DOMINION RECORD

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 4

DOMINION RECORD

Spark Gap’s Fine Run

Spark Gap established a New Zealand record of 3min 16sec for one mile and a half by a three-year-old when he won the Canterbury Park Trotting Stakes at

Addington on Saturday. The previous record of finiin 18sec was recorded bv Certissimus in 1941.

Snark Gay took the lead with four and a half furlongs left and finished solidly to win by four lengths from the four-year-old. Flaming Way. which gave him a start of 48 yards. Flaming Way trotted the distance in the outstanding time of 3min 13sec, not far outside the record of Dictation. which recorded 3min 10 4-ssec in 1951.

Spark Gap is raced by Mr H. W. Alston, of Christchurch, for whom he is trained at Weedons by P. C. Williams. He was driven on Saturday by H. Holmes. He is a black colt by Thunder On from Transmitter. Snow Globe led out from Dreaming and Spark Gap, with a gap to War Scene, which broke, and Flaming Way. Snow Globe continued at a solid pace and led Spark Gap past tiie mile with 36 yards to Dreaming, which was breaking, and Flaming Way. The latter improved to be four lengths from Spark Gap and Snow Globe at the half-mile. Spark Gap was not put to the test and won by four lengths from Flaming Way. with eight lengths to the tiring Snow Globe, which was 30 lengths in front of Little Smoke. Then at intervals came Dreaming. Tracey's Pal. Harbour Light and War Scene The leaders trotted their last mile in 2min 9 2-ssec. the first quarter taking 32 3-ssec. the first half-mile Imin 5 4-ssec. and the first •ix furlongs in Imin 36set.