DIFFERENCE IN GAIT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 818, 19 July 1933, Page 10

DIFFERENCE IN GAIT.

Galloper, Pacer and Trotter. ERRONEOUS VIEWS. Some opinions expressed in print are not infrequently accepted as facts. They may make interesting reading, but, subjected to analysis, fall to pieces and become exploded as a false and untenable theory springing from lack of knowledge, states “ Sentinel ” in the “ Otago Daily Times.” Still, before they can become contradicted and proved worse than valueless, they may do more or less damage. For that reason every opportunity should be taken to refute and ooint out, when possible, the misleading nature of opinions that can be proved wrong and absolutely untenable. Unfortunately, the majority of those writing with an air of authority will never publish a contradiction of their opinions subse- • quently proved to be based on false premises. Hence the damage done by erroneous opinions, expressed in print, may be incalculable. A false opinion can travel the world before receiving an unquestionable contradiction. Pacers and Trotters. When the crack pacers and trotters in the United States stepped inside the . two-minute mark they commenced to ; “ sound the loud timbrel,” and Ameri- : can writers declared in their enthusiasm that the not far distant future would see their light harness . champions rival the speed of the thoroughbred. Opinions to that effect ‘ travelled the world, and were quoted , without question by almost every sporting paper except one. A mo--1 ment’s reflection by a student of [ equine anatomy would at once discover , that the fastest light-harness horse, even with the aid of windshields and pacemakers, could never rival the speed of the thoroughbred because it stands ’ as a physical impossibility. In much the same manner the trotter will never ’ reach the same flight of speed as the pacer because, by difference in action, | it is also a physical impossibility. Question of Action. The lateral action of the pacer has . more driving power than the single leg or diagonal action of the trotter, and the thoroughbred has far more propelling power than the pacer because at the gallop the two hind legs hit the ■ ground almost simultaneously. The , pacer or trotter cannot use more than one hind leg at a time when using ; either gait at top speed, and when that i fact is recognised it will be seen that supreme speed must always rest with : the thoroughbred. The supreme speed . of the pacer or trotter is not achieved at either gait. If a natural-Enemy of , the horse, a tiger, lion, or leopard, . chased a i! natural pacer # ” or “ natural trotter ” it is long odds on that the escape would be made at the gallop. Fear would develop the only method by which extreme speed can be reached by a quadruped. In other words, the gallop w ? ill always beat the trot or pac.e for speed. The light harness horse has not, however, the sole and exclusive right of the pacing or trotting action. The best saddle horse in the world is the “ambling” thoroughbred, * who I has also beaten the trotter and pacer on their own ground. The thoroughbred has very seldom been converted into a trotter, but it is on record that Wizard, a winner of the Cromwell Derby, afterwards became one of the best trotters of his day. The Auckland Cup winner. Fiery Cross, was a pacer at slow action. One step away from the thoroughbred has found trotters by thoroughbred sires holding their own or more with the best of the light harness stock. In fact, it can be claimed that the light harness horse with the most pleasing conformation, speed, and stamina is generally the one wdth a good infusion of the thoroughbred blood at the base of the pedigree and probably brought back again in subsequent quartering of the .family tree. Infusion of Thoroughbred. All this leads up to a contradiction of a statement or warning made-by a prominent Australian writer against using the thoroughbred in light harness breeding with the hope of obtaining prompt results. Such prompt results have been obtained, but the best may be obtained with the thoroughbred two or three removes away from the apex of the pedigree. To appreciate fully the great influence wielded by the thoroughbred in the pedigrees of the crack light-harness horse a study has to be made of “ The Trotting and Pacing Horse in America ” and “ The American Thoroughbred.” After reading both books the pedigrees of the champions of the past quarter of a century or more should be studied, and it would be found what a dominating influence has been played by the thoroughbred. Palo Alto was the first stallion to equal the record of 2min Bisec put up by Maud S. and Sunol 2min Bisec, the first mare to break it. Palo Alto was got by Electioneer from Winnie, a thoroughbred mare by Planet with second and third dams by Glencoe (sire of Pocohontas, the dam. of Stockwell) and another thoroughbred importation in Margrave. Sunol was by Electioneer from Waxana, by General Benton from Waxy, a thoroughbred daughter of Lexington. Electioneer was by Hambletonian. the son of Abdallah, who has three strains of the thoroughbred Messenger close up in his pedigree. In fact it may be said that the thoroughbred strain has proved itself the “ speed dope ” in the trotters’ pedigree. In selecting a thoroughbred strain to link with a trotting pedigree one should be selected that has a predilection for the trotting gait. A thoroughbred whose stock makes good jumpers acts well in that respect. The New Zealand Trotting Stud Book is ftall of instances where the thoroughbred has successfully linked with trotting strains. An affinity exists between the blood of the trotter and galloper, and provided a level-headed strain of the latter is used a judicious blending should bring about a desirable result in the way of pleasing conformation, speed, stamina, and the light, easy action that wins at the races. DUNEDIN J.C. PROFIT. (Special to the ••Star.") DUNEDIN, July 19. The Dunedin Jockey Club, after making provision for depreciation £1096 and bad debts £149, ended the year with a : profit of £lO2. j i