GALLANT RACEHORSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 51, 23 November 1937, Page 15

GALLANT RACEHORSE

Veteran Slippery Adds To Long Record THREE MEMORIALS On Saturday at Levin, the old warrior, Slippery, won his third J. R. McDonald Memorial Handicap. This particular event is in memory of the late Mr J. R. McDonald, who, at one time, was one of the Dominion's leading owners. Most of his suecesses were gained by horses bred in the Hawko 's Bay distriet, In the Levin district this Memorial rgce is held to be something in the nature of a classic, and each year a ribbon decorates the successful candidate. Slippery 's racing record has prevlously been referred to in. these columba but another brief reference will not be out of the way. He was bred by Mrs A. R. Hutchinson, of Poverty Bay, and when a two-year-old was sold to M; Graham McCormick, of Hastings, Ior 50gns. At that time he was considered practically untrainable, heuce the low ligure paid for the Hunting Song— R-oyal Moinent .blaek gelding. He wai entrusted to the care of W. D. Young, trainer, of Hastings, who, during the time he liad charge won about 30 raceS in all with tho gelding. In May or June, 1936, after winning at Hawera, his racing days were considered to be over, but after a spell he was again placed into work and Mr McCormick himself took over the training, At the commencement of the current racing season he was again placed in training. Taken to Marton the old fellow surprised by weighing in fourth, and Mata Hari. On Saturday the big Kakanui, going down by only a neck. At Napier ke was third to Joviality and Mata Hari. On Saturday th big lion-hearted gelding made his tally 32 wins out of 144 starts. His stake winnings total £267*2 10/-.