PILLOW FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 3

PILLOW FIGHT.

RACE ON SUNDAY. AGUA CALIENTE HANDICAP. | LETTER FROM THE TRAINER. ] The Agua Calientc Handicap of 10,000 sovs., one mile and a quarter, will be run next Sunday, and the New Zealand-bred j Pillow Fight will attempt to emulate the f feat of the famous Pha-r Lap by winning ] it for ilr. D. J. Davis. | Pillow Fight has had two races in i Mexico since arriving there in February, i being defeated by a head by Bahamas 1 ver six furlongs "in 1.11, and by Gallant ir and Old Depot over a mijo and 70 i yards, the latter just cutting him out of i second place. A letter has been received by an Auckland resident from Mr. C. Morse, the i Takanini trainer, who trains both Pillow Fight and Tea Trader for Mr. Davis. Mr. > Morse, writing early in February, etates i that the trip was a long one and he was glad to sec the shores of America. They landed at 9»30 a.m. on February 1 and were met by floats and taken to Mexico the same day, arriving at Agua Caliente at about 9 p.m., having travelled 147 miles I all on concrete roads. The New Zealand iloats had it on the American ones, which were rough but homely. They were escorted throughout by a policeman mounted on a motor cycle, and lie did not forget to carry a revolver. Mr. Davis did not take any risks. # "Making a Big Fuss." The public were making a big fuss over the horses. He found the- American people a fine lot, and they were only too pleased to do anything they could for one. Both the horses were doing well. Pillow Fight had rather a rough passage across, but was gradually recovering from the trip. Tea Trader did really well ail through and was a nt horse at the time of writing. "Talk about camera men," continued Mr Morse, "they drive me mad wanting snaps of the horses all day long, but I have had to put them off. I think the horses and myself have been through every paper in the States." There was racing there every day m the week, with the exception of Monday. The dirt track was wonderful and he liked it very much. They worked on it all night getting it prepared for the following day. The starting was also wonderful, and he had never seen a bad start with the patent gate used there, which could bo moved round the course to any starting post. There was no chance of a horse ever getting hurt in it and no barriers were used. They were sent off from the gate with an electric bell, and didn't the horses know the bell! Ho was taken oh the starter s stand by the starter for one of the big events to give him some idea of it, and from the time the starter called the horses into line till they were dispatched one minute ten seconds elapsed. There were twelve starters. Over 1100 Horses. The accommodation for horses there was splendid, and they could put up 1400. At present there were 1147 horses on the club's grounds, some of whom were really good, sorts and others of poor class. The hardest to beat in the big race- would be a horse called Gallant Sir, a first-class handicap horse and a good-looker, and Pillow Fight' would have to be at his best to beat him. (Gallant Sir subsequently beat Pillow Fight.) There were a number of smart sprinters, and the first four races each day were restricted to six furlongs. There are also three nine-furlong races. No doubt Agua Caliente was the home of gambling—all sorts going on at the course—and it was a sight to see it. There was even an up-to-date shaving saloon under the grandstand, and they did great business; in fact they sold everything on the course. The riding in races was very poor, there being, in his opinion, only a few good horsemen there. They had a different etyle to New Zealand boys. He had secured John Maben for his team, and he seemed to be the best rider there.