SPEED DOMINATES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 4 May 1934, Page 10

SPEED DOMINATES.

Fascinates the Sporting Public. TO-MORROW'S MATCH. Speed has a wonderful fascination for sport-loving people. It dominates all forms of sport: in the air, on the sea, on the road, dirt tracks, across country, or race tracks, whether by engine or pedal power. The dominating sport amongst the English-speaking world is horse racing, and quite recently' about half a million people turned out and witnessed Golden Miller put up a new record in the English Grand National Steeplechase, states “ Sentinel ” in the “ Otago Daily Times.” Over a million witness the English Derby (or part of it) every year, and these rank as the largest attendances in the world at any form of sport. At this side of the world lovers of sport who desire to witness display's of extreme speed will have the opportunity of doing so this week when Walla Walla and Harold Logan, two of the fastest pacers ever foaled outside the United States, will meet in a match at Forbury' Park. The pace displayed by these horses rivals any burst of speed ever seen in America, as both of them have cut out half miles on small tracks at a rate on a par with the best seen on the mile tracks in the land of the Stars and Stripes. The magnetic power of speed will draw an attendance which will tax the capacity of Forbury Park on Saturday', and it only requires the necessary assistance of fine weather to make the match start a new era in our light-harness world. At Addington recently' Walla Walla went a furlong in losec, two furlongs in 28sec, three in 43sec, four in 58 2-ssec, five in lmin 13sec, six in lmin 30sec, seven in lmin 47sec, and eight in 2m in 3 4-ssec. lie went too fast in the early' part of his trial to last, but the burst of speed displayed will be sure to make them sit up and take notice in America. Their Best Times. Walla Walla went 2min 2 2-osec on a half-mile track in Sydney', and on the larger track at Forbury' Park will threaten a 2min clip if the conditions are favourable. Harold Logan has a two mile record of 4min 13 2-ssec, put up in a race w'hen starting 84yds behind scratch. This is a most remarkable performance, and what Harold Logan could have done over a mile from a fly'ing start on that particular occasion would have supplied the sporting gossips with plenty of talk. Harold Logan has proved that he can sustain a particularly high rate of speed by winning the Trotting Cup in 4min 18 2-ssec and 4min 16 2-ssec. When Harold Logan won the final heat from 48yds in 1931 he travelled the last mile in 2min 3 2-ssec, and the last half-mile in 57 2-ssec. When he won in 1932 from 60yds he had eleven horses in front of him, and scored, easing up, by two lengths in 4min 16 2-ssec, the last half-mile was cut out in 58sec. It will be seen that Harold Logan is not only particularly brilliant, but can also sustain a great rate of speed over a distance. For that reason setting a solid pace would suit him perhaps better that Walla Walla. Both, however, have proved that they can step a merry' mile, and hence it is- to be hoped that every effort will be made to make it a true-run race from end to end, and not rely on a final burst of speed at the finish.

CHRISTCHURCH HUNT.

Dates of Meets in May and June. Meets of the Christchurch Hunt Club up to June 12 have been arranged as .follows: —Saturday', May 5, The Kennels, Aylesbury; Tuesday, May' 8, Homeby, Kirwee; Saturday*, May 12, Burnham-Greendale Road; Tuesday, May' 15, Charing Cross; Friday, May 18, Kirwee-Bealey Crossroads; Tuesday, May 22. Mr Stewart’s, Norwood. Saturday', May' 26, Dunsandel; Tuesday, May 29, The Kennels, Norwood Crossroads; Saturday, June 2, Ashburton; Tuesday*, June 4, Ashburton; Saturday, June 9, Selwyn School; Tuesday, June 12, Charing Cross. The time of the meet will be noon in each case. The point-to-point steeplechase meeting will be held at Ashburton on July 7. D. MUNRO SUSPENDED. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY. May 3. Jockey D. Munro has been suspended for one month for not exercising sufficient care at the Kensington races RA<• rN (; F TNT UR ES. May 10, 12—Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12—Southland R.C. May 19—Ashburton C.R.C. May 19—Rangitikei R.C. May 19. 21—Te Kuiti R.C. May 26 South Canterbury J.C. June 2. 4—Otaki-Maori R.C. June 2,4, s—Dunedin J.C. June 2. 4. 6—Auckland R.C. June 9—CJ rev mouth Jockey Club June 9 Foxton R.C. June 14, 16—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 16—S. Canterbury J.C. June 21, 23—Napier Park R.C. June 23—Ashburton C.R.C. June 30—Oarnaru J.C.