Outsider Sue Won Brighton Race

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 12

Outsider Sue Won Brighton Race

New Brighton lived up to its reputation as a punters’ graveyard when Sue, which finished a moderate fifth in the city race on Friday, narrowly won the New Brighton elephant race on Saturday morning. Sue (Mr F. J. Gracie, president of the New Brighton Businessmen’s Association), obviously appreciating the drier conditions than those prevailing in the city, won only after a sustained, fighting finish with the pre-post favourite, Peggy (Father Neptune, ridden by N. B. Flaws, of the New Brighton Surf Club). Jumbo (Mr J. V., McCormick, a New Brighton hotel licensee) proved that elephants are as unreliable as racehorses. Jumbo had a convincing win in the city, but the sea air may not have agreed with him and he came in third.

Alice (Mr L. Gom, of the Christchurch “Star”) plugged on gamely for fourth, mainly because there were only four starters. There were to have been five starters, but when only four elephants arrived at the course straws were drawn to see which jockey would be in the grandstand. The winner, or loser, was Mr P. Dunbar, chairman of the East Christchurch Rotary Club, which organised the race.

The race began at the east end of Beresford street and went around the block to finish in front of the clock tower in Seaview road. The race drew a large crowd, with spectators four deep in places. Some youthful onlookers decided the best view was gained from running with the elephants. A sum of £ll4 was collected from people on the “track” and the money will go to the Salvation Army building fund.

The race wks started by Mr J. Mathison, M.P„ and Mrs Mathison presented prizes of

cigarettes to the jockeys In the "birdcage” after the race. The elephants were given generous helpings of icecream.

Interviewed after the race, winner Gracie said he was always quite confident of winning. "She kicked out well and I knew after that I was right.” he said. The other jockeys admitted they were fairly beaten, but McCormick may have been upset by the good natured jeers he- received as he passed his hotel The Running

Peggy was a little slow at the start, while Sue and Jumbo set out to make the pace. Alice dropped in to get the trail Peggy made up ground with a fortunste run on the rails near the turn into Union street.

Alice's rider seemed to be playing a waiting game, while Jumbo was beginning to drift a little. There was a littla jostling for positions in Union street and when the field swung for home into Seaview road Sue and Peggy had drawn out

With 100 yards to go there was little between the two elephants and it looked as if Peggy would gain the upper hand when her rider went for the whip (a three-pronged

fork). However, under vigorous handling, Sue hung on to win by a long trunk. Jumbo came home well and could ■how a return to form in the next race on the circuit at Ashburton.

U.N. Conference Venue The 1964 conference of the United Nations Association of New Zealand would be in Masterton it was decided at the annual meeting in Wellington on Saturday. Sir John Walsh, of Dunedin, was re-elected president of the association. and Mr G. C. Burton (Wellington) and Dr. L R. Bedgood (Hamilton) were re-elected vice-presr* dents.—(PA.)