Apmat Wins At Yonkers

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 4

Apmat Wins At Yonkers

(NX. Press Association—Copy nv at;

NEW YORK, May 4. The Australian pacer Apmat beat America’s best before 27,000 cheering spectators tonight to win the rich International Pace at Yonkers Raceway.

Apmat, starting at 13-1, was driven by B. Alley. He nosed out the odds-on favourite Bye Bye Byrd 50 yards from the post to win 25.000 dollars for his Sydney owner-trainer, Mr M. Anderson, and his wife. The New Zealand champion False Step was scratched by the judges over the protest of his driver, C Devine, and owner, Mr J. Smyth, when a track veterinarian ruled him lame after a workout at the track tonight. He would have started second favourite. Arania Last The New Zealand mare. Arania, finished last after leading early in the mile and a-half race. Mr Budlong, second favourite, was third and the former New Zealand pacer Caduceus was fourth. Apmat took a victory tour of the track bathed in a blue spotlight to the applause of more than 27,000 spectators and the official presentation party which included Yonkers Raceway officials and the United States television personality, Ed. Sul livan. Dividends for a two-dollar bet were Apmat 28.30, 7.30 and 3.70. Bye Bye Bvrd 2.70, 2.40. Mr Budlong 3.30. Quarter times for the mile and a half were 29.25ec, Imin 2sec, Imin 34.75ec, 2min 7sec, 3min 7sec. Arania went to the front after half a mile and led briefly but tired and finished last in the seven-horse field. Always Confident Alley, showing little emotion after his great victory. told Australian Associated Press after the race he was always confident. “He was going like a bird." But he was thankful he did not have False Step to contend with, Alley said. “1 thought False Step was the class horse of the field and I reckoned I might be second,” he said. Caduceus had the box seat behind the leader for the first half-mile but could not hold the blistering pace when Bye Bye Byrd broke up the field and the aged New Zealand horse finished fourth. Devine said he was sure False Step would be fit for the second race of the threerace series, the Good Time Pace, over a mile and a quarter on May 11 This carries total prize money of 65,000 dollars. The final leg is the National Championship Pace, over a mile and a half, for 50,000 dollars prize money on May 18. Apmat’s winning time was 3m in 7sec. on a fast track. Bye Bye Byrd, already the greatest stahes winner in harness racing, became the first harness horse to pass the half-million dollar mark by taking second prize money of 12.500 dollars. Mr Budlong won 6000 dollars and Caduceus 4000

dollars for fourth. O’Brien Hanover was fifth for 2500 dollars and Tar Boy sixth. Mr Smyth was disappointed that False Step did not run. Devine said: “I was one hundred per cent, ready to run him. Del Miller and Eddie Cobb, the two leading American horsemen agreed with me. “I offered to take him out and move him around at any speed the Yonkers people liked. I could guarantee he was quite sound. “We came a long way and felt we should have gone on with it.” Devine said he had False Step shoed during the week and a nail “got in a bit close.” The nail was removed yesterday. The horse knew he had been nicked but he was right once he had been warmed up. "I told them they couid bring out all their veterinary surgeons and I would give him any test and they would find he was sound,” said Devine. The New York State Harness Racing Commissioner (Mr Robert Glasser) said later In a statement: “The scratching of False Step was a decision necessary for the protection of the public. “The groom reported that False Step was sore, and later the State veterinarian, Dr. Edward Kennelly, after examination, verified this. "Although the driver-train-er, Cecil Devine, wanted to take a chance and race, it would have been unfair to the public to allow them to wager on a horse whose soundness was. to any degree, in doubt. “It was a regrettable step to take, but the commission and the track management agreed it was the only possible decision consistent with maintaining the integrity of a great racing series."