THE LIGHT HARNESS SPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 12

THE LIGHT HARNESS SPORT.

(By GRTOX.)

FIXTURES, SEASON 1924-2 S. March 6.—MarlDorough T.C. March 7.—Walkato T.C. March 13.—Kalkoura T.C. March l-i.—Tirnaru T.C. March 17.—Wyndham T.C. March 10, 21.—New Brighton T.C. April 3.—Manawatu T.C. April 4.—Thames T.C. April 11, 13.— Ti.Z. Metropolitan T.C. April 11, 13.—Poverty Bay T.C. April 13.—Hawera T.C. April 18.—Methven T.C. April 23.—EUesmere C.T.C. May 2, 6.—Auckland T.C. May 7, 9.—Forbury Park T.C. June 3, C.—Canterbury Park T.C. June 13.—Asbburton T.C. Indications are that the Walkato Trottlns Club's meeting: to be held on. Saturday win be very successful and no: only are the acceptances received such as to guarantee solid fields, but the horses engaged include some of the best performers in Auckland. Hamilton Is within easy distance or Auckland, and with trotting? booming: in, the Walkato, a season or two should see big stakes offered.

The owner of Cute. Lad must be well on the wrong side of the ledger over his purchase. The- gelding: claims a couple or eng-ag-emejnts at Hamilton on Saturday, ana will, .want all the luck going to win. His best chance may be in the Fergusson Handicap. ;

Nelson McCdrmack has ■ been showinggood form of late and he is bound to-be well supported l on Saturday.

Nobody would begrudge the parties connected with Aiidex their win with the bay mare at Otahufiu. While a long way from a champion she is a useful trotter, but with good young- trotters continually being unearthed there Is not much chance of the back markers In the maiden trotters' races getting- the money.

The owner of Man-o-'War gave it out a couple or months agx> that he intended to retire the black son of Perl Huon from the race tracks. From the mark he is nowhandicapped on it looks like wastingmoney g-oing- -on with this good horse. That is the one-bad. Teatare or trotting— the champions do no.t miicb/ money.

With Grey Peter and Ruby Huon engaged in the Dominion Handicap at Hamilton on Saturday the Messrs. Newdick Bros, have a good chance or adding- to their bankingaccount. Grey Peter is particularly well at present, and but for bad luck in colliding with another competitor might have won on the second day of the otahunu meeting.

Anlzoram Is back once more with W. Orang-e. and will be a starter at Hamilton. Early in the season the bay g-elding was in J. T. Paul's stable, and on one occasion was backed Tor g-ood money, but though he went a good race he was just beaten out or a dividend. At the recent Otahuhu meeting he railed in his two starts, thoug-h he shaped fairly well on the opening- day. and with a much weaker Held to meet on Saturday he may be worth considering , .

The favourite in the big- race at Hamilton may be Hughie Wallace. The son of Hula Dillon at the Otahuhu meeting- won the Mount Albert Handicap rrom end to end, and gave nothing , a chance. Even so he went the mile and a-half In 3.28 3-5, which Is fair g-oing-.

The presence of Realm at the Waikato meeting on Saturday will add considerable interest to the fixture. Last year the club arranged with the owner or Man-o-'War Tor that ho.rse te attempt the two mile record, and "though the attempt was unsuccessful, the exhibition by Man-o-'War was appreciated. If Realm should go rig-ht ia the Fergusson Handicap on Saturday, which is more than he did at the Otahuhu meeting, those present at the Claudelands course have a treat in store for them.

Those engaged in the slow trotters' race on Saturday are by no means a good lot, and as prten happens in events or the kind there jnay be a surprise In store

Scandal won a race at the Waikato meeting in December but was afterwards raced unsuccessfully at the Auckland Cup meeting. The opposition on Saturday is not so strong- and the gelding may b" hard to beat.

