Australasia has boasted some champion free legged pacers together with those that were better than average in the pacing ranks. This does not purport to be a fully comprehensive review of all pacers that have raced free legged.
In the modern era occasionally a free legged pacer appears but this is extremely rare today mainly due to the speed at which races are conducted and the control hopples provide at these speeds.
PRINCESS (188-f Dexter/Prick Willow mare, N9 Jessie B), champion free legged pacer of her era establishing NZ Pacers mile record with time of 2:38½ at Forbury racecourse in 1889 during Exhibition meetings. A Norfolk trotter – galloping bred mare whose mating was arranged by Mrs Beach of Eiffelton, Princess was first sold to Frank Black of Tinwald who bred two foals before Dave Price (of Ribbonwood fame) purchased and commenced her training on the Tinwald Domain track.
Princess won all her heats and the final at the 1889 Dunedin Exhibition meeting for the Price brothers. Taken to Australia by Price, Princess was disqualified for life following some inconsistent performances although Price carried on giving pacing exhibitions at Shows. In the broodmare paddock, Princess’ claim to fame was in producing Prince Imperial to the cover of Hambletonian Bell Boy in Australia. Exported to NZ, Prince Imperial raced successfully especially in match races against Wildwood. Proving an outstanding sire by leaving a NZ Cup winner in Lady Clare among 130 winners (NZ Cup descendants with Prince Imperial blood include Haughty (twice), Bronze Eagle, Mobile Globe, Gold Bar, Integrity, Lord Module, Luxury Liner, Inky Lord, Christopher Vance, Gracious Knight), dam sire of Dominion Hcp winners Michael Galindo (twice)/Writer are among numerous credits. It was rumoured but not established that Princes was sold to India. Half-sister Jessie B’s descendants left two NZ Cup winners in Lucky Jack (twice) and Cairnbrae as well as ID winners Village Kid and trotters Fraggle Rock and Special Force.
Dixie Alto (grand sire Electioneer) left a couple of good class free legged pacers in Winn Alto and Homeleigh Dick, as well as being dam sire of Walla Walla. Dixie Alto imported from North America in 1902, as a trotter in Victoria on numerous occasions beat the best pacers. In 1908 the American fleet visited Melbourne and a special race meeting was held at Flemington racecourse, the only one of its kind in the twentieth century to include a programmed trotting race. Dixie Alto won the Fleet Trotting Cup. Owned by William Bouis Viers, an American businessman and trained for him by leading Melbourne horseman Will Whitburn, Dixie Alto sired 88 winners, 64 of whom were pacers.
WINN ALTO (1905h Dixie Alto/Winona, U313 Maud by Abdallah), from thirty nine starts, won on eleven occasions, placed twelve times from back marks of up to 225 yards. A track record holder in Sydney, winning two NSW Australian TC Hcps at Victoria Park and siring 118 winners.
HOMELEIGH DICK (1910 Dixie Alto/Chris, A1201 Patty), was dual gaited having won number of pacing races (2:17.0) at Melbourne venues of Richmond, Victoria Park and Epping in mid-1910‘s though to 1920 before achieving four trotting victories in NZ spread over five seasons (T3, 2:27¼AUS, £1,180 NZ earnings only), Association Hcp at Alexandra Park and Middleton Hcp at Addington. Stable mate Maori Land (2:14.6TT, NSW/VIC Sire Produce; sire of Jewel Land WA Cup, Marie Dillon Sydney Thousand; dam sire of Radiant Walla NSW/VIC Derbies, Radiant Robert SA/VIC Derbies, Louis Desire NSW Derby), won the Sydney Thousand from Homeleigh Dick.
AMIE DALY (1909f Dixie Daly by Dixie Alto/Mes Aimes), fastest free legged female pacer in Australia in 1915, record holder timed in 2:32½ (2:18.7) over nine furlongs at Epping for Charlie O‘Brien. This time stood until bettered by outstanding Victorian female trotter Grand Voyage in 1921 (T2:31¼). As a comparison, Globe
Derby’s best at this time had been 2:30.0. Mes Aimes (Vancleve/Charmer) foals apart from Amie Daly (grand dam of Bob Tingle) included Amie Bells (2:25.0), Chicago (by Huon Junior, 2:22.8, sire of WA Derby winner Miss Chicago dam of Fremantle Cup winner Libyan Lady by Sheik) and St Peter.
