No Decision Yet To Destroy Even Stevens

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 5

No Decision Yet To Destroy Even Stevens

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, January 29. The life of the champion galloper, Even Stevens, is in the balance. X-rays taken today of the sesamoid bone in his front off-leg show the bone to be broken in seven places.

Even Stevens broke the bone during a training gallop at Te Rapa early this morning.

Even Stevens’s owner, Mr J. Wattie. who arrived at the home of the trainer, A. McGregor, in Hamilton at 3.30 pjn. today, said no decision on the horse’s future had yet been made. “We will watch the horse closely during the next two days and should come to a decision within that time," said Mr Wattie.

Even Stevens is being cared for by a Hamilton veterinary surgeon, Mr A. A. Blackely. Mr Wattie said that before any decision to destroy Even Stevens was made, a second opinion from a Wanganui veterinary surgeon would be sought. “But I will make one thing clear the horse will not be allowed to suffer,” said Mr Wattie.

The Queen Mother, who had accepted a two-year lease of the horse and who bad planned to race Even Stevens in England, has not yet been notified of the accident

Even Stevens was to have left by sea for England on February 9. “It was only yesterday that I received a letter from the Queen Mother’s private secretary faying that the arrival of Even Stevens was being eagerly awaited,” said Mr Wattie.

Even Stevens was scheduled to arrive in England on March 12. Mr Wattie said that he had been racing horses for 30 years and had seen many accidents. “I would like to make it clear that nobody

is to blame for what happened this morning,” he said. “I am sure that thousands of people throughout the world will share my sorrow over what has happened to this great horse.”. Mr J. C. Pollock, president of the Waikato Racing Club, said that not since the death of Phar Lap had so much

gloom been cast over the Waikato.

Mr Pollock said that immediately after the accident the club’s vice-president, Mr F. C. Johnstone, had inspected the track with several leading trainers and the course caretaker. "There was absolutely nothing on the track, no holes or anything, that would cause such an accident,” said Mr Pollock.

News On Front

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(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, January 29. Australian nespapers today gave front-page prominence to the news of Even Stevens’s injury and radio stations interrupted their programmes to make the announcement that the winner of the 1962 Melbourne and Caulfield Cups had broken down.

Although he was not in Australia as long as great New Zealand horses like Rising Fast and Redcraze, Even Stevens achieved almost the same popularity by his extraordinary achievements in one season.

The Melbourne “Herald” racing writer, Jack Elliott, said that the accident was “the greatest tragedy in Australian racing since Bernborough suffered a similar injury in 1946. “Even Stevens, with his flowing silver mane and tail, was the glamour champion of the last spring carnival in Melbourne,” Elliott said. “The same thousands of Australians who cheered the great New Zealand champion to victory in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups will now be hoping he can be saved from death.”