Brenao -was not seen out at the recent Otabuhu fixture. He has been doing- short, sharp sprinting- work and should, be a starter at Hamilton, where he won a race at the December meeting-. TIGHTEN THE LIMITS. It is generally admitted that in' framingprogrammes,, committees of - most • trottin" clubs do not maie the limits or the events sufficiently tight, end the result is thar Instead oftUe best horses in the Dominion getting- the money, third and rourth raters have the best chances. The whole trouWe appears to be that committees cut down the limit at one end only, instead of'flxlnga limit at both ends. If proof were required of this, one has only to review the results at every trotting- meeting- and the conviction is forced upon one that more attention must be paid to shortening the limits tr the best Horses are to remain in the game. It is absurd to think that with snort limits, owners of moderate Horses would complain and nominations would be considerably reduced, because in the Free-Tor-All at the Otahuhu meeting- five owners summed up the position in such a way tliat .they, save-their -horses., a 'Chance. The winner turned up in Logan Chief with Onyx second, Hut it is safe to say'inai.

had the same horses started In a mile and a-quarter handicap neither Logan Chier nor Onyx would have figured on the back mark, so Tar tBTs season both the Auckland and Otahnhu: Clubs have each held two meeting-s, or all told nine days , racing at Alexandra Park. In. advocating- the shortening- or the limits at both ends it is always necessary to have something , ' to support such advocacy and in going throug-h the list of winners at the Auckland and' Otahuhu Clubs' spring- and summer meetings I ilnd a very interesting- position, and one which should be interesting- not only to owners, but to backers also. During the nine days' racing- 70 handicap events and two classics (Derby and Free-For-All) were decided, and as this article deals with the question or shortening- the limits I shall conMne myself to the handicap events, backers will be interested to note rrom the table (riven below that the odds are only a shade over evens asrainst a winner being- on the limit, C to 1 off 12yds, 8 to I off 54yds, 13 to 1 off 36vds. 1 1 to 1 Off 48yds, over 30 to I off 60yds. 13 to 1 off 7 .'yds. and 70 to I off Biyds. These figures are only approximate, but they are sufficiently near enough to show that those who back limit horses have a lot in their favour. It should also be noted that only one horse handicapped at 84yds has won at Alexandra Park this season, while no horse has succeeded from further toai-k. The following- table shows the marks from which the winners have started: — AUCKLAND T. C. SPRING. First Day. Yds Yds Yds Yd 3 Yds Yds Yds Limit 13 2 1 35 48 00 72 84 3 1 i 1 1 0 0 0 Second Day. I 4 2001010 OTAHUIIC T. C. SPRING. First Day. 4 10 1110 0 Second Day. 3 3 10 0 0 10 AUCKLAND T.C. SUMMER. First Day. 5 Olio , 000 Second Day. 3 0 112 0 10 Third Day. 3 110 10 11 OTAHUHU T. C. SUMMER. First Day. 5 2 10 0 0 0 0 iucontl Day. 1 2 1 l v 1 1 0 Totals: 31 12 8 5 6 2 5 1 NOTES FROM CANTERBURY. (.Cy 'Iclegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The usual unwieldy licido are in cvim tne acceptances for the two at the bauas Peninsula meeting on Saturday. The winner of tne Wairewa Handicap i'rot appears likely to come I rum tile front maiK division, and at.present Winter Auduoon and Succession seem lo Have most friends. Hustler should go well ln tile Waihora Park Handicap Trot, tnough the siraight trotter Our Lady will act uetter tnan most of them on a grass Hack.

v. N. Clarke lert Tor the Norm to-night wirii tlie American siahion Guy Parish. Tliia slylisn trotter win make His Ilrst puDIIc appearance in the Dominion at the meeting , tills \veek at Blenheim.

Locanda Queen, which is now worklny at oamaru, is doinj most of her exercise in saddle, and she is thriving: on it. The lirent Locanda mare is considered a bit above the ordinary, and only has to settle uown to win good races.

Brentloc, the winner or the last Southland Juvenile Stakes, is looking very well at present, and will have plenty of followers for engagements immediately aliead.

Tiny Moon has rejoined G. F. Robinson - 3 team, after a short spell.

Halswell Park has been returned to his owner J. H. Wilson, and the three-year-old will probably be spelled till next season.

Proud Ata is a certain starter at Tlmaru. This nne Trotter is workingreally well, and will not pay another false price if 'successful at the Southern fixture.

Lord Lytton was brought across from the West Coast last week, and is now a member or J. N. Clarke's team at IS'ew Brighton. The three-year-old pacer Kulnlne, by Logran Pointer, has had a change or quarters, ana Is now trained by X c. Price.

A. Fleming-'a team Is leaving- Tor Blenheim to-night, and comprises Mefjala. Dorry Thorpe, Molly Audubon. and Maori Peter. Any and all of them may take a hand in providing , the expenses or the tour.

D. Withers recently had two additfons to his team, one a black mare by Brent Locanda. which will race as HIR-hniffht, and the other a g-elding: by Lo?an Pointer.