LUCKY CHINESE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 6

LUCKY CHINESE

On Big Dividend At Ellerslie Gasps of astonishment from 34 000 throats swelled into a roar of excited comment as the dividend of well over £4OO returned by the chestnut gelding Billy Peach, winner of the Ellerslie Handicap at Auckland on New Year's Day, was hoisted. This dividend is the third highest ever returned on a New Zealand track.

The record New Zealand dividend is £1033, received by the solitary supporter of Wairoa Belle in a saddle race for trotting horses at Nelson in March, 1920. Tire largest return for the Auckland district was Karamu’s dividend of £443 in the Hobsonville Hurdles at Avondale in April, 1924. When the dividend was hoisted hundreds flocked to the totalisator windows to witness fortunate bettors receive their money. Loud cheering broke out from the densely-packed throng that surrounded the main totalisator when a middle-aged, welldressed Chinese pushed his way through the crowd and advanced toward the windows. The sum of £l6/10/- was invested on Billy Peach to win and his place price was over two score. He is owned and trained by Mr J. Irwin, of Paeroa. and his success gave the apprentice jockey N. D. Lynch his first winning ride.