Humphrey....1968 Cup

[Ludwig]

It's the first cup winner that I can clearly remember. I picked the horse because I wanted Humphrey to beat Nixon in the election. And our new cat got called Humphrey.

I am sure that, unbeknown to Mum, my pocket money was invested on him by Dad.

But apart from that, I can remember little else about the horse, its path to the Cup, or subsequent endeavours. Any one with better memories than me??

[Davis]

I remember the horse was trained and driven by Ted Lowe. I think it won the Kaikoura Cup before winning the 1968 NZ Cup? It wasn't one of the greatest NZ Cup fields but he won and his name is on the Cup. 

Edited October 5, 2021 by Davis
spieling

[Rangatira]

21 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

It's the first cup winner that I can clearly remember. I picked the horse because I wanted Humphrey to beat Nixon in the election. And our new cat got called Humphrey.

I am sure that, unbeknown to Mum, my pocket money was invested on him by Dad.

But apart from that, I can remember little else about the horse, its path to the Cup, or subsequent endeavours. Any one with better memories than me??

1968 NZ TROTTING CUP

Crumbling one after another before the long reaching stride of Humphrey, the rest of the 1968 NZ Cup field proved completely out of their depth against the short priced favourite from Hinds. My own impression of Tuesday's Funeral March in Be Flat was that the winner, whether the race had been run at it's pitiful 4:16, or 4:06, the result, as far as the winner was concerned, would have been the same. A real champion who can sprint, stay and, above all, begin like a rocket, had all the answers from go to whoa.

The half-mile sprint our first $20,000 Cup was reduced to came as a complete anti-climax to the great expectation that preceeded the race; instead of a re-incarnation of a Gold Bar or a Vesuvius we were treated to the frustrating dawdlings of pacers quite capable of reaching two-minute speed but who, instead, were firmly reefed and riveted to jog the first mile in 2:12.4 and the mile and a half in 3:16.8. This left Humphrey the relatively simple task of a last half-mile in 59.6, which he obviously do 'on his ear' any old time. In fact, if anything could have offered him any sort of competition, he could have knocked spots off two-minute speed on the day. Hubert should have been there to see him go!

Humphrey is raced by W E (Ted) Lowe and his wife, and Ted drove with supreme skill and confidence. The hearts of backers of the favourite must have moved close to their palates when Mister Chips broke with a little less than half a mile covered and caused a hullabaloo, because Humphrey looked to be right in the path of it; but Ted Lowe said after the race that the incident had caused him no concern. There were many well-wishers who viewed with no little anxiety the lack of 'elbow room' Humphrey would have from his short mark of 6 yards. They were soon reassured. Humphrey proved to be actually better off there than he might have been on the limit and, when he got away with such smooth alacrity, even for him, he virtually had victory conceded to him by the snails pace set by Spry, in particular.

Humphrey, a quality seven-year-old bay gelding, built like a greyhound, has now won 18 races and been placed 21 times for $42,665 in stakes. By Morano, a brilliant though temperamental pacer by U Scott from Coquette, Humphrey's sire was a member of the Bonilene (imp.) family, which has been represented by two NZ Cup winners, Lookaway and Adorian, on the distaff side. Dalene, dam of Humphrey, won three races and took a 2:10.6 rating for a mile and five furlongs. She is by the eminently successful American-bred sire Light Brigade, and her dam, Doonholme, also a useful pacer, was a royally-bred mare by Rey De Oro (our leading sire on three occasions) from Raclaim, by Wrack (also our leading sire for several seasons), from Trix Pointer, the great American-bred pacer who won the NZ Cup in 1919, and whose son Wrackler (by Wrack) won it in 1930. That is a brief sketch of the Trix Pointer household and its three NZ Cup winners to date; and, by the way, the 1953 NZ Cup winner Adorian is Humphrey's uncle! Ted Lowe mentioned this during the Cup presentation.

