TROTTING 338 Horses Among 1700 Paid Their Way

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 4

TROTTING 338 Horses Among 1700 Paid Their Way

Only about one-fifth of the trotters and pacers raced in New Zealand this season paid their way by winning £5OO or more. Some 1700 horses raced during the period and 338 won more than £5OO in stakes. Of the remainder 257 won between £2OO and £490, and a large number won less than £2OO.

According to figures printed in the “New Zealand Trotting Calendar” more than 1000 horses failed .to win a race during the season, and of that number more than half failed to pay a dividend.

The owners of the 338 horses, which won more than £5OO in stakes, should have at least broken even for the term.

The greatest proportion of the 338 horses won between £5OO and £lOOO, 191 horses falling into that category. Ninety-eight horses won between £lOOO and £2OOO, and 31 horses won between £2OOO and £3OOO, 10 between £3OOO and £4OOO. four between £4OOO and £5OOO. one

slightly more than £5OOO, one slightly more than £9OOO, and two more than £lO,OOO. The list of winning horses is headed by Lordship with £11,265, a record for a four-year-old and the third largest total won' by any horse in a single season in New Zealand. The previous best by a four-year-old was £10,285 by Lookaway in 1957-58.

Lordship’s total has been exceeded only by Highland Fling and Vedette. Highland Fling won a record £15,835 in 1947-48 and was the first pacer to, win more than £lO.OOO in a single season. Vedette won £14,260 in the 1950-51 season, Parawa Derby finishing second with £10,120. The 1960-51 season is the only previous occasion in which two horses have won more than £lO,OOO in a single season. This year the Greymouthowned Falsehood won £10,285 before being sent to the United States.

This is the thied season in the last 12 years that D. G. Nyhan’s Templeton stables have produced the biggest stake-winner of the year. Lordship’s sire, Johnny Globe, headed the list as a four-year-old in 1951-52 with £9360, a record for his age to that time, while he topped the list again in 1957-58 with £10,285.

The only other horses to have won five-figure amounts in a single season have been Captain Sandy (1948-49) and False Step (1960-61), with £10,729 and £10,185 respectively. Top Last Year Cardigan Bay, 1 which topped the list last season with £7815, finished third this season with £9005. In addition he won almost £20,000 in Australia during the period. The Waikouaiti-owned and Methven-trained Springbok gelding. Oreti, had a most successful season, finishing in fourth position with £5140 in stakes. He did not win any races with very big stakes, although he won two £l3OO handicaps at the Addington Easter meeting. When, the leading straightout trotter, did well to finish fifth with £4945 before being sent to the United States. Grouse, Cairnbrae and Doctor Dan were the only others to win more than £4OOO. Grouse finished with £4495. while her stablemate, Cairnbrae, won £4170. Doctor Dan won £ 4050. Doctor Dan's stablemate, Our Own, finished second on the list of winning trotters with £3795. Then there was a big drop to Wairau King, with £2395, and Scotleigh, with £2375. Both Wairau King and Scotleigh did most of their racing in the Auckland districts and their totals were most creditable. Three of the four top stake-winning three-year-old pacers of the season were trained in the Auckland district. The list is headed by the Southland colt. Tactile, which won £2650 in New

Zealand and about £6OOO in Australia.

Vanderford, which proved himself a smart colt, won £2520, followed by Professional Globe with £lBOO and Great Adios . with £l5BO. Then there was a drop to Admiral, the second biggest winner among the South Island horses in this age group. Admiral won £1340. Wildwood Chief, winner of the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, was the leading winner among the two-year-olds with £1430, followed by Peerswick with £ 1280, Our Change, with £1135 and Falstaff with £llO5. Our Change was the only North Island trained youngster among the four in this age group to win more than £lOOO.