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LOCAL HISTORY

January 1 - Radio Broadcasting Company of NZ (owner of the YA stations) taken over by Government to form the nucleus of a State broadcasting system.

NZ's worst depression riots occur in Auckland with violent clashes between protestors and police. There is a bitter tram strike in Ch-Ch.

The Robert Dougall Art Gallery opens


Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY

December - Win and Place betting was an innovation at the Taranaki Jockey Club's meeting. Previously the system was "one-two" betting in which the dividends were paid 75% on the winner and 25% on the second horse. Doubles were again permitted in 1949.

RACING HISTORY PEOPLE

PERCY BROWN

An unpretentious death notice in Christchurch newspapers last week would not have raised much comment among the general public. But to trotting enthusiasts the death of Percy Brown was of some significance. Percy Brown was responsible for the breeding of two great champions in the mid-thirties, Harold Logan and Roi l'Or.

According to trotting enthusiast and breeder Kevin Brown, whose grandfather was a cousin of the deceased, Percy at one stage had two mares Ivy Cole and Gold Queen. Ivy Cole was in foal to Logan Pointer and Queen Cole had a foal at foot by Rey de Oro, both very successful sires imported by Free Holmes.

Percy swapped Ivy Cole for a hay rake and the resultant foal turned out to be Harold Logan, a household name in his day. Percy retained Gold Queen and her foal and Roi l'Or later became Harold Logan's arch rival. They staged one memorable contest during the 1932 NZ Cup carnival. Harold Logan, after winning his second NZ Cup effortlessly off 60 yards, went out odds on favourite to win the Free-For-All. However, Roy l'Or, third in the Cup, had other ideas and downed Harold Logan by a neck in a race record time which stood for ten years.

Roi l'Or won 19 races for Percy Brown, including the 1934 Auckland Cup in world record time when driven by Free Holmes in the twilight of his career. It is interesting to note that both the mares were by King Cole, a horse by the freak Ribbonwood, who at one stage held the NZ mile record.

While Percy Brown was in his 102nd year, longevity is not uncommon in the Brown family, well known Canterbury farmers. Kevin's grandfather himself lived to be 93. At one stage when his brothers and sisters - seven in all - were alive their combined ages totalled 616.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 6May80

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Harold Logan & Roy Berry prior to the 1933 Cup

1932 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

In summing up the performance of Harold Loganin winning his second New Zealand Cup it is sufficient to say that he is a class above the remainder of the Dominion's pacers, as he proved when he ranged alongside the leaders at the top of the straight in yesterday's contest to beat them soundly in the race to the post.

When the field had settled down Free Advice was showing the way to Royal Silk, Glenrossie, Red Shadow, Terence Dillon, Roi l'Or, Kohara, Regal Voyage, and Kingcraft, the last-named and Rollo having made bad beginnings. Turning out of the straight the first time Kohara broke and he was always afterwards at the rear. Royal Silk had a slight advantage from Free Advice at the end of seven furlongs, where Roi l'Or had improved to third position, with Red Shadow, Glenrossie, Kingcraft, and Terence Dillon closest of the remainder. At this stage Harold Logan had only Rollo and Kohara behind him.

Roi l'Or was just in front of Free Advice with six furlongs to go, followed by Glenrossie, Red Shadow, Terence Dillon, Kingcraft, Carmel, Rollo, Harold Logan, and Regal Voyage. Going down the back the last time Roi l'Or and Free Advice were on terms, but before the three furlongs post had been reached Free Advice cried enough and she stopped very quickly, and was soon in a rearward position. Roi l'Or was then left in front from Royal Silk, Red Shadow, Terence Dillon, Kingcraft, Glenrossie, Rollo, and Harold Logan. At this point it could be seen that Royal Silk was weakening and Harold Logan was getting to business.

Coming round the last bend Roi l'Or still had charge, with Red Shadow next, then Royal Silk, while Harold Logan had made a fine run to be fourth into line for home, followed by Rollo, Terence Dillon, and Glenrossie. Once straightened up for the run to the post the result was not in doubt as Harold Logan was not troubled to head the others and he went on to an easy victory by two lengths. If ever a Cup was won pulling up this was it. While Roi l'Or and Red Shadow were striving for second place Glenrossie came with a very strong finishing run on the outside to defeat them both, being a length and a half ahead of Roi l'Or, who narrowly beat Red Shadow for third money. Rollo was fifth, Terence Dillon sixth, Royal Silk seventh, followed by Kingcraft and Regal Voyage, Carmel and Free Advice.

Harold Logan returned to the enclosure amidst great cheering. Indeed, the ovation given to the popular horse has seldom been exceeded at Addington. The main points about his victory were his ability to begin fast, which factor enabled him to have a breather when he caught the tail of the field early in the race, and the great sprint he unwound from just inside the three furlong post to the furlong post in the straight. He ran his last half mile in 1min 2sec, but the quarter mentioned was his fastest in the race. A. Holmes drove him a very patient race and he said afterwards that Harold Logan was going easily at the finish.

Glenrossie created a surprise by finishing on again after he looked as if he would not take part in the finish when half-way down the back straight. Roi l'Or ran a fine race, but Red Shadow did not stay as he was expected. He had a good run all the way, and no excuses can be made for his defeat. His stable-mate, Royal Silk, felt the pinch a good distance from home. Rollo did well to finish fifth after a very bad beginning. He went away with Harold Logan. The big disappointment of the race was Free Advice who closed up completely after being very prominent in the early stages.

The leaders at the different stages of the race passed the different posts in the following times:- Half-mile 1min 8 1/5sec, mile 2min 14 1/5sec, mile and a quarter in 2min 45 1/5sec, mile and a half in 3min 18sec, and fifteen furlongs in 3min 49 2/5sec.

Credit: THE PRESS 9 Nov 1932

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

1932 DOMINION HANDICAP

In winning the Dominion Handicap, Wrackler has established a record that is likely to stand for years to come, as he can claim to be the only horse New Zealand has ever seen that has won the premier handicap for both trotting and pacing gaits.

The New Zealand Cup fell to his lot in 1930, and just two years later he takes the Dominion Handicap, the principal unhoppled trotters race of the season. Together with this record he has another, that of being the only horse in New Zealand that has paced and trotted two miles in better than 4min 30sec.

In yesterday's success he gave the exhibition of a champion. He was fourth with a round to go, but about two lengths behind the leaders. Going down the back the last time he had as his nearest attendants Huon Voyage and Olive Nelson, those ahead being Cannonball, Writer and Admiral Bingen. Cannonball held on the longest of the leaders, but before the back straight was left the issue was confined to Wrackler, Huon Voyage, and Olive Nelson, who were racing in that order. Great Way was the only other who looked as if he might participate in the finish, but he broke when trotting fast round the home turn. He was good enough, however, to hold fourth place at the post.

Wrackler had to withstand a challenge from Huon Voyage in the straight but he did not have to be driven out to best the Australian trotter by a length. Olive Nelson had not much dash after her brilliance earlier in the race, and finished four lengths away in third place. Cannonball tired badly, finishing fifth and Writer was next.

The favourite Biddy Parrish refused to settle down at the start, and Arctotis, after galloping a quarter was pulled up. Stanley T trotted solidly all the way after a good beginning, and appeared to have a chance with half a mile to go, but he stopped badly. Fifa was not dangerous at any stage. Winner trained by J Behrns, Ashburton.

Credit: THE PRESS 9 Nov 1932