TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 210, 5 September 1928, Page 13

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

SEASON'S FIXTURES. September B—New Brighton T.C. September 15-Welllngton Trotting Club. October 6—Methven T.C. October 13, 17—Auckland Trotting Club. October 20. 22—Greymouth T.C. October 22—Oamaru T.C. November 6, 8. 9— Metropolitan T.C. November 17, 21—Otahunu T.C. November 24—Wellington T.C. p OP w November 29. December 1— Forbury Park T.C. December I—Walkato1 —Walkato T.C. BSSSbS T.C. December 2fl?3l—Auckland Trotting Club. December 26—Ashburton T.C. _ December 26, 27—South Walrarapa T.C. December 26. 27 —Westport T.C.

When Mr. F. Thomas made such flattering handicaps for the New Brighton meeting, it would have been surprising had he not secured a fine list of acceptances. A perusal of the acceptances shows 20 in the Improvers', 31 in the Belfast, 18 in the Burwood, 11 in both the Seaview and Autumn, 13 in the Dash, 19 in the Wainoni, and 15 in the Electric.

For the New Zealand Derby Stakes, 1930, for which nominations closed on Saturday, the entries numbered 121, which constitutes a record. Auckland owners are not very strongly represented, and only a quartet from this end of the Dominion figure in the list. Mr. B. P. Edwards has two engaged, a colt by Worthy Bond—Oleda, and a filly by The Triumph—Le Meriel. Mr. J. S. Shaw has entered a filly by Worthy Bond—Florrie Bingen, while Mr. F. J. Docherty has nominated a colt by Worthy Bond—Fancy Pointer.

Although Harvest Child was beaten out of a place in the Islington Handicap on the final day of the Metropolitan he finished close to the placed worses, all of whom shattered their handicap. It will be remembered that on the middle day of the meeting Harvest Child, when the track was heavy, beat lvingscraft, the latter conceding 12yds to Mr. Lindsay's gelding. On the third day, Kingscraft, from a 4.38 mark, went 4.28 4-5, and as Harvest Child was close up, fourth, he must have gone round about 4.32. Seeing that he is on 4.38 at New Brighton in the Burwood Handicap he | must have a great chance.

Up to the end of 1927. a race meeting of the N.S. Wales Trotting Club carried £1000 prize money. The amount now distributed is £600. The two miles Epping Handicap, previously worth £340, is now £120. If, as is often the case, the handicap is divided, winners of divisions get £50, placed horses £5. During the 12 months the club has received some £10,000 for lease of the Epping course from the coursing people. If this money had been added to the prize-money given it would have enabled the club to give £1100 a meeting. The consensus of j opinion among trotting men is that there | is no justification for reduction of prizemoney. - ,

Direct Tod, who is on 2.18 in the Dash Handicap at New Brighton on Saturday, has gone a mile in better than 2.17, and, as he is a pretty good sprinter, if he is beaten whatever wins will have to improve considerably on the handicap. Sam Huon, winner of two Richmond Thousands, in form is a particularly smart pacer, and reproduced all his old brilliance when he captured the Flying Handicap at Richmond a fortnight ago. The gelding was the medium of a heavy plunge. Old Sarilla worried Sam Huon all the way by setting a fast pace, and the Siam horse just managed to defeat the veteran. A fortnight ago one of Sydney's bestknown reinsmen in Tom McGrath was fatally injured in a collision between a sulky he was driving and a motor car. Mr. McGrath was an extremely popular trainer, and he had been connected with trotting in Sydney for many years. Recently he had been successful with Beldon Boy, Little Jewel, Lilly Pronto, and Rothley Lad. On the afternoon of the day he was killed, McGrath drove Stirling Alto and Little Jewel in Taces at Epping.