AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 297, 22 December 1897, Page 3

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB'S SUMMER MEETING.

The Summer Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club commences on Friday next, and judging from the number of acceptances and entries received there is every indication that this will be the best and most interesting meeting this Club has yet held, The Pony Cup has a splendid field of the very best ponies engaged, and I must congratulate Mr Knight on his success in concealing the winner. Those I like best on last season's form are Xorina, Bit o' Fashion, New Boy, Lady Howitzer and Silkworm, and on paper it is very diflicult to separate these. If, however, I had to give a selection my vote would go to Korina, with Bit' o' Fashion next best. The piece de resistance of the first day's

bill is the Epsom Trot of lOOsovs. On all sides I hear trotting owners express their satisfaction at the shortness of the limits in all of the races, and more particularly in this, one of the principal races of the meeting. Mr Knight appears to have produced a very creditable piece of work in this race. The scratch horse Duke C. must have an excellent chance, and Cleveland, who hails from Palmerstou North, recently showed by winning, from scratch in Wellington that he is a fast horse. Lusitania, a mare that has trotted here before and who is a great public favourite, has been left with a chance second to none if in form. La Rue if he would trot as he has done in Chvistchurch would have a show, but his performance last autumn seem to indicate that his stud duties had spoiled him for the race track. lngar we have nob yet seen do much in harness, but if he is as good as in saddle he is not out of it. Golden King and Tiptop are comparatively unknown calamities, but both of them, if class enough to enter in a race of this description, have only to trot fairly to win. The first race on Friday is timed to start at 12.45 o'clock, and the Tramway Company have made all arrangements to carry passengers to the ground without delay or crushing. To-morrow T will give my selections for the various events of the first day. The second day of the meeting is fixed for Tuesday next", 28th December. Handicaps appear on Saturday morning next, and acceptances fall due on Monday (Boxing Night) by 10 o'clock.