ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8259, 27 December 1911, Page 3

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

The Ashburton Trotting Club held a most successful meeting on the Ashburton County Racing Club's course on Boxing Day. The weather was almost perfect, and the attendance was quite a record. Large numbers came from Cliristchuich, and the railway authorities found it necessary to attach nine additional carriages before +he whole of the passengers for Ashburton could be accommodated. The course was much better than might have been expected, but the races were run over the racing track, instead of the track prepared by the Trotting Club for its own special purposes. The track, though not favourable to fast times, did not appreciably detract from the success of the meeting, and some excellent trotting was witnessed. This year the Club was limited to a single day, but taking all things into consideration, it is open to question whether they have not done better than m any previous year. For progressiveness, the Ashburton Trotting Club is allowed, by men whose judgment is reliable, to have no superiors other than the Metropolitan and the Forbury Clubs. The stakes they offered yesterday aggregated ovor £600 and m two single instances they amounted to over £100. With such large stakes it is only natural that the best trotters m New Zealand should compete, and the fields yesterday were not only large, but the quality was up to the highest level. For the first time, at the Club's meetings, no bookmakers were licensed, and this had its effect on the totalisator receipts, which were surprisingly large. Last year, m 'two days, a sum of £4393 was passed through the machine, and on Tuesday the amount so invested reached £6,552 10s. The gate receipts amounted to £159 against £144 for a two-days'

meeting last year. The ' programme provided for eight events, as against seven for any previous day, and this, of course, also helped to -enlarge the totalisator investments. Excellent management was shown right through. The officials showed good judgment, and adopted the best methods, and the precision and smartness with which the events were got off, reflected credit upon them all. The whole of th© tight events were over by 5.20. The handicapper, who was apparently well qualified for his cluties, was responsible for some very close and exciting finishes. The Ashburton Municipal Brass Band was m attendance, and played a most enjoyable programme of music under Bandmaster" 0. B. Gass. The catering, which was m the hands of Mr T. A. C. Pearce, gave entire satisfaction. Mr A. A. Fooks, with his staff of assistants, attended to the secretarial duties m an able, courteous, and considerate manner, and earned the gratitude of all who had occasion to seek his services at any time. The following are concluding results: McLEAN HANDICAP (Saddle), of 90 soys, second horse 7 soys, and third horse 3 soys from the stake. For horses that can do 3.48 or better. One mile and a-half. Mr J. H. Rule's b g Cedrice, by Prince Imperial—Tracey Lov- ! ett, aged, lOsecs (J. Brankin) 1 Mrs Hay Smith's blk h Prince Wilkin, by Prince Imperial—Miss Wilkin, syrs, scr (H. T. Smith) 2 Mr J. W. Roger's erg Rolf Boldrewood, by Boldrewood, 6yrs, 8 sees (S. C. Pilbrow) 3 Clive scr, Viewmbnt 3secs, Betel Nut osecs, Lady Lyons Bsecs, Lord Ashton Bsecs, Bold Maid 9secs, Bermaline 10 sees, Francita 13secs, and Bandelero 13secs, also started. Bermaline and•Francita went to the front, and maintained this position for about six furlongs, when Cedrice came up into first place, and led to the finish, winning by four t lengths from Prince Wilkin, who was"six lengths m advance of Rolf Boldrewood. For evenness of quality, the race was one of the best yet seen m Ashburton. Time —3min. 41secs. , BOXING DAY HANDICAP (Harness) of 110 sovs^ second horse 10 soys, and third horse 5 soys from the stake. For horses that can do 3min or. better. One mile J/'d aquarter. Mr R. McDonnell's ,b m Emmeline, by Rothschild-^-Imperialism, 5 yrs, scr (Owner) 1 Mrs R. O. Duncan's b m Marie Narelle, by Ribbonwood-^-Van-quish, aged', ssecs (N. L. Price) 2 Mr W. Hay's b g Hue Elect, by Electioneer —Hue Daphne, aged 7secs • (J. Messervey) 3 Silver Black Ssecs, ■ Rosebery 6secs, The Needle Bsecs* IJ.urbar 6sep's, A_donis 7secs, Wallace' Juhr. 7secs, Princess Mento 7secs, Scottish Mac 7secs, Maelstrom Ssecs, and Dayspring 9secs also started. Maelstrom, Marie Narelle, and Hue Elect -were m the front till the straight was reached. - Whfeia: bearing the post, Emmeline, the scratch horse, who had been going Vtrong, passed rapidly, through the field to the front, and won a_ splendid race 'by four lengths, Marie Narelle being about two lengths m advance of Hue Elect. Time—2min. 51 3-sth sec. • FINAL HANDICAP (Harness), of 65 soys, second horse 7 soys, and third horse 3 so^s-from the stake. For horses that' 1 can do 2.35 or 1 better. One niile. " ; Mr J. McDonnell's blk f Empress j Eugenic, by Prince Imperial, 2 , yrs, 2secs (R. McDonnell) 1 Mrs G. White's blk m Maid of the Forest, by Wildwood —Amelia, syrs, ssecs (R. Allen) 1 2 Mr H. F. Nicoll's blk- g, Black Pride, by Proud Child—Wildwood mare, 6yrs, Tse'cs (A. Pringle) 3 Lady Raltoo 7secs, Merry May 7secs, and Provocation 7secs, also started. For over half-a-mile Black Pride was leading, with Empress Eugenic se'eond. Before coming into the. straight, Empress Eugenic caught Black Pride, and these two were about twenty lengths m front of the rest of the field. Then Empress^ Eugenic kept on ; increasing her lead, and won easily by six lengths, a similar distance separating Maid pi the Forest from Black Pride, who fell into third place coming up the straight. Time —2min. 2 4-sth sees.