TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 11

TROTTING.

ON THE COAST. BIG DAY AT THE GREY. CARDINAL LOGAN SCORES. EIGHT N.Z. CUP HORSES IN CHIEF EVENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Saturday. The Greymouth Trotting Club's spring meeting was opened to-day in fine weather. The track was in good order, and the attendance was fair. The totalisator handled £10,764, compared with £14,011 on the first day last year. After the Eoyal Oak Handicap, E. J. Smith, driver of Nancy Bingen, lodged a protest against Repute, the winner, for alleged galloping at the end of the race. The judicial committee, after taking evidence, decided to dismiss the protest. Smith lodged an appeal against the decision and the totalisator investments were impounded. The judicial committee also considered the showing of Repute in the Petrie Handicap as compared with that in the Royal Oak, and after hearing the explanation of H. Frost, the driver, decided to take no action. Results were:— INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP of 120sovs. Twelve furlonss and a-half. (No limit). 2 —DILWORTH, ch m (Mr. T. B. Louisson), limit —Birkett 1 4—ARIKITOA, limit—Edle 2 6—JACKIE LOGAN, 24yds—Gaskill . 3 Also started: (12) Myrtle Dillon, (1) Du Maurier, (6) Allona, (13) Proud Pointer, (9) Black Locanda, (3) Pedro, (11) Beau Sabreur, (10) Lady Author, (7) Kanieri, limit; (7) Dillon Chimes, 12yds; (8) Lady Bee, 72yds. Won by three lengths, ■with a head between second and third. Time, 3.46 2-5. PETRIE HANDICAP of 120sovs. Twelve furlongs and a-half. (Limit, 2.33). S—KEREATA, b m, (Mr. O'Connor), limit—Owner 1 S—NELSON PARRISH, limit—Birkett 2 2—NANCY BINGEN, 12yds—E. J. Smith 3 Also started: (19) Huon Bell, (1) Scuttle, (20) Sandy Wilkes, (6) Merrljigs, (14) Royal Review, (18) Chancellor Boy, (7) Todd Bingen, (9) Bramdean, (11) Ockley Wood and Royal Audubon (coupled), (11) Brent Boy, (4) Eva Reta, (8) Comfort, (12) Accumulator, (13) Greywood, (10) Kitty Patch, (15) Connie Audubon, (16) Repute.

Won by a length, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 3.59 3-5.

MAWHERA HANDICAP of 235sovs. Twelve furlongs and a-half. (Limit, 2.24). 2—HACKTHORNE (Mr. N. Burgess), 12yd&—Hooper ..... 1 6—SMITHFIELD (Mr. L, P. Birkett), limit—Owner 2 7—THORPIE (Mr. V. Alborn), limit —Owner 3 Also started: (9) Audience, (10) Beverley Audubon, (7) Bessie Dillon, (12) Bingenwood, (3) Rose Logan, (14) Wastewood. (1) Lough Neagh. limit; (9) Bingen Patch, 12yds; (S) Royal Authoress, 24yds; (11) Beeky Mine, 36yds: (4) Travis Axworthy, 48yds; (3) Real Light, 60yds. Won by a length, five lengths separating second and third. Time, 3.46.

BLAKETOWN HANDICAP of 125sovs. Ten furlongs and a-half. (Limit, 2.28). 4—DILWORTH (Mr. T. B. Louisson), 48yds—Birkett 1 I—LOGAN PRINCESS, 12yds — Withpr«i o 9—ECSTASY, 12yds—Owner"I!!".!! I 3 Also started: (13) Meritor, (14) Myrtle Dillon, (5) Bonnie Locanda, (8) Waipukl, (2) Du Maurier, (10) Bingen Wilkes, (11) Little Author, (3) Olatrice, (6) Val Logan, (12) Harina, (7) Prince Chimes, (15) Sedmere. Won by four lengths. Time, 3.11 1-5. ROYAL OAK HANDICAP of 140sovs. Fourteen and a-half furlongs. (Limit, 2.28). 6—REPUTE, ch f (Mr. H. Frost), 36yds—Owner 1 2—NANCY BINGEN, limit—Smith .. 2 S—SILURIAN, 24yds—Owner ....... 3 Also started: (8) Todd Bingen, (4) Scuttle, (11) Grey wood, (7) Comfort, (10) Bramdean, (9) Connie Audubon, limit; (1) Golden Spray, (3) Trampcrisp. Won by a neck, with four lengths between second and third. Time, 4.36 2-5.

