LAST RACE HORSE RETIRES
The Ministry of Works and Development has retired its last race horse — water-race horse, that is.
Sissy, at 28, has been put out to grass in pasture at Arrowtown, Otago, and his rider. Kevin Botting, has changed mounts (see picture). But Sissy never knew the roar of the crowd and
the thundering hooves of the home straight — her races were far away from the punters’ eyes. She had the job of patrolling the irrigation races along the Arrow river with race man Kevin to ensure that the system kept farmers supplied with essential water.
Technology has taken over and Kevin has been
given a departmental motor-cycle on which to climb the hill tracks.
At one time nearly all race men used horses for their work. Now motorcycles are taster, and the necessary riding skills needed for a horse are becoming scarcer.
Sissy is the last of her kind.—Ministry of Works.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 12
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154LAST RACE HORSE RETIRES Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 12
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