Addington Impressed Leading U.S. Trainer

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31974, 29 April 1969, Page 5

Addington Impressed Leading U.S. Trainer

Amenities for the public at Addington Raceway were equal to anything available in the United States, said a leading Californian trainer, J. Grenier, who attended the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Friday in the course of a short visit to Australia and New Zealand.

“They have all sorts! of amenities at places like Yonkers and Roosevelt raceways in New York, but they cater for a fairly small percentage of patrons and the costs are too high for the average person.” he said.

He had had tremendous success with New Zealand horses, said Grenier, and had had more than 100 in his team since the first of them arrived some 10 years ago. Seldom had he fewer than eight or 10 in work at one time in the last few years.

He had always wanted to see where these horses came from, but had been restricted by time on this trip, which was solely devoted to business. “1 want to come oack in November and see your cup meeting here. That really must be something from what 1 have read. Then I can see the top horses in top racing condition, and 1 might get a bargain or two.” Grenier was most impressed with the standard of racing he saw at Addington on Friday. "That was some run by that good tnare. Stella Frost,” he said. “On that run she would have no trouble getting well inside two minutes back home. In fact, by the look of them most of the horses in that race would beat two minutes quite comfortably.” Grenier thought the track surface at Addington was superior to many of those round Chicago where most of his team was racing at present. One of them, the former New Zealand horse. Paranova, had won nine of his 11 races. ”1 think he will win a fair few more yet He goes quick and loves the mile races.” Grenier was accompanied by his son-in-law, R. Blackman. also races quite a number of horses, including the former Lower Hutt pacer, Wee Herb, which has won a number of races. NX WINNERS Herbv Tryax. Dingle, Terri Lee and Black Tulip were New Zealand-bred winners at a recent meeting at Roosevelt Raceway. New York. Placegetters at meetings held in the last 10 days included Red, Thread, Idaho, Sonny Jim, Wee Buttons, Orbiter, and Forshy. RACING BETTER Double Scot is racing much more generously now than earlier in his career and there was merit in his second to Morano Lad at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Friday. He was a Winner on the Central Otago Easter circuit and finished third at Forbury Park on April 12. Another win could come his way before the end of the, season. He is trained at i Templeton by J. W. Smolensk! for Mr R. Hawker, of Christchurch. RETIRED The champion Australian trotting mare, Gramel, has been retired. She won 50 races and some $73,000 In stakes and set a record of 2min 1 l-ssec for one mile at Harold Park, Sydney, in 1965. Gramel, by Johnny Globe from American Brigade, was unbeaten in her three qualify-

ijing heats at the lnter-Do- . I minion Championship series at Forbury Park in 1965. She finished a rather unlucky fourth in the final. HEAVY SUPPORT There was strong support ; for Same Again in the Army Stakes at Addington Raceway last Friday. Most of this came, from off-course sources and at one stage his dividend for a win was showing less than $2. Heavy on-course support for the ultimate winner, j Royal Trump, resulted in Sam Again starting second favourite. After being in or near the lead all the way he finished fourth, only a length from the winner. He will have to improve very 11 little on that effort to be an i early winner. BIG STAKES Stakes totalling $125,000 will be distributed during the Inter-Dominion Championship carnival to be run on February 14. 18. 21, and 28, 1970. There will be 12 qualifying heats worth $3500 each, and a final worth $40,000. There will also be three consolation races worth $3500 each. Other feature races will Include a Trotters’ Cup. of $6OOO. and two free-for-alls for trotters, each worth $2OOO. The maximum handi-

caps will be 24 yards in heats run over distances of up to 12 furlongs, and 36 yards over longer distances. BACK HOME Loyal Knight returned to Raglan after finishing sixth [in the Anzac Day Flying Mile at Addington Raceway on Friday. Loyal Knight's trainer, P. R. Stephens, holds him on lease with no right of reBewal. This will expire at the end of the season. Loyal Knight will have his final starts for Stephens at Alexandra Park on May 10 and 17. He built up considerably during his stay at Addington and looks better than at any other stage of his career. He will have to start from awkward marks in his next two appearances, but will need only average luck to win. NEW PERMITS Mr R. J. Rolfe, of Thames, a candidate for the presidency of the New Zealand Trotting Conference this year, believes that any additional permits for trotting in the North Island should be allocated only to clubs prepared to extend the season. “I must emphasise that this is my personal opinion," he said at a symposium at Alexandra Park last Thursday by trotting clubs in the Auckland province. He felt a longer season would be of

I great benefit, especially to professionals. There was an attendance of i about 50. including the presi-

> dents of two South Island [clubs —Messrs N. E. Pierce i (Invercargill) and I. Lang I ford (Rangiora).