GREXMOUTH HANDICAP of 300sovs. Twelve furlongs and'a-half. (Limit, 2.14) J.—CARDINAL LOGAN (Mr. A. Hend-

ricksen), 6yds—Owner 1 3—GREAT BINGEN (Mr. J. R. McKenzie), 42yds—Withers 2 4—AHURIRI, (Mr. R. M. Morton), 30yds—J. Bryce .. 3 Also started: (5) Talaro, (6) Audacious, (7) Quality, (10) Golden Devon, (9) Loganwood, (5) Bonnie Logan (coupled with Talaro), (2) Peter Bingen, (8) Waitaki Girl, (4) Imprint (coupled with Ahuriri).

Turning into the straight Cardinal Logan took the lead, while Ahuriri and then Great Bingen came through and challenged the leader, who, however, went on to win com fortably by two lengths from Great Bingen, who was half a length ahead of Ahuriri. Time, 3.37 1-5.

DIGGERS' HANDICAP (saddle) of 120sovs. Eight furlongs and a-half. (Limit, 2.26). 12—HARINA (Mr. C. Chanley), limit —Phelan 1 I—GOLDEN DAWN (Mr. M. B. Edwards) 2 3 —GREAT ABDALLAH, limit—Comerford 3 Also started: (15) Waipuki, (4) Arikitoa (9) Spotlight, (5) Reta Nelson, (14) Alexis, (8) Ecstasy, (10) Roger Lyon, limit; (1) Tommy Dillon, 24yds (coupled with Golden Dawn), (7) Bingen Wilkes limit and Lady Bee, 24yds (coupled) ; (13) Master Don, (2) Red Comet, (17) Guide Rangi, (11) Reta Gay, (8) Pet Locanda, 12yds; (18) Wastewood, (16) Author Minto, 24yds, (C) Avon wood. Won by three lengths. Time, 2.31 4-5. AVIATION HANDICAP. Eight furlongs and a-half. (Limit, 2.22). MURIEL DE ORO, 12yds—P. G. Holmes 1 HIGH JINKS, 48yds—M. Holmes 2 ROYAL AUTHORESS. 12yds —F. Holmes 3 Also started: Audience, Dillon Pride June de Oro, Direct Wave, * Becky Mine, Springtime, Nipper, Real Light. Won by one length. Time, 2.29 2-5.

CATERING FOR NOVICES.

The small fields v/hich characterised the Auckland Trotting, dub's meeting this week, and the poor acceptances for the Northland meeting on Monday may not really mean anything, but on the other hand may mean a lot, and it is

clear that without strong support from outside horses, any meetings to be held in the Auckland province are not going to attract the solid nominations which a few months back might have been expected.

The two clubs that will suffer the most are the Auckland and Otahuhu Clubs, because horses must have either a qualifying race record or give away much time to compete. Except that the Northland meeting will be held on Monday next, and the Waikato meeting (one day) on December 8, there are no opportunities for owners of novices or improving horses to qualify for Alexandra Park, because the big fixtures, with the exceptipn of the winter meeting are over before the remaining country meetings are held. This is not encouraging owners to prepare young horses, and recognising this, the number of two yearolds being educated and in work locally could be counted on the fingers of two hands. And if the young ones are not bothered with, then it naturally follows that in a year or two the big meetings, where tight classes are the order, will find there is a scarcity of nominations.

There is hardly an owner in Auckland to-day who would go to the trouble and expense of preparing a two-year-old, because he knows that the odds are overwhelmingly against him ever being able to get his outlay back. The paddocks are full of well-bred yearlings and two-year-olds, and there is every chance of them remaining there for a long time. They are simply broken in, handled, and after a month or two put back in the paddock. And for the simple reason that little or no encouragement is offered. Certainly the Auckland Trotting Club stages a very good race, and solid stake, in the Great Northern Derby, but that is only one race, and in any other race a three-year-old is asked to meet on equal terms horses older and more experienced.

-It is no use beating about the bush and painting a glowing picture when it is not justified, and the plain fact which must be recognised is that at the present time in Auckland there are not sufficient horses to enable the Auckland Trotting Club to stage a decent meeting. Cut the South Island horses out and there would be two starters in the Cup at Christmas, the fast sprints would be fully taxed to produce a two-dividend field, and in the Rowe Handicap and other fast trots it is doubtful whether there would be enough starters to pay two dividends. Seeing • that the prize money given by the Auckland and Otahuhu Clubs is substantial, the position mentioned above should not exist. Trotting has boomed for the past ten years or so, but the classes were not nearly so tight then and there was considerably more inducement for owners to prepare young horses than there is today. It is not suggested that any particular club is responsible for the position, but it would seem that the time has arrived when there should be a conference of all parties interested.