TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 15

TROTTING.

TRIPLE CUP , WINNER.

CAREER OF INDIANAPOLIS.

SOME GREAT RACE RECORDS.

"The greatest pacer ever foaled," was the opinion the late W. J. Toinkineon formed of iridianaipolis the first time lie drove him. Indianapolis, an extraordinarily large pacer for his age, was nevertheless an early speedster, for he won with ridiculous ease at his first start. He trained on to become one of the really great horses bred in the Southern Hemisphere, winning three New Zealand Cups and £ 10,'2;>7 in stakes. Xo\v he hae been retired from the racetrack.

There were many outstanding Incidents tn Indianapolis' dazzling career, but lour bappenlngs that always come vo the top In any discussion about him are the fact that he narrowly missed being gelded, that Mr. Q. J. Barton refused an olfer o( 20,000 dollars trom a visiting American sportsman when the great pacer was at the height ot his tour-year -old magulflcence, that he broke his hopples at the start ot the Chrlstchurch Handicap at Addlngion one day and then went on to victory with the broken gear dangling round his legs, and. last but not least, that hi won his New Zealand Cups In succession. writes "Rlbbonwood," in the "New Zealand Trotting Calendar." Mile Record. His mile against time In 2.0 2-5 and his wini nlng performance over a mile and a quarter In I the Weston Handicap at Oamaru were other highlights in his meteoric rise to the top. In the Weston Handicap he registered 2.36 3-S. which still stands as a winning record (equal with Harold Logan). In that race Indianapolis was last with two iurlongs to go, and no superlative couid fittingly describe the run he made over the last furlong. His last quarter was done tn better than 28s, according to many experienced watchholders. It was truly a breath-taking achievement. Indianapolis, who was bred at "Durbar Lodge." would probably have been gelded but for the good Impression he made upon the well-known trainer, J. J. Lewis. The colt was actually on the point of being operated on when Mr. Lewis observed that the big fellow was too weU bred and to 6 promising In physique to be wasted. His good offices on the colt's behalf were avaUing, and Indianapolis was saved for breeding purposes. Tomkinson's Enthusiasm. W. J. Tomkinson was never florid in his description of any horse he first sat behind. He was a sound, conservative judge, but aU his reserve was broken down when he had a ride behind Indianapolis "This is the greatest pacer ever toaled." was his enthusiastic declaration to Mr. C. J. Barton, and there and then Indlar.i<pol!s was sold to the Ounedin sportsman for £ 'JOT and contingencies.

Tomlcinson's judgment was vindicated from the outset. He was a champion from the day he defeated his only serious Juvenile rival. Taxpayer, in the Great Northern Derby. That season lie iowered the two-mile record lor a three-y?ar-o)d to 4.23 1-5, and the following season ne von the Craven Handicap, of a mile and a Quarter, at Addington, in 2.37, then a record for the c«siance.

At five years of age he went 4.20 for ivr© miles in August, and in winning his first New Zealand Cup three months later he .nade the then v crld's race-winning record figures of 4.X5 4-5 lor tWO miles. It was a searcning t#r(, oi Ftamina, ana Indianapolis came through it uiih nonourr. by pacing his last mile in 2.3 3-5 and the last half mile in 59 3-ss.

Indianapolis first went against the mile record at Addington in 1934, and lowered it u> 2 1 2-5. In 1936, the year of his third New Zealand Cup Victory, he was again asked to go against, tune for a mile. This was only a couole oi das*s alter the New Zealand Cup. He had been trained lor two miles, not a mile, and the fact that he thert went 2.0 2-5 showed his versa till iy and greatness only too clearly. If he had had a special preparation tor a mile there is not a shadow of doubt that he would have oeen the first twominute pacer in the Southern Hemisphere. His records of 2.0 2-5. 2.36 3-5. and 4.15 4-5 are the fastest of any stallion bred outside of America, that is, over all the main distances.

Indianapolis is a representative of the dominant j sire line in America to-day. that ot Peter the I Great, whose son. Peter Volo, has sired nine two- ! minute performers. Estelia Amos, dam of > Indianapolis, was got by Dale Axworthy <»on of Axworthy) out of Arlelgh H.. by Nutwood Wilkes. UNFORTUNATE MISHAP. The Washdyke owner-trainer P. Gallagher suffered a painful injury at the Otago liupt Club'* meeting. Driving Irish Dusk in the seconi trotting event, he was in a handy position to tho leaders at the end of two furlongs, but Colleen Travis broke in front of him. and in endeavouring to get her back to her feet the latter's driver pulled her across in front of Irish Dusk, who was brought down and Gallagher was dislodged from the sulky. He did not' lose his hold on the reins, and when his horse regained hlg feat Gallagher, although being dragged lor some yards succeeded in preventing him bolting away. Gallagher then struggled back Into the auiks and drove In to the enclosure, where he received a round of applause from all parte of the course for his smart piece of work. Unfortunately Gallagher s foot was caught in the sulky's stirrup when being thrown, and when medical aid was I ca !L ed immediately and he was taken from the \ sulky It was found he had suffered torn leg muscles. NEW ZEALAND DERBY. rJiOf* ?® cond .payments for the New Zealand Derby. 17 well-bred three-year-olds are still engaged, but a notable absentee is the New Zealand Sapling Stakes winner Special Force, who. if engaged, would be a warm favourite. Special Force was an outstanding two-year-old. and after winning the Juvenile Stakes at the Canterbury Park meeting, he easily won the New Zealand Sapling Stakes from Ronald Logan. Walter Moore and Gold Chief. Another absentee is the Sapling Stakes runner-up Ronald Login, and it appears that the owners of these two colts have paid a heavy penalty for failing to nominate their youngsters lor the three-year-old classic.

The absence of two such speedy pacers will be in favour of E. B. Berry's good colt Walter Moore, says a Southern newspaper, and the \aidhurst trainer has a good second string in Diamond Jim. With the winner and runner-up in the Sapling Stakes missing from the list of acceptors for the Derby, the .field cannot be regarded as the strongest available, but a number may make bis improvement on their two-year-old form.

Village Maid, from F. J. Smiths stable, has phown promise, and in her last race performed with credit against older and more experienced pacers. The field generally, however. Is a good one. and there are prospects for the good-looking Gold Chief, trained at New Brighton by L. Davidson. This colt fully extended Walter Moore in the Timaru Nursery Stakes, and with added experience he will do better. Cold Steel and Surprise Potts may be the best of the remainder.