MILE RECORD FOR TROTTERS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 4

MILE RECORD FOR TROTTERS

SEVENTEEN YEARS SINCE ESTABLISHMENT

It is almost 17 years since Worthy Queen trotted one mile from a flying start in 2min 3 3-ssec, and during that period no inducement has been offered for an attempt on the record. With the exception of Certissimus, it is doubtful whether many of the trotters raced during that time would have threatened the record. New Zealand has never had so many highclass trotters as there are at present and it is to be hoped that some club will arrange an invitation match race over one mile this season. Last year eight records for trotters were broken —five by Dictation, two by Ripcord and one by Gay Belwin—ana the only ones to survive are Worthy Queen’s mile record and Fantom’s two-mile placed record of 4min 16sec. A match race over one mile would be a great draw card and there would be every chance of Worthy Queen’s record being broken. If this is not possible perhaps some club would offer a purse for the first horse to lower Worthy Queen’s record. There are a number of horses in commission capable of breaking the record and two owners have mentioned to “The Press” that they feel their horses would be capable of a 2min mile.

Horses likely to have the strongest claims if a match race were arranged would be Gay Belwin, Dictation, Ripcord, Single Task and Highland Kilt. Ripcord and Dictation have been timed to run the last mile in several of their races in better than 2min ssec. There are a number of other speedy trotters about, including Bulls Eye, Signal Light, Swanee River, Two Step and Gold Horizon, but their i ecords are not as good as the five horses named earlier.

Worthy Queen’s record was an impromptu one. Arrangements had been made for Walla Walla to make an attempt on Acron’s pacing record of 2min 3 3-ssec. Walla Walla had been credited with 2min 4 l-ssec from a standing start in a match race, a world race record from a standing start when it was established. The Australian horse looked certain to lower Acron’s record when he paced his first half in better than Imin, but the effects of a cold took their toll over the final bit and he just managed to equal the record. Shortly after the trainer of Auburn Lad, another Victorian visitor, asked to be allowed to make an attempt, and he returned 2min 2 2-ssec, which stood as the record until Indianapolis recorded 2tnin 1 2-ssec as a five-year old and 2min 0 2-ssec the following season. Immediately Auburn Lad had finished J. S. Shaw took Worthy Queen out and she recorded 2min 3 3-ssec. The same dav Biddv Parrish recorded 2min 8 2-ssec, which was not a true indication of her ability as she had been timed to run the last mile in a race, after breaking at the start, in better than 2min ssec.

Lady Brigade Lame The Light Brigade mare, Lady Brigade, was very lame after competing in the Addington Trotting Stakes last week, and she has been put aside for a spell. She appeared to be sore in her preliminary. Lady Brigade ran a sound race and at one stage it appeared likely that she would reach a place. She tired, however, over the final furlong and drifted to be fifth at the post. She has plenty of ability and she should be a useful winner later in the season.

Promising Pacer Patrick Earl is one of the most promising novice pacers seen in the North Island for some time. At hi* only start to date, in the first division of the Second Kihjkihi Handicap at Te Awamutu on August 18. he showed a useful turn of speed, although he ran greenly. He is a four-year-old gelding by Robert Earl (the sire of Stuart Earl) from Clockwise, by Rey de Oro from Tijuana, the dam also of Clockwork. Speirette. and Masterpiece. Patrick Earl is owned by his Hawera breeder, Mr A. J. Corrigan, and trained by D. R. Grantham.

Plans for Stallion It is unlikely that any studmaster tn New Zealand will make use of the proposal of Mr W. Rose, a Sydney breeder, to use Highland Fling and artificially inseminate mares throughout Australia and New Zealand at a fee of lOOgns. According to the cable messages published yesterday artificial insemination containers would be flown to New Zealand. The main difficulty would be to maintain an even temperature. Some time ago it was planned to overcome the ban on horses from the United State* by this method, but it was found Impossible to maintain an even temperature for the required Such a proposal would have to be closely watched and would have to be supervised by the Australian authorities and officials of the Trotting Conference in New Zealand. According to the Rules of Trotting operating in New Zealand any foal got by not be registered, as a service certificate is required. If this is not obtainable definite proof of the sire would have to be Pr Artifictal insemination has been used in New Zealand, but mostly on animals other than horses. The only horse raced in New Zealand known to have been got by artificial means was Aberhall, which won his way to New Zealand Cup company. Methven Trotting Club

Nominations, complete with all lars. for the Westward Ho Handicap only \ at the Methven Trotting Club s sprr ng meeting, close at 12 noon on SeP|?"Jhven with the secretary, phone 70S. Methven. Note the time of closing. Advt. New Brighton Trotting Club Withdrawals for all events at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s spring meeting to be held on Saturday next close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. _____ — Aavl -