AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUBS SPRING MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 259, 1 November 1893, Page 3

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUBS SPRING MEETING.

THE NEW TRACK AT POTTER'S

PADDOCK,

Next Saturday the first trotting and pony meeting of the season takes place at Potter' 8 Paddock, tho Auckland Trotting Club holding their Spring MeetiDg. Since last season a complete new track has been laid down at a cost of £450. In company with several members of the Trotting Club Committee and Mr C. F. Mark (Secretary), I was driven out to Potter's Paddock on Monday afternoon for the purpose of looking ovor the new track and the many improvements effected to tho course and surroundings generally. The party walked round the new track, and I must state at once that a splendid job has been made of it. The whole of tho track has been filled up, excavated, and levelled whore required, the grade being very slight. The dangerous turn out of the straight before reaching the entrance gate has been fully remedied by being raised fully 4ft, besides being otherwise improved, and is now all that could be desired. There is also a splendid back stretch, along which horses can got a clear run, while tho turn into the straight and the run home have been converted into just what was required. The whole of the circumference of the track has been enclosed with a substantial railing, the required parts on both sides being enclosed. I have visited tho leading trotting tracks of Sydney and Melbourne and also Christchurch and Dunedin, and I may state that there is not one of them equal to that at Potter's Paddock. It is surprising, how quickly the track has bound together, and tbe work reflects credib on all concerned. I may State that tho wholo track has been newly turfed, manured, and sown With gras3 and clover, and with a good rolling this week it will be in capital order for Saturday's mooting. By tho time the Summer Meeting comes round, I shall expect some fast times to bo made on ib. The saddling enclosure has likewise beon enlarged, while tho grandstand has not been overlooked, having* been thoroughly renovated and repainted. On the whole the new track, and the other improvements effected, should considerably enhance the attendance at tho A.T.C. meetings during the season, and add generally to the popularity of Potter's Paddock. Ib is some six months since we have seen any trotting, and it may interest my readers to know how some of our trotters are going on. Of course, pride of place must be given to thab sterling performer Yum Yum, who trotted so brilliantly and consistently all lasb season. Sho is looking just now in blooming condition, and from what I hear of her track form I think there is every probability of her cutting tip some of our beab New Zealand records before long. Rrtrus., that warrior in the Sulky, is, fam informed, not so sound as he might be, though he has had a twelve months' spoil and a severe course of blister?. Edwards has been afraid to give him much work, with the result thab he is nob in condition to sbarb ab this meeting-. Ho will probably be seen out at Christmas, and if ho is in anybhing liko his old form, ho will be able to show us something better on the new track than we have yet seen him do, as tho improvements will be in favour of fast times being made in the sulky. The old chestnut Mounb is one Of the most improved horses hero since bo gobinbo his new owner's hand 3, and will, I believe, very nearly win a race ab this meeting; ho will in any case repay watching, and if he does nob jusb now ho will in the near future. From Otahuhu good accounts como to hand of Little Ben. Tho Cup winner of '93 is in greab buckle, and when we think of the performance thab ho pub up in thab race, running his bhreo miles in Bmin 36aec, in the mud, he in worbhy of respect in any position of a long distance race. Charlie is , now in M. Edwards' hands, and I havo no doubb thab skilful young horseman will take every onnco oub of him, bhough from what I have heard from time to time the chestnut is none too honest when the Bilk to up. Bert Edwards has rather a small String jusb now, and I think only bwo engaged in this meeting. They are Black Oats and Fibre. Black Oats is a good Hbtle one, bub 1 am afraid the task seb her ja rather sbill, as she will need to be dressed >n her very besb to have any show, even against past records, without making any Allowance for improvement in tho others. fibre wenb wrong somo time ago, and •WU continues very lame and dotty, in foot, Ido nob think sho will ever be righb Again. E, G. Sandall holds a vory strong hand this season, ancl will furnish several dinners for tho spring meeting, or I am 'cry much mistaken. He haa Schoolgirl, *he Broker, Dinah, and Tom Hickß in regular work. Schoolgirl is a real useful ta*io that has nob shown any form since •he ran third in the Electric lasb Christmas *° Yum Yum. Ido not think she will be Hon to advantage this meeting, as I underMlnd she haa nob been doing much work.

The Broker is a much imoroved horse, and I hear his party are very confident that they can win the Maiden wibh him. He has been doing good work for some months now, and will surprise his detractors before long. Dinah moves beautifully, and like bhe obhers of Sandall's team is rapidly improving. She will give the Spring Trob or Harness a very severe shaking. Tom Hicks i 3 an unbried ono yet in public; bub, being by a thoroughbred horse, Muskapeer, oub of bhe Waikabo mare Maud—a good performer on bhe track—he should turn oub somebhing pretty good. Ike ia trained in Taranaki, so we do not know much aboub him, bub he is a consisbenb littlo fellow when he is well. Rosebud, the Sydney mare, has a bad cold, and will nob starb at the meeting. She is a good one, however, when she does start. Trubshaw has Hurricane and Sparrowhawk in work, and one or two new ones ; but as he brains ab Kohimaramara, there is not much known of his horses. Taken altogether, the class of horses engaged at the meeting is very much improved, and augurs well for the success of trotting in this districb this season.