Brilliant Gold Bar Definitely Retired From Race-Track

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 5

Brilliant Gold Bar Definitely Retired From Race-Track

Gold Bar, the outstanding New Zealand pacer of modern times, bled during the running of the August Pacing Free-for-All at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday, and his owner-trainer, A. Holmes, has decided to retire him from racing. Bred in 1936 by his owner, Gold Bar gained his first placing as a two T year-old when he finished in third place in the Timaru Nuisery Stakes, and in the following season he secured his first win in the Borough Handicap at Greymouth. In November, 1941, he won the Ollivier Handicap at Addington in 3.27, the world’s winning race record for a mile and five furlongs. Later that afternoon he won the Clarkson Handicap, in saddle, in 2.3 3-5, a world race record. In 1942 he won the New Zealand Pacing Sprint Championship by three lengths from Haughty in the New Zealand and Australian record time of 2.35 for the mile and a quarter. In 1945 came the climax of his brilliant career—a sensational win in the New Zealand Cup in 4.16 1-5, with Integrity three lengths away second, 10 lengths to the third horse, Shadow Maid and another 10 lengths ,to Countless who was fourth. .Never before or since has a horse received such a remarkable reception at Addington as did Gold Bar when he returned to the birdcage. The enthusiastic demonstration was a richly-deserved tribute to a game pacer and to his -owner-trainer, A. Holmes. The winner of 22 races, including six free-for-alls, Gold Bar has earned £12,968 10s in stakes. A splendid specimen of the standard-bred pacer, Gold Bar is already the .sire of some promising. pacers, including Worthy Gold, Local Gold, Gold Case, Iron Bar, Daisy Gold, Fire Bar, Golden Game, Dilbar, Rustic Gold, Seven Bar, Wedding Ring, French Gold, Gold Flyer, Royal Mint, Gold Nip, Congo Song, and Tekau.

Lavish Stud Venture Ih Rotorua District

What will be ‘probably the most expensively stocked and most lavishly equipped stud farm in New Zealand is being opened at Broadlands, near Repora, between Rotorua and Taupo. It was being established .by the Australian millionaire, Mr Henri van de Velde, managing-director of Felt and Textiles of Australia, Ltd., but he died in New York in June, and the farm will now be developed under his estate.

So far about £40,000 has been invested in the farm. A feature, of the farm is a large modern house, reputed to be the finest in the whole Rotorua district, in course, of erection on the property. The Home will have its own generating plant and t up-to-date central heating system. Nucleus of the horse breeding section of the farm will be a French, stallion, Air Flight, a brother to the Derby winner Airborne, and worth many thousands of pounds. The stallion is now in England . but arrangements' have been made to ship him to New Zealand soon. Prize,cattle and sheep' will also be bred, 'although no stock have yet been purchased.