Trotting Notes

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1939, Page 3

Trotting Notes

E C. McDermott’s Career: The late Mr. E. C. McDermott, who died following a collapse in the Trolling Cup, was a driver who regarded the sport as a hobby. For years he had been an outstanding Successful stock dealer. In more recent years he had driven mostly for Mr. John Richardson, of Dunedin, who was expected to reach Christchurch yesterday afternoon by air from Auckland after a visit to Australia, where he has a team of gallopers. Mr. McDermott was associted in the rapid rise to racing" fame of- Colonel Grattan: it is a remarkable coincidence that he died when driving a horse which he had himself bred and sold to his patron. Born and educated at Doyleston, Mr. McDermott spent his youthful days as a general farm and threshing mill hand, and it was on his weeklyvisits to the Addington market that he became interested in stock. . As a stock dealer, reputed to be one in the largest scale of business in New Zealand, he was well known to the farming community of North Canterbury and Southern Marlborough. For years he purchased surplus cattle from the farms and stations of these districts, travelling them by road for disposal at the Addington market. His stockdealing activities were of considerable value to farmers who.V lots, in many cases, were too small to warrant the farmers undertaking the cost of individual transport to the market. He was a regular attendant at the market for many years. As an amateur driver in the days when trotting clubs about Christchurch included bracelet races on their programmes, he won considerable success, and it was natural that he should graduate to the ranks of professional trainers and drivers, and also take a practical interest in the breeding of trotters. In his racedriving career he experienced manysevere falls, and he was seriously injured some years ago in a levelcrossing accident at Hornby, where Mr. R. A. McMillan of the Halswell stud farm, lost his life. In the 1919-20 season. Mr. McDermott headed the list of drivers in New Zealand with 34 wins. His most notable successes were behind Indianapolis, when Mr. G. J. Barton's horse won the 1934 New Zealand Cup in 4min. 15 4-ssec., with one foot out of the hopples, the National Cup, and the Great Northern Derby of 1932. He won the Greymouth Cup with his own horse, Cloudy Range, in 1934, and he won the Hawera and Timaru Cups with Vilo. “He was a grand man, respected and esteemed by everybody in the game which was a hobby to him,” said Mr. F. Holmes. “The finest thing by which he will be remembered was his willingness always t|> help the little fellow who had gone broke." His son, E. T. McDermott, has distinguished himself in athletics at St. Bede’s College.

Contest Marred: The fatal collapse of Mr. McDermott marred a memorable contest for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. The tragedy of a driver or jockey dying while in sulky or' saddle is without parallel on New Zealand racecourses. The big crowd which saw E. C. McDermott fall from the sulky was later advised that he had died; and on every hand at Addington the tragic occurrence was sympathetically discussed, to the exclusion of the many incidents of a notable cup race. The spill from Loyal Avis at the National meeting in August was the last of many which Mr McDermott experienced during his driving career. He 1 was taken to hospital on that occasion but was discharged in time to see the next day's racing. His health has not been good in recent months; but he took his drive behind Colonel Grattan in the cup. Colonel Grattan was not favoured by the public, but his position when his driver collapsed gave promise that he would have been difficult to head off. After the driver had fallen from the sulky, Colonel Grattan paced at high speed with the intuition of a racehorse, close to the rails, and was headed off just

on the post by the winner, Lucky Jack. At no stage further back than third, Colonel Grattan was sent to the front by his driver as the field passed the stands on the final lap. Colonel Grattan had a clear lead as they raced round the turn and turned into the back stretch. A Great Investment: A wonderfully profitable investment was the £5O spent by Mr. W. T. Lowe many years ago on the purchase of a mare named Jessie 8., for the mare and her progeny have made trotting history. The dam, grand-dam, and great-grand-dam, were, like Lucky Jack, all bred in the Ashburton County. The dual cup winner has a lineage tracing back longer than 50 years. Bred at Willowby when owned by a man named Beach 8., who was by a thorough-bred sire, Smith O’Brien, from a Pickwood mare, had had three foals when Mr. Lowe bought her for £5O. From her he bred Sherwood (who was disqualified after winning a New Zealand Cup), Childwood (the mother of Great Logan), Repeater (who 25 years ago trotted a mile among the pacers in 2min. 19sec.), Edna (who was sold to Australia), and Tirane the dam of Lucky Jack. Tirane had'no racing career. When a two-year-old, she injured a stifle and was later put to the stud. Now 27 years of age, she is running on Mr. Lowe's farm. Mr. Lowe has had a succession of fine foals from his mare, her progeny including Fairlight, Trenand, Dundas Boy, a fullsister to Dundas Boy, which died when a foal, Real Girl, Bell Lorimer, Dundee, Lucky Jack, a full-brother to Lucky Jack who has had a race or two, and a yearling by Fremont, who finished second in a two-mile race at Addington yesterday. Native Huon:

A brilliant beginning was made in the first despatch of the Spring Handicap at Addington by the favourite, Native Huon, but he met with interference soon after the start of the second despatch and this ruined al! chances, although he trotted a great race at the rear of the field. The false start was due to the 24 and 36 yards tapes failing to release. The winner Tan John, a 13-year-old trotter, was recently purchased by Mr W. Stickings. Grade Fields raced most generously into fourth place.

