Hondo Grattan
Encyclopedia
Hondo Grattan was a Standardbred pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales
known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully defend an Inter Dominion title. Hondo Grattan was the first horse in Australia to win (AUD)$200,000 and also the first horse to win 21 races at Harold Park Paceway
. He was a winner at a time of top competition, that included horses such as Pure Steel
and Paleface Adios
.
Hondo Grattan made a winning racetrack debut on 24 May 1971 at Penrith however it was his only win in six starts as a two-year-old.
He began his three-year-old season by winning eight consecutive races before being defeated by Jason King at Harold Park on 26 November 1972. He then won a further eight consecutive races including the New South Wales Sires’ Produce, second in importance only to the New South Wales Derby. After defeating Adios Victor and Jason King in a derby heat in March, he was unplaced in the final to Bold Biami and fourth to Bold Biami in the Simpson Sprint. He won 17 of his 21 starts during the season.
Hondo Grattan finished fourth in the Australasian Four-year-old Championship at Harold Park and after an unsuccessful trip to Melbourne he contested the Australia Day Cup series in January 1973. After a win and an unlucky fifth in his heats he finished third in the final on 26 January to Bold Biami. Hondo Grattan also won the 1973 New South Wales Futurity.
The Inter Dominion
was to be held in Sydney that year and it attracted an extremely strong field of contenders including defending champion Welcome Advice, New Zealand stars Robalan
, Arapaho, Manaroa, Royal Ascot and Globe Bay, Victorian Reichman the runner-up in the 1972 Miracle Mile
, as well as New South Wales trained Just Too Good, Jason King and Australia Day Cup winner Bold Biami. The quantity and quality of horses contesting the series was such that six heats were held on each night, the only time this has happened. On the first night he beat Arapaho and Jason King before defeating Speedy Ben and Bold Biami to be the only pacer undefeated after two rounds of heats. The third round was postponed several days due to rain, but when they were held Hondo Grattan remained unbeaten. After drawing barrier two Hondo Grattan was favourite for the final in a strong field. Despite a tough run Hondo Grattan prevailed over Royal Ascot and Glamour Chief. After trainer-driver Turnbull was suspended he missed the Miracle Mile. Hondo Grattan then won the Lord Mayors’ Cup following second and first place heat finishes. He did it the hard way defeating Nicotine Prince after making a slow start.
Early in the 1973/4 season Hondo Grattan contested the Spring Cup at Harold Park and finished second in both his heats off a 20 metre handicap before finishing third to Bold Jason in the final off the same mark. He then broke 2:00 for the first time with a 1:59.5 time trial at Bathurst. Heading to Melbourne for the Hunter Cup carnival, he was third to Monara and a winner defeating Amlin and Reichman before finishing fifth in the A G Hunter Cup
. Hondo Grattan’s next mission was to defend his Interdominion crown in Perth, Western Australia. He made a winning start by defeating New Zealander Hi Foyle on the first night but he was only eight on the second night of the carnival. In both those races he came from a 15m handicap. The third round of heats were run under free-for-all conditions but the ‘Bathurst Bulldog’ could finish no better than a dead-heat for fourth and was fortunate to make the final field. The 1974 Interdominion
is best remembered for a crash at the beginning of the race that left only four winning chances. With many of his main rivals out of play Hondo Grattan held off the finishing challenge of Adios Victor with Bret Armagh third. Bret Armagh was later disqualified with Royal Gaze promoted to third. By winning the race he became the first horse to win consecutive Interdominions, and only the second horse to win the race twice. Coincidentally, Captain Sandy
, the other two time winner, also recorded his second win in Perth.
Returning to Sydney, Hondo Grattan won the Miracle Mile
in a career best 1:59 over Paleface Adios
and Mitchell Victory becoming the first horse to win both the Miracle Mile and Interdominion in the same year. His last major assignment was the Albion Park Ten Thousand in Brisbane where he was fifth in the final. He was the leading stakeswinner in Australian harness racing for the second consecutive season.
Hondo Grattan’s first major engagement of the 1974/5 season was the Hunter Cup carnival in Melbourne where he was third to Gallagher before finishing third to Royal Gaze and Paleface Adios in the Cup itself. The Interdominion was held in Auckland
, New Zealand that year and although a strong team of Australian pacers including Hondo Grattan, Paleface Adios
, Just Too Good and Royal Gaze made the trip across the Tasman, they were no match for Young Quinn
who was unbeaten during the series. Hondo Grattan performed creditably finishing fifth, third and second in his heats despite a 25m handicap. Turnbull was suspended for the final when ‘Hondo’ finished sixth to Young Quinn. It looked like a major race win would escape him that season, but he completed 1974/5 by winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup from a handicap of 25m. During the season he became Australian harness racing’s leading stakesearner.
