The rambunctious one
by Lisa Harkema
An exceptionally fast trotter with soundness problems and chronic mental issues, Arndon sometimes posed a huge challenge to his legendary trainer. But when he did what he was supposed to he was a terrifyingly good trotter – and the first three-year-old to trot in 1:54.
An American star, the history of Arndon is also a story of great New Zealand breeder and stud farm. Back in 1927, John McKenzie had founded the Roydon Lodge and named it for his sons Roy and Don. The purchase of U Scott in 1935, as well as Light Brigade five years later, established the farm as the best in the southern hemisphere. John McKenzie passed away in 1955, when one of his sons, Roy took over Roydon Lodge.
In The Roydon Heritage, published in 1978, Roy MacKenzie wrote that (note: keep in mind that Roydon Gal was then in foal) “At the 1976 Adios there was a yearling sale which featured a Super Bowl filly I was keen to secure. My aim was to help breed good young trotters. This was not a very attractive financial investment, but probably necessary long term. As well as driving her before the sale, I drove Noble Victory colt who impressed me as an ideal cross for our Game Pride mares and as a result, I had a difficult decision to make between the filly and the colt.
The sales area was crowded but my wife and daughter Robyn got seats and shortly before the filly came in, I gained one in front of them. There was some quick and frantic bidding, but I finally secured her, though my family didn’t think so. She had cost more than I bargained for. The colt, Noble Art, sold for $4,000 less later in the sale. He was purchased by Del Miller and the Grants and he became the top money-winning two-year-old of 1977. He had earned over $100,000 and he will have a 2:00 (1.14,6) record any day.
We named the filly Roydon Gal and she trained really well as a two-year-old but showed some soreness when due to race at that age. We later qualified her in 2:10 and she has now been bred to Arnie Almahurst to whom she is in foal.”