PROGRESS OF PACERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 740, 19 April 1933, Page 10

PROGRESS OF PACERS.

Four-year-olds in Evidence. The Easter meeting at Addington, when the weather and track conditions are favourable, usually sees some fair times recorded, and the first day of the present meeting was no exception. There is usually a good deal less wind at this period of the year, and this factor has a big effect on the time test. The first day of the meeting proved no exception, and, after allowing for the great go of Indianapolis in the Wilkin Handicap, when the three-year-old did 4min 23sec for two miles round a large field, the four-year-olds were very much ui evidence. The very promising trotter, Garner, in the mile and a half race, went 3min 22 3-ssec when she finished second to Nicoya, and the Sonoma Harvester mare followed up this effort by again occupying second place, this time to Louis Bingen, when she went 4min 34sec in the Autumn Handicap, of two miles. * These two efforts were highly meritorious, especially as they were done on the one day. Garner can reasonably be expected to do a good deal better amongst the unhoppled division, as she naturally has not done a great deal of racing. Her performances are a great credit to her owner-trainer-driver. E. C. M’Dermott, who is very partial to trotters. Turning to the pacers, Silver de Oro, handicapped at 4min 32sec in the Express Handicap, this being the back mark, finished second to Gold Tinge in 4min 22sec, whilst Tempest, another four-year-old, was just behind Silver de Oro, doing the journey in 4min 24 2-ssec. Starting off the limit in the Belfast Handicap, a 2min 46sec class. Eureka Boy led throughout and finished up the mile and a quarter in 2mm 42see, the New Brighton-trained pacer having a somewhat easy victory. Nor did this complete the great efforts of the four-year-olds, as in the Wilkin Handicap. a 4min 40sec class. A vermis was in second place throughout the race to Girvan. and did 4min 25 3-ssec from a 4min 39sec mark. Fast Times Accomplished. It is doubtful if there has ever been a day in which four-year-olds have been so prominent and accomplished such fast times. Despite these brilliant efforts over all distances by the four-year-olds, the star performance of the day was accomplished by Indianapolis, who is a three-year-old. The Wrack pacer went 4min 23sec from a back mark in the Wilkin Handicap, and did it after covering a lot of extra ground. The race was a 4min 40sec one. and the speed was on all the way, yet Indianapolis put in a run along the back of a little more than a furlong which will be long remembered. He was a long way back when the back stretch was reached, but, pacing brilliantly on the outside of the field, he ran up to be close to the leaders in not much more than a furlong. It

would be interesting to know just how fast the brilliant three-year-old covered that furlong along the back. It is worth recording that Silver de Oro, Tempest and Indianapolis all raced promientlv in the Sapling Stakes, the classic three-year-old event. Silver de Oro just beat Tempest in the 1930-31 season, while last year Indianapolis was second to Taxpayer. Provided all these young horses train on. they should develop into even better pacers in the future. TKOTTI N G F 1 XT U RES: April 21. 22—Grey mouth J.C. April 22—Taranaki T.C. April 22—Ashburton T.C. April 26 Reefton J.C. April 27, 29—South Canterbury J.C.