TROTTING Open Race Likely At Yonkers, Today

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 6

TROTTING Open Race Likely At Yonkers, Today

fNiJ’A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, May 11. Apmat, Arania and False Step—dabbed "the Ansae big three'* by New York pacing writers—will be on the track early today for a final workout before tonight's Good Time Pace at Yonkers Raceway, New York.

Tonight's race, the second leg of the International Pacing Series promoted by Yonkers Raceway, is worth 82.800 dollars. It is timed to start at 2.10 p.m. New Zealand time on Friday.

Yonkers observers agree it will be a wide open race and predict a finish even more thrilling than last week’s event, the International Pace. Apmat won the International Pace by a neck for the Sydney trainer M. Anderson, running down Bye Bye Byrd, the odds-on favourite, in the final few yards. "Hie big American horse, trying for his third consecutive win in this event, is favourite again this week at 8 to 5. The Sydney pacer started at 13 to 1 last week but was third choice in the 10-horse field today at 7 to 2.

Second favourite at 3 to 1 was False Step, scratched by track officials last week over the protests of his trainer, driver, Cecil Devine, and his owner. Mr J. Smyth, when he was ruled lame by officials only half an hour before the race.

The New Zealand champion was second favourite before he was scratched. Several sports writers asked today whether he might not have won the same honour this week on hearsay and an untested reputation. False Step impressed during his preparaions for the International Pace.

Apmat’s driver, B. Alley, said after last week’s race that his horse would have been second if False Step had run.

False Step was reported today to have shown some soreness in his chest early this week but the soreness did not persist. Devine galloped him a total of 10 miles yesterday. It seems possible that several factors working in favour of Bye Bye Byrd and against False Step may prove too much for the New Zealander.

The Good Time Pace is over 10 furlongs, a distance likely to suit the American horses, which do most of their racing at a mile.

Bye Bye Byrd has had two hard races in three weeks, but False Step has not raced since he arrived in New York more than a month ago.

The American horse drew the best starting position of

any of the aerioua contenders—number two. False Step drew nine and will start on the rails but in a “second row” of two horses, behind the front row of eight. Devine said today he was not particularly worried about what appetued to be a bad draw. “I hear the horse in front of my fellow. Culver’s Pick, is a fast leaver. If he goes well in the first furlong I could come out of it with a better position than if I 4ad started wide out in the front row,” he said. With starting, position gain, Ing added importance because of the big field and comparatively short distance, Arania is gaining favour as the possible surprise of the race. She will start from three, outside Bye Bye Byrd. Mr R, McKenzie’s mare showed an impressive tarn of speed in the middle running last week and led for about a lap of the half-mile track. But die did not like to find “fresh air” in her face and faded to finish last in the seven horse field. She was quoted as 20-1 today. Arania wiM be driven by George Noble. Caducous, the former New Zealand pacer, also is given a chance after finishing fourth last week. He will start from seven and is thought likely to prefer this week's shorter run. He is listed at 15-1.

Mr Budlong, third last week, will start in the secon row with False Step tonight

The other runners are Keen’s Victorwin, starting from four, Tar Boy, from five, and O'Brien Hanover, from eight. Bye Bye Byrd shares the world record of 2min 31.5 sec for 10 furlongs with Good Time, after which tonight’s race is named. The final race in the international series, the National Championship Race, will be run over 12 furlongs on May 18

KELSO LADY

Trainer Now H. Donaldson The Oamaru Juvenile Stakes candidate. Kelso Lady, which was paraded at recent trials meetings from D. J. Townley’s team. Is now being trained at Tlnwald by H. S. Donaldson. Townley will be available to drive Belroy in the Oamaru race tomorrow. Belroy, winner at his lone start,. is a member of J. Grice’s team. Townlev drove Lynbeme. trained by Grice, ro win the Oamaru race in 1933, and was successful in 1959 with the Oamaru colt. Sun Chief.