TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 12

TROTTING.

JVHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

February 13. 22 —Otabubu Trotting Club. February 2o—Kaikoura Trotting Club. March 2—Marlborough Trotting Club. March 2, 3—lnvercargill Trotting Club. March 3—Waikato Trotting Club. All the visitors have now arrived ant were on the track this morning. The majority of them have done a fail amount of racing this season, antl this morning their tasks were merely jogging (J. Robertson worked Great Ballin an* Horizon together. They wer not aske< to go at top, but both moved attractively, although Horizon was inclined tt bore out a bit. Owners and trainers are remindei that nomination* for all events at thi Manawatu Trotting Club's meeting clos< on Saturday next at ti p.m. with thi secretary, Box 393, Palmerston North. Tranquil looks a hopeless proposition The bay mare will do nothing right now adays, and would not go more than hal a furlong this morning without tangling If she repeats the performance in a rac< she will most likely cause trouble. Nelson Girl, who is in the Trial Trot on Saturday, is owned bv the veteran Mr. .T. Pettie. She Ims been working consistently at Epsom, but cannot b* 1 given a chance on anything she has shown. Native Star looks well, and trotted solidly this morning in company with a mare "by Blue Mountain King. The j>ac< was never on, but Native Star moved freely and was always doing her work easily. Master Councillor (Clifton) and Toll Chimes (Smith) were companions ovei a mile and a-half at Epsom this morning. Toll Chimes was unhoppled, and Master Councillor was always doing better than the Gold Bell gelding. Peterwah (M. Fisken) and Enawali (R Fisken) were worked together this morning. Peterwah went about a mile anr three-quarters, being joined over the last mile and a-half by Enawali. They madt no mistakes, but Peterwah was finishing on the better of the pair. He is vcrj well, and in his training at Epsom has not put a foot wrong. The best workout at Epsom this morning was between Nelson Tasker (Avres) and Uncle Bert. The latter was in saddle and Nelson Tasker in harness. The paii after being jogged out scored up to Ithc mile post, and gathering up speed they went off in fine style. Uncle Bert having a length anda-half the best of it. He was a couple of lengths in front at the half-mile, where Ayres moved Nelson Tasker up and the pair came on together They finished strongly, with Uncle Bert slightly in front. It was a fiye piece ol ' work.

Jean McElwvn was not brought to! Auckland along with others of Mr. G. McMillan's team. For her win at Aldington she was pctiali>ed 24yds, which put her back to 48yds in the mile Saddle.

Speed Kin? (Stubbs) anw Halgana 1 (Clifton) were given useful exercise this morning together. This pair are very well, but the company will possibly be just a bit too good for them at Otahuhu.

Everything is well in train for the Otahuhu meeting, which opens on Saturday. and with a strong contingent of horses' engaged the racing will create wide interest. It is the general opinion that the visitors will get their usual big share of the prize-money.

Although the meeting is only two aaya off there was not a great deal of fast work at Kpsoin this morning. The dust before and just after breakfast was very prevalent, but about 10 o'clock light rain began to fall, simultaneously with the appearance of the water-cart on the track. The conditions afterwards were much better.

Touching on the race between Natlv< Chief and Great Dingen, the Lytteltor "Times" says:—There was a good dea of discussion about the actual dispatel of the race by Mr. A. J. Hastings, anc the opinion of the Metropolitan Club*! tarter may be of interest. Mr. Hasting; itated that prir to the start of the rac< he committee of the club asked him il le would like to meet the drivers ol iJrcat Bingen and Native Chief, llavinj 'Xpressed a desire to dc so the oflicia uid both drivers met the committee .vlien the arrangements regarding th< lespatch were, agreed upon. Anticipating that there would be a crowd at ihe start. Mr. Hasting arranged witl iVithers and Kenneriey that if he was lot satisfied with the move up he would 1)1 ow a whistle, which would be tin signal for "no start." He also placct me of his assistants some distance past the starting point, to stop the hoTses.il fio start was made and another assistant ibout sixty yards behind the mile post, his being the point from which tb« Irivers decided to- score up. With regard to the actual start. Mr. Hastings Btatec hat the fifth attempt was the only on< in which the paeers were sufficiently level and in their paits to be dispatched Dn tli*' previous four occasions, Nativj I'hief was not pacing when he was c*pjositc tlic starting point. Mr. Hasting further stated that iie did not expect tin horses would be dispatched at th» liftli attempt, as when they were com' 11 <r towards him Native Chief w-as again nixing his wait, while Great Bingen was roin™ right. About twenty to twenty - ive yards from the starting post. Native Chief struck his hopples and commenced [o gather sneed and the starter realised lie then had a chance to get them away IVithers. however, had started to clieel! irca t Bingcn. but as the pair were ilnic-t in Hue the starter sent them iwav. Mr. Hastings is certain that nt lie actual starting point Native Chief ind not more than half a length advantage. Mr. Hastings concluded: 'T had wo horses to- dispatch to a flying start, nip being well mannered and governable, vhile the other was not. Once I got them x>th paciuT right and in line T sent licm awav."'

At the time of writing no information has been given to the Press that Jean McElwyn lias been rehandicapped for her engacunent in the Railway Handicap at the Otahubu meeting. The fill j won a saddle race at Addington last Saturday, and one would hare at least expected the handicapper to announce any rehandkap be intended to make within 48 hour*. It is understood that the owner of Jean McElwyn had to get j in touch with him to find out what the position was, and was informed that Jean McElwyn would be penalised 24yds, making her hadkap 48yds. In The galloping sport the handicappers are compelled to announce any rehandicaps within 48 hours, and these are published in the Press. The same should applv to trotting.