Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Arapaho - (Bachelor Hanover - Dusky Bay) 69 starts, 28 wins, 16 seconds, 10 thirds. $124,000 in stakes (today's money that equates to $1.5m). As a young fella I saw him race at Greymouth's Victoria Park Raceway - 25 mile up the road from where I lived in Hokitika. A mini Addington - even had lights for night racing. Watched Arapaho win there with Jack Smolenski in the sulky 2 March 1974. The picture below is of him at Addington. The stake for the FFA was $3,500. In today's money that is $36,500!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 ARPAHO A winner over two miles in 4.19 as a 3-year-old, Arapaho brought himself into light harness racing prominence as a 4-year-old when he won the New Brighton Stars Travel Mile at the Addington track. Starting from a second row barrier and running against the elite of NZ pacers, Arapaho ran the distance in 1:59 in conditions that were anything but favourable. Arapaho defeated the Australian Bay Foyle, who ran second and also had to contend with a second row barrier draw, Robalan and Radiant Globe. Arapaho became the first of his sire, Bachelor Hanover's progeny to enter the two-minute list. Arapaho won 10 races, was second twice and third twice as a 4-year-old for prizemoney, $31,740 to be the leading NZ stakewinner in 1971-2. Arapaho was subsequently voted the NZ Harness Horse-of-the-Year in 1972.In February, 1973, Arapaho set a world record in winning the Dunedin Festival Cup. He ran the 11 furlongs from a standing start in 2:48 3/5, a mile rate of 2:02 3/5. This clipped 1 3/5 off the world record set by Johnny Globe, in 1955. Following his success in the Dunedin Festival Cup, Arapaho raced in Sydney in the 1973 Inter-Dominion Championship series. He was defeated into second placing by the championship winner, Hondo Grattan, in the first heat he contested but won the next heat. He qualified for the final, but ran unplaced from the 12 yard mark. During the 1973-4 season Arapaho was again the leading stake-earner in NZ with earnings of $69,375 for the season. This followed wins in the prestigious NZ Cup and the Auckland Cup in 1973. He won a NZ Cup @Gammalite so must qualify as a Champion!!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 1973 NZ TROTTING CUP Doubts that Arapaho would see out a solidly run 3200 metres against such talented opposition were completely dispelled when he raced away with the $40,000 NZ Cup. Not only did Arapaho win the Cup, but he did so by five lengths in the brilliant time of 4:08.6 for the 3200 metres, which compares favourably with False Step's 4:09 recorded in winning his third NZ Cup in 1960 when the distance was two miles. The fastest time recorded in the Cup over two miles was Johnny Globe's 4:07.6 in 1954. This was a world record which stood until 1969 when Dainty's Daughter recorded 4:07 in Western Australia. Arapaho, who at the start of the season was under option to an American buyer for $100,000 but remained in New Zealand when the sale fell through, proved by far the best stayer in the field. Dunsandel owner Mr Laurie Forde has now won 23 races both here and in Australia with Arapaho who took his stake earnings to $90,270 with the $24,000 first prize. Arapaho was given a dream run by trainer-driver Jack Smolenski. Sixth early he had a turn in front at the 2100 metre mark as the early lead changed frequently, and was then three back on the rails when first Vanadium then Rauka Lad took the lead. Rauka Lad made the pace from the 1800 metres when Young Quinn was shot into a handy lead by Bob Cameron. Vanadium and Arapaho moved to be second and third on the home turn, but Arapaho proved too strong for Young Quinn and went on to win by five lengths. Last year's Cup winner Globe Bay went another good race for second. He improved along the rails to be in fifth place on the turn and finished determinedly to edge Young Quinn out of second by half a neck. Young Quinn, the youngest horse in the race at four, made a game attempt to beat his older rivals. He was one of several to have a turn in front early when he led briefly at the 2600 metre mark, but at the 1600 he was well placed in the fourth line on the outside of Fab. Cameron sent him passed the tiring Rauka Lad at the 600 metre mark and he turned for home with a handy advantage. He could not maintain it, but his third in such a fast-run race was a good effort for a young horse. Robalan third in the race last year, gained another placing when he battled on for fourth though four lengths back. He drifted to the rear after 800 metres and then had to go very wide when improving from the 700 metre mark. He was sixth, but very wide out turning for home. Royal Ascot did best of the three horse bracket which include Manaroa and Manawaru. He finished fifth, but never looked like paying a dividend. He had only Manaroa and Robalan behind him at the 800 metre mark and then had to go three, then four wide round Noble Lord at the 400 metres. He was a length back fifth at the line. Vanadium, who trailed Rauka Lad from the 1800 metres, wilted to sixth a length back and a nose in front of Lightsey who ran on well after breaking at the start. Scottish Charm just battled away in the middle of the field two lengths back with a gap of five lengths back to Noble Lord who made a brief forward move at the 800 metres, but was struggling at the 400 metre mark. Manawaru, who was under pressure to maintain his position at the 800 metres, was a further four lengths back ahead of Bomber Bill, Fab, Manaroa, who broke badly at the start, and Rauka Lad. Rauka Lad stopped badly after going up fast to lead at the 1800 metre mark. