World time to Niatross

Press, 21 July 1980, Page 23

World time to Niatross

NZPA East Rutherford, New Jersey

Vindication came easily as Niatross set a world record in winning the SUSI million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday.

I To his driver-trainer Clint t Galbraith, Niatross’s half- • length win over Storm DamI age in a field of 10 showed that great horses are allowed a few bad days. Niatross’s Imin 53.25, a record for three-year-olds over the mile, was in marked contrast to his previous two races. Doubts about the defending horse of the year surfaced when he first jumped a rail at Saratoga, then broke stride and finished fourth in his heat of last week’s qualifier for the big race. “We had some bad luck the last couple of times,” said Galbraith after Saturday’s race. “You always need some luck. I know I have the best. All I needed was a little luck.” After last week’s qualifier Galbraith said the colt lost because he had been pacing too fast and' his hocks had hit the sulky, causing him to break stride. “I’m certainly thrilled now and relieved. I know this horse is great,, and I wanted everyone else to know it too." ■. Niatross took the' lead from Storm Damage at the half-mile mark then gained steadily until the stretch and was a clear leader to the finish. Early in the race, Storm Damage and Tyler B were in front followed closely by Secret Sendee at the quarter. But Tyler B soon gained and stayed close to Storm Damage for the rest of the race. Bill Haughten, the driver of Storm Damage, said after the race that Niatross had given him the kind of competition he expected. “Niatross is what he’s ,

supposed to be,” he said. “No doubt about it. I had a rough journey but his was •rougher." Each of Niatross’ previous losses opened a new rift between Galbraith and Louis Guida, head of the SUSB million syndicate that owns Niatross. After Saratoga, Galbraith said Niatross might have jumped because he had been whipped for the first time in a race. But GUida would not accept that and implied that the colt might have been drugged. Similarly, Guida did not accept Galbraith’s excuse that Niatross had broken in the qualifier simply because he had been pacing too fast and that his hocks had hit the sulky. . The ’ Meadowlands Pace, the richest harness-racing event ever, will be eclipsed on August 6 when the Meadowlands’ Woodrow Wilson, for two-year-old pacers will offer a SUS2 million purse.