THE LONG ROAD TO TODAY..
"HISTORICAL BITS" (2)...07/05/2011..
"HOW DID THEY GET A HOOF IN THE DOOR HERE"
Having given a rough outline of the emergence of the light harness horse in America in the 1850's we should now consider his early days in the southern hemisphere where he made his presence known about 1870.Track racing for any sort of trotting horse was unknown in those days and the sport we know today had its genesis on the dirt and gravel roads in impromptu contests for a side bet or bragging rights.(usually the latter).Once again the process of development mirrored the USA,the bloke with the most money bought the best horse,but in the matter of breeding,well,in Australia,they didn't have any.There were no mobile phones,TV etc,but letters came by ship from the States and news arrived of the advances made by selective breeding,to the point where the sons of Hambletonian 10 were siring winners at county fairs (our agricultural shows).This racing was usually conducted on mile tracks,would be run in "high wheel" sulkies,and,wonder of wonders,a lot of the winners were breaking the magical 2-30.0 barrier,which gained them entry to the first american "Standardbred Register",the 2-30.0 performance either under race or time trial conditions equating to the breed standard.Stallions followed the letters,accompanied by a number of geldings which traipsed around the country gallops tracks seldom racing under the same name,and certainly not their real one.They were old horses but were seldom beaten by the australian bush bunnies which could run about 3 minutes on a good day..
In 1882 a track for trotting was constructed at Elsternwick,a suburb of Melbourne and,the blokes with the money had been busy preparing for this leap forward.On the first days program was a race for stallions carrying the enormous prize of 100 pounds.All four runners were american imports,Contractor,Von Moltke Junior,Vermont Junior and Startle,with Startle getting the decision after three heats.Startle was sold after this event and went to commence stud duties at Moss Vale near Goulburn in NSW where,among others he was to sire the mare Edith whose direct descendants were winning top class races at Harold Park in the 50s and 60s.This writer saw Blazing Arrow and Bye Bye Bill defeat top class opposition in that era.The wheels of time rolled on.More american imports arrived,horses,mares and geldings ,generally superior to the local product,which may have been by a yankee stallion but most likely from a thoroughbred or a carthorse mare with no traceable breeding,and,in Sydney at this time most of the racing took place at Lillie Bridge and later Epping (both names for what we know as Harold Park) and at Brighton Beach.My Grandfather rode and drove at Epping for some years as a boy,having more success on a Wednesday at the "tradesman's trots".These races were restricted to light horses which earned their living as delivery horses or pulled hansom cabs,and,as was always the case in those days,more than half the field would be driven.Minimum weights were the rule until the late 60s with riders to carry 9 stone and drivers 10 stone.When the New South Wales Trotting Club became the controlling body for registered racing and conducted meetings of a Saturday,the horses their were trotting or pacing bred on at least one side of their pedigree.To give an idea of speed,my Grandfather claimed that any horse that could trot 3 minutes between milestones on Australia Street Newtown,had a future on Wednesdays.One of the family stable was a black gelding called Darkie,(one of about six "Darkies" to race at that time) purchased at Camperdown saleyard for 30 shillings as a butchers delivery horse,breeding unknown.Ineligible for Saturdays,he won frequently of a Wednesday while his stablemate,Sir Oliver,bred to trot as well as deliver meat,carried the colours in the big time.(not very sucessfully).My Grandfather very modestly attributed the bulk of his mid-week success to the fact that his father was the Chief Steward..draw your own conclusions there,but,blood is thicker than water.The Chief Steward died in 1908,and my Grandfather's career in the saddle died at the same time.
More next week.We look at the evolution of the sulky..and the pursuit of speed in the USA..
Bibliography..Australia's Trotting Heritage (Max Agnew)...family memories..