PACER'S LIFE STORY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 7

PACER'S LIFE STORY

DALNAHINE MAKES GOOD GREAT TURF CHARACTER Three months ago Dalnahine was on a 4.32 mark in the Oamaru Cup* and his chance was not viewed with much confidence by the public. But he strolled home and a month later won the chief event each day at Forbury Park. This was followed up by a win on the second day of the Canterbury Park New Year fixture in the big item, with the result Henderson's charge is now back to a 4.25 mark. WHEN Dalnahine won his first race ** at Winton as a three-year-old in 1921, good judges were alert to his qualities. The fact of him being cleangaited and from fashionably-bred parents caused several to inquire the price Qn him. Eventually three Canterbury sportsmen visited the colt. It was raining when they arrived, but this did not deter Mr. J. McMath, part owner of the colt, from hitching the chestnut to a heavy jogging cart and setting him to work on the side of a grass road. BETTER THAN WIN SOON The sportsman interested in Dalnahine’s future asked Mr. McMath his opinion of him. “Well,” stated the Riversdale gentleman, “he is the best Mr. Stevenson and I have bred. I regard him as a better horse than Win Soon.” The deal was clinched, the price all told £4OO. The chestnut was railed to B. Jarden at Yaldhurst, who got him ready for the spring racing. Gradually Dalnahine improved in speed and in stamina. B. Jarden won several races with him, and then Dalnahine (who is an entire) turned sour. He adopted falling habits and in no fewer than five events did he finish on the ground. His* owner tried to sell him for a few pounds, but no one would buy him. MANY CHANGES So the only alternative was to lease him to M. B. Edwards, who did very well with him. Eventually Dalnahine mastered Edwards and would neither train nor race. So up he went to auction, where no bid could be secured for him. J. Bryce thought he could do something with him and got him for £SO. He soon passed him on to theDunedin sportsman, Mr. J. M. Samson, for £IOO. Bryce won a race and gathered a few second place moneys with him. Dalnahine’s next move was to Oamaru, where he endeavoured to play his old tricks on J. Henderson. He would act the good boy with a new trainer until he sized up things; then he would get busy and boss the outfit. If he felt like it he would lean against a fence or building with a cart hitched to him, and refuse to move till it suited him. ' He would work if he liked and more often than not he didn’t like. Henderson smiled at him and awarded him the ticket for the greatest character of a horse ever born. 7* HENDERSON IS BOSS Then came the turn of the tide. Kindness and consideration failed, and along with a* change of gear and additional equipment Dalnahine was requested to change his tactics. He refused, and then a more serious interview took place and from that day he has been a docile, good-natured horse to train, and a great racehorse. Since he turned over a new leaf he has won the Oamaru Cup, two principal events at Dunedin and the Park Handicap at Addington. All told the stakes amount to approximately £2,000 and he looks like developing still further. He now is a perfect racehorse with great staying qualities, and will give J. McLennan much pleasure in driving him as well as owner J. M. Samson the privilege of collecting rich stakes, and grist to J. Henderson’s mill, who states that Dalnahine is the best horse he ever has trained.