FIRE ON TRAIN

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 3

FIRE ON TRAIN

BROOD MARE LOST Tlie throughbred brood mare Phalerou Sign was burned to death, in a blazing wagon on a train travelling between Pukehou and Otane when it was being consigned from Hastings to Mr H. D. Matthews at llaglan. It is believed a spark from the engine ignited straw at the bottom of the wagon. The train was nearing Otane when the wagon was noticed to bo on fire. The flames had a good hold and the driver, realising it would be hopeless to do anything with the equipment at the disposal of the train crew, an extinguisher in the guard’s van. speeded to the water tanks at Otane. The horse was dead, however, when the station was readied.

Phalerou Sign was a four-year-old mare by Phaleron Bay from Countersign, who, during her racing career, carried the colours of Messrs G. and J. Pollock. She was not a great, success on the turf. As a two-vcar-old Phaleron Sign showed some promise when she beat useful fields of juveniles in the Victoria Handicap at Ellerslie, but she failed to go on, and last season in nine starts failed to gain a place. Subsequently she was retired to the stud.