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INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

Mallory and Irving die attempting to climb Mt Everest.

LOCAL HISTORY

November 11 - Bridge of Remembrance opens.

A polio epidemic kills 25 people.

Quail Island's leper colony closes.

The 'Invincibles' rugby team leaves NZ for Britain where it wins all thirty-two matches.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY MESCELLANY

FIELD SIZES

Someone who has just backed a loser in a capacity field during the course of the Cup carnival at Addington is bound to lament that 15 starters is too many.

That may well be; but spare a thought for the punters who had to sort out their selections for the race in the accompanying photo, run at Addington in 1924, with 33 starters.

Run on the opening day of the Metropolitan club's August meeting, this event, the two-mile Trial Handicap, was won off 36yd behind by G Rutherford's Colchester, driven by Drum Withers. A son of dual NZ Cup winner Wildwood Junior, Colchester was 17th in the order of betting, which, in those days, with brackets went up to 25 in the 75%/25% win/place pool.

In beating favourite Prince Swithin (owned and driven by Lester Maidens) by a half length, Colchester covered the two miles in 4:42 4/5. Third after starting from 60yds, was Dalnahine, driven by Dil Edwards. The others in the race were Stunt Artist, Albert Logan, Quiver, Talaro, Bessie Logan, Dandy Rose, Kate Thorpe, Bruce, Holly Boy, Golden Gun, Transport, Harewood, Tarzan, Becky Logan, Away, Vera Logan, Percy Dillon, Harold Burwood, Hackthorne, Menember, Ivy Audubon, Jack Potts, Thixendale, The Rook, Bell Harold, Latona, Pinevale, Audacious, Lady Embrace and Prince Pointer.

There is a photo in the Auckland based NZ Trotting Hall of Fame of the official result of a race at the Cambridge Trotting Club's Summer meeting of January 7, 1950, contested by 35 starters.

But it appears the largest field ever to face the starter in NZ was that which lined up for the Harvest Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club's winter meeing on June 5,1948. Believe it or not, 41 horses went to the post that day, and the favourite won. The winner, coming off 12yds, over a mile and a half in 3:18 2/5, was Attack, then trained at Springston by N W Dickie for J N (Nick) Scott and O G (Ollie) Oakley, and driven by Dickie's son, the late Ivan Dickie.

Credit: Ron Bisman writing in HRWeekly 8Nov90

RACING HISTORY HORSES

REALM

Realm, who figures in a number of NZ pedigrees today, was bred by Mr T W McMahon, of Kurrajong, NSW, in the memorable year of 1914; Realm was a great performer both in NSW and NZ, but rather a disappointment as a sire. An odd winner by him occasionally crops up in NSW and Victoria. In NZ he was represented by Shadowland, winner of the NZ Derby (1926); Regime, and Royal Serene. The latter had records of 2.12 1/5 and 4.36 1/5. In addition to winning the Derby in 3.27 2/5, Shadowland was successful over two miles.

One of Realm's greatest performances was in 1924, when from a flying start in a Free-For-All he paced the mile in 2.03 4/5, being beaten a length by Acron. A couple of days prior to his sensational mile, Realm, off 72yds had run fourth to Sheik (36yds), Great Hope (24yds), and Taraire (48yds) in the 1924 NZ Cup. Of these four Realm's time of 4.24 3/5 was the fastest.

During August, 1922, soon after he reached NZ, Realm won twice in 4.32 4/5 and 4.26 4/5. He was also successfully placed in other races of varying distances, including a win over 10 furlongs in 2.44. On December 5, 1925, Realm ran second off 72yds to Great Bingen (108yds) in 4.29 1/5. Great Bingen's time was 4.25 4/5 and three lengths separated them.

In NSW he was also a good winner, and put up a winning record of 2.13 in a mile race at Victoria Park in 1922. Hoplessly left, he was credited with running the last half in under a minute. Driven by P Riddle, Realm, then raced by Mr J Barrett, won a division at Harold Park (then Epping) in 2.37 1/2, equal to a mile rate of 2.20. Subsequently he won at Victoria Park in 3.35, 3.31 and 2.53, but probably his best long-distance performance in Australia was his second to Box Seat at Victoria Park in 1922. The latter was on 140yds and Realm on 90yds, and the verdict was a yard. Box Seat averaged 2.13 1/2 for two miles and Realm better than 2.16.

In his racing career Realm was credited with winning over £4500 in stakes. Though his full-brother, Childe Wood, was a great success as a sire, Realm, a mighty racehorse, was a comparative failure.

Credit: 'Old Timer' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 24May50

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Owner, Trainer, Driver Peter Riddle with Mrs Riddle

1924 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The 1924 Cup Meeting brought together a number of fine performances, with individual highlights being recorded by the likes of Acron, Great Bingen, Great Hope, the imported Jack Potts, the 3-year-old Kohara and the trotting mare Nikora, who downed a field of 17 in the Dominion.

The Cup itself was another triumph for Australia, with Sheik, owned, trained and driven by Sydney's Peter Riddle, stalling off the game bid of the little Great Hope and Andy Bryce, who was the third member of his family to drive in the race. Riddle was a fine horseman and had been competing with success for a decade at Addington, where he had a team of six at this time.

Sheik was among them, having arrived the previous season, and his form was such that he was favourite along with Acron, both appearing well handicapped on 36 yards.

Great Bingen, in his first attempt at the Cup, was given 72 yards however and owner John McKenzie was so unhappy that he withdrew him, only to then watch Acron go the wrong way at the start.

Acron, who won the Free-For-All on the second day in Australasian record time for the mile of 2:03 3/5, was to be the beginning of a long history of disappointments for the McKenzie family in the great race.

Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1924 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Another New Zealand Trotting Cup has been decided and the spoils are with the Australian horse Sheik. The field paraded in the best of condition and nothing had it on the winner for looks. He was an absolute picture.

Acron was a hot favorite, but he whipped around at the start and took practically no part m the race. He had a cobber in First Carbine, who was very mulish and refused to go off. With half the journey covered Riddle took the lead with Sheik, and that, was the beginning of the end. Realm made a dab going out of tha straight the last time, but he was done with at the far turn. This left Taraire and Great Hope to chase the leader, but they had no chance, and Riddle landed his horse home a winner by a length and a quarter. It was a very popular win, and when Sheik took charge, with a mile to go, the huge crowd started to applaud.

What would have happened had Acron gone away with his field is hard to say, but he must, have made matters interesting. Onyx was not herself, and as a consequence did not run as well as she might have. Great Hope, last year's winner, made a fine effort in the straight, but he could not get to the winner. On the far bend Taraire appeared a possibility, but he could not sustain his run.

The time was exceptionally good, the full distance taking 4min 25 4/5sec. The first mile took 2min 14sec, and the mile and a half 3min 22sec. The last half was run in lmin 3 4/5sec, an extraordinarily fine time.

Credit: NZ Truth 15 Nov 1924