DON WILD (1916h Don Pronto/Wild Dick, N546 Polly), champion unhoppled pacer (best before Lawn Derby), product of mating between Dictator line stallion Don Pronto and Wildwood mare Wild Duck (2:16.2, £330), imported from NZ. Don Wild was the only free legged pacer to win the Sydney Thousand prior to being shipped to NZ where he won Dunedin Cup, Christchurch/High Class/Canterbury and Forbury Handicaps, pacing stake earner of year 1924 (£3,202), 2:12.5, £4,739½ (NZ earnings only). Full sister Parera (2:25.0AUS) was dam of Tallera (2:29.0) and grand dam of Tasmanian winner Jackeroo (2:12.2, Danbury Park Cup, Hobart FFA). Polly, N546 was a short family, only filly to breed on being Wild Duck with Jackeroo last classic winner.
BRAZIL (1916h Bazil B/Molly, A812 Molly by Correctaway), smart Victorian free legged pacer purchased by Edgar Tatlow where in Tasmania won Easter Plate, two Easter Cups, Launceston Show/New Norfolk Cups as well as Ballarat TC Open, 2:22.4, sire of few Tasmanian winners. It was reported that the first horse to race in hopples in South Australia was Brazil’s sire Bazil B (Huon Junior/Vanquish) at the 1913 Adelaide Show when taken there by Hugh Coulter.
SHEIK (1917h Bonnie Chief/Francesca, A17 Phoebe by Vancleve), it was commented that Sheik was sometimes hoppled, sometimes unhoppled racing without the straps. Either way, he compiled a more than useful record including NZ successes (2:10.3, £6,925 [NZ earnings only]), NZ Cup, Otahuhu Cup, Canterbury Hcp and in Australia at Victoria Park/Epping in Sydney, Brennan Hcp in Perth and one time holder of WA two mile record. Sire of numerous WA winners including Queens Gift (WA Cup; dam of Admiral Royal, Fremantle Cup), Bedouin Lady/Lady Medina/Sheiks Finale/Wilnas Gift (WA Derby), Libyan Lady/Silver Emblem (Fremantle Cup).
Adelaide readers will be aware of many successful unhoppled pacers racing at Wayville in earlier years. These included Pyramid; Naivete (dam of Derby winners Mister Chips [SA Derby], Merchant [SA Derby/Hunter Cup] and Marinda, [VIC/SA Trotters Derbies]) won races in Victoria and Adelaide hoppled and unhoppled; Wonga Pronto; Wrinkle (two ID heats) although racing in hopples in Adelaide had previously won many races in Victoria with and without hopples; Desmond Chimes; Brilliant Ray; Winall Direct and good performer/sire Lord Lulu won many races on the eastern seaboard both hoppled and unhoppled.
A prime example of free legged prowess originating from the Globe Derby line is examined next, being the greatest free legged pacer ever seen in Australasia with only Robalan four decades later comparable to Lawn Derby.
LAWN DERBY (1930h Robert Derby/Roselawn, A209 Premier mare), has had more written about him than most, so whilst this will be a thorough review of his major deeds it will not provide a complete dossier of his entire career.
Lawn Derby has undoubtedly been Australasia’s greatest ever unhoppled pacer although raced occasionally with long hopples, the majority of performances were without hopples on throughout all Australian states (except Western Australia) and New Zealand. With natural speed, requiring no hopples, boots or over check, Vic Dullard stated “beautiful to behold, and in full flight his gliding action could be likened to something on the wing”.
The champion son of Robert Derby, grandson of Globe Derby and first foal of Roselawn was bred at Cowra, NSW in 1930 by breeder/owner JE (John) Mackenney.
Robert Derby was the best pacer bred by Alan (AG) Hunter who in a limited career consisting of nine starts, won six and was placed second twice. These wins included Victoria Derby at Ascot and five Harold Park victories. Successful sire of 308 winners, 305 Australian with one Lawn Derby in 2:00.
Dam, Roselawn by Childewood, granddaughter of Ribbonwood sold to Edgar Tatlow, Hagley, Tasmania in 1931 for £30 after retiring from racing aged eleven (won NSW Australian TC Hcp at Victoria Park and races at Harold Park/Epping; 1½m in 3:26.0/2:17.1). Roselawn was owned by John Mackenny snr until sold to Tatlow with WJ (Jack) O’Shea (at inner Sydney suburb of Leichharat, near Harold Park) training Roselawn, Lawn Derby’s sire Robert Derby and Lawn Derby. The bay colt Lawn Derby was the first foal of Roselawn whose three famous sons left 774 winners between them – Lawn Derby (270), Van Derby (second foal, 335, 1 trotter; 2:00.4TT grass track mile world record, also set world record for 1½m) and Lawn Raider (169).
