TROTTING HORSE’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1930, Page 2

TROTTING HORSE’S DEATH

CAUSED BY EATING SAWDUST. . AUCKLAND, September 15. The Epsom trainer, F. Smith, had a stroke of bad luck on Saturday when he lost the smart five-year-old pacer Antonia Direct. Smith came out to the Dominion in the spring of last season, bringing with him Linnett the Great, and subsequently he imported the pacer Dan Direct, which he afterwards sold to A. Newdick. With Linnett the Great the trainer did well, and then sold her to M’Kendrick Bros. Last June he imported the then four-year-old English pacer Mussolini, one of the best to race in England. The roan son of Wellington Direct—Antonie Stout was landed in good order, hut Smith was in no hurry to get him to the races, and was content to allow him to settle down in his new surroundings before asking him to do any work. Mussolini’s name was changed to Antonia Direct. Lately he began to send the lvorse along, and it was his intention to race him at the Waikato meeting next month.

On Thursday last Smith noticed that Antonia Direct did not appear to be himself Two veterinary sugeons were called in, but;the horse did not improve, and he s died on Saturday. An examination made subsequently revealed a ball of sawdust the size of a cricket ball which had caused a stoppage. The horse lmd apparently eaten the sawdust in the box while on hoard ship on the trip from England to Auckland.