FALSE STEP

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 5

FALSE STEP

“15,000 Dollars For Option”

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK, May 21.

A Wall Street investment broker. Mr J. Dreyfus, has paid 15,000 dollars for an option on the purchase of the New Zealand pacer False Step, according to a "New Itork Mirror” sports columnist. Jack Weissman. Weissman said the broker had paid out the 15,000 dollars to the horse’s owner, Mr J. Smyth, two hours after the stallion’s win in the mile and a half National Championship Pace at Yonkers Raceway last Thursday. The sports writer said Mr Dreyfus had until Tuesday to exercise his option with an additional payment of 85,000 dollars. The “New York Times” reported today that a Wall Street broker was expected to buy the pacer for 100.000 dollars.

False Step’s trainer, Cecil Devine, speaking for Mr Smyth, has declined to give any details of the current negotiations concerning the horse until they are concluded.

U.S. PACERS “WEAK” Alley Gives Views

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 22.

The Sydney trotting driver, B. Alley, said last night that American trotters and pacers were “weak” compared with Australian horses.

Alley had returned from New York after driving the champion Sydney pacer Apmat to two wins in three races at the Yonkers’ International Pacing Championship. Alley said American horses were badly trained, and trainers used a wide variety of unnatural gear to force horses to race truly. Their time “records” were misleading because tracks were incorrectly measured. He saw only one first-class reinsman (Clint Hodgins) in action at Yonkers. “Australia is as far above them in trotting as the moon is above the earth.” said Ailey. “I thought I was going to learn a lot by going to America and by watching their alleged world champions, but I reckon every Australian trainer of note could teach them a thing or two.” Asked how America’s top six pacers would compare with Australia’s best, he said: “They haven’t got six good horses. “I consider Adios Butler's mile record at Lexington is a fake because the track is measured out in the middle, and the track is at least 60 yards wide. “Naturally Adios Butler went along the inside when he paced his record. “This means he ran much less than a mile,” Alley said.

Miller Rejects

Criticism

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, May 22. Criticism of United States pacing by the Australian trainer-driver, B. Alley, was rejected today by a United States driver. D. Miller, Associated Press said. Alley drove the Australian gelding Apmat to victory in the first two legs of the three - race International meeting at Yonkers Raceway in New York.

Miller said Alley raced well “but he did not even confront the top horses in the United States.’*