JUBILANT OWNER Cardigan Bay Is 'Worth A Million’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30399, 25 March 1964, Page 5

JUBILANT OWNER Cardigan Bay Is ' Worth A Million ’

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, March 24. Until today, Stanley Dancer had not had the opportunity to drive Cardigan Bay, the New Zealand champion which he bought for 100,000 dollars. Once he did, he was sure he had struck a bargain.

“This horse is worth a million dollars!” he shouted, after Cardigan Bay had the first of planned bi-weekly workouts at Dancer’s New Egypt Farm half-mile course.

Dancer sent the gelding through a slow mile, pacing free-legged. He paced the distance in 2min 37sec. His last furlong was a remarkable 14 l-ssec, “and I didn’t even let him go,” Dancer remarked. The “New York Times” said tonight that this was not the first time Dancer had purchased a horse • without ever having driven him. The first time he saw Cardigan Bay he “fell in love” with the standard-bred which was then owned by Mrs Audrey Dean, of Auckland. That happened on February 20 at the Royal Victoria Showgounds in Melbourne. “I saw him jog 17 miles and 15 minutes later return and train two separate miles. He went the first in 2min 20sec and the second in 2min 2 3-ssec, going the last half in Imin 0.3-ssec,” Dancer said.

“Right then and there 1 knew that any horse that could do that would have to be a champion."

One of the provisions in the contract calls for Cardigan Bay to be returned to Mrs Dean when Dancer decides that the gelding’s racing days have ended. Dancer said that this will be in about four years. After the initial easy workout today Dancer said that Cardigan Bay was as perfect a horse as he had driven. “We still have a lot to do,” he said. “I still have to learn all of his ways and he has to learn mine. “After having driven him I’m more than encouraged' that we have a real winner and from his handling and pleasant manner I now like him better than ever.” SPOTSWOOD EQUALISATOR MEETING TROTS AT SPOTSWOOD SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1964 WITHDRAWALS: Close TODAY at 4 pm. at Byrne and Co., 661 Colombo st., Christchurch, Telephone 65 029.