HERITAGE COLLECTION

NOEL RIDGE - VICTORIAN HARNESS RACING HERITAGE COLLECTION, BENDIGO

THE STORY OF BELMONT STUD

BUSST, GLASHEEN MEN OF VISION

TODAY’S HARNESS RACING INDUSTRY OWES MUCH to these standardbred visionaries of the early 1900s.

Busst – a Bendigo businessman with hotel and farming interests – and Glasheen – a Charlton trainer-driver – operated Belmont Stud at Huntly near Bendigo.

The story of Belmont Stud started in 1908 when George Greaves, licensee of the Albion Hotel in Bendigo, set it up on leased land at Mandurang, 10 kilometres southeast of Bendigo.

When the Tye brothers, owners of the Allendale Stock Farm at Mentone disposed of stock in 1911, Greaves was quick to buy the stallion First Voyage (1908, Bon Voyage US-Elsie Downs US) for 235 guineas.

He also acquired an additional two stallions, Billy Mac US and New Zealand pacer Dan Patch (not to be confused with the US legend of the same name).

Greaves also purchased three imported broodmares including Blonde Grattan (1901, Grattan-Blonde Beauty). She was a gem at stud, with her first 10 foals all won races.

In 1913, George Greaves disposed of the entire Belmont operation to Busst and Glasheen, the grandfather of the “Pacing Priest” Fr Brian Glasheen.

The Bendigo Advertiser reported on the clearing sale: Cordner, Reynell and Co., had a very successful clearing sale at the Belmont Stud Farm. First Voyage and Dan Patch each realised 550 guineas, and were purchased by Mr A. Williams, on behalf of buyers Busst and Glasheen, who intend establishing a stud farm to the north of Bendigo. Blonde Grattan and Crucible S were bought by Mr Williams for 95 and 60 guineas respectively. Their young progeny were also bought for the new Belmont location. (Grand Voyage, future Hall of Fame trotter was one of the young horses to change hands).

The partners relocated the stud from Mandurang to Huntly on the flats of the Bendigo Creek, just a few hundred metres as the crow flies from Matchett and Crowe’s Adelaide Hill Stud.

Glasheen trained the stock from the breeding program. One of them, the future Hall of Fame trotter Grand Voyage’s reputation preceded him to the racetrack. When he was produced at the Richmond Racecourse in 1916 for the main Victorian classic for young trotters, the Futurity Stakes, all but one of rivals pulled out.

At his second start in January 1917, the three-year-old won from 60 yards behind against older horses at the Richmond track in a time barely slower than in which the Richmond Cup, run the same day, was decided.

As a rising five-year-old Grand Voyage defeated the hoppled pacers for the first time, subsequently a common sight. In June 1919 he won twice on the day at Epping (Harold Park) in Sydney, each time setting a record. Then at the Royal Melbourne Show at the Melbourne Showgrounds he set a mile record of 2:16 3/5 from the very good pacer Sarilla, the winner of 23 races at Richmond.

In 1921, back in Sydney, Grand Voyage reduced the winning record at Epping to 2:13.

After winning the first Boort Cup from the handicap of 280 yards, Grand Voyage was taken to New Zealand, where he won the 1922 Otahuhu Cup at Alexandra Park in Auckland worth 1000 sovereigns (then £2000) from 48 yards against the best pacers NZ had to offer.

On his return to Australia he won further races including the original Bendigo Cup at the Bendigo Jockey Club track at Epsom. Grand Voyage went on to win 37 races.

The Belmont Stud and racing partnership ended only 11 years after it began.

proprietors, Campbell and Sons, auctioneers, will sell by auction on Tuesday, March 11,1924 at the City Horse Bazaar, the whole of the trotting stock, sulkies, and gear of the famous Belmont Stud Farm, Huntly, Victoria (The Herald, January 30, 1924).

Busst died in 1933, while Glasheen continued to train and drive, and died in 1946.

Considered by many to be Australia’s leading trotting driver, Paddy Glasheen died suddenly at the residence of his son at Young, NSW. Aged 75 at his death, he was in good spirits right up to his sudden death and at the time had a team of horses in training. (Narrandera Argus, November 5, 1946).

