N.Z. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 February 1914, Page 7

N.Z. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB.

TO-MORROW'S PROSPECTS. There are several features connected with to-morrow's meeting at Aldington that are sure to invest it with extra- - . ordinary interest. Perhaps, the mosst; striking of these is the fact that for tlffe first time on record a race will N be ; started at Addington by distance in- . - stead of time, and though to most enthusiasts the innovation 1 has nothing in. t its favour, the novelty is sure to appeal ' to the general run of racegoers. Many years ago, when the sport of light harness racing was .in its -.infancy,' handi- '' capping by distance was the generally ■ \ accepted method. After a trials J the system was abandoned in favour of > handicapping' by time,, and experience . hds proved the superiority of the latter method.- In- face of,■ this the action •of the premier club in going back to the - - old style for one of its most important \ races can only be. regarded as an ex- ; tremely risky experiment. ' Eor the . event in question, the Stewards Handi- ~/ cap, there are eleven acceptors," including some of the fastest horses itf'Can- ~2 terbury. The difference in their speed * is represented by 83 yards> which in the f -i case of the scratch horse works out at . between six and seven seconds. There ■% are three horses handicapped on the, % limit, and the others will be placed on their respective marks behind these, so ;l that in. the case of Emmeline she will'' A J actually have to cover 83 yards more than a mile and a quarter.- A disc will be shown at each respective start-' ing mark and when the horses, are -properly: placed the starter will give the signal. Recent experience has been all against asking highly strung horses to :li stand still atthe start, and it-is here /J that the. new official wiJfchave his capabilities thoroughly tested. How l®r* Tompkins will acquit himself in his ' *

new.role is a matter that has been made* r,£ the medium of much discussion-iit trot- /k ting circles ever since his appointment. He certainly has a big task in front/ } of him, and can hardly be expected to/J* attain a high degree of efficiency tilfe. -« fortified by experience. .Another pleasing feature of to-morrow's gather- J ing will be the presence of'his Excel- sj leney the Governor and Lady Liverpool;, eaeh of whom is a keen- follower of "a racing.. • % A dozen high-class horses, all capable .. of going two miles in 4.42 or. stand their ground in - the Parliamentary Handicap, and with sueh- a short . limit as Ssec the field be well together from, start to finish.,; .Though . - she has not yet„: won at' more: than a ' mile'and a half, Ivy Dillon has such a " : great turn of speed that; she is" sure to \ be prominent all through, but there is just the question of her being able to - : see out the final pinch. Lord Dillon is - likely to have a big'following-but he is "7? inclined to-shirk a hard finish, and on the handicap some of the back markers can be relied on to- make ■ things tremely interesting in the last quarter. There are good fields engaged 'in all the other events, so there can be little question as to': the quality of the racing. Proceedings will commence "at one; o'clock, and there will be a frequent . _ tram service to the course. . The day's card Is as follows: LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP (in harness), of 75 sovs. One mile and a-half. Lionheart .... scrseff?-.' ' * sec; W.M. ... 3 Nora M'Kinney 1 Rothena ; .. 4 '4 1 Golden Way .. 1 1 Kairaki '; ■ .. 4 • Better Luck .. 2 Franz Coralis. .. 5 I Willow Tree .. 3 Rio Grande . . 5 - 1 Macwood .. 3 Leonatus . 5 Norval King .. 3 Chocolate -Soldier, 5 * ' Imperial Park . . 3 Jean Dillon ..5 East Lynne ... 3 No . Shenanaghan- 5 - Exchange .. 3 Marilla .. .. 5 Topsy Wallace .. 3 Wild Sun . . 5 Happy Child .. 3 Able Boy .. 5 Aim- Sa , ... 3 . . SPREYDON HANDICAP (in harness), of " 135 sovs.. One mile and a-half. sec. .''/"■■■ . sec. ■ ■-'s Baron Eranz 4. _ Van Coronado . . 9 Nordica ..7 Azile ... ..10 Soda .. .. 7 0.1.0/ .. 10 Huon Drift .. 7 Lady. Bella. .. 10' ; Selected .. 8 Espinel ~ ' ..11 Skylark ..8 Erina . . .. 11 V Our Thorpe .. 8 Apple Pie .. ,11 4 Ottawa . . .. 9 Moness ..11 Our PARLIAMENTARY -HANDICAP : (in harness), of 350 sovs. Two miles. Quincey ..scr se c. Bright .. scr Princess /Iconise 3 sec. Breeze f. 4 Redmac .. 1 Little Tib ~V 4 Adonis .. 1 Lord Dillon ..'4 - Aberfeldy . . 2 Ivy Dillon 4 t 'J Crown Prince .. 3 Dr Chutney .. 5- - . FEBRUARY HANDICAP (in saddle), of * 140 sovs. Two miles. Blackness . . scr sec.' sec. Music . .' 10 Miramar .. 1 Bold Maid . . 10 -C Frances . . .1. White House 10 - ,;*■ Fusee .. 2 Troubadour . . 10 ' % Gertie L. • .. 6 • Waterloo- " . . 11 Vermont . . 8 Ottawa . . 13 STEWARDS' HANDICAP ' (ih harness), of V

250 sovs. One mile and a-quarter. yds blind yds blind " Emmeline . . 83 , Mandarene . . 13 " ?! Country Belle . . 45 ' Mains ... Adonis . . 35 The Whip . . scr . Bell Metal .. 25 Huia Dillon . . scry Prince Alert . . 25 Brooklyn . . scr . Bellis . . 25 MEMBERS' HANDICAP (in harness), of ' 200 sovs. Two mile!?. -■ tfetel Nut . . ser sec* , { sec. Welfare . ..10 ' i Treasure Seeker 5 Little Stranger .. 10 Adventuress .. 8 Monsoon ..10 Master Raymond 8 Craibwood . . 10, SPEEDWELL HANDICAP (in harness), of' Ifs sovs. Oge mile.. Lord Dillon . . scr ' sec. Itosebery . . scr Brown Bell 2 sec. Bonista .. ■ 3 Radiant Morn . . 1 Yellow Ribbon . . 3 ."5 Prince Poole .. 1 Wliite House .. .4 • . Vibon ■ 1 Onawa - . . 4 > Kirwee .. 1 Bonny Jenny . . -1 i Sylvia .. 1 . PINAL HANDICAP . (in saddle), of 175 ? sovs. One mile,, > Bright. ..scr .. sec. '■ Aberfeldy . . scr Miss Florrie C. - 4 sec. Ruby S". .. 5 ■ Bellis .. 1 Persuader .. 5 •••!.«" Mains ..2 Kirwee .. 5 Blackness .. 3 Millwood .. 5 Frances' •• 3- Corbel. 5 Silver Princess 3 Mirimar ... 5 Oameos . • * Ariel .. ..' 5 J, Fusee .. 4 King Lynn .. t> False Alarm .. 4 Romany Lad .. 6 - Tutara - " .. . 4 Oceanic .. 6 Harold Minto ". . , 4 Wallace . Jun. .. .6 , ; - ; TEMPLAB. - ~t