GREAT TROTTER GOES INTO RETIREMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 245, 6 January 1928, Page 6

GREAT TROTTER GOES INTO RETIREMENT

WHISPERING WILLIE ENTERS LONG HOLIDAY AFTER FINE CAREER

The retirement is announced of that great little piece of trotting machinery known for such a lengthy period to racegoers and followers of the light-harness port as Whispering Willie. He was one of the finest trotters the Dominion has seen, and has a two-mile record of 4.28 2-5.

Whispering Willie, a bay gelding by Woodland Whispers from a mare named Gossip, saw the light of day on the West Coast of the South Island, and losing his dam shortly after his arrival, the youngster was brought up on the “bottle” by his owner, Mrs. C. F. Allingtori, for whom in later years he won many a good race. Whispering Willie’s sire, Woodland Whispers, was owned and raced by Mrs. H. W. Kitchingham, whose name in the trotting world of the South Island is a household one.. Woodland Whispers was bred by Mr. B. P. Edwards, the popular breeder, who is now domiciled at Papatoetoe, where his American sires, The Triumph and Worthy Bond, are rendering good service in improving the trotting stock of this province. AMERICAN ANCESTRY Mr. Edwards imported the mare Balmy Breeze from America, after she had been stinted to Wildwood, the result of the union being Woodland Whispers. After racing on the Coast the latter was put to stud duty, one of his associates being Gossip, a mare that carried the Allington livery in the earlier days of the sport on the Golden West, and Whispering Willie—an aptly named younger, was the result. William was not raced till after' his fourth birthday, his initial appearance being at the Hutt Valley Trotting Club’s meeting in January, 1915, when he ran second to All Steel. HIS FIRST VICTORY He was taken to the Nelson fixture the following month, and after running second to Waterfall, came out later and saluted the judge in the Brightwater Handicap, recording the first win in what was destined to be a great career. In the same year Whispering Willie won a two-mile heat at Ashburton, and then travelled north to Hamilton, where he landed the big trot. In both these victories he was steered by J. Bryce, From then on the Woodland Whispers gelding never looked back, and he won some fine handicaps for his lady owner. SPLENDID CAREER Among many high-class races won by the popular little trotter may be mentioned Dominion Trotting Hcindicapj 1916 and 1918; Wellington Gold Trotting Cup, 1917; Forbury Cup Handicap; Canterbury Park Paparoa Handicap, 1920. At the New Zealand Metropolitan fixture in 1921, Whispering Willie led home a great field of pacers in 4.29 2-5. The New Brighton Trotting Handicap fell to his lot in 1922 and 1923, and i in the following year he annexed the I King George Handicap at the Canterbury Park winter meeting, again topping off the pacers. WELL-EARNED HOLIDAY In subsequent seasons the son of Woodland Whispers received occasional place money, but with advancing years found the game too hard. With that great trotting mare, Retu Peter, Whispering Willie held the New Zealand two-mile trotting record of 4.28 2-5, which was only lowered last year by Escapade, 4 27 1-5. The little chap can now rest on his laurels and his remaining days will no doubt be spent in ease and comfort, which have been well-earned.