YONKERS WIN TO FALSE STEP

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 4

YONKERS WIN TO FALSE STEP

Apmat Fourth And Arania Last (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, May 18. The New Zealand pacer False Step ended the International Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway tonight with a start-to-finish victory in the National Championship Pace. This won the 162,800-dollar International Pacing Series for Australia and New Zealand.

The Sydney gelding Apmat won the first two races in the series, but was only fourth tonight behind the American champion Bye Bye Byrd and a second American horse, Mr Budlong. The New Zealand mere Arania finished sixth in the eight-horse race but was relegated to last for intereference in the last lap of the 12 furlongs.

Apmat won the Qantas Gold Cup for the best over-all showing in the series. The New York manager of Qantas (Mr Rowan Waddy) presented the cup to Mr M. Anderson, Apmat’s owner, and the driver. B. Alley. After the presentations, False Step's driver C. Devine, took the stallion for a victory circuit in front of the stands.

False Step ran the last halfmile in 59 2-ssec and was never in danger of defeat. He opened a two-length lead in the back straight, leaving Apmat and Bye Bye Byrd struggling behind. Both horses had been sitting in single file behind the New Zealander but had no answer when Devine asked his horse for an effort in the back straight.

Nothing Left Apmat moved up on the outside of Bye Bye Byrd but

it was immediately obvious that he had nothing le®t for the big battle down the straight. He struggled on under the light whipping of Alley and was cut out of third place close to home by the fasttlnishing Mr Budlong. Flat Tyre Bye Bye Byrd’s driver, C. Hodgins, finished the race with a flat tyre on his gig. He was reported to be “gloomy and angry’’ but refused to say whether he thought the flat tyre cost his horse the race.

Stewards said there did not seem to be any incident that caused the flat tyre. Hodgins was reported to have said immediately after the race that he thought the horse behind him at the final turn, probably Apmat, had hit the wheel with his front hoof.

Arania was placed eighth after finishing sixth because of interference to O'Brien Hanover on the turn out of the straight after one mile. The crowd of 30,711 set a new world record for a harness race by putting 372,074 dollars through the totalisator.

Tar Boy was fifth. Caduceus sixth. O’Brien Hanover seventh and Arania eight.

Devine surprised by taking False Step to the front immediately after the start.

Alley raced with False Step on the outside for a furlong but then dropped Apmat in behind Bye Bye Byrd to take third place on the fence.

False Step, racing with his head low, was cleverly paced by Devine early in the face and ran the first mile in a slow 2min B.2sec to keep plenty in reserve for the finish.

Devine said after the race he was surprised that no-one challenged him for the lead. Devine said he held Bye Bye Byrd safely in the last lap. Even though the American horse’s gig had a flat tyre

“I think he’d still have been second if we'd gone another lap."

There was no immedia’e announcement on the future of False Step or Apmat; both of which are for sale or lease in the United States.

No Dash Arania was forced to race on the outside most of the way and did not show any dash. She was fourth until a lap from home but fell back as the pressure went on. She finished sixth but then ■was relegated to eighth by the stewards because of interference. No details of the interference were made public. Caduceus. well below the brilliance that made him the idol of Australian and New Zealand trotting crowds, was last early and improved only slightly when asked to go forward.

Noble Suspended Arania’s driver, George Noble, late tonight was suspended by the Yonkers stewards for five days for interference in the fourth race, in which he drove the American horse ijeadow Emerald for the well-known American owner-trainer D. Miller. The stewards said Noble allowed his horse to strike the wheel of Rebounder, the favourite in the race. Rebounder failed to finish in a place.