Americans To Visit Riccarton Today

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 4

Americans To Visit Riccarton Today

Two racing enthusiasts from the United States are quite the biggest men in Auckland racing for the time being—one of 2801 b and the other of 2401 b. They are Messrs Michael Hines, from Nevada, and John Gordon, from Colorado. They arrived on Monday "mad keen” to see what New Zealand had to offer in the way of racing and thoroughbred stock. Tomorrow, morning the two Americans will dash by air to Christchufch to attend the second day of the Grand National merting. Beck tomorrow evening, they will visit the Alton Lodge Stud at Te Kauwhata. Already they have inspected Mr Woolf Fisher's Ba Ora stud at Panmure. A Las Vegas solicitor. Mr Hines is. as well, a member off the American Cowboy Association and reputed to be a fair steer roper. A meat producer, Mr Gordon says New Zealand is about the friendliest country he has visited. Commenting on the Auckland and Waikato winter pastures he said. “Why, they would do me in Colorado summer or spring.” The wealth of the pastures and care given all the thoroughbred stock greatly impressed the two visitors when thy inspected the Ra Ora stud.

"As well as being well cured for the animals are cleaner legged and much better handled than the young horses at home" said Mr Hines.

Today the two friends had a look around Ellerslie race-

course—“the prettiest we have seen’’—and on Monday they will leave for Sydney on their way to Japan. In the meantime. Mr Hines is hopeful that he might secure a well-bred brood mare to

send home or perhaps a racehorse.

“I have heard of Phar Lap.” he said, “and the Australians say you breed the best horses in the world here.” The two Americans are keen to see the racing at Riccarton because neither has seen a steeplechase. ’lt would be just too cruel for words at home," they said. N.Z.-Bred Winners (NX Press Association) MELBOURNE, August 9. Two New Zealand-bred gallopers Baron Cdurtauld and Minaroo—won races at Cranbourne meeting, 30 miles from Melbourne, today. Baron Courtauld, by Tulloch's sire, Khorassan, won the first Rosebud Improvers' Handicap after drifting from 4/1 to 7/1. Minaroo won the Improvers’ second division at 10/1,