WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 15

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

W. J. Tomkinson (has again taken in hand a three-year-old gelding by Great Audubon from Norah McKinney, purchased from Dr. Guy Haskins some months ago.

Tiie American trotting authorities have now awakened, to tiie fact that stern measures are necessary to deal with drivers who seek to delay the start by scoring in front of the pole horse or refusing to obey the starter's instructions. At the Lexington meeting, held, in October, several drivers disobeyed the starter and looked like making a farce of the whole aflair. The officials on this occasion backed up the starter and several well-known reinsmen found, themselves without a drive, having been replaced by emergency horsemen. For failing to maintain a reasonable speed in the Free-for-All, won by Winnipeg in 2.12 i, -the four drivers engaged were called before the officials and fined 200 dollars each for their "dawdling tactics."

Up to the present only two of the stock of Travis Axworthy have raced, in Dilworth and Belle Axworthy, both bred by Mr. E. X. Lelievre, and both <r o od winners. Dilworth, with a two-mile record of 4.2G against her name, has won £1839, having won seven races, besides being second six times, and third once. Belle Axworthy's success in the Stewards' Handicap of a mile and a half in 3.25 3-5, at Otahuhu, marked her third win in nine starts, besides which she had run a couple of seconds. Belle Bingen, the dam of Belle Axworthy, was wot°in America, but foaled in New Zealand, and she is by Bingen from Bertha Belle, a noted producer. With Dilworth and Belle Axworthy to represent him, Travis Axworthy ihas already earned a bi o, reputation as a sire. He is a beautifully-bred stallion, and when his owner elects to retire him to the stud, a full list will be assured.

Diana Wood, the winner of the Melbourne Thousand this month, has had a rapid rise to fame, and rather an interesting history, writes J. S. Walford in the "Trotting Record." In March, 19—.8, she succeeded in winning a Novice and Trades at Richmond off the limit mark of 2.38 at a rate of 2.30 unhoppled, and was then hailed as a coming champion. At a meeting early that year she was an entrant at a country fixture, and "unofficially" there became in foal. As a breeding proposition Diana Wood was not desired, and the result of the unavoidable mating with Surprise Journey was placed with a foster-mother. Diana Wood 'had foaled on New Year's Eve, and on February 23 won a race at a 2.28 rate for ten furlongs at Elmore from a good-sized field. Her next victory was in Bendigo on May 16 last, when she recorded a rate of 2.21 1-5 over a similar distance. From then on this mare was regarded as a prospective £1000 winner, and as events have proved the stable's faith in the six-year-old daughter of Admiral Wood and Diana had been well founded. The only thing militating against the mare's chances was the fact of not having a race beforehand, but the mare's reputation as being thoroughly dependable happily dispelled any doubt in thi3 direction.

If form at the last meeting held at Addington is to be taken into account, 'Dolores, on her mile and a half performances, is very well in the Dominion Handicap on the opening day at Forbury Park, and as she was running on well at the end of her races it seems that she is a better stayer than many she will have to meet over the longer distance, says the Dunedin writer "Sentinel." Audobell, a reputed nonstayer, supplies a in point. On the opening day at Addington Audobell was set to give Dolores 12 yards. Dolores won, Audobell was not placed. On the second and third days Dolores gave Audobell 12 yards and beat him each time, yet at Forbury Park Audobell has to give Dolores 12 yards. Lenwood and Dolores started off the same mark at Addington on the opening day, both off the limit, and on the second and third days the former was receiving 24 yards, Lenwood ran second on the third day, yet- now is asked to give Dolores 12 yards. On the third day of the Addington meeting Bingen Starr was set to give Dolores 24 yards. Bingen Starr was unplaced, Dolores finished third. Now Bingen Starr is asked to give the other 48 yards. There has been a lot of dissatisfaction amongst owners and trainers concerning the Forbury Park handicaps, and, though there is nothing official to hand, it is stated that the matter may be considered by a higher authority.

St. Maura, a very fast mare, but rather unreliable in many of her later races, has been retired to the stud, and is to be mated with Rey de Oro.

C. S. Donald with 12 winners to 'his credit heads the list of winning trainers in New Zealand, and he i 3 followed by R. B. Berry and F. G. Holmes, each with eight wins, and W. Hughes with seven wins. In the winning drivers' list Donald also leads, with nine winners, Holmes and Berry each having eight to their credit.

The Perth racecourse is to be utilised for the first time on the night of December 14. That will be the last meeting prior to the commencement of the Christmas Carnival on December 26. The place is elaborate in its appointments and the general lay-out, and in the enclosures bordering a brilliantly lit race track makes the scene very Oriental looking and particularly attractive. The grassed slopes round the track will give a clear view to every spectator of the whole track, and they will carry about 20,000 people. The portion of the grandstand that 'has been completed will seat 1000. There are pagodas in the saddling paddock, and refreshment bars adjacent to the totalisator and the stands. Though the new racecourse will have been utilised for the coming Christmas carnival meetings the grand opening of Perth's latest trotting rendezvous will not take place until early in March.