YEAR: 1958
Airflow, one of the best trotters in the Dominion in her period, and an outstanding success as a broodmare, had to be destroyed recently at Roydon Lodge, Yaldhurst. Airflow was imported from the United States by the late Sir John McKenzie and commenced racing in the 1934-35 season as a 3-year-old. She had her first start in the Improver's Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's autumn meeting, a race in which she finished out of a place. Her next three starts resulted in three wins; the Allenton Handicap at Ashburton, the Bayfield Handicap at Forbury Park and the Waikoura Handicap at Oamaru. She was trained for those successes by R Dunn and driven by P P Gallagher. Airflow won one more race that season and that was against the pacers in the Washdyke Handicap at the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting in July, and her share of the stake was £49. In all that season for her four wins, Airflow earned £344 in stake money. As a 4-year-old Airflow started 14 times for four wins and five placings. At her first start at that age she won the Introductory Handicap at the August meeting at Addington, trotting the mile and a half journey in 3.24 2/5, and beating Mataunga by two lengths. Her other successes were gained in the Hornby Handicap at the Canterbury Park New Year meeting, the Stewards' Handicap at Ashburton and the High Class Handicap at Addington. Airflow won only one race as a 5-year-old but she was placed five times in her other seven starts. She beat the pacers again in the Stewards' Handicap at New Brighton, included in the field being Play On, Red Flyer and Navy Blue. That was her last season on the race track and in all she raced 31 times for 9 wins, 10 placings and £1509 in stakes in a period when prize-money was at its lowest. Airflow produced her first foal in 1938, Scottish Air. She produced foals fairly regularly up to and including 1955 and besides the winner Scottish Air she left Carlow (by Great Bingen); Aerial Scott (by U Scott), a champion trotter, one time record holder and big stake winner; Risingholme (by Dillon Hall); Slipstream (by Spencer Volo or U Scott); Red Emperor (by Light Brigade); Air Command (by Light Brigade); Highland Air (by U Scott). Airflow was got by Guy Day from Willina Chenault, by Peter Chenault-Willina H, by The Harvester-Sis Derectum, by Directum. Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 10Dec58 |