HOSTS AT DINNER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 6

HOSTS AT DINNER

False Step, Arania fN Z.P.A.-Reuter) NEW YORK, April 24. Three Australian and New Zealand pacers played “host” today at a luncheon in the grand ballroom of the Astor Hotel. The horses. Arania and False Step, of New Zealand, and Apmat, of Australia, crossed the carpeted ballroom floor gingerly to the applause of racing officials and sports and racing writers from New York newspapers and radio and television stations. The three munched sugar and celery, with hay to follow, while their “guests” ate roast beef. The pacers stood calmly in the special stalls built for them as the strains of ‘‘Waltzing Matilda” boomed out on the public address system and photographers' flashlights blinked. The three-race International Pacing Series, with purses totalling 165,000 dollars, will be held at Yonkers Raceway in New York City’s northern suburbs, on May 4, 11 and 18. Two of the races are over 12 furlongs and the others are over 10 furlongs. The trainer-drivers of the three horses were guests at today's luncheon, which was sponsored by the raceway management. They are G. B. Noble (Arania), C. C. Devine (False Step) and A. Alley (Apmat).