TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24850, 25 February 1942, Page 2

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel

v FIXTURES March 7.—Reefton T.C. ; March 7.—lnvercargtll T.C. A Change.—Discretionary handicapping was used at Ascot (Melbourne) for a meeting held recently. It was used for the first time in a number of years. At Ascot.—At a trotting meeting held at Ascot (Melbourne) a card of six events, starting at 11 a.m. and finishing shortly after T p.m.. had a totalisator turnover of £971. During the afternoon a race meeting was held at Flemington. Registrations.—Among the two-year-olds registered at the last meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association were the following:—Air Speed, b f by Jack Potts—Swift Pointer (ft. B. Berry); Bonny Find, b f by-Auto Machine—Lady Yvonne (A. W. Bailey); Contact, b f by Auto Machine—Dan Direct mare (A. Brown); Free Again, ch f by Jack Advice (G. Lancaster); Hilda Potts, b f by Jack Potts—Lady Ger T trude (M. G. Pezaro and E. G. Bridgens); Koheroa. chif by Nobleman—Lady Blue (T. T. Montgomery); La Diamond, bg by Jewel Pointer—Black Pearl(W. Webb),; Lucky Gem, ch g: by Jack, w ,Poto—Sea, PearTß. B. Berry),' Manorie«j ; \W { 4 by Swordsman-Cyone (W.iHosking);- Modern Auto, br f by Auto Machine—Modern Light (G. H. Stubbs); Mourne Spring, bf by Jack Potts—Kewpie's Guy (R. Trough* ton); Our Gail, b f by Gaillard—Ursuline (Mrs T. C. Jacksdn); Our Machine* b g by Auto Machine—Gwen Thorpe (K. E; Dumper); Pakapoo, ch g by GambleGolden Square (E. R. Smith); Pirate's Jewel, b g by Jewel Pointer—Gay Pirate (W. M.Paul); Sally Horner, b f by Logan FraStir—Nelson Derby mare (P. R. Doig); SanS&St, blk f by Sandydale—Slapfast (F.*ffiWard); Terry O'Shea, b g by Rey de *Jro—Grace McElwyn (Mrs D. R. ReveS); and Treasured Gift, b f by Jack PottsMTlying Dillon (R. B. Berry). A World's Record.—The way was paved for the fastest mile in the history of the sport of harness racing by what was regarded at the time as an unfortunate occurrence during the Lexington Trots of 1938. The free-for-all pace was on, Billy Direct being one of the starters. The starter gave them the "Go," and at the same time inadvertently rang the recall bell. Billy Direct and one of the other starters were pulled up; the others went on, and under the rules the judges could do nothing except declare Direct distanced. Fleming (driver and trainer) immediately asked permission to start the horse against time, going to beat the. world's four-year-old colt record of lmin 591 sec, then held By Laurel Haniver; The great pacer was at the first quarter pole in 29sec, the half in 58sec, then paced the third quarter in 28Jsec, to make the three-quarters in lmin 26Jsec. After this terrific six-furlong trip, many looked for the great pacer to slow up, but he answered them with a final quarter in

281 sec, to finish the mile in lmin 55sec, dethroning Dan Patch (lmin 551 sec). that had reigned for'33 years. The last half of this mile was covered in 57sec. Later Billy Direct, before his retirement, was to go on to establish a new half-mile track pacing record of lmin 59Jsec.