MILE PACING RECORD

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 4

MILE PACING RECORD

TRIAL AGAINST TIME

HIGHLAND FLING TO APPEAR TO-MORROW The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has completed arrangements with L. F. Berkett for Highland Fling to attempt to lower Lawn Derby’s New Zealand and Australian mile record of Imin 59 2-ssec, established at Addington in 1938. One of the fastest pacers to race in New Zealand for several years, Highland Fling, which is owned by Mr A. T Kemble, began his spectacular career as a two-year-old In the 1944-45 season, and he has now won £19,630 for 18 wins and nine minor placings in his 53 races. Apart from Lawn Derby, the only other pacers to have bettered two minutes in New Zealand are Gold Bar, which recorded Imin 59 3-ssec in 1942, and Haughty, which equalled this time on November 11, 1944. Over a period of more than 45 years since 2min lOsec was first bettered in New Zealand the record has gradually been whittled down. Ribbonwood, a famous pad§r at the turn of the century, registered 2mfn gsec, arid it was not until 1911 that this time was bettered, King Cole, a son of the record-holdbr, registering 2min 8 3-ssec. In the following year Emmeliije equalled King Cole’s record, and then followed Country Belle, with 2min 7 l-ssec. Then came Adelaide Direct, 2min 6 2-ssec, Our Thorpe 2min 6 l-ssec, and Author Dillon, which took an unofficial record of 2min 6sec.

Happy Voyage recorded 2min 4 l-ssec in 1923 and in 1924. Acron caused a sensation at Addington when he won a free* for-all event in 2min 3 3-ssec. Ten years later, Walla. Walla took the spotlight with a mile in 2min 2* 2-ssec at Harold Park, Sydney. About this time. Indianapolis was at his best and in 1936 he covered a mile at Addington in 2min 0 2-ssec.

The Australian-bred Lawn Derby visited Addington in 1938, and he s§t the seal on his fame by becoming the first pacer to better two minutes in New Zealand or Australia.

Highland Fling’s task to lower Lawn Derby’s figures is not an easy one, but he can produce a sensational burst of speed and his connexions are confident that he will establish another record. If conditions are suitable. Highland Fljng will make his attempt after the second event at Addington to-morrow.