The 1975/6 season was Hondo Grattan’s last on the racetrack. His best performances during the season were a third to Paleface Adios and Don’t Retreat in the Miracle Mile and win over King Frost in the Hurricane Sprint.
Hondo Grattan was retired to stud after finishing third to King Frost on 17 April 1976. He was not a great success at stud but one of his best progeny was the consistent Mister Meggs who later raced in the USA.
He was twice voted NSW Harness Horse of the Year
in 1973 and 1974, and had a song written about him called "Little Hondo", which was sung by racecaller Johnny Tapp.
Hondo Grattan died following a bout of colic at the age of 26 on 30 November 1994 in his yard at The Lagoon having remained at stud with Tony Turnbull after his retirement.
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rotation of the Championships is fixed...
in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully defend an Inter Dominion title. Hondo Grattan was the first horse in Australia to win (AUD)$200,000 and also the first horse to win 21 races at Harold Park Paceway
Harold Park Paceway
Harold Park Paceway was a harness racing track in Glebe, New South Wales. It was a half-mile track but was just 739m in circumference until some changes in recent years...
. He was a winner at a time of top competition, that included horses such as Pure Steel
Pure Steel
Pure Steel is the only pacer to win the A G Hunter Cup, a race over 3,050 metres and the richest handicap race for pacers in the world, three times, in 1977, 1978 and 1980. He was the first Standardbred horse to win A$500,000 in Australia. Pure Steel also won the WA Benson & Hedges Cup four times...
and Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
.
Racing record
Throughout his career Hondo Grattan was trained by A.D. "Tony" Turnbull at The Lagoon, Bathurst, NSW who part-owned him with farmers Bill and Bob Webb.Hondo Grattan made a winning racetrack debut on 24 May 1971 at Penrith however it was his only win in six starts as a two-year-old.
He began his three-year-old season by winning eight consecutive races before being defeated by Jason King at Harold Park on 26 November 1972. He then won a further eight consecutive races including the New South Wales Sires’ Produce, second in importance only to the New South Wales Derby. After defeating Adios Victor and Jason King in a derby heat in March, he was unplaced in the final to Bold Biami and fourth to Bold Biami in the Simpson Sprint. He won 17 of his 21 starts during the season.
Hondo Grattan finished fourth in the Australasian Four-year-old Championship at Harold Park and after an unsuccessful trip to Melbourne he contested the Australia Day Cup series in January 1973. After a win and an unlucky fifth in his heats he finished third in the final on 26 January to Bold Biami. Hondo Grattan also won the 1973 New South Wales Futurity.
The Inter Dominion
Inter Dominion
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand...
was to be held in Sydney that year and it attracted an extremely strong field of contenders including defending champion Welcome Advice, New Zealand stars Robalan
Robalan
Robalan was a champion New Zealand pacer Standardbred horse, known as "Robbers". He is notable in that he won two NZ Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race in New Zealand, for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for...
, Arapaho, Manaroa, Royal Ascot and Globe Bay, Victorian Reichman the runner-up in the 1972 Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile
-Places in the United States:*Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, a district of Los Angeles*Miracle Mile , New York, a premium shopping district on the North Shore of Long Island*Miracle Mile , a shopping area in Coral Gables, Florida...
, as well as New South Wales trained Just Too Good, Jason King and Australia Day Cup winner Bold Biami. The quantity and quality of horses contesting the series was such that six heats were held on each night, the only time this has happened. On the first night he beat Arapaho and Jason King before defeating Speedy Ben and Bold Biami to be the only pacer undefeated after two rounds of heats. The third round was postponed several days due to rain, but when they were held Hondo Grattan remained unbeaten. After drawing barrier two Hondo Grattan was favourite for the final in a strong field. Despite a tough run Hondo Grattan prevailed over Royal Ascot and Glamour Chief. After trainer-driver Turnbull was suspended he missed the Miracle Mile. Hondo Grattan then won the Lord Mayors’ Cup following second and first place heat finishes. He did it the hard way defeating Nicotine Prince after making a slow start.
