HONOUR TO WINOOKA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21546, 18 July 1933, Page 6

HONOUR TO WINOOKA

RECEPTION IN AMERICA' —- NEWSPAPER'S TRIBUTE# " BLISTERING BRAND OF SPEED* [FBOM OtJK OWN" correspokdext] SAX FRANCISCO. June 2T If Winooka were a man instead of « horse he would have been overcome at the reception given him when the iiner Monterey brought him to California. Large crowds were down at the dock. The newspapers published fulsome articles, adequately illustrated. The tragio death of Phar Lap had aroused public iuteiest in the star performers from "down under," and there was universal regret that suspicion was directed toward the loss of that great performer. The Califomians who follow sports, are loyal to the spirit that dominates the best in the different games, and when the news of Phar Lap's demise wag flashed everywhere last year there was the same sense of loss in the United States that there was in New Zealand and Australia. The Sjm Francisco Examiner of June 20 introduced the newcomer as follows: "Winooka, in case you don't know, is the fastest sprinter in Australia, and he arrived yesterday morning. His blistering brand of speed has smoked the racing strips 'down under,' and now he is here for an invasion of the United States." Each member of the Winooka staff was named, and the racer's experiences on the ocean liner were described in detail. His size, record, temperament and the possibility of defeating the horses of the United States have given innumerable scribes a chance to fill col* umns of space. Even the sand on the deck was mentioned, and it proved lucky for newspaper readers that an enterprising reporter did not attempt to count the grains. The Federal officials did not take the least chance with Winooka. They refused to permit the landing of 15 sacks of wheat bran because of the presence of flag smut, a grain disease not known in the United States. Two score bales of Australian hay were landed under the approval of the Quarantine Department, when examination failed to reveal any blight. The consequence is that the horse will have to accustom himself to American feed, and it is to be hoped that the bill of fare will prove satisfactory.