Trotting Development

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 3

Trotting Development

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONS HAROLD LOGAN ON HIGHEST PLANE (By “Abaydos. ”) Any sport with whieh the horse is connected receives a remarkable degree of popularity with the public. From time immemorial the horse—the noblest of animals—has been a great friend of mankind, and apart from the sporting interests, man has always had the highest regard for horse flesh. The late Adam Lindsay Gordon laud ed the liorse in song and story. Gordon ’s love of the animal was founded on lengthy association with horses in every department, and his tribute is found in these lines:— But if man of all the Creator planned, His noblest work is reckoned, Of the work of His hand, by sea or by land, The horse may at least rank second. The gallantry of the horse in the field of battle is related in the time-honoured “Charge of Balaclava,” and this courage is also a big feature of the horse in the world of sport. This sport is divided into three sections, racing, hunting and trotting, and in more recent years the last-named has reached a high standard of popularity in New Zealand. While America is known as the “honi:! of the trotting horse,” and the records of trotters and pacers in the U.S.A. extend over a lengthy period, it is pleasing to note that some of our best light harness performers are getting woll within the high American class. This, of course, can be attributed in a great measure to the advancement made in the breeding requirements, and those pioneers of trotting in New Zealand who imported the best American blood can take a lot of the credit for the great progress. Greatest Blood Links. In the earlier days ojt trotting in thd States, the Hainbledonian Wilkes lines laid a wonderful foundation from which in the course of time sprang the four leading tribes, Peter the Great, Areworthy, McKinney and Bingen. The importation of horses carrying the blood of any of these—and in many cases the pedigree of two or three o l them—proved the foundation of improved breeding in New Zealand, and these strains can be traced in the blood lines of the greatest pacers and trotters during the last 30 years. The infusion of the best strains is reflected in the improved speed, stamina and courage of the present generation, and as the lines are breeding on with unmistakable success, there is no saying to what greater heights some of out future pacers and trotters will rise. The history of trotting in New Zealand shows that in the later period some remarkable times have been recorded, and while tho fastest may not quite reach the standard of the American figures, it must be remembered that the American horses are specially prepared for record making on specially prepared tracks* On tho other hand New Zealand horses are trained to race over all distances, and must prove themselves on various kinds of tracks. Ribbonwood and Fritz. The first horse to attract attention as a record-breaker was Ribbonwood, who over 30 years ago ran a mile in 2.9. He was a great horse and in Australia left his mark as a sire. The Australian trotter Fritz, who at the beginning of tho present century trotted 2.13 at Christchurch, was a wonder and his record stood for a considerable time. Then Revenue got down to 2.11 4-5 and in more recent time the fine mare Olive Nelson, of Westport, ran 2.11. Todd Lonzia 2.9 3-5 and Biddy Parrish 2.8 lowered the trotting mile record, and then came the phenomenal effort of Worthy Queen who at Addington made history with a mile in 2.3 3-5, which equalled the pacing record of Acron. However on the same day the Australian horse Auburn Lad lowered the pacing record to 2.2 2-5. This was not allowed to stand for very long as Indianapolis went very close to reaching the two minute line, his time being 2.0 2-5. Considering that Mr. G. J. Barton’s great pacer was specially prepared for two miles and at tho time completed the hat trick in the New Zealand Cup, his mile run was the more remarkable and it is no exaggeration to assert that had the big son of Wrack been prepared for his mile effort, he

would have got below the two minute line. Two Miles World’s Record. Indianapolis, in running three New Zealand Cup races, made further history and took a two mile record of 4.15 3-5. But from a time aspect both Roi L’Or and Harold Logan eclipsed the speed of Indianapolis at the distance, the former taking a record of 4.14 1-5 on the grass track at Epsom, while the ‘‘super horse” Harold Logan made a world’s race record of 4.12 2-5. Harold Logan was the greatest pacer of all time and his records over all distances and ou all kinds of tracks are numerous. From a standing start he ran a mile in 2.4 2-5 being narrowly defeated by the Australian crack Walli Walli, 2.4 1-5. Harold Logan took ten furlong records on grass and dirt of 2.36 2-5. The greatest feature of the champion was his ability to win under any conditions. Dry or wet tracks made no difference to this horse who was human in his ways. He was at home on grass or dirt, and the size of the track did not concern him in the least. When New Zealand trotting history is written the mighty deeds of Harold Logan will loom largely in its pages. But all our champions had to begin at the foot of the ladder, and many horses who have raced at Awapuni have gone on to greater achievements. And there will be several racing on Saturday at the local meeting who will undoubtedly ascend the scale and reach a very high standard. It is clubs of the status of Manawatu that give improvers an opportunity of showing their early X>aces and gaining experience which will stand them in good stead. That trotting at Awapuni is popmlar with owners and trainers is demonstrated by the record entries received, and when the acceptances close to-night, it is safe to say, they too will reach record figures.