TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 156, 5 July 1927, Page 9

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES. (By ORION.) FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. July 21—Waimate Hunt Club. - July 23—South Canterbury Hunt Club. AUgU Club e, 10> 12 - Metr °P°li'aa Trottlnfe , Mr G. Whitty, M.L.C., has been elected president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club. The "Western Mail" of June IS states: it would be quite safe to style Granite, who won the Coolgardie Handicap on Saturday night, as the most consistent performer of the 1926-1927 racing period The 11-year-old son of Rock Huon and Bees has sported silk at each of the 38 meetings held this season, for four wins, 11 seconds, and 4 thirds. Apparently he is also well named, seeing that he has stood up to so much racing." Dean Dillon is credited with having put up a very fine performance when he won the- Wiluna Handicap in Western Australia on June 11. The track was heavy, and Dean Dillon won from 85yds behind at a 2.23 gait. Don Abbey was favourite, but was never dangerous up to the time that Antarctica put a foot through the wheel of his sulky. Antarctica cut her fetlock as a result, but the injury was not of a serious nature. AUTO MACHINE AGAIN. Backers were seriously interested in three runners in the Kpping Handicap a week ago, the trio being Stoney, Auto Machine, and Breakwood. Auto Machine won, but it required a sterling efYort to do so. Real Silk was first into the straight, but under pressure "broke," and, swerving slightly, appeared to interfere with Breakwood. Auto Machine then got clear, and, with a characteristic finish, won by a length from Breakwood, with the outsider, Kenwyn, third. Delavan'e Quest, Stoney, and Some Rock

followed in that order. The interference was inquired into by the stewards, but no 'action was taken.

NIGHT TROTTING. A conference, representing the trotting bodies in Newcastle, Cessnock, and Maitland, was held recently to discuss matters in connection with the opening of night trotting meetings in those districts. The chairman, Mr. J. Enright, said that they had not received permission to trot at night, although he had heard from a certain source that it would be granted. Before anything was done in regard to fixing the dates of meetings for the three districts it was decided that delegates should be appointed to interview the authorities to ascertain whether it was possible to conduct night trotting. TROTTING CHIEF. In the last 14 years Mr. James Barnes has been prominent in the Sydney shows and various sporting bodies in the metropolis. He hae large commercial and grazing interests, and gets recreation by witnessing racing and trotting. The latter is more interesting to him, and he is generally found at Epping fixtures, says the Melbourne "Globe." In 1914 he succeeded the late Mr. James Moriarty as president of the New South Wale* Trotting Glub (nonproprietary), and has held the position since. It was through the influence of Mr. Moriarty that he joined the club, just after trotting was at a low ebb, and its supporters were scoffed at by sportsmen. When Mr. Moriarty died Mr. Barnes was elected unopposed as president, and has held the office longer than any other president. In 1913 Mr. Barnes was elected a member of the council of the Royal Agricul-

tural Society of New South Wales, and was appointed a vice-president. He is on the society's horse section committee, member of the Appeal Board, and for more than 12 years has been a supervisor of the Australian Stud Book for Trotters, published by the Royal Agricultural Society. For many years he. has been a horse steward—thoroughbreds and trotters' section. Mr. Barnes has for some years been chairman of Tattersall's Club, which has raised large sums for charities, and will shortly occupy its new quarters in Castlereagh Street. He is a member of the Australian Jockey Club and lias interests in the Kensington Racing Club. For some time, a few seasons back, he raced a galloper. An evidence of the business acumen of Mr. Barnes and his co-workers is furnished in the fact that the N.S.W.T.C. has assets worth at least £70,000. Its greatest problem is State taxation. A FINE PERFORMANCE. One of the most meritorious performances on a Sydney trotting track for a long time was, registered by Native Prince, in winning the first division of the Tramway Handicap at Epping on June 23, says the "Daily Telegraph." Starting a hot favourite Native Prince was hampered in the first furlong by some of the back-markers breaking in front of him, and loefore the field turned into the straight the bookmakers were calling "evens Native Prince." However, his driver, Rokkjer, soon had "the Prince" nicely in his stride, and he commenced to make up his leeway in good style. But further trouble was to follow. Soon after leaving the straight, with two laps to go, Satin Bird fell. Glen Idyll, Bandolier and Globe Wilkes, who were immediately behind, were forced to pull up, but Native Prince, though he lost many lengths, managed to avoid a collision, and pursued the field. Settling down to his task in great style, the eon of Native King again quickly reduced ■ the gap separating him from the leaders. However, as the field passed the stand for the final lap, his chance was apparently hopeless. He was many lengths behind horses who had enjoyed a clear run throughout. It was in this Inst lop that Native Pririce proved himself a super-horse. Responding to the urgings of his driver with magnificent courage, he passed his opponents as though they were hobbled, and, to the profound surprise of even his most ardent admirers, reached the front ere the straight was entered. On the run home, with the race in hai;il, Xativc Prince was enthusiastically applauded by the onlookers. It was indeed a gallant effort. The stewards reported that Satin Bird fell through faltering in her hopples, and Glen Idyll, Bandolier, and Globe Wilkes, being too close to avoid a collision, were pulled up. In the opinion of the stewards the mishap was quito accidental.