Early in the 1973/4 season Hondo Grattan contested the Spring Cup at Harold Park and finished second in both his heats off a 20 metre handicap before finishing third to Bold Jason in the final off the same mark. He then broke 2:00 for the first time with a 1:59.5 time trial at Bathurst. Heading to Melbourne for the Hunter Cup carnival, he was third to Monara and a winner defeating Amlin and Reichman before finishing fifth in the A G Hunter Cup
A G Hunter Cup
The A.G. Hunter Cup is a competition in Harness racing. It is contested over 3,050 metres at Tabcorp Park in Melbourne, VIC. It is one of the world's richest handicap standing start events, currently worth A$425,000...
. Hondo Grattan’s next mission was to defend his Interdominion crown in Perth, Western Australia. He made a winning start by defeating New Zealander Hi Foyle on the first night but he was only eight on the second night of the carnival. In both those races he came from a 15m handicap. The third round of heats were run under free-for-all conditions but the ‘Bathurst Bulldog’ could finish no better than a dead-heat for fourth and was fortunate to make the final field. The 1974 Interdominion
Inter Dominion
The Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand...
is best remembered for a crash at the beginning of the race that left only four winning chances. With many of his main rivals out of play Hondo Grattan held off the finishing challenge of Adios Victor with Bret Armagh third. Bret Armagh was later disqualified with Royal Gaze promoted to third. By winning the race he became the first horse to win consecutive Interdominions, and only the second horse to win the race twice. Coincidentally, Captain Sandy
Captain Sandy
Captain Sandy was a New Zealand-bred Standardbred racehorse. He is notable in that he won two Inter Dominion Pacing Championship races and two Auckland Cups...
, the other two time winner, also recorded his second win in Perth.
Returning to Sydney, Hondo Grattan won the Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile (race)
The Miracle Mile is an Australian harness racing event that was held at Harold Park Racetrack each November up until 2008 when the race was switched to Menangle Park. Prizemoney has long been among that of Australia’s leading harness races and has often included bonuses for speed...
in a career best 1:59 over Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
and Mitchell Victory becoming the first horse to win both the Miracle Mile and Interdominion in the same year. His last major assignment was the Albion Park Ten Thousand in Brisbane where he was fifth in the final. He was the leading stakeswinner in Australian harness racing for the second consecutive season.
Hondo Grattan’s first major engagement of the 1974/5 season was the Hunter Cup carnival in Melbourne where he was third to Gallagher before finishing third to Royal Gaze and Paleface Adios in the Cup itself. The Interdominion was held in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand that year and although a strong team of Australian pacers including Hondo Grattan, Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios
Paleface Adios was an Australian harness racing horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, when there was top competition from the likes of the Hondo Grattan, Robalan and Pure Steel.He was a chestnut Standardbred pacer with a white blaze and...
, Just Too Good and Royal Gaze made the trip across the Tasman, they were no match for Young Quinn
Young Quinn
Young Quinn a New Zealand standardbred racehorse was successful in period where his competition in the sport of trotting was particularly strong. Foaled in 1969, he was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick by Hal Tryax . Named after Brian "Snow" Quinn a champion New Zealand sheep shearer, he was...
who was unbeaten during the series. Hondo Grattan performed creditably finishing fifth, third and second in his heats despite a 25m handicap. Turnbull was suspended for the final when ‘Hondo’ finished sixth to Young Quinn. It looked like a major race win would escape him that season, but he completed 1974/5 by winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup from a handicap of 25m. During the season he became Australian harness racing’s leading stakesearner.
The 1975/6 season was Hondo Grattan’s last on the racetrack. His best performances during the season were a third to Paleface Adios and Don’t Retreat in the Miracle Mile and win over King Frost in the Hurricane Sprint.
Hondo Grattan was retired to stud after finishing third to King Frost on 17 April 1976. He was not a great success at stud but one of his best progeny was the consistent Mister Meggs who later raced in the USA.
He was twice voted NSW Harness Horse of the Year
Harness Horse of the Year
The Harness Horse of the Year is an honor recognizing the top harness racing horse in the United States. The award is selected by the United States Trotting Association and the United States Harness Writers Association....
in 1973 and 1974, and had a song written about him called "Little Hondo", which was sung by racecaller Johnny Tapp.
Hondo Grattan died following a bout of colic at the age of 26 on 30 November 1994 in his yard at The Lagoon having remained at stud with Tony Turnbull after his retirement.