TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 19

TROTTING.

HORSES FROM AUSTRALIA

LUCRATIVE MARKET CLOSED.

IF PROPOSED PENALTIES OPERATE. "BIRDS OF PASSAGE."

'The proposal which will come before f3he Trotting Commission in July to have ■all Iborses arriving from Australia handicapped ion 2s to the mile better than their records is not appreciated in Sydney, and ±he one or two newspapers which devote space to the light-harness sport express very decided opinions on the question. They point out that there is no real reciprocity between New Zealand and Australia in the trotting sport, and that while their horses going to race in the Dominion have been handicapped on placed performances, horses from New Zealand, when taken to Sydney, are only handicapped on winning record. By unduly penalising Australian horses New Zealand has to all interests and purposes closed down on what has been a very lucrative market for Australians for many years. It is also pointed out that in its own interests the New South Wales Trotting Club will have to awake if Sydney is not to become the dumping ground for horses in the Dominion, with fast place records.

"Xo time should be lost," says one writer, "in informing New Zealand owners who may have intentions of visiting Sydney when the Thousands of Harold Park and 1 Victoria Park are coming along, that handicapping on winning times only does not apply to birds of passage from the Dominion."

Acceptances for the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club's winter meeting close to-morrow (Friday), at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr. A. G. Mabee.

At a meeting of the Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association, Mr. J. X. Clark and Mr. F. Hickinbottom reported on their visit to the special conference on handicapping recently held in Wellington. Members expressed their approval of the satisfactory issue of the conference, and thanked the delegates for their attention. A motion was unanimously carried that the association was in favour of the.system of handicapping as produced by the conference, and the members would give their utmost support to all clubs supporting it.

\ In slow-class races it is.the usual thing to expect a winner to knock seconds off the handicap, but few ever chop so much off as did. Gemlight at Ashburton: on Saturday. The Longbeach Trot was a 3.50 limit mile and a-half, and Gemlight was on the limit. Starting off in great style the Matehlight gelding was 20 lengths in front when half a mile had been covered, and he never allowed the others to get near him. From a 3.50 mark he went 3.32 3-5, nearly 20 seconds better than handicapped. .If the proposed limitation of penalties had been in force Gemlight would be on a 3.45 mark next time out. He would be a nice proposition to chase.

After the Xew Zealand Sapling Stakes had been decided at Ashburton on Saturday, there was a pleasant ceremony in the birdcage. The president, Mr. H. F. Nicoll offered his hearty congratulations to Mr. D. O'Keefe on the success of his colt, John Jinks. It gave the officials of the club great pleasure to realise that the two-year-old race -had become so popular, while it was a special source of satisfaction that it had provided such a fine . contest. Mrs. Nicoll then decorated John Jinks with the blue ribbon. Mr. in returning thanks, said he found a lot of pleasure' in winning 'the classic race with a colt he had bred himself.

fiVery fast times were registered at Ashburton on Saturday, and Gem light's 3.32 3-5 for a mile and a-half,. constitutes a record over thai distance for an unhoppled maiden- trotter. And this brings us once again to the question of handicapping, and as to whether too much notice should be taken by handicappers of times registered on this and several other courses, says a Christchurch writer. Gemlight, by winning 140sovs, goes from poor class company into good open company, and even in the mile and a-half races on the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's programme he would have to give starts to horses that had won several times that amount, if handicapped' up to his best time. Glenlake, in winning the Trial Handicap, improved 12' 2-ss, Lingfield, in the Ashburton County Handicap, went 3s better than her time, Lady Cello went from 3.32 to 3.25 2-5, Midland from 4.52 to 4.44 3-5, Great Logan from 2.40 to 2.47 3-5, and Exclusive irom 2.18 to 2.15. As racing propositions several of these horses have deteriorated a good deal in value, if time is to be the basis, and it seems that the fast times registered at Ashburton provide a very strong argument for the passing of a remit concerning handicapping that will be brought up at the meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Trotting Conference next month. One of tluTbest features of the new idea is that it limits the penalty that can be imposed on a horse for winning a race.

Diindas Boy, who is engaged at the Auckland winter meeting, has a- line record this season, and he appears to be improving all the time. He commenced the season by running three times unplaced, but at his next start lie won the Metropolitan Handicap in 4m 42 3-os. He finished second in each of his next three starts, and then won the Wainom Handicap at New Brighton in December, registering 2m 50s for ten furlong.. Three starts for a second placing were followed by two consecutive wins—one at Addington in January, when lie recorded 2m 14 2-5s for the mile, and the other at Timaru later in the montli, when he won the President's Handicap from Omaha and Author Jinks in 4m 31 3-ss. Four unplaced performances were followed by another win in the Myers Handicap at the summer meeting of the Otahuhu Club. Three more unsuccessfr.l efforts and then a, : further win in the Flying Handicap at Forbuiy last month. His win at Addington a fortnight ago in the Paparua Handicap made the seventh for the season, and sp from the point* of view of the; number of races won Dundas Boy has the b.at record of the seasor

When he finished third in the Ashburton County Handicap on Saturday, Maiwhariti Avent 4.31 4-5, and is given credit for a fine performance. He was in front with his stableinate Lingfield until a short distance from the post, when Wrackler came along and heat him for second money. Maiwhariti is engaged in the Hobson Handicap at Auckland, and is on 4.34.

At last week's meeting of the Canterbury Owners and Breeders' Association correspondence was received from the Otahuhu and Auckland Trotting Clubs in reply to a request that they substitute a jogging cart for one of their emergency sulkies, as the majority of horses now race in jogging carts. It was decided that Mr. J. Bryce should wait on the officials of the clubs at the next Auckland meeting, and point out the advantage of the different style of carts now in use.