A continuation of our look at time trials recorded over the years.
Mid 1930’s/early 1960’s
A strong breeze creating a dusty day, before a crowd of 2,000, trials against time were run on the day after Easter, Tuesday 17 April 1934 at Addington :
- Then 12yo Walla Walla paced 2:03 4/5TT(half 58 2/5), 1/5 second outside Acron’s NZ race record. On the opening day of the Easter carnival, Walla Walla had narrowly defeated Harold Logan in the first of a nationwide match race series in a world record standing start mile time of 2:04 1/5
- Biddy Parrish broke Todd Lanzia’s national trotting mile record with her T2:08 2/5TT shortly before Worthy Queen’s performance
- Setting a record that was to stand for 28 years, Worthy Queen’s T2:03 3/5TT (half 1:01½) was nothing short of sensational. A full five seconds quicker than Todd Lanzia”s T2:09.0TT set the previous season, Worthy Queen was accompanied by Olax (galloped in sulky by Free Holmes) alongside her throughout. Worthy Queen had broken in her first attempt but trotted throughout in her second attempt for trainer/driver Jack Shaw
- After Walla Walla’s failed attempt at Acron’s record, Auburn Lad reeled off a 2:02 2/5TT(first half 60 2/5) to set a new NZ record and equal Walla Walla’s Australasian record set in 1933 at Harold Park. Auburn Lad raced about 100 yards in front of his pacemaker for owner/driver Billy McKay
During the match race series, Impromptu at Claudelands on 12 May 1934 (match race series raced at Oamaru this day) equalled Happy Voyage’s grass track record with his 2:04 1/5TT. At the end of April at the Northland club’s annual meeting held at Alexandra Park, Impromptu had won one of the match race series events over 1¼m.
The first, three time consecutive NZ Cup winner Indianapolis produced several fine time trials over a mile starting 19 January 1935, 2:01 2/5TT at Addington for owner George Barton, trainer Claude Dunleavy and driver Eugene McDermott. His win in the exhibition mile (£100) in a NZR 2:01 2/5TT
(30:0, 60:8, 1:31.0, last quarter 30:4), took a second off the Australasian record (2:02 2/5TT) jointly held by Auburn Lad and Walla Walla (Harold Park). Indianapolis was joined by galloping prompter Compass at the half mile mark. 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. On the same day at the NZMTC Royal meeting (attended by Duke of Gloucester), Indianapolis easily won the appropriately named 1¼m Windsor Hcp (12 yds) by 6 lengths in the hands of Jack Fraser jnr.
Indianapolis 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 2/5 …”. Indianapolis, prompted by Mr EN Didham’s galloper Hauteur – ridden by Arthur (AE) Didham – driven by Jack Fraser jnr, cut out the mile in 2:03 3/5 in a classic exhibition of speed and giant strides, earning 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 2/5 winning the Telegraph Hcp. She also established a long standing Southland record at Wyndham of 2:05 2/5TT (earlier 2:06 1/5TT at Winton)..
Indianapolis’s piece de resistance came on 13 November 1936 shortly after having won his third NZ Cup. Having undergone a 2 mile preparation, he confounded all pundits by appearing three days later on Show Day and time trialling in his best ever recorded mile time of 2:00 2/5TT (29:5, 59.0, 1:29.0 weakening slightly over final quarter). Driven by Jack Fraser jnr, his galloping prompter was Cleaner ridden by top jockey Jimmy Ellis. The same day he was unplaced in the 1¼m NZFFA (won by Harold Logan),
Nervies Last 2:04 2/5TT at Alexandra Park on 2 October 1937 went close to the existing mile grass track record of 2:04 1/5.