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 10 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: This followed wins in the prestigious NZ Cup and the Auckland Cup in 1973. He won a NZ Cup @Gammalite so must qualify as a Champion!!! Brilliant Chief !! Arapaho , yes that's other one to beat Young Quinn in the NZ Cup (apart from Robalan ) I only got to see Young Quinn once at Auckland live, when 4th in a Delightful Lady Auckland Cup when returned from USA. A true Superstar !!! There was a great book i loved in NZ about them, titled 'Flying Sulkies' I had as a teen, all about the Nz Cup up to 1980. ....... Robalan running unhoppled (a very rare thing with balance) to his big wins. To qualify as a Champion in NZ , I was saying you have to win a NZ Cup , an AUCKLAND Cup or Interdominion. a true guide of greatness ? lol............ Off the cuff, How many won ALL 3 of the great races to qualify ????? I know the greatest of all did , CARDIGAN BAY in the 1960's. Quinny falling short of getting an NZ Cup. maybe ELSU did it ? gunna chew me all day now thinking of some lol...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, Gammalite said: Brilliant Chief !! Arapaho , yes that's other one to beat Young Quinn in the NZ Cup (apart from Robalan ) Well you can imagine as a young chap watching a Champion race around the nearest trotting track to home on a track which which would be the equivalent of the Echuca Trotting Club in Victoria. Typical West Coast night though - raining like hell!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 16 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Well you can imagine as a young chap watching a Champion race around the nearest trotting track to home on a track which which would be the equivalent of the Echuca Trotting Club in Victoria. Typical West Coast night though - raining like hell!!! A truly great horse (and trainer/driver ) there for you to enjoy as a young fella ! very nice. Speaking of little tracks you were at, and like Echuca, lets Go Smaller still lol.............. Here's a pic of a race i kept, of race I was in at ROCKLEA (15mins from Brisbane CBD) raced Saturday afternoons for 50 years , until closing 2009 on a city commercial block . only 545m track with a 70m straight !!! lol........ all stands , couldn't fit a mobile on it !!. sort of a square with 4 sharp 90 degree left turns lol........... And it created the best drivers ever !! you had to be sharp as a tack, not afraid to be 'riding on one wheel' as they came out under you, maybe you could attack 3 laps out !! lol..... best fun ever had ! these drivers became 'Seasoned ' very very quickly and I rate them All very highly. and I like all drivers too . these were the 'Hardest to beat' ever, and make todays Aus and NZ drivers look like they are on a casual sunday cycle ride (and Rocklea look like Olympic Velodrome) !!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 Geez 545m! You could race Greyhounds on that! I remember Victoria Park which I think was a smidge under 800m and that was tight enough! The turn out of the straight had a kink in it which caught many a newbie out either going onto one wheel or getting tipped out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Arapaho - (Bachelor Hanover - Dusky Bay) 69 starts, 28 wins, 16 seconds, 10 thirds. $124,000 in stakes (today's money that equates to $1.5m). As a young fella I saw him race at Greymouth's Victoria Park Raceway - 25 mile up the road from where I lived in Hokitika. A mini Addington - even had lights for night racing. Watched Arapaho win there with Jack Smolenski in the sulky 2 March 1974. The picture below is of him at Addington. The stake for the FFA was $3,500. In today's money that is $36,500!!!! What time of year was that race,a c9.i think greymouth raced,October,and March,new year I think too,open class trotters raced at Greymouth often as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 3 minutes ago, mikeynz said: What time of year was that race,a c9.i think greymouth raced,October,and March,new year I think too,open class trotters raced at Greymouth often as well. As I said in my first post it was the 2nd of March 1974. He won the NZ and Auckland Cup's the preceding year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Just to add I now and then look back at the results,the harness site is very good for that,somehow I think harness racing has been in a spiral down for a long time,I know we must live in the present but looking back one wonders why it's got to the state it's in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Author Share Posted August 21, 2021 5 minutes ago, mikeynz said: Just to add I now and then look back at the results,the harness site is very good for that,somehow I think harness racing has been in a spiral down for a long time,I know we must live in the present but looking back one wonders why it's got to the state it's in. In those days Clubs were run by passionate amateur volunteers who didn't mind painting the odd rail or dunging out a stable. Then amalgamations starting happening and supposedly clubs got bigger so we needed highly paid professionals. Those highly paid professionals became distant from the core business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Talking about reminiscing,I see Tom T Hall has died,music was good them days as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gospel of Judas Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 Think lucky, some of my family, had some really top line horses from 1950's onwards into this era. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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