TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 1 February 1926, Page 10

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. February 12—Poverty Bay T roMl, iS 9tlne February 18 —N.Z. Metropolitan 1 rotting February 19—Kalkoura Trotting Club. February 19. a≥—Wanganul Trottlnß uud. February so. 24—Otatiuhu Trotting: c.iud. February 2C—Marlborough Trotting Uud. February i>7—Taranaki Trotting Club. Marcb o—Waikato Trotting Club. March io—Manawatu Trotting CluD. March 13—JVorthland Trotting , Clun. March 13—Timaru Trotting Club. March 17—Wyndliam Trotting Club. March 18, no —l\ew Brighton Trotting Club. March SO—Thames Trotting Club. March 27—Wellington Trotting Club. April 3. 7—IV Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club. April 3, s—Hawera Trotting Club. April 17—Eliesmere Trotting Club. April 17—Cambridge Trotting Club. April 22-—Walmate Trotting- Club. April 24—Ashburton Trotting: Clulv May 6, B—Forbury Park Trotting Club. May 22 —Oamaru Trotting Club June 3, s—Canterbury Park Trotting Clufc. June 12—AsbSurton Trotting Clut. June 19, 23—Auckland Trotting Clu3. According to southern writers, Nelson Derby had every chance in the Dunedin Cup, but when asked to go up to the leaders, he could not respond, and was well beaten two furlongs from home. Black Admiral, the winner of the Dunedin Cup, was got by Brent Locanda from Queen's Drive, by General Pct — Harold's Rest', by King Harold—Polly, by Robin Hood—Quicksilver mare. The performance Cf Napland in the ■Crescent Handicap, at Forbury Park on .Saturday entitles him to be recognised as the best square-gaited trotter in the Dominion to-day. The son of Petereta — Dreamland gave away starts up to 108 yards, and won by a length in the fast time of 4.32 *-5. The Shrew, which won the Hawke's Bay Cup on Saturday, is a chestnut mare, by Hal Zolock—Ngaraima. Last season she won the Stewards' Handicap at the Manawatu meeting, and in her three other starts during the season, ran two thirds and a second. It will thus be seen that she raced consistently, being in the money each time. Auckland horses fared badly at the Hawke's Bay meeting on Saturday, and they failed to secure a stake. Toll Chimes actually finished in front in the Farewell Handicap, but at an inquiry held after the race, the Judicial Committee decided that Toll Chimes had started before his proper time, and he was therefore ruled out of a place. Although J. Bryce has won practically all the important events in the light harness sport, some of them many times, it was not till Saturday that he claimed the winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stakes. The filly to win for him was Katute, by Nelson Bingen —Muricata, and the three-year-old is therefore a half-sister to the New Zealand Cup winner, Ahuriri.

Katute's win in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes was well anticipated after the filly's showing in the opening event on. the first day. In this race, she went away badly and lost many lengths, •but when she did settle down, siie trotted in fine style, and finished fifth. In the Trotting Stakes the field would be despatched to a moving start, and this would be in her favour.

At different times Mr. W. F. Dunne's starting at Forbury Park has not won appreciation, and some of his despatches on the opening day created some unfavourable comment, cays a writer in the Otago "Daily Times," Countryman was side on in the Dunedin Cup Handicap, and seemed to be so some little time before the start was actually made. This not only completely spoilt his own chance, but he also appeared to block the way of those behind him in the handicap. If Loganwood had 'been promptly ordered to the outside after he had .upset the field, the situation might have been saved. A starter has power, under the rules, to place any horse which is misbehaving and likely t<. prevent a fair start, in any position he may think proper, but so "as not to alter the handicap of such horse. With this authority, Loganwood should have been sent to the outside of the track. A fractious horse on the front line, and particularly when near the rails, might completely wreck a field, and hence they should not receive the slightest consideration beyond what they are allowed under the rules. A failure to exercise this authority is distinctly unfair to the rest of the field. Cardinal Logan was also broadside on some time before the field got away in the King George Handicap. Thia 'is a statement of fact beyond dispute, and must be a particularly vexatious point to those whose money made him favourite. The stewards should certainly insist that such a notoriously fractious mare as Lady Embrace must not be allowed to start from anywhere but the extreme outside of the track. In the Flying Handicap she was third from the rails in the front row, and when lined up, began rearing and plunging, but still a start was made without her being sent to the outside The drivers behind her must have felt at least a trifle anxious whether they could clear as they broke away from the start Sho is the same in nearly every race, and should be penalised according to' the rules , or preferably be debarred from racing.