Dominion win was easy for champion trotter

Press, 24 November 1980, Page 32

Dominion win was easy for champion trotter

By

G. K. YULE

Scotch Tar is now within a little more than $3OOO of becorhming the biggest stake-winning trotter raced solely in New Zealand. On Saturday he was untroubled to win the Dominion Handicap for a second time. After jogging over the last 1800 m, he was a class above the others,- recording what was for him a leisurely 4min 16.6 s for the 3200 m.

Stormy Mom took the $7OOO attached to second without ever looking likely to put Scotch Tar to the test. Two lengths further away Game Way and No Response dead-heated for third, but both were struggling. Scotch Tar’s win, his 26th, delighted the crowd which gave the seven-year-old and his owner-trainer, Slim Dykman, a rousing reception. Dykman’S' remarks after receiving the trophy attached to the race caused amusement and enthusiasm among the crowd, which packed the birdcage fence for the ceremony.

While listening to remarks made at the presentation Dykman said he had thought of the words sung during the Telethon: “Thank you very much for your kind donation.” He went. on to say that the horse had raced furiously earlier at the meeting for not much money, and was interrupted by a member of the public who asked: “What about the taxman?” Dkyman’s reply, of “he’s

not getting any of this,” was enjoyed as much by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), who was in the group of officials at the nresentation, as by onlookers. Scotch Tar has now won $128,870, not far from the $132,195 won by Easton Light, which had 36 successes. Dykman has revised plans for the immediate racing of Scotch Tar. He has decided against campaigning him at

Palmerston North and Hutt Park, and will reserve him for the Pan Am Mile at Addington Raceway on December 6 when his meeting with some of the top pacers will command New Zealand-wide attention. “I’m not certain what I’ll do after that, but I might spell him arid not race him again this season. It’s a long time since he’s had a decent spell and I think he’s earned one,” said Dykman.