TROTTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 6

TROTTING

CHAMPION TROTTER VISIT TO DOMINION ALMOST CERTAIN. HOLDER OF WORLD’S RECORD WELLINGTON, 0ct.21. A visit to New Zealand early next year by the champion American trotter Greyhound, who holds the world’s record of lmin 56sec for the mile, is almost a certainty, according to inquiries made by The Post yesterday. The desire of the New Zealand trotting authorities is that Greyhound shall take part in the International Trotting Meeting, which is to be held at Addington next Easter, and at which the best of the New Zeadand and Australian trotters will compete. It is known that Greyhound’s owner is anxious to bring the gelding to New Zeadand, and his main concern has been in regard to quarantine requiremcnts.lf it was necessary that the horse should spend a period on Somes Island, as is the usual case, the visit would probably be declared off, but, through the medium of the Hon. G. R. Hunter, M.L.C., who has negotiated with the Government on behalf of the New Zealand Trotting Association, it has been arranged that facilities shall be granted at the Government research station at Wallacevi'lle. There it will be possible for Greyhound to put in the necessary twentyeight days of quarantine, with good stables and grass paddocks available as well as accomodation for the attendants and continuous veterinary service if required. This arrangement should be completely acceptable to Greyhound’s owner. MATCH RACE PROBABLE Tremendous interest will be aroused in trotting and sporting circles generally if the visit eventuates, for Greyhound will in all probability meet the New Zealand champion Indianapolis and the Australian crack Lawn Derby in free-for-all races at the International meeting, which is to extend over four days, and will have the opportunity of winning up to £5OOO in stakes. In addition, there is likely to be a match race between the three champions, which in itself will be a major attraction.

Commenting on the arrangements made, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) said to-day that the Government was anxious to facilitate as far as possible the bringing about of the visit, in view particularly of its international aspect.

Greyhound, whose mile record of lmin. 56sec. and mile and a half record of 3min. 21scc. make him the greatest trotter in the world to-day, if not of all time, was scheduled to go to Europe to give exhibitions there but these plans must have fallen through, writes “Ribbonwood.” It is to be hoped that the horse wih reach the Inter-Dominion Championship Meeting to be held at Addington next Easter, in his best form, for a meeting in match races with Indian[apolis and Lawn Derby, both of whom are pacers, would be the greatest event in the Dominion’s trotting ' history. Greyhound will be the first I American champion ever to come to New Zealand for exhibition and race purposes, and his times here will give a reliable indication of the difference in New Zealand and American tracks. Most likely he will be sent against time at Addington, where Indianapolis made the present New Zealand and Australian mile record of 2min. 0 2-ssec.

Greyhound is a big, free-striking horse, and is said to be magnificent in his action. He stands over 16 hands but his size does not hinder him on small tracks, as he has a record of lmin. 59” sec. on a half-mile circuit Greyhound races in open bridle, and his front shoes vary from 7oz down wards, according to their state of wear. The short-shaft sulky, all silver, weighs 261 b. and is 28in. high at the centre of the arch. He wears knee boots with suspenders, and is also booted behind. Greyhound has created records at two, three, four, and five years old. He is by Guy Abbey, 2min. 6 3-ssec., from Elizabeth, by Peter the Great.