Lawn Derby became the first horse outside North America to go under 2 minutes for the mile on Show Day Friday 11 November 1938 at Addington when he paced 1:59 2/5TT (29.4, 58.8, 1:28.2 last quarter 31.2). Driven by his trainer Jack O’Shea he was accompanied by galloping pacemaker Golden
Delight driven by Free Holmes. A free legged pacer Lawn Derby was bred and owned by John Mackenney, Cowra, NSW. On a track dampened by rain an hour before his attempt, he set a Southland record of 2:08 3/5TT at Wairio’s 1938 annual meeting. At Alexandra Park on 28 December 1939, he recorded 2:04 4/5TT mile on grass and again on the six furlong Claudelands grass track 2:02 2/5TT on Saturday 9 December 1939.
In far from favourable conditions at Alexandra Park on Saturday 11 February 1939, Van Derby driven by FJ (Wizard) Smith lowered the grass track world mile record to 2:00 2/5TT. At Addington in wintry conditions (June 1939), Van Derby set an Australasian record for 1½m of 3:09 1/5TT. Note – Lawn Derby and Van Derby were three quarter brothers (dam Roselawn with champion father and son sires in Globe Derby and Robert Derby).
In his last season of racing, Lucky Jack’s 2:01 1/5TT at Addington on 5 December 1939 came in the hands of driver Roy Berry for owner Bill Lowe of Hinds.
Josedale Grattan driven by FJ (Wizard) Smith paced a mile against time at Alexandra Park on 30 December 1941 in 2:02.0TT.
Gold Bar, who developed into a champion pacer won 1945 NZ Cup, six free-for-alls and held NZ/Australasian 1¼m record at 2:35.0 for eleven years. After Lawn Derby, he became the second horse and first NZ bred to break two minutes when on 2 January 1942 during a CPTC meeting at Addington, Allan Holmes rated him a mile in 1:59 3/5TT.
Becoming the first mare in Australasia/outside North America to break two minutes (third horse ever and second NZ bred), Haughty on Show Day 11 November 1944 at Addington equalled Gold Bar’s time of 1:59 3/5TT. Haughty was bred/owned/trained by Ben Grice of Tinwald and driven by Ossie Hooper. The previous season, Haughty had defeated Gold Bar in a match race, her 2:00 2/5 becoming the yardstick for a mare.
Indianapolis’s mile record at Forbury Park was lowered by Highland Fling’s TT2:01.0 (half 57:0) on 1 May 1948. An hour earlier he had won the 11 furlong Otago Pacing FFA (tr/dr Leo Berkett, 2:55.0, last mile 2:03 3/5). Highland Fling further lowered the Forbury track record to 1:58.0TT on 22 January 1949 (half 58 1/5). Two weeks later on 5 February 1949 on the five furlong grass track at Hutt Park, he set a world record on grass of 2:00.0 (half 1:00.0).
Highland Fling, recorded 1:59 2/5TT (half 58 4/5) on his own a week after his second NZ Cup victory (30/10/1948) on Saturday 6 November 1948. This equalled Lawn Derby’s 1938 record first mile under two minutes in Australasia. The following week his 1:57 4/5TT (29:0, 29.4/58.4 half, 30.2, 29.2/last half 59.4) on Show Day, Friday 12 November 1948 at Addington, shattered Lawn Derby‘s ten year old Australasian record. Half an hour before the first race, Highland Fling produced the greatest mile paced outside North America. His driver Leo Berkett paced him without a conventional warmup or galloping prompter. He received a standing ovation on his return to the
birdcage. Six hours later he comfortably won the NZ Premier Sprint Championship.
Highland Fling’s full brother Highland Kilt trotted T2:19 1/5TT (half 1:11 1/5, last half 68:0) as a 2yo on 12 February 1949 in his racetrack debut at Addington. This eclipsed Todd Lanzia’s mark set 19 years earlier. Highland Kilt then set a 2yo record on grass of T2:29 2/5TT(half 1:12 2/5) at Alexandra Park on 26 February 1949 driven by George Noble. Exhibition miles were completed on opening day at Kaikoura TC‘s meeting on 13 January 1953 by – Highland Kilt, T2:04 3/5, last half 58 4/5 (dr George Noble) after fourth race with the pacemaker ridden by Mr AB Stove (Clerk of Course). Earlier in the day Johnny Globe had cut out his mile in 2:00 1/5 (dr Barry Nyhan). Johnny Globe held four world records at the time of his retirement including his grass track mile record of 1:59 4/5TT set at Epsom on 21 November 1952.
