STRONG FIELDS AT GORE

Southland Times, Issue 24002, 18 December 1939, Page 10

STRONG FIELDS AT GORE

TOKEN TO RACE AT PERTH mr J. R. McKenzie’S new TRAINER Acceptances for the Winton meeting close on Wednesday. Record Fields A total of 148 acceptances for its an-, nual Boxing Day meeting is the highest the Gore Trotting Club has received for many years. May go to Perth Token has been paid up for in the inter-Dominion events at P®™ l ’ there is a possibility that F. nan will take him across. The Kerrytown pacer is a slick beginner, and this is an asset on a half-mile track. New Zealand owners are guaranteed £ISU for one horse and £lOO for each ada 1tional horse, these sums to be deducted in the event of a horse winning that amount. Returned Home Evicus has been shipped to Australia to compete in the “championships at Perth, where she was awarded the title of grand champion four years ago. Icevus and Nervie’s Last are to follow after the Auckland meeting if no transport difficulties are experienced. New Trainer Mr J. R. McKenzie has appointed L. A. 'Wells as his private trainer. Wells has been attached to Roydon Lodge for some time, and has often driven members of the stable in their races. He has had a lot of experience with horses,_ and with such a valuable and promising collection of American pacers and trotters under his care, he should do well in his new sphere. Nell Volo

The former champion trotting mare Nell Volo, who returned to the winning list at the Cup carnival at Addington, after having been at the stud for three seasons, is working attractively at Takanini. In spite of the fact that she is 12 years old she retains great vitality, and if the weather and track conditions, at Epsom during the Christmas meeting are suitable, there is a prospect of F. J. Smith sending her against the mile and a-half record of 3min 14 l-ssec tor trotters, which was established by Worthy Queen in 1934. Paced by Motor

Unhoppled Billy Direct (Napoleon Direct-Gay Forbes) has made further history by bettering two minutes on a half-mile track. Says the Horseman and Fair World of October 25,1939: Beside the closing effort of Billy Directs activities for the year 1939 may be written a half-mile track pacing record of Imin 59,jsec, which equals the accomplishment of the ‘Grey Ghost, Greyhound. Undaunted by the adverse elements of the afternoon ‘Sweet William not only equalled Greyhound’s record, but in the doing clipped a quarter of a second from his own, the two-minute mile of October 12 over the Altamont circle. The event was scheduled to be done at' 1 o’clock. The sun shone and the track was good, but the strong wind had its own notion about ceasing for the day. It was not until 4.15 that young Bill Fleming was able to turn him for the word, and the mile noted above is one for the book in which all the super efforts are recorded. It was a tremendously well done attainment, beside which tlie efforts of many erstwhile champions pale into mediocrity. As in his previous attempt, failing a prompter fast enough to serve the purpose, he was paced by a motor-car.”

Progress of Trotting The controlling authority of harness racing in New Zealand is styled the Trotting Association, but more than 80 per cent, of the races held under its jurisdiction are for pacers. The standard of pacing in New Zealand is high, but, measured by American standards, our trotters are mediocre at best. The pacer was unknown in the early days of the sport in New Zealand, and his popularity appears to be due to the fact that he is more reliable, remarks a northern writer. The records suggest that the old-time races were poor spectacles. “Won by a distance” often appears four or five times in the report of a day’s racing. A “distance” was 240 yards, and no money was paid to any place-getters which were outside the distance post when the winner passed the judge. The penalty for breaking varied. On some courses it was “pull and go,” that is, the horse had to be pulled up to a walk before it was asked to trot again. At other places it was necessary for a reinsman to turn his horse completely round before resuming the contest. Most races were “optional” saddle or harness. Vehicles were heavily shod, and were cumbersome compared with the pneumatictyred spiders in use today. Gear was primitive, few of the modern aids to speed and steadiness having been invented, and in many instances the control of trotting was just as crude, though there is reason to suspect that the laxity was not always unpremediated. In no sport in the Dominion has there been such revoluntionary progress as in harness racing, which now attracts people who once shuddered at the mention of the game.