PACER'S IDENTITY QUESTIONED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 133, 7 June 1929, Page 11

PACER'S IDENTITY QUESTIONED.

LATEST TROTTING SENSATION,

The prosecution of two men in connection with the running of the pacer, Imperial Thorpe will create considerable interest in trotting circles. The allegation is that the horse which has been raced as Imperial Thorpe is identical with a horse called Bruce, a very smart sprinter The records show that Bruce is an aged bay gelding by Logan Pointer—Trixie Mac Two seasons ago he raced at the August meeting of the Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington and won two races. He went 2.16, to win the mile saddle on the second day and on the third day he again won the. mile saddle off a 2.13 mark in 2.15 2-5, but the track was heavy. In his next eight starts that season he was twice third. Last season Bruce did not race.

Imperial Thorpe, described as a bay gelding by Our Thorpe—Prince Imperial mare, first started during the 1927-28 season. At his first appearance in_ a trial handicap at Ashburton he ran third but in his two subsequent starts he was beaten out of a place. This season he began by winning the Balfour Handicap at Gore and then he was- beaten out of a place twice. In December he finished third in the Speedwell Handicap at Gore and four unplaced performances followed. On February 27 he won the Members' Handicap at Invercargill from a 2.58 mark and went 2.58 3-5. Later in the day he was beaten, but on the second day he won the Au Revoir Handicap, going 2.20 3-5 from a 2.22 mark. His next two outings saw him unplaced and then followed the Oamaru meeting last month. On the first day he ran second in the Papakaio Handicap, going 2.48 4-5 off a 2.57 mark, and later in the clay was beaten into second place in a mile race, going 2.13 3-5 from a 2.18 mark. His next race was at Addington, when he was ordered to be impounded by the stewards.