TROTTING Airlift Of 22 Horses To U.S. Shortly

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 5

TROTTING Airlift Of 22 Horses To U.S. Shortly

The biggest and most valuable airlift of horses ever to leave New Zealand is expected to be made from Christchurch Airport about February 25.

The aircraft, chartered by Yonkers Raceway, New York, is expected to take up to 22 horses, most of which have been purchased in recent weeks by American syndicates.

The list of horses to travel in the aircraft is not yet complete, the purchase of several horses still not having been completed. Options are held on several horses throughout New Zealand, and whether these will be exercised is unlikely to be known until certain requirements have been met. American trainers and representatives of several syndicates have been busy in New Zealand since November and they have purchased about 40 horses, a number of which have already been shipped to their new owners. At least six pacers and trotters are booked to be shipped from Bluff at the end of the week. They are Loyal Hanover, Heriot, Whaka, Lady Eden, Spencer and Little Smoke. Plans Changed A number of horses purchased by the American trainer, F. Mollica, were booked to leave in the same ship, but plans for them have been changed and they will now probably travel in the aircraft due to leave about February 25. Mollica’s purchases include Cloudage, Idaho, Forshy, Avante, Rothesay, Wairau King and Terri Lee. Orbiter, which was sold for 125,000 dollars, Gay Robin, which was sold for about 40,000 dollars, and Peerswick, which was sold for a lesser amount, are assured of space on the aircraft. The president of Yonkers

Raceway (Mr M. Tananbaum) is at present in ■ Sydney attending the Inter-Dominion Championship series at Harold Park.

He is trying to arrange for several horses, including Jacobite and Robin Dundee, to travel in the aircraft and compete in an international pacing series in April. It is also possible that he will secure at least one Australian horse. The majority of the other horses expected to leave on February 25 have been purchased by Mr N. Simpson on behalf of several American syndicates. Half A Million Mr Simpson recently admitted to spending some 250,000 dollars on pacers and trotters, and it has been estimated that other trainers and syndicates have spent a similar amount since November. As well, Americans have purchased a number of thoroughbreds in the last few months, spending an estimated 500,000 dollars. This brings the value of the horses sold in less than three months to more than 1,000,000 dollars. The value of the development of this export market cannot be under-estimated as far as breeders and owners are concerned. In most cases they have been able to secure prices many times greater than the value of their horses as racing prospects in New Zealand or Australia. On the other hand, most of the 40 horses booked to go or already gone tn the United States have come from the

group of horses assessed from 2:15 and faster.

Effect On N.Z.

Some of these classes will fill up again quite quickly, but others, particularly New Zealand Cup class, will take a considerable time tc recover from recent losses. The full effects of this could be felt at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting in April when £lO,lOO will be paid in stakes for the bestclass horses.

If, as seems likely, a reasonably high proportion of the New Zealand horses show worth-while form for their new owners, there could be even greater interest in the New Zealand market in the years to come. However, it remains to be seen whether trotting in New Zealand can stand such a heavy drain-off each year.