake earning performances for Maidens was at Ashburton’s Boxing Day meeting where Dusky Sound placed third in the Ashburton Cup (Pacing Power) and later won the Boxing Day Hcp, his second win for Maidens.
Wins for trainers other than Maidens included : Invercargill/Timaru Cups; Ashburton Durbar Hcp; NZMTC National/Presidents/Mason Hcp.
PALOMAR (1934g Grattan Loyal/Childwood, N9, 2:08.8, £1,561) – 5/6 for Maidens
The winner of five races in the space of ten months, Palomar was aged five when first appearing in Maidens colours. His first half dozen placed efforts all came on the Greymouth track in October 1939 and early New Year 1940. Following a second (dr G Withers) in a saddle event on the opening day of the two day October meeting, Palomar saluted the judge for the first time in the 8½f Hurricane Hcp on the second day, driven by GK Kerr. Back to Greymouth in January, Palomar won on the first day for G Withers and was second twice, once each for Withers and Maidens on the second day.
A good staying performance won Palomar the Birthday Hcp at a well patronised New Brighton TC meeting in February with his next wins coming the following month at Hawera’s Easter weekend meeting. First day success in the Hawera Cup, was followed by his final win for Maidens in the Kapuni Hcp together with a third on the second day. Returning to Canterbury, Maidens stopped off at Hut Park, Wellington where Palomar ran second to stable mate Jesse Owens in the Wairarapa Hcp. A third at the August NZMTC National meeting kick started his next season but after this performance he was moved to another stable.
WARNING (1934g Frank Worthy/Cammie, N241, 2:15.6, £596) – 4/4 for Maidens
Starting out as a five year old in March 1940, Warning won his first four starts in the space of ten days for Maidens. This sequence started with a double on the same day at the Taranaki TC’s meeting in New Plymouth and followed a week later by successes on both days of the Hawera meeting. No further success not even placings followed either that season for Maidens or in the subsequent two seasons for other trainers.
ZINGARRIE (1935h Jack Potts/Zara, N76, 2:12.9, £1,547) – 4/6 for Maidens
Another four win sequence horse for Maidens, Zingarrie spent two periods in the Maidens stables. Starting at Christmas 1939, he managed his four wins for Maidens in the space of ten days on the West Coast circuit. Following a third on Boxing Day at the Westport meeting, he recorded double success the following day. Successful again two days later at Reefton, he completed his victory circuit at Greymouth in the early New Year of 1940. Driven throughout by L Frost who reined him to further placings at Forbury Park and Addington over the next couple of months before Maidens took the reins back with a placing at Ashburton (Boxing Day 1940), the last for Maidens for several years.
Moved on to other trainers, Zingarrie had a further win as a seven year old under Manny Edwards care. Zingarrie was not seen back in the Maidens silks until the 1943/44 season (eight year old) where he gained a number of placings. As owner only, he had to wait until Zingarrie was a ten year old before gaining the final victory with him in the two mile Heathcote Hcp at Addington when trained and driven by GS (Swannee) Smith.
Other horses handled by Maidens included :
- non-winner’s Peter Locanda (drove him to five placings; ten wins for other trainers including Timaru Cup); Recluse (drove him to five placings; four wins for other trainers); Jolly Queen, solitary second placing at Gore for Maidens as an eleven year old and Admiral Wrack, a single placing for Maidens (saddle race, ridden by C Yeatman) when aged eight, with six wins for other trainers
- Gunfire, as a nine year old, one of seven wins for Maidens in Forbury Park Presidents Hcp (dr L Frost). Noted trotter Todd Lanzia started off 36 yds against the pacers in this race. Maidens was not well enough to drive his horses with Golden Bingen also winning for him the same day (dr L Frost)
- Little Derby, solitary win at Ashburton as a nine year old for Maidens after tried by number of trainers
- Southland, a five race winner, one for Maidens when aged nine in Canterbury Park Stewards Hcp
- Ruth Logan, three of six wins were for Maidens as an eleven and twelve year old – twice at Greymouth (first wins for three years, winning both days October 1936 meetings) and once at Forbury Park. Ran second at New Brighton (October 1936, Summer Hcp) to that seasons NZ/GN Derbies winner and future ID Pacing champion Parisienne
- Arachue, a nine year old returned to the winning list after an absence of more than twelve months when winning for Maidens in the Fendalton Hcp at Addington; five earlier wins for other trainers
Over seventeen seasons in New Zealand, Lester Maidens trained over 129 winners and drove over 77 winners based on easily accessible Year Book information. His records for a couple of seasons are not listed in annual summary format making exact totals uncertain.
Next Time : Lester Maidens, Australia and Dauntless Peter.
Peter Craig
16 January 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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