TROTTING False Step’s Win Widely Disputed

Press, Volume C, Issue 29530, 3 June 1961, Page 15

TROTTING False Step’s Win Widely Disputed

[Specially written for "The Press” by

JOHN NOBLE]

False Step's win at i Roosevelt Raceway last ! week has eaused wide 1 discussion. Many unsubstantiated claims that he interfered with Bye Bye 1 Byrd near the two-fur-long post have been J made. F*'se Step began brilliantly ’ from the No. 1 position and led round the first turn before dropping in to trail the odds-on favourite Adios Butler. Positions changed rap- 1 idly in the next two furlongs, with each runner trying for a good position. Fa’se Step finished one out and three back enjoying a good trail until the final quarter. As the field approached the straight. Cecil Devine pulled him three wide to pass Bye Bye Byrd, which broke at that stage and lost al’ chance. False Step was esked for an effort 50 yards from the post and responded well to come from behind Royal Rick and Caduceus, which were having a great battle in front, and win bv half a length. Royal Rick, a recentlypromoted junior free-for-all horse, was most impressive, and Caduceus paced his best race for the season. Strangely enough, Caudceus's best performances have been put up on wet tracks. Mr Budlung paced his usual honest race for fourth without ever really looking a danger. Adios Butler raced round False Step on the allimportant first bend and this effort, combined with his lack of racing and the muddy racing surface, taxed his s'amina andjeft him a tiring fifth. 15 lengths behind the fourth horse. No Interference The mix-up over the lodging of an objection against False Step by Clint Hodgins, driver of Bye Bye Byrd, caused a hue and cry. Eventually the judges watched a video tape of the race, but found no evidence of interference. The New York sports writer. Tony Sisti, a former basketball player who considers himself a trotting expert. wrote some caustic remarks, the outcome of which was a further inspection of the film of the race by the judges, horsemen and’ the press the next morning. Still no evidence of interference was found, but Sisti persists in persecuting Devine as he has done all the visiting horses and horsemen. Sisti has been the most critical of all the New York reporters, and it was he who upset Apmat'a trainer-driver. H. R. Alley, thereby inciting the latter’s adverse comments on various aspects of American trotting on his return to Sydney. Those comments caused a further outcry when they were published in America. Arania had her first start as a junior free-for-all horse last Saturday. Once again she could not reach the fence, but did not pull. She enjoyed a good trail for half of the race and was fourth into the straight. She reached the front 20 yards from the finish and won by half a length from Champ Volo, with Speedy Pick third and Stephen Smith fourth. Champ Volo and Speedy Pick con'ested the International Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway 12 months ago. This was the first time Arania had received any luck in the running and her performance stamped her as a worthy free-for-all horse. However, her times and winnings allow her a junior ranking and she will probably remain in this division. Her time of 2min Bsec for the mile was the best of the night on a heavy track. Conservative The sale of False Step for 115,000 dollars might be on the conservative side. His new owner, Mr J. Dreyfus, is reported to be one of America's wealthiest men. He races 63 thoroughbreds, but has not previously owned a pacer. Billy Haughton will shortly assume control of False Step and Arania. which has been leased to Yonkers interests. and they will join Caduceus and Apmat in his stables. Tony Vassallo will s'ay with them for some time, and Edgar Kennerley will join the entourage in his own interests. False Step's owner. Mr J. Smyth, and Mrs Smyth, have already left New York for Ireland, and Mr R. A. McKenzie. of Wellington, and Mrs McKenzie, have left on their return to New Zealand by way of San Francisco. Devine and G. B. Noble will leave next week after driving their horses in one

more race and will i eturn to New Zealand by way of Europe. Mr and Mrs A. C. •Am yes. of Ashburton, will accompany Devine and Mrs Devine, and Noble will be accompanied by Mrs Doris Manderson and Mr and Mrs A. Cunningham, all of Christchurch.