Commencing racing as a three year old, Lawn Derby over seven seasons won thirty one events, smashing many track records including those at show events. Unplaced at Harold Park when 5/4 in betting after breaking badly at his first start, which became something of a common trait. Whilst breaking again at his second start, managed second to Byalla on 22 January 1934 and four days later won both heat and final at Granville Show in hands of Stan Whitehead. A second and another win followed before defeating Walla Walla’s son Wirra Walla (Jack Watts) by ¾l in NSW Derby when 2/1 in betting in the four horse field.
At four in 1934/5 season, Lawn Derby won first two starts, at this stage, his career record stood at nine starts for five wins and two seconds. Heading to the major Launceston Easter carnival of 1935, he was unplaced off 36 yds in Easter Cup, while two days later he finished fourth in Easter Plate and same day won in best time to date of 2:16.0. Back in NSW, won in 2:14.0 at Bathurst Show, won two of next five Sydney starts before ending season with a third off 156 yds (ran 12 furlongs in an incredible 3:16).
The 1935/6 season (five) started with stud duties at Cowra standing at a fee of twelve guineas and serving a limited number of mares. This first official crop contained champion mare Miss Lawnham, second crop Peak Hill and Master Lawn. A win at Victoria Park on 24 February 1936 started off his five year old racing season followed by a second in which Jack O’Shea was suspended for a month for not driving Lawn Derby out to the finish. After winning the RAS Show Hcp over 1 mile in 2:13 at Sydney Royal Easter Show, he beat Walla Walla’s Sydney Showgrounds record of 2:06.0 set in 1933 (earlier 2:06.8 in 1932) recording a time of 2:03.2TT. Lawn Derby’s time never beaten for three laps plus sixty yards to mile journey on Showgrounds circuit. Another Harold Park victory followed by a third in Jubilee Cup at Victoria Park with a season closing win in the July Harold Park Hcp followed.
1936/7 season (six) was a memorable one for Lawn Derby, after winning first up off 72 yds at Wollongong, a short stint at stud and an unplaced effort in an ID trial at Wayville, the 1937 Adelaide (Wayville) Interdominions were contested. A winner of first heat the race was invalidated as it was run a lap short, placed fourth in rerun; won second heat; second in third heat; finished fourth in Grand Final (beaten heads and necks) and on same night recorded South Australian record 2:05.0TT in an exhibition mile over tight Wayville 2½ furlong circuit, the smallest metropolitan track. Taken again to Tasmania, he won TAS Easter Cup (84 yds) at Launceston, second Easter Plate off 164 yds and won Northall Champion Stakes (108yds) at Hobart. A further three starts in Sydney with wins off 72 yds in May Australian TC Hcp (Victoria Park) and June Harold Park Hcp.
The 1937/8 season (seven) opening race was at Harold Park prior to winning a Royal Melbourne Showgrounds Time test in 2:03.4TT, a Victorian record pacing unhoppled with the following night a hoppled effort in 2:04.5. In Melbourne the Ascot Pacers Cup on 27 September 1937 was won off 96 yds in a new Australian record of 3:16¼ for 1½m (2:10 2/5) before taking out the Ascot £500 on 1 November when conceding fourteen others starts of up to 120 yards and reducing New Derby’s race record for 1½m of 3:17 3/5 to 3:13.0 (2:08 2/3 mile rate). This was the principal race of the year at Ascot where the gross time of 3:23 was reduced by ten seconds allowing for Lawn Derby’s handicap to 3:13 on the five furlong Ascot cinder track which incorporated an uphill finish. The time of 3:13.0 broke Lawn Derby’s own Australasian record of 3:16¼ set a month earlier at the same track. This record for 1½m has stood for all time as Ascot track was closed after last meeting held on 29 August 1942 when it was taken over by the military and after the end of World War II Victorian Government took over the land for housing.
Crossing the Tasman for the first time, Lawn Derby appeared at the 1937 Auckland Cup carnival being unplaced in the Cup but winning the Auckland Trotting Club’s two mile Presidents Hcp (4:17 3/5) defeating two time NZ Cup winner Lucky Jack. Lawn Derby contested a three horse match race at Cambridge finishing last before being scratched from 1938 Addington ID’s and returning home to Sydney. Five further starts at Harold Park resulted in three wins (included April and May Harold Park Hcps) and a second plus a 2:02.8TT.
