RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 77, 7 May 1914, Page 12

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. May B—Ashburton R.C. Autumn. May 13 and 14—Egmont R.C. Winter. May 21 and 23—North Otago J.C. Winter, TROTTING FIXTURES.

May 14 and lfi —New Brighton T.O. Autumn. June 3—South Wairarapa T.C. Annual. June 3 and 6 —Canterbury Park T.C. Winter. TURF TOPICS. The honours of the Hawke's Bay Cup certainly rest with Expect, who, in presenting Kooya with 141bs, and riming her to a nose, showed stamina of no mean order.

Despite his poor displays at Wellington, Valhalla .was well supported for the Porangaliau Handicap at Hastings yesterday, both on the course and in other centres. The ease with which he prevailed in yesterday's contest goes to prove that his form at Trentham was not correct.

Since returning from the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting, the wellknown rider and trainer, R. Reay, has been seriously indisposed with rheumatism.

Anna Carlovna finised third for the Brighton Handicap at Caulfield on April 25. She was not mentioned in the betting. Royal Scotch is now located in West Australia, where his owner,, Mr S. 0. Mackay, will use him for stud purposes. Racing will be resumed at Ashburton to-morrow,-when the leading attractions will be the Autumn Handicap, in which most of the cup horses claim, engagement and the, Juvenile Handicap for two and three-year-olds. There will again be a special train from Christchurcli at 10 a.m.

After declaration of acceptances, no less than a dozen three-year-olds stand their ground in the New Brighton Trotting Derby. With Edith Ain the field the result looks almost a foregone conclusion, and under the circumstances the sporting spirit displayed by so many owners is highly to be commended. Downharii and his stable mate, Queenlike, were in very strong demand for the Nursery Handicap at Hastings yesterday, but the former could do nofbetter than finish fourth. It is quite evident that the Downshire gelding has not got over the hard racing he got through so creditably in the spring.

There have been few more consistent performers seen out this year than Kooya, and her victory in the Hawke's Bay Cup yesterday formed a fitting climax to a hard season's racing. This marked her fourth cup success, for she, had previously prevailed in the Woodville Cup under 6st 71b, Dannevirke Cup under 7st 31b, and Masterton Cup under 7st 31b, while at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Easter meeting she prevailed in the Sockburn Handicap when carrying Bst 21b. Kooya is by Signalman, from Koiano, by The Possible — Leonie, and claims relationship to such good performers as Wimmera, Boomerang, and Kilindini. She was originally raced by Mr E. J. Watt, who sold her to Mr D. Kemp, in whose colours all her successes have been attained. Evidently it is the intention of Mr E. J. Watt to race on an extensive scale in Australia. In order to make room for more of his horses at Randwick, H. Raynor has handed Tatterley over to J. -Whitworth, who also trains Moonbria for Mr Watt. Raynor is to break in the Mountain King—Marguerite colt, and the Royal Artillery—Hecuba colt, for - whom Mr Watt paid SOOgs and 220gs, forthwith. The former of these is described as a big colt of great promise."

At yesterday's meeting of the N.Z. Trotting Association, the report of the special committee set up to enquire into starting methods, was brought forward and adopted. It stated that the views of several experts had been obtained. After hearing their evidence the committee recommended:—(l) That the starting clock should be piaced at the starting post; (2) that all starts should be walking up starts, and that the limit horse should be lined up not more than ten yards from the starting post; (3) that clubs should provide assistants or supervisors equivalent to at least one for each two ranks between the limit and scratch such supervisors to immediately report to the starter any horse getting out of his rank; (4) that the attention of clubs should be drawn to Rules 239 and 243; (5) that Rule 249 should be re-drafted, to embody the following conditions :j—That for the first offence the minimum fine should be £lO, and that for the second or any subsequent offence the penalty should be disqualification of the rider or driver for a term, unless in the opinion of the starter such offence or offences are unintentional; (6) that in view of a portion of the evidence submitted to the sub-committee in connection with mile races, the committee would recommend that a trial of the distance start should be given in short limit races. , TEMPLAR.