TRIP CANCELLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 134, 3 December 1938, Page 22

TRIP CANCELLED

GREYHOUND NOT COMING

The proposed visit of the world champion trotter Greyhound to New Zealand has now been cancelled, and it is not likely that he or any other American champion will be seen in New Zealand. The owner of Greyhound demanded a fee of 10,000 dollars for each of five races, but, though this was regarded as an exorbitant price to ask for the trotter's appearance, it was thought that at a much lower price the world champion pacer, Billy Direct, 1.55, could be imported. A cable message received in Christchurch states that the fee for Billy Directs visit would be the same as was asked for Greyhound, and the committee appointed to make arrangements decided to go no further in the matter.

The appearance of either horse on a New Zealand racecourse would have been a big attraction, but at the price asked the venture was a risky one for those who had guaranteed the cost. Neither horse is ever likely to win in the United States the amount of money their owners asked for the trip.

Notice to trotting trainers to cease operations in view of the difficulty of both trotters and gallopers working on the same track has been given by the proprietors of the Takanini training tracks. The decision means that other arrangements will have to be made by W. Clifton, A. W. Broughton, and A. J. B> Norris, and about 20 trotters and pacers will be affected. At present there are approximately 70 gallopers in training on the track.