THE TURF

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 20, 3 November 1938, Page 3

THE TURF

A TROTTING CHAMPION. HAROLD LOGAN’S COMEBACK. An unexpected nomination for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be run at Addington this month, is Harold Logan, who is 16 years old and has been on the retired list since 1936, when he won the Free For All. Has his owner, Mr E. F. C. Hinds, fed the old fellow monkey glands, or what? A great pacer, if ever there was one, this Harold Logan. As far hack as 1931 ho won the New Zealand Cup from 48 yards in 4.18 2-5 and he won again next year from 60 yards, knocking two seconds off his previous time for the race. He also accounted for the Free For All in 1931 and took the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup the same year. Campaigning for 11 seasons, he won over £II,OOO in stake money, most of it coming from 29 victories in his 99 starts. Ninety-nine. That may be the explanation .• Probably, Mr Hinds wants his favourite, who has been especially well cared for throughout his grand career, to become a. centurion before making his farewell to the race track. In 1934, this .brilliant gelding was seen in a series of match races against the Australian pacers Walla Walla and Auburn Lad. All the honours were with Harold Logan, who won two of the three contests. In the following year, he was probably responsible for the greatest performance of his career when he registered 4.12 2-s—a world’s record for ' two miles, the feat being accomplished in finishing third to Indianapolis and Blue Mountain in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. In the ensuing 12 months, he collected another four victories, and wound up his career with a win in the Free For All, as stated before.

In his first start as an eight-year-old Harold Logan won the Canterbury Handicaip at Addington in August, and followed this up by annexing the Oamaru and Courtenay Handicaps at the Qup meeting. Unlucky in Auckland Cup. In the Auckland Trotting Cup in December he should never have been beaten by Carmel, for he was forced to cover a lot of extra ground and then finished with a rare burst of speed practically underneath the judge’s box. He made amends by winning the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup at Hutt Park. In filling third place to Regal Voyage and Lindbergh in the Midsummer Handicap at the Metropolitan Summer meeting, he registered 4.13 2-5. Two subsequent placings saw him at the top of the stake-winners with £2655.

Harold Logan is a son of Logan Pointer, probably the greatest sire ever imported to the Dominion.