DIED IN HARNESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 12

DIED IN HARNESS

OLD TROTTER’S LAST TASK

TRADESMAN COLLAPSES After a soLind work-out on the grass at Epsom this morning the old trotter Tradesman, walking back to his stall, dropped dead. Tradesman, driven by George Phipps, after accompanying his stable-mate, Margaret Wallace, for a mile, went on another circuit by himself, finishingup his work in resolute style. On returing to the paddock and before his driver could get out of the sulky, Tradesman suddenly dropped dead. The trotter was owned by the veteran sportsman Ted Sandali, who received the sympathy of a large crowd of track watchers on the death of his old favourite. The gelding was bred in Australia, being by that good sire of square-gaiters, First Voyage, from a Kentucky mare. He was brought to Xew Zealand some years back by p. McGlashan, in company with Grand Voyage and Stormy Voyage, a great pair of trotters by the same sire. Tradesman was for a few seasons in J. Bryce’s care and won many good i aces. Afterward he was owned in Auckland by Mr. R. Millen and Mr. George Phipps, and four years ago was purchased by Mr. E. Sandali, in whose colours he has been a consistent performer. Although he failed to win a race in the “dark and light blue” livery, Tradesman won £640 for Owner Sandali in place-money. The First Voyage gelding was always a popular figure at Alexandra Park, and he had several regular admirers Avhenever lie stepped out in a race. On one occasion he acted as runner-up to the erack-a-jack trotter Trampfast, which he made go 4.31 to beat him. Tradesman was showing all his old vim and dash in his preparation for the relief fixture, and threatened to get some more place-money. Tradesman was a game racehorse, and A. G. Phipps remarked to “Abaydos” today that he had a heart like a lion. It was a sudden ending to a fine career, but the gelding, now in his 16th year, was game to the end and died in harness.