Staunch Advocate of Trotters’ Rights

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 433, 15 August 1928, Page 11

Staunch Advocate of Trotters’ Rights

UTILITY horse of turf MR. JOHN ROWE’S OPINION No one connected with the light harness sport of the Dominion was more pleased at the splendid performance recorded on Saturday by the trotter Peterwah than Mr. John Rowe, president of the Auckland Trotting Club. For a considerable number of years ■Mr. Rowe has been a keen supporter of the square-gaited horse, and he has consistently and persistently advocated that more consideration should be given the straight-out trotter by clubs when framing programmes. This opinion the Auckland president has repeatedly voiced at meetings of confer-

i roumg oiud. once, but that body opposed the argument mainly on the grounds that it would take years to make the trotter, whereas the pacer came to hand early. We have, however, seen, says Mr. Rowe, the advantages gained during recent years of catering for the puregaited horse, which is undoubtedly the “utility horse of the turf.’* The performances of trotters during the past season has demonstrated their value, and importance in the liglit-harness world, while the wonderful achievement of Peterwah last week-end has proved to what heights the unhoppled horse can soar. Mr. Rowe is pleased at the turn of the tide in favour of the trotter, particularly as his club has done more to Improve and encourage this class of competition than any other club in the Dominion. The lead given by the local organisation in this direction has been followed by the New Zealand Metropolitan Club, and no doubt other trotting caterers will follow suit. The square-gaited fraternity have a loyal friend in Mr. John Rowe.