Busst served as Victorian Owners and Breeders Association president for 10 years.

He was also Trotting Appeal Board member, Bendigo Trotting Club member, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria life member and Bendigo Agricultural Society councillor.

Busst and Glasheen achieved much in the short time the stud operated.

Belmont stood three stallions, originally at Mandurang for George Grieves and then at Huntly for Busst and Glasheen

DAN PATCH NZ (P.TT. 2.9.4) 1902 by Rothschild from Ruahine

He was the sire of 25, including Belle Patch 2:13.0, Bronze Patch 2:15.4 and Ivy Patch 2:17.0.

Belle Patch, through the Classic Families A13 Fair Nell family, is the ancestor of Dons Ayr 1945 (2:07.8), Teeny Rena 1962 (2:04.3), Jikk Adios 1976 (1:59.9, $251,740), Quantum Lobell 1991 (1:53.1, $442,592), Elite Rena 1992 (1:59.8, $152,847 and the three times Inter Dominion champion Our Sir Vancelot 1990 (1:55.4, $2,197,990).

Inter Dominion winners Dans Son and Bold David, as well as the smart trotter Sparkling Success, all descend from Belle Patch

BILLY MAC US (P2.29 Aust) 1904 by Boreal from Lilt (Eagle Bird) Imported as a two-year-old in 1910 by Allendale Stock Farm, he stood at Belmont Stud 1915-1917.

He sired only 11, including Willie Mac 2.19, Rowdy Mac 2.23 and Royal Mac.

One of his daughters is the ancestor of Gambling Raid (2.09.6), winner of a 1959 Inter Dominion heat.

FIRST VOYAGE (Tr,TT2.18.4), 1908, by Bon Voyage from Elsie Downs

Elsie Downs was imported carried the unborn First Voyage by Allendale Stock Farm. He stood at Belmont Stud 1916-1923, then at Melton until his death in 1935.

After racing, he sired 136 winners, 78 trotters and 58 pacers including Grand Voyage, Huon Voyage, First Cast and Surprise Journey.

First Voyage was the first Australian stallion to sire 100 winners.

First Voyage’s daughters are ancestors of an impressive array of high class pacers and trotters including: Bingen Redmond, Harwood Brigade, Prince Mimosa, Nancy Irene, Zig Zag, Abidair, Did It Alone, Roman Chapel, Cooma Maree, Just Money, Illawong Ian, Illawong Byron, My Lesson, Crescent Glory and $2 million earner Flashing Red.

Some of the Belmont Stud partnership horses that Glasheen raced

The Busst and Glasheen partnership raced a long list of successful trotters and pacers, including: Queen Pirate NZ (Normintson - Wild Pirate): 1920 NZ Thames Pacing Cup, 1920 Northland Cup, 1924 Bendigo Cup and 1926 Richmond Flying. First Trip (First Voyage – Crucible S): 1915 Victorian Trotters Sires Produce, 1916 Victorian Trotters Derby and 1921 Tasmanian Northall Park Cup. Belmont Chimes (Abbey Bells from Blonde Grattan): 1915 Sires Produce Stakes, the 1915 Victorian Trotters Derby and 1920 NZ New Brighton Cup. Stormy Voyage (First Voyage-Nellie): three Melbourne TC Trotters Handicaps, two Richmond Handicaps and 1923 NZ Alexandra Handicap. Grand Voyage (First Voyage-Blonde Grattan): 37 wins included 1916 Vic Sires Produce, 1917 MTC Trotters Handicap, two Richmond Handicaps, 1919 Boort Flying, 1920 two Richmond Flyings, 1921 Boort Cup, 1921 Epping (NSW) Handicap Epping NSWTC Flying, 1922 NZ Otahuhu Cup, 1924 Bendigo Cup, 1925 Bendigo JC Open, 1926 Elmore TC Open. Derwent Jack (Grattan Bells – Kestrel): who 1918 Richmond Hcp, Ballarat TC Open, Ascot Cup and 1919 Richmond Handicap.