TROTTING N.Z. Horses’ Success In U.S.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31092, 22 June 1966, Page 5

TROTTING N.Z. Horses’ Success In U.S.

New Zealand horses have been prominent at almost all trotting meetings in the United States, as well as occasional meetings in Canada.

Some horses considered mediocre in New Zealand have shown worth-while form for their new owners.

against mediocre opposition and is obviously far from right To New Zealanders it is strange that Orbiter is being persevered with. No doubt his American owners want to recoup some of their large outlay as soon as possible. The former Auckland pacer, Smokeaway, beat Tactile in 2:1 2-5 at Roosevelt Raceway early this month. Tactile having his revenge last Thursday when he beat Smokeover (3) at the end of a mile in 2:0 4-5. Ipiana was a winner against weak opposition in 2:9, and Snow Globe has had two seconds and a third from three starts. Glenurquhart (Meadow Chief—lnglewood) won in Chicago in 2:2 1-5. Flying Blue won twice at meetings run at Sportsman’s Park between June 6 and June 11. He recorded 2:2 when he won a race of 3600 dollars and 2:3 2-5 when he won a race of 3800 dollars later in the week.

—Mountain Tarn) finished second in the same time. Rothesay (Seaforth—Ladylike) was second in 2:3 2-5, and Van Rebeck ran last in a race won in 2:2 25. The champion Australian trotting mare, Grained, could do no better than sixth in a race won in 2:3 25 at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland. Lucky Song, formerly owned in Christchurch, finished sixth at the same meeting in a race won in 2:6. Great Credit won in 2:4 2-5 In a race carrying a stake of 4000 dollars. Highland Raider (Morano— Tradition) has won at his last six starts, his most recent being over one mile in 2:1 1-5. The first quarter in that race took 27 25, and the first halfmile 59 1-5. Waiuku (Flying Song— Russley Maid) also won in Chicago, recording 2:3. Gay Reel is racing against weak opposition in Canada. She won recently over one mile in 2:6 at Garden City Raceway, St Catherines, Ontario. The stake was only 1100 dollars.

Orbiter, ranked as one of the best pacers in New Zealand before his sale to America at 125,000 dollars earlier in the year, is racing again, but his form has been extremely poor. He has finished near the tail of the field

Urrail (U. Scott—lnverary) added to a useful record when he beat the former Australian champion, Idle Raider, in 2:3 1-5. Vai Avert! finished second in 2:2 1-5 and Smoke Concert third in 2:3 3-5 during the same week. At Roosevelt Aiblins (Stormyway—Bonnie Castle) won a race of 2400 dollars in 2:4 4-5 at Roosevelt Raceway on June 6, and several other New Zealand horses did well during the same week. Terri Lee won one of the main invitation events of the week in 2:4 45. The stake for the race was 7500 dollars. Terri Lee has been a big success in the United States.

A former champion New Zealand trotter, Durban Chief, which has been in America for some years, won a mile in 2:7 1-5 at Bay Meadows, California, recently. Now a rising 14-year-old, Durban Chief has had a varied career in America. He has changed hands many times and from racing in the main events for trotters some years ago, he now competes for very low stakes. His Bay Meadows win was worth only 800 dollars.

Forshy, too, has done well recently. The Forward—Shy gelding beat Eden Valley (Morris Eden—Medalllna) in 2:2 4-5 in a race carrying a stake of 5000 dollars.

Swan Bay, a half-brother by My Chief to Cardigan Bay, finished second in 2:5 3-5, and Glen Direct (Express Direct— Dorothy Lyn) finished third in 2:2.

At Liberty Bell, Prancer Hanover, a threeyear-old colt by Torpid from Phoebemite, raced by Mr R. A. McKenzie, of Wellington, won in 2:4 1-5. Seafield Scott (U. ScottJennifer) finished fourth in 2:3 35 at the same meeting, and Bonnieburn (Gay Piper