Apart from racing again in NZ in the following two seasons, victories in 1938/9 (eight) commenced with a Queensland mile record of 2:09½ on the quarter mile Brisbane Showgrounds track and another Melbourne Showgrounds Time Test (2:04.0TT). After the release of the handicaps for the 1939 Elphin Paceway, Launceston ID’s (108 yds, 10 furlongs; 120 yds, 12 furlongs, 168 yds; 2 mile), Jack O’Shea withdrew Lawn Derby instead heading to NZ for the lucrative prizes on offer.
Returning to NZ in late 1938, Lawn Derby was unplaced (not in first four) in race day starts during this time but that hardly does justice to what he did achieve during his stay. Having just the two race starts, beginning with the NZ Cup where starting as the sole back marker from 60 yards (10/12 in betting), Lawn Derby was unplaced as was the case in NZFFA.
Before a crowd of 30,000, on Show Day Friday 11 November 1938, history was made at Addington Raceway when Lawn Derby became the first horse outside North America to complete a mile in less than two minutes, beating Indianapolis’s NZ and Australasian mile record of 2:00.4TT. Pacing the mile free legged in 1:59 2/5TT with sectionals of 29 2/5, 58 4/5, 1:28.0, 1:59 2/5 as recorded in NZ Racing and Trotting Digest of 23 November 1938 with galloping pace maker Golden Direct (Free Holmes) and driven by trainer/driver WJ (Jack) O’Shea, in attendance.
On a track dampened by rain an hour before his attempt, he set a Southland record of 2:08 3/5TT at Wairio’s 1938 annual meeting. On 3 December 1938 in adverse conditions on New Brighton‘s track, Lawn Derby set a world record 2:03.0TT on grass for the mile (31 3/5, 1:01 3/5, 1:33 2/5, 2:03.0) beating Happy Voyage’s 2:04 1/5 set on 14 April 1923 (New Brighton) and 30 April 1923 (Alexandra Park). Galloping pacemaker Golden Direct (Free Holmes) joined in at the half mile. On 17 December 1938, surprisingly beaten by Nervies Last at Claudelands in 2:09.0 for mile having broken in the last furlong.
A match race between descendants of Ribbonwood (grand sire of dam Roselawn) in three quarter brothers Van Derby (Globe Derby/Roselawn) and Lawn Derby (Robert Derby/Roselawn) for £200 appearance money took place on Alexandra Park’s then six furlong grass track during the 1938 Christmas carnival (Saturday 31 December 1938, third day). Van Derby trained and driven by F.J. (Wizard) Smith outlasted Lawn Derby (Jack O’Shea) by half a length in an Australasian grass track flying mile record of 2:01 1/5 (half 1:0 3/5).
Note : –
In far from favourable conditions at Alexandra Park on Saturday 11 February 1939, Van Derby driven by FJ (Wizard) Smith lowered the grass track world mile record to 2:00 2/5TT. At Addington in wintry conditions (June 1939), Van Derby set an Australasian record for 1½m of 3:09 1/5TT. An outstanding sire of 335 winners (1 trotter) including ID Pacing champions Bandbox and Young Pedro (SA Cup twice), Minor Derby, Nevamaid, Para Derby, Van Hall, Tycoon (SA Derby), Taminga, Van Ayr and dam sire of ID Pacing winner Bold David.
In 1939/40 season (nine), while no wins recorded at either Harold Park or Ascot, a hat trick of Melbourne Showgrounds Time Tests was completed. Back in NZ again, Lawn Derby’s six unplaced starts began with the NZ Cup where he was equal back marker with Parisienne off 36 yds, but after standing on the mark, finished eleventh in a field of twelve. On the second day of NZ Cup carnival he unsuccessfully contested the Ollivier Hcp off 48 yds and on the third and final day the NZFFA. After starting from 60 yds behind in New Brighton’s Mace Memorial, Lawn Derby on the six furlong Claudelands grass track paced a new track record mile in 2:02 2/5TT on Saturday 9 December 1939. A start in the Auckland Cup off 108 yds followed before recording a 2:04 4/5TT mile on grass at Alexandra Park on 29 December 1939, after which he ran on the final day of the Auckland Cup carnival in the Trotting Club’s Presidents Hcp from the back mark of 108 yds.
Lawn Derby contested a series of match races at Cambridge which resulted in wins against Lucky Jack (2:02 2/5; 2:01.0) but a defeat when lined up against Indianapolis 2:03.7.
In total, Lawn Derby had 10 starts in NZ for a win and stakes of £650 plus various time trial efforts.