Brahman was the result of combining two NZ Cup winners’ pedigrees in Gold Bar and Haughty, both among the earliest sub two minute milers. Setting a world class time of 2:02 1/5TT (31:0, 60:4, 1:31.2, final quarter 31:0) as a 2yo at Addington on 13 June 1953, Brahman took six seconds off Convival‘s 1951 Australasian record for breeder/owner/trainer Ben Grice and driver Freeman (FG) Holmes. Morano driven by Allan Holmes was Brahman’s galloping companion. Brahman raced a sulky’s width off the fence and came within 2 1/5 seconds of Titan Hanover’s world record of T2:00.0TT, first 2yo of either gait.
Outstanding NZ pacer Blue Mist attained global fame when racing in Western Australia (1953 Interdominions/Easter meetings), time trialling over 1½m at Bunbury in a world record 3:03¼TT (30:0, 60½, 1:31.0, mile 2:01.0, 2:31..0 for 1¼m, last quarter 32¼) in early 1953. Blue Mist was trained by Claude Fairman and driven by Bob Pollock. She covered the first half mile on her own before being joined by Frank (FE) Kersley driving a galloping prompter. The world record was Scottish Pence’s 3:06 in America (1 mile track against time in 1951) proving how astonishingly fast Blue Mist’s time was on a half mile track.
Driven by Jack Litten Royal Mile set a 2yo trotters NZR of T2:16 1/5TT at Addington on Wednesday 7 February 1954.
Yearling mile TT record attempts commenced with :
- Grey Label leaving it until the last possible moment on 31 July 1954 in setting his Australasian record 2:18 3/5TT at Alexandra Park driven by EC (Butt) Hair
- Blue’s world yearling record of 2:09 1/5TT at Addington on 6 April 1957 stood for 20 years
- In appalling conditions at Alexandra Park in July 1976, Testing Times world yearling record attempt came up 7/10 of second short. Testing Times was driven by Kevin Holmes whose father Allan owned/trained Blue that his uncle Freeman (FG) Holmes drove when recording his 2:09 1/5TT. In rain showers and on a porridge like track, Testing Times raced two carts off the fence with Paddy Timmins driving the promoter. He returned a first half in 1:01 before visibly stopping to record 2:09.9TT. With favourable conditions he could have shattered the world yearling record
- In unfavourable conditions Avalon improved the yearling mile record to 2:06..8TT from the mobile on 28 July 1977 at Washdyke. He was bred by Ben Grice with third dam Regal Voyage leaving Haughty for Grice
- Graham Brown driven by Derek Jones set a new world yearling record of 2:05.9TT at Addington on 27 July 1979 with co owner Carl Middleton (with breeder/trainer, father Gordon Middleton) handling the galloping prompter
Originally trained as a pacer, Au Fait, showing great ability at the trot was sent against Royal Mile’s national 2yo trotting record at Addington on 28 May 1957, her T2:13 1/5TT broke the record.
The mighty Caduceus on the final day of the 1959 NZ Cup carnival (28 November 1959) set a new Australasian record of 1:57 3/5TT at Addington, earning £500 for this achievement when assisted by galloping prompter Blue Emperor driven by Maurice Holmes.
Dianthus Girl broke Worthy Queen’s long standing trotter’s mile time when she recorded T2:03 2/5 in a time trial conducted by Canterbury Park TC (2 January 1962. This special trotters time trial/match race involved Dianthus Girl, placegetters Reprimand (2nd), Coronet Lass (3rd) and other starters Indiana and Register. A stake of £300, second £100 plus an additional £300 for breaking Worthy Queen’s record was on offer. Dianthus Girl’s record lasted exactly a year before being beaten by Bill Doyle’s fine trotter When (2 January 1953 – T2:02 4/5).
Part Three : past Half Century of time trials
Peter Craig
31 March 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
