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INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

Francisco Franco becomes dictator of Spain.

George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess breaks new ground in musicals.

Aircraft detection by radar is developed by Robert Watson Watt.

LOCAL HISTORY

The Labour Party wins a landslide election victory and over the following few years inaugurates reforms, including a free health service. The defeated Reform and United parties merge to form the Nationa Party.

January 19-21 - Visit by the Duke of Gloucester.

July 1 - Evening papers "Star" & "Sun" merge to become the "Star Sun", ending a 6 year newspaper war, the longest and most bitter in NZ's history. The "peace" agreement between the 3 companies concerned also saw the demise of the "Christchurch Times" (once the "Lyttelton Times"), the oldest daily paper in the country.

December 17 - City Council decides to buy 230 acres of land at Harewood for a city airport. The purchase was strongly criticised in many quarters as excessively large.

Credit: Ch-Ch City Libraries

RACING HISTORY MESCELLANY

A 'CATCH DRIVE'

At the Canterbury Owners and Breeder's Cup Trials at Addington last week, Mr E T McDermott recalled that at the Burlesque Race Meeting at Addington in 1935, the late Mr Allan Matson had driven a huge bullock, hitched to an old-fashioned four-wheeled buggy, down the straight.

The bullock was a very quiet one who, at that time, was a common sight at several agricultural and pastrol shows around Canterbury.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 13Nov68

RACING HISTORY FEATURE RACE COMMENT

George Barton receives the Cup from Sir Heaton Rhodes

1935 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Refer also 1934 Cup for comment.

Indianapolis, a son of imported parents in Wrack and Estella Amos, was bred at Durbar Lodge by Harry Nicoll's son Arthur and bought as an early 3-year-old by Dunedin's George Barton, the leading owner each year for a decade during this time, on the recommendation of Billie Tomkinson.

The entire was in 'star class' by the end of his 4-year-old season, but Tomkinson had died prior to the 1934 Cup and Indianapolis was prepared by his right-hand-man Claude Dunleavy for the remainder of his career.

His first Cup win was a mere formality from 12 yards over Blue Mountain(Fr) and Harlod Logan(72yds), but there was another star on the horizon at the meeting that year in the form of War Buoy, who was in the process of putting together an unbeaten career of 10 wins, a sequence that remained unmatched until Cardigan Bay eclipsed it some 30 years later.

War Buoy took his record to 15 wins from 17 starts when he won the August Handicap at the National Meeting as a 5-year-old, so as the Cup loomed with War Buoy off the front and Indianapolis off 48 yards, there was much anticipation. Particularly when War Buoy skipped six lengths clear turning for home for Stan Edwards, but Indianapolis was commencing his run at the same time six-wide and in the end had three lengths to spare.

It was no less exciting the following year when Indianapolis(48yds) became the first three-time winner after a great tussle with Red Shadow(24yds), War Buoy(Fr) and Harold Logan(48yds). A rejuvenated Red Shadow, back in the Bryce stable, had skipped clear at the three furlongs while Indianapolis appeared to be languishing in the rear. But with giant strides, Indianapolis drew level at the 100m for Jack Fraser and came away to confirm his status as one of the greatest stayers ever seen.


Credit: New Zealand HRWeekly 8Oct03