Back in Sydney at Harold Park on 5 February 1940. Lawn Derby broke Walla Walla’s NSW and Australian mile record of 2:02.4TT with a time of 2:02.0TT, a record held until Single Direct’s 2:01.2TT set on 3 January 1951 (Avian Derby’s two minute record came the following year). On the four furlong cinder track at Harold Park, Lawn Derby’s galloping pacemakers were his son Lawn King (first winning progeny) and daughter Miss Lawnham, a great pacer, winner of NSW Derby who later reduced her sires track record for 1½m from 3:14 1/5 to 3:13 3/5. The sectional’s for Lawn Derby’s 2:02.0TT were 29.8, 1:01.6, 1:31.7, 2:02.0. Later that same month (27 February 1940) on Snowtown’s (SA) approximately five furlong track, Lawn Derby beat his own South Australian mile record time trialing in 2:02.4.
Wins had been recorded in Cups/Handicap’s from 96, 108 and 120 yards behind with in some cases handicaps being as large as 164 yards. Lawn Derby is credited with thirty one victories including those at Shows and it was in 1940 that he was retired to take up full time stud duties.
Trainer/driver Jack O’Shea, born in Bathurst, had four brothers, all successful horsemen. Pat trained and drove Rock Huon to many victories; Arthur trained thoroughbreds and standardbreds; Dan loved trotting horses and Tom was Bathurst racecourse caretaker. Jack O’Shea’s training exploits centered on Sydney and among those he handled were Mambrino Derby (Globe Derby’s sire, great grandfather of Lawn Derby); Roselawn (Lawn Derby’s dam); Robert Derby (Lawn Derby’s sire) and other horses raced by Bob Byers in Mirrawood, Emilius Way, Young Bob, Bob Tingle, Bruce Walla; for Charles McCarthy of Junee, Springfield Globe (ID winner), Lord Lulu, Royal Lulu, Great Royal, Royal Again (WA Pacing Cup), Call Again, Royal Van (NSW Derby), Bright Walla.
After retirement Jack O’Shea was a stipendiary steward at NSW country meetings. A life member at Bankstown, after his death in 1975 the three year old O’Shea Guineas was named in his honour (no longer run : raced 1977 – 2002). Margaret Shannon won first running, roll of honour includes Gundary Flyer, Bag Limit, Rowleyalla, Impressionist, Double Identity.
Son Peter was a leading trainer/driver winning the 1939 Launceston ID’s with Springfield Globe, an ID Consolation with Childewood Direct at Wayville (1937), victory in Brisbane with Lawn Derby (2:09½TT) and after an illness enforced break after WWII, further classics in late 1950‘s/early 1960‘s.
A successful sire with 270 winners (4 trotters, 2 in 2:00; Avian Derby, Ribands), Lawn Derby stood at stud at Cowra between 1935 (when still racing) and 1953. Until Lawn Derby (1:59 2/5TT) sired Avian Derby and Ribands, together with three quarter brother Van Derby (2:00 1/5TT) were Australia’s fastest milers for period 1938 – 1952, both times set in NZ as outlined earlier. Lawn Derby’s leading progeny were sons Avian Derby (2:00.0, Harold Park 16 April 1952, first two minute mile on Australian soil, three ID heats/Grand Final off 24 yds, Hunter Cup; sire) and Ribands (1:58.7TT, second two minute miler on Australian soil at Harold Park on 27 January 1954 driven by Perc Hall, 41 wins with 16 at Harold Park, Hunter Cup, four ID heats, three wins in NZ, sire of 86 winners). Together, Lawn Derby, Avian Derby and Ribands were the first three Australian bred two minute horses,
Lawn Derby left winners of NSW Derby in Miss Lawnham, Peak Hill, Belgrave and Johnnie Lawn; ID heat winners in Avian Derby, four (and Final off 24 yds), Andi, Claude Derby (two), Ribands (four), Belgrave and Set Point. Apart from the standout twosome of Avian Derby (owned by Hanlons, including George trainer of three Melbourne Cup winners in Piping Lane, Arwon, Black Knight) and Ribands, good winners for Lawn Derby included Set Point, Peak Hill (sire of Silver Peak [Hunter Cup, NSW Derby [dam sire of Apmat [two ID heats, Yonkers International series], James Scott [ID Pacers Final, three ID heats), Andi, Esquire, Match Point (Newcastle Cup), Miss Lawnham (2:03¾TT, 24 February 1945, Australian Pacers Mares record, Harold Park specialist), Claude Derby (numerous Melbourne Showgrounds wins). Lawn Derby was leading NSW sire in 1951/2 but had no standout performer as a broodmare sire.
Lawn Derby was aged twenty four when he died on 6 November 1954.
Peter Craig
12 June 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