Now on to the Lowe family record in the NZ Cup. The late W T Lowe, father of Ted Lowe, bred and owned Lucky Jack, who won the Cup in 1937 and 1939 and finished second to Morello in 1938; and Ted Lowe also owned Cairnbrae, who was trained and driven to win the 1964 Cup by C S Donald. Ted Lowe paid a warm tribute to "the best vet in the world, Bill Robinson," during his reply to the gold cup presentation in the birdcage. Bill Robinson apparently performed a delicate, highly-professional and skilful operation to remove a stick from Humphrey's rump when he was a young horse. Ted Lowe at one stage thought Humphrey "would never race again," but Mr Robinson saved the day - and the future - for Humphrey. A special mention, too, for Mrs W T Lowe, Ted's mother, who has now seen, from the foal stage right through to headquarters fame, generation after generation of the family founded by Tairene, a chestnut mare bred by her late husband and foaled in 1912, by the dual NZ Cup winner Wildwood Junior fron Jessie B., by Smith O'Brien from the legendary Prickwillow mare. Atanui is one of this tribe.

The field had an initial upset through Governor Frost's rearing up and falling when the field was practically ready to leave. This caused a few minutes delay, and when the trigger was eventually pulled, Jacobite, Mister Chips, Happy Ending and Cuddle Doon broke, while Allakasam shuffled off the mark and Cardinal Garrison was slow to move. Atanui was the early leader from Loyal Knight, Chief Command, Miles Gentry, Spry and Governor Frost, with Mister Chips improving, then Co Pilot, Jacobite, Chequer Board and Humphrey. Spry hit the front at the end of five furlongs, and with a mile covered he was followed by Chief Command, Atanui and Governor Frost. Humphrey was tenth at this point, and he had run up close to Spry with half a mile to go. The horse who might have made a race of it for Humphrey from then on was Chief Command, but he got pushed back at a crucial stage, and the race was well sewn up by the time he secured an opening to brush home briskly in fourth place. Cardinal Garrison also looked a shade unlucky. After his slow beginning he made up his lost ground promptly, only to have a ragged spell probably because of the lack of pace. His run from the half-mile, where he had to go three wide to get within a length and a quarter of the winner, presented him as a four-year-old of real class, and his big day will assuredly come.

But it was Humphrey, more Humphrey, and nothing but Humphrey once he flew past Spry. Co Pilot did surprisingly well to come in two lengths and a half from the second horse, and following the fourth horse, Chief Command were Chequer Board, Miles Gentry, Atanui, Spry, Governor Frost, Loyal Knight, Allakasam, Great Adios, Happy Ending and Cuddle Doon in that order.
 

[Chief Stipe]

23 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

It's the first cup winner that I can clearly remember. I picked the horse because I wanted Humphrey to beat Nixon in the election. And our new cat got called Humphrey.

I am sure that, unbeknown to Mum, my pocket money was invested on him by Dad.

But apart from that, I can remember little else about the horse, its path to the Cup, or subsequent endeavours. Any one with better memories than me??

As a 9 year old I sat in Ted Lowes lounge at Hinds and looked at Humphrey's Cup.  Listened attentively as Ted regaled every drive he ever had while he and Dad drunk whiskey.

[Gammalite]

Here's a photo of HUMPHREY powering to the line to beat Cardinal Garrison.

The late great 'Ted' Lowe even posing/ smiling for the in-field photographer !! 

Humphrey started favourite after winning the Kaikoura Cup in NZ record time off 36 yards week before NZ Cup.

As always , the best seem to get 'Sold off' and both Humphrey and Cardinal Garrison were then sold to USA. 

[Chief Stipe]

I met Ted when I was very young.  Listened to many a story retold by him.  If you didnt know better you would have thought he was a better driver than Morrie Holmes.

My Dad's horse was stabled there when we tried to win the Orari Challenge Stakes.  Nostradamus (good horse won the Messenger) beat us by less than a nostril under a hard drive whereas our driver didnt touch our horse, was worried about breaking due to the previous performance.

Ted had taken our horse out onto his track and timed him to run 12 seconds for a furlong the fastest any horse had run on the track.

Ted also had on display a 100 year old Hokitika Trotting Cup which the family had won.

 

[Chief Stipe]

If I recall correctly Ted Lowe was only ever an Amateur driver and Trainer.

OTD = Owner, Trainer, Driver.

He set up Paul Young the father of Jessica in the industry.

[Ludwig]

Thanks for all that info.

[Ludwig]

5 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

Thanks for all that info.

Interesting horses in that field that I recall. Allakasam and Chequer Board both featured prominently in my marble  races up the hallway, along with a Peter Kelly style commentary.

