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Bit Of A Yarn

Trotters against the Pacers


Walt

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Can you remember any / many?

I recall seeing top trotter Nigel Craig racing against the pacers in feature mile race in the mid 70's. Race was won by Nimble Yankee for Felix Newfield. Nigel Craig was unplaced.

Scotch Tar ran in the 1980 Ashburton Flying Stakes won by Wee Win, the 1980 Show Day FFA won by Hands Down and also the 1982 NZ Cup won by Bonnies Chance. Unplaced in all three. 

Over the ditch the mighty Maori's Idol took on the likes of Paleface Adios and Koala King in the late 1970's and thrashed them. 

Any NZ trotters beaten the pacers? 

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2 hours ago, Walt said:

recall seeing top trotter Nigel Craig racing against the pacers in feature mile race in the mid 70's. Race was won by Nimble Yankee for Felix Newfield. Nigel Craig was unplaced.

Nigel Craig had a great rival in one season in particular Walt . 

He and PETITE EVANDER both won a dozen races in the 76-77 season and had a few great clashes . Both Time-Trialled as well with galloping pacemakers and both broke the 2.00 minute barrier , being the first NZ trotters ever to do so , in near 100 years of trotting races. 

Nigel Craig couldn't 'stay' as well as some though , and was run down in the 2 Big Races. By Armbro Lady (Kevin Townley) in the Dominion H'cap. and run down By Framalda  (wolfie) in the Rowe Cup. 

The Amazing Petite Evander won her last 6 starts in Nz for Frank Weaver (with John Langdon steering) before taking on the 'World' with a big winning International campaign.

One of those 6 wins before she left was a win against Pacers , that is very noteworthy , although completely forgotten, as was a low class standing start Pacers event, at Claudelands in the Waikato. Petite Evander Won off 40m behind handicap in a NZ record time . setting her ready to become the world champion she was. 

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42 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

Nigel Craig had a great rival in one season in particular Walt . 

He and PETITE EVANDER both won a dozen races in the 76-77 season and had a few great clashes . Both Time-Trialled as well with galloping pacemakers and both broke the 2.00 minute barrier , being the first NZ trotters ever to do so , in near 100 years of trotting races. 

Nigel Craig couldn't 'stay' as well as some though , and was run down in the 2 Big Races. By Armbro Lady (Kevin Townley) in the Dominion H'cap. and run down By Framalda  (wolfie) in the Rowe Cup. 

The Amazing Petite Evander won her last 6 starts in Nz for Frank Weaver (with John Langdon steering) before taking on the 'World' with a big winning International campaign.

One of those 6 wins before she left was a win against Pacers , that is very noteworthy , although completely forgotten, as was a low class standing start Pacers event, at Claudelands in the Waikato. Petite Evander Won off 40m behind handicap in a NZ record time . setting her ready to become the world champion she was. 

Hey Gammalite. I didn't realize Petite Evander had taken on and beaten the pacers. Scotch Tar taking on Hands Down and Armalight in the 1980 FFA was a big deal at the time so I'm scratching my head not remembering Petite Evander beating the pacers and in record time. Claudelands was also not a track where many horses won off long marks.

Nigel Craig would often win but when he got beat, he'd usually run second. My memories of Easton Light were for his staying ability, winning off long marks and still winning against good company years after most of his rivals were gifted a lush back paddock.

Petite Evander on the other hand was the Delightful Lady of the squaregaiters and her offspring were also top drawer, especially of course, Pride of Peitite winner of 35. Doing some homework I see her best progeny was Petite Sunset who won 7 and produced Petite One who also won 7 for the Hopes. 

Framalda was a beauty. Very classy mare. I always look among the progeny for a connection still going around today. She produced Stargo Whiz. Among her offspring was Chief of Staff who won 9 and last raced in January at Nelson. 

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1 hour ago, Doomed said:

Scotch Tar one of the better known trotters who raced against the pacers. Don't think he won though.

I can't find anything to suggest Scotch Tar ever beat the pacers but did perform with credit. 

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33 minutes ago, Brodie said:

There is often trotters who have won many races in the bush racing against the lower class pacers in Oz!

They can be competitive but generally dont seem to be able to beat them very often at all which is understandable.

sundies sun went 2 seconds faster than the nz cup  . would of killed them if it had lined up in the cup

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2 hours ago, paleface adios said:

sundies sun went 2 seconds faster than the nz cup  . would of killed them if it had lined up in the cup

Na. Wouldve been competitive but doubt it wouldve been in the first half cozen.

May have run the time but different when you line up against the pacers.

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2 hours ago, paleface adios said:

sundies sun went 2 seconds faster than the nz cup  . would of killed them if it had lined up in the cup

would of had to kill them at the start with a bullet , is the only way old retired 'Sundie' could of beat Copy That and Self Assured (winners of the last 3 Nz Cups) and 2 of the best Pacers ever to race on our tracks.

From 2 miles in the Cup down to the One mile 'Grins $1,000,000 race' , ( the 2 runnings of that race won by those 2 horses )  No trotter is beating them......

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3 hours ago, Rangatira said:

2nd to Locarno the best result but that 1.57.4 opening mile in the NZ FFA easily as stunning.

https://www.facebook.com/HarnessedInformant/videos/1235515803713092

 

What a field that was. I might have been there that day. Matai Dreamer was a brilliant age group horse but I don't think he went on with it as an older horse, may have had injury problems.

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3 hours ago, Rangatira said:

2nd to Locarno the best result but that 1.57.4 opening mile in the NZ FFA easily as stunning.

https://www.facebook.com/HarnessedInformant/videos/1235515803713092

 

Loved seeing that replay. Cheers Rangatira. 

A few of my old favs in there including Cup winner Trusty Scot. My feeling is very few horses outside of Locarno or Lord Module could have caught Scotch Tar that day.

Also great to hear Lochie Marshall again. Always a colourful caller.  

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1 hour ago, paleface adios said:

that's the two horses names

oh dear oh dear.... The shame ... the embarrassment .... what's going on here mate?.

The great Paleface Adios being 'slapped in the face' by a trotter ?? The big trotter 'Maori's Idol ' cruising past him in this heat of a Group 1 in Brisbane. saying 'Adios' to the Palefaced one as the big bloke pulls right away for a Group heat win against the pacers. (he ran 2nd in the Final)

 

 

DSC03029.JPG

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