[TROTTING Hospitality At Yonkers "Overwhelming”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29552, 29 June 1961, Page 5

[TROTTING Hospitality At Yonkers " Overwhelming”

The hospitality offered all visiting trainers and drivers in the International Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway had been overwhelming, said the Templeton trainer, C. C. Devine, on his return to Christchurch last evening. From the president of the raceway (Mr Martin Tananbaum) down, all had gone out of their way 7 to make the visitors and their friends welcome. They had been given the freedom of the raceway. “In fact it would have been impossible for them to have done anything more.’’

Devine, who was accompanied by Mrs Devine and Mr and Mrs A. C. Amyes. oi Ashburton, visited many ol the famous studs in Kentucky after racing False Step at Yonkers and Roosevelt RaceI ways in New York. He had been delighted with False Sep’s performances bul felt very humble about then: all the same, said Devine i “To win races there you need , plenty of luck.” ' Devine was disappointed that False Step had beer scratched from the first race j of the series. "That came about through a set of circumstances which could have caught anyone, ft was jusl one of those things.” False Sten had been late working clear when be finished second at his first start, but a week later he had been allowed to make hit own rules and had won well The American trainers and drivers had been most helnfnl throughout his visit “There were some great horsemen among them.” said Devine. “The criticism oi them published in New Zea. ‘land and Australia and subi sequently sent back tc America was unjustified They do not drive as dost as in races ip New Zealand ! or Australia, but that is understandable as the slightest touch of an opponent’) sulky during a race is construed as interference.” American officials wert I quick to act in any cases they thought constituted in- , terference. There was nc

I chance to argue with them as !the tracks there filmed all! I races and these were avail-' table for inspection almost' immediately after races i finished. The films could be run through several times and stopped whenever ■ oincials wanted. The filming of races was j one big advantage trotting in America had over Newj 'Zealand. It enabled inquir-| [ies to be dealt with expedi-j itiously and was fair to every- ; one. It was almost impossible to escape a penalty i after causing interference. | The wins of the visiting (horses had been well received : at Yonkers, said Devine, i After False Step had been j scratched from the first race ; of the series. Devine had (watched the event from the 1 press box. "I was amazed i by the manner in which the! j newspapermen cheered Ap-( ]mat all the way up the! i straight,” said Devine. After- j (wards they had told him they; had been delighted to see a (visiting horse win. ( There were many grand ; pacers in America, a large (number of which were capable of bettering two minutes ' for one mile. In addition, there were dozens capable of 2min Isec or 2min 2sec. Their top trotters, too, were outstanding, several of them showing great brililiance. A few of the top ■ New Zealand trotters would! probably be capable of racing with distinction in (America. I ..: ! ’

! Little interest had been shown in obtaining New Zealand or Australian horses for stud purposes as tar as he knew, said Devine. However, there was real interest in obtaining the best pacers and .trotters from both Australia (and New Zealand for international racing. Such events ' had aroused tremendous (interest and had proved a I great boost to trotting. It : appeared there would be much more international racing in future. Devine could not be drawn into comparing False Step with Adios Butler, holder erf the world record for one mile. "Adios Butler has brilliant speed and must have great stamina to record the times he has.’’ So far the two horses had met only over I one mile and he was not (prepared to suggest which , horse would come out on top 'if they were raced over longer distances. ! Devine was most impressed 'by the great studs which he ■ had visited. At Hanover Shoe Farms there were more than 1000 horses on the property. After leaving America Devine visited Europe, Hong Kong, and Australia. While in Paris he visited the stables of J. Cheryacios, the leading French trainer. He had 92 straight-out trotters in work, including many fine performers. Cheryacios invited him to stay longer in Paris land drive there. Unfortuni ately his itinerary did not 'allow him to do so.