Josedale Grattan: J'osedale Grattan lost a good deal of ground at. the start of the Empire Handicap, and will win at her next outing. As it was she was just beaten by Great Don. The favourite, Special Edition, stood on the mark. Fast Times: Fast times were recorded at Addington on Tuesday, and a splendid feature was the fact that there were no upsets. A Crush: Apart from those patrons who were able to remain in the stands from race to race, or were in an elevated position at Addington on Tuesday, a good number were unable to witness the events to their entire satisfaction. There was a general crush in all directions and the greatest difficulty was experienced by investors in fully satisfying their betting desires. There is too much congestion at Addington, and this keeps a great number away..;

A Great Pacer: Southern Chief is a true pacer these days, and his success in the Canterbury Handicap was easily aeh everl. Previously,’ Southern Chief had not raced too freely at Addington. He took charge, however, and led throughout. Southern Chief is already being freely discussed as the winner of the next New Zealand Trotting Cup, a grade which he should soon reach. Some fans even go so far as to say that Southern Chief would have won this year’s Cup had lie been eligible to start.

Royal Romance: Royal Romance continues to show a vast improvement and her success in the Dominion Handicap was well merited. Never further back than third, she finished on brilliantly to wear down the leader, Captain Bolt, who appeared to be driven a bad race. Captain Bolt appeared to be made too much use of after dashing to the lead early. Mute ran a solid race into fourth place. But for a breaking-up in the straight, Nell Volo would have been difficult to dispose of.

Bill B.: Bill B. perhaps one of the most inconsistent pacers in commission, paid nearly a third of a century to win the Victoria Handicap. He had great pace, but does not always race as generously as he is capable of doing. His success was the first secured by the Hornby trainer, J. Bryce, for some time. Too much was asked of Jackaranda in setting a hot pace throughout. Battlefield made a brilliant beginning but cried enough in the run home. Fremont, Icevus and Nell Grattan all went great races. Icevus threaded his way through a big field in the final quarter and is developing into a dyed-in-the-wool stayer.

Fine Sprinter: Great Jewel is a fine sprinter, and was not extended to win the Hagley Handicap, his form suggesting strong staying possibilities. Pot Luck: Pot Luck will be improved by his outing at Addington on Tuesday, and should be prominent in later engagements at the M.T.C. Meeting. A Great Pacer: Lucky Jack is a great pacer and was in his best form at Addington on Tuesday. His time was the second best for the race. Got the Axe: But for the fact that Lawn Derby got the axe early in the running, he would have most likely given cause for anxiety in the run to the post. Lawn Derby had to be pulled rig--up and it was some ten seconds before he could get pacing again. He was giving the field at this stage easily 250yds and finished right up behind it. Many good judges declare that but for the slight interference which he met from Parisienne, Lawn Derby would have won the Trotting Cup.

Confident of Success: “Don’t be surprised if the Trotting Cup finds its way to the West Coast this year,” was a phrase employed by many trotting enthusiasts on the eve of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, and it nearly proved to be correct Cantata went a great race and with a little more luck in the running would have won. She finished on brilliantly under a hard drive,

and proved herself worthy of being elevated to Cup class company. Hoistable companion finished wide out and was also a trifle unlucky in the runni/g. Plutus finished on gameiy into fourth place. PRESIDENT'S RETIREMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, November 8. The retirement of Mr. J, H. Williams from the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, after ,23 years’ service, 14 years being as president, was marked yesterday by the presentation by the association and trotting clubs of a canteen of cutlerj 7 to Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Although Mr. Williams’s health did not permit him to be present at a function in the committee room of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, he was able to hear the speeches at his home. Arrangements were made for the broadcast of tributes of the long and notable service given to trotting by Mr. Williams. Mr. H. W. Kitchingham, prudent of the association, presided. He recounted the association of Mr. Williams as an administrator with the sport, and said all deeply regretted ihis retirement. The Hon. W. Hayward, M.L.C., said members of the association, individually and collectively, felt that they owed to Mr. Williams a deep debt of gratitude for his guidance and courtesies. Mr. H. F. Nicoll, president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, said that Mr. Williams first took a part in trotting administration when the sport was emerging from a period of stagnation. To his long service he had brought his judicial mind, his influence, and many good qualities to bear. He had enhanced the prestige of the sport by his association with it. Mr. Nicoll said Addington on race day was not the same with Mr. Williams absent, and the sincere wish of all was that he would quickly regain his health. Mr. R. T. Williams responded on behalf of his father and' Mrs. Williams.

Racing Fixtures: November 8, 11 —Canterbury J.C. November 11—Napier Park R.C. November 11, 13 —Avondale J.C. November 18 —Levin R.C. November 18 —Southland R.C. November 18, 20—Waikato R.C. November 25—Ashburton Count'.' R.C. November 22 —Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. November 25—Otaki Maori R.C. November 25, 27 —Auckland R.C. November 30, December 2—Feilding J.C. December 2 —Kuro'w J.C. December 9—Hororata R.C. lecember 9 11—Woodville Distric‘ J'.C. ' December 16—Waipa R.C. December 23, 26, 27 —Manawatu R.C. Jecember 26—Waipukurau J.C. December 26—Westland R.C. December 23, 26, 27 —Dunedin R.C. .December 26, 27 —Taranaki J.C. December 26, 28, January 1, 2—Auck land R.C. December 30 January I—Wairarapa1—Wairarapa R.C. December 30, January I—Greymouth J.C. December 30, January I—Hawke’s1 —Hawke’s Bay J'.C. 1940. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January I—Wyndham R.C. January 1, 2—Stratford R.C. January 1, 2—Marton J.C. January 2, 3—Southland R.C. In Australia. November 7,9, 11—V.R.C. November B—Victoria Park R.C. November 11—Moorefield R.C. November 15 —Ascot R.C. November 18 —A. J.C. (Warwick Farm). November 18 —Williamstown R.c. November 22—Rosebery R.C. November 22 23—Bendigo J'.C. November 25—Rosehill R.C. November 25—V.A.T.C. Trotting. November 7,9, 10—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 23, 25—Forbury Park T.C. December 2—New Brighton T.C. December 2—Waikato T.C. December 9 —Waikato T.C. December 16—Timaru T.C.