NOT JUSTIFIED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 November 1938, Page 8

NOT JUSTIFIED

EXPENSE OF GREYHOUND’S VISIT i AUCKLAND TROTTING' CLUB S Vl£\V • United Pre— Association! AUCKLAND, 24th November. The committee of Christchurch sportsmen which is endeavouring to secure the appearance of the champion American trotter Greyhound in a series of match races in New Zealand next year approached the president of the Auckland Trotting Club. Mr E. G. Bridgens, about the project. The sum of £IOOO was suggested as a contribution to the £12.500 guarantee which if stated to have been demanded on behalf of Greyhound's owner. In commenting on the scheme. Mr Bridgens said that though the appearance of Greyhound would give trotting enthusiasts great pleasure, they did not think the expense apparently involved would be justified, and for that reason the proposal for a guarantee was not favoured by the committee of the Auckland club. Many American horses had been brought to the Dominion, but they had never been at their oest after the trip, and Greyhound was unlikely to prove an exception. The Auckland Trotting Club was offered a match race with Lawn Derby in April, but the American horse would first appear in Christchurch, and if he failed to race up to expectations, which Mr Bridgens thought was quite likely, enthusiasm would have waned by the time lie arl ived at Auckland. Similar sentiments were expressed by the secretary of the club. Mr A. G. Mabee, who explained that American tracks were much faster than those in New' Zealand, so the possibility of Greyhound reproducing his record speed or anything like it w r as remote. Personally. said Mr Mabee. he would rather see an offer made for a speed exhibition by Law'n Derby. Trotting in Auckland had been built up by exhibitions by the best Christchurch horses, and if the best class Australian horses could also be secured that policy w'as more likely to be fruitful than the highly speculative and costly American venture.