Dontdrinkanddrive not looking a good punt

A horse recruited to deliver an anti-drink-driving message has been injured and may never make it to the starting gate.

The horse was lame, Land Transport New Zealand spokeswoman Janice Rodenburg said yesterday.

A fitness assessment would be made in the next few weeks, she said. There was a chance it would recover and be able to race.

"It's been disappointing, but we'll wait and see what happens when they do the fitness assessment."

LTNZ and the police bought the naming rights to a galloper this year and christened it Dontdrinkanddrive.

The horse, bred by Patrick Hogan and trained by Lance O'Sullivan, was to have had its first race in April. But the agency said two months ago that the horse had strained a muscle.

LTNZ does not own the horse itself and is not liable for its training costs.

The galloper's racing colours were to be blue and yellow, the same as police highway patrol vehicles.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES