Trotter Fails In Record Bid

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 5

Trotter Fails In Record Bid

Westland King failed by three-fifths to establish an Australian and New Zealand Record for one mile by a two-year-old trotter.

He recorded 2min 8 2-ssec in a special time trial held in perfect conditions at Addington Raceway early yesterday afternoon. The trial attracted great interest and more than 1500 attended.

Westland King, driven by his trainer, J. D. Litten, made an attempt on Delvin Dancer’s record of 2min 7 4-ssec established in Adelaide 12 months ago. Westland King did not trot as well as he did in earlier appearances and his task was

made more difficult when he lost a toe-weight during the run. M He’s a lot better than that,” said Litten after the run. “He didn’t trot nearly as well as I expected. Nor did he feel as good as in his races.” Westland King broke at the starting point at his first attempt, but made no mistake next time. He trotted his first quarter in 31 2-ssec, his halfmiles in lmin 3 3-ssec, and six furlongs in lmin 36 2-ssec. His time was well inside his own New Zealand record of 2min 12 l-ssec established on a bad track at Addington Raceway last month. Westland King was accompanied by Hazelburn Lass, I driven by B. F. O’Carroll,

which acted as a galloping pacemaker. However, she was of little use to her younger companion as she was kept two or three lengths behind him for most of the way.