What the real NZ cup field didn't have to contend with was my sister stepping out of her room and kicking all the marbles out of the way.

[mikeynz]

10 hours ago, Ludwig said:

Interesting horses in that field that I recall. Allakasam and Chequer Board both featured prominently in my marble  races up the hallway, along with a Peter Kelly style commentary.

What the real NZ cup field didn't have to contend with was my sister stepping out of her room and kicking all the marbles out of the way.

Have you still got your marbles or have you lost them😄

[hunterthepunter]

17 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

If I recall correctly Ted Lowe was only ever an Amateur driver and Trainer.

OTD = Owner, Trainer, Driver.

He set up Paul Young the father of Jessica in the industry.

I remember John lemon working for ted Lowe biggest tight ass you would come across  even changed him for the sleep out he stayed in when working there

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, hunterthepunter said:

I remember John lemon working for ted Lowe biggest tight ass you would come across  even changed him for the sleep out he stayed in when working there

You couldn't have met a nicer man than Ted Lowe.  I assume you never met the man?

I know he rewarded well those who put the hard work in.  

[hunterthepunter]

7 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

You couldn't have met a nicer man than Ted Lowe.  I assume you never met the man?

I know he rewarded well those who put the hard work in.  

yes I met him. pays young guy 100bucks a week then takes 50bucks of for rent lol

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, hunterthepunter said:

yes I met him. pays young guy 100bucks a week then takes 50bucks of for rent lol

Which would have been what year?

Ted was old school.  You worked hard and he rewarded you.  I know a couple of people who benefited from his generosity.

[Honestjohn]

20 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

As a 9 year old I sat in Ted Lowes lounge at Hinds and looked at Humphrey's Cup.  Listened attentively as Ted regaled every drive he ever had while he and Dad drunk whiskey.

Gold right there

 

hj

[Ludwig]

8 hours ago, mikeynz said:

Have you still got your marbles or have you lost them😄

According to multiple therapists, they went a long time ago 

[hunterthepunter]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

 I know a couple of people who benefited from his generosity.

mr A LOWE from his driving skills

[Chief Stipe]

1 minute ago, hunterthepunter said:

mr A LOWE from his driving skills

He is a nephew.  His driving skills were more like his father's - Hughie.

[hunterthepunter]

1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said:

He is a nephew.  His driving skills were more like his father's - Hughie.

he did not seem to cotton on . in the cotton feilds, cotton mill

[Ludwig]

How times have changed. A stake of $20,000 and a time of 4.16.

[Chief Stipe]

58 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

How times have changed. A stake of $20,000 and a time of 4.16.

I remember as a young smart arse teenager having an argument with some old trainers that very soon a horse will put two sub minute miles together in a two mile race.  They laughed and said don't be silly - will never happen!

I'd worked it out on comparing the mile record progress and the ratio with other distances.

[Rangatira]

6 hours ago, hunterthepunter said:

he did not seem to cotton on . in the cotton feilds, cotton mill

Cotton Jenny

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

I remember as a young smart arse teenager having an argument with some old trainers that very soon a horse will put two sub minute miles together in a two mile race.  They laughed and said don't be silly - will never happen!

I'd worked it out on comparing the mile record progress and the ratio with other distances.

I'm still 'getting over' the Dominion Handicap for the trotters going at 4min and 1/2 second speed last year ....

How good are they ? most pacers can't do that..... quite incredible.

SUNDEES SON trotted that last year. wonder If he will go quicker this year ? and break the 4 min barrier ? 

The Aussie raider,  TOUGH MONARCH probably won't get there with covid about this year sadly.  He Placed in the Dominion Handicap 2019 with Ant's driving, and last year with Mark Purdon driving. He's near the Oz best. 

Tough Monarch Won the Group 2 Cup, last Saturday night at Menangle off the backmark 30m handicap over 3000m . It was really funny as he has that much on them , he trotted away by 6-8 lengths in front at the 1/4 , then Rickie let him ease down up to the line and he was at jogging speed at the post by 1 length. Nearly muffed it lol........

[Shad]

I always thought a camel with three humps was called Humphrey 

[Robalan]

Ludwig, the Peter Kelly style commentary you referred to was in fact given by Dave Clarkson, the inventor of the New zealand style commentator