TROTTING TRACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 12

TROTTING TRACK.

HAWERA MEETING.

NOMINATIONS DISAPPOINTING

TWO AUCKLAND ENTRIES,

Viewed from any angle, the entries received by the Hawera Trotting Club on Friday for the Easter meeting are disappointing. The fixture in the past has been the most popular of all gatherings in the North Island outside those of the metropolitan clubs, but this year owners have not accorded anything like the support of the (previous years.

Auckland owners have almost given the meeting a complete miss, the only entries from this province being Nella .Dillon and Lady Yvonne. It is very evident owners are not now prepared to go to itlie expense of travelling horses when the stakes are low.

The programme each day is somewhat similar, and a perusal of the entries for the first day shows only six in the Matapu Handicap, 10 in the Cup, seven in the Manaia Handicap, nine in the President's Handicap, 10 in the Eltham Handicap, 10 in the Stratford Handicap, 11 in the Normanby Handicap, and 21 in the Auroa Handicap. The entries for the Clip are: All Red, Arabond, Hilltop, Lady Yvonne, Nella Dillon, Native Hero, Nelsonian, Purser, Rangihau and Sandown. WITHOUT HOPPLES. Twenty odd years ago the leading owners and trainers in America made strenuous efforts to have the hopples done away with completely, but the half-mile track proprietors and trainers proved too strong, and the attempt fell through. A peep into American trotting history may disabuse the minds of the hard and fast adherents of the hopples who reckon there would be no racing but for the straps. Little Brown Jug was foaled in 1875, and in 1881 put up his record of 2.11%, a marvellous performance in those days. Johnson paced a mile in 1884 in V.GVi, not alone before the advent of the hopples, but before the bicycle sulky came along. In 1897 Star Pointer paced a mile in 1.50%. The previous year John R. Gentry had made a record of 2.0 V&. He met all the best pacers of his year, unhoppled arid hoppled, and came out on top. Joe Patchen, the "iron horse," 2.1 ] ?4, George Cano, the best of his year, and Dan Patch, 1.55%, who could come out day after day and pace two minutes, all raced without hopples. IMPROMPTU'S WIN. Those who saw Impromptu race at the Auckland meeting last month could not possibly have given him a chance of winning the Armstrong Memorial at Wellington last Saturday, because at Auckland the bay gelding would not pace a furlong right. However, he must have been a totally different horse at Wellington when he beat a good field pointless, and recorded 4.27. He was driven by J. Shaw, who has held the reins in all the viotories scored by Impromptu this season. A HURRIED VISIT. After doing the Wellington meeting on Saturday the well-known trainer J. Shaw came on to Auckland, leaving again last evening for Christchurch. Shaw has done well since he settled down in Christchurch, and he has turned out a number of winners. He will probably be doing the country circuit in Auckland With a couple of maiden horses. CHANGED OWNERSHIP. Fisher, a four-year-old gelding by Rey de Oro, has been purchased by A. Newdick, and will be brought to Auckland from Christchurch and trained ait Epsom. Fisher won a small race at the KaikoUra meeting, but in his subsequent starts he failed to gain a place. TO VISIT CHRISTCHURCH. The trotter Valloden is to be sent to Christchurch at Easter to compete at the Metropolitan meeting at Addington. Valloden has not proved himself a good hot'se since he was brought across from -Melbourne last year. He did manage to win one race at Alexandra Park, but there was not a great deal of merit in ithc effort. He was beaten both days at the meeting last month, but those performances can bo passed over, and ns he is still on a good mark, and the clay track may suit him better-than the grass tracks in Auckland, he may show improved form at Addington. POTTERING ABOUT. Very little work is being done at Epsoni, the majority of horses being given the very lightest of exercise only. Owners of the best horses have little to look forward to, as there is nothing for them till well into next 'month. On the other hand there is plenty ahead for the novice and improving horses, and when the circuit begins with the Hawera meeting at Easter there will be a meeting each Saturday. MAY RETURN TO FORM. Koro Peter may return to his best form later on. In the mecntime, lie is not exhibiting his best in his training work over a distance. This orice brilliant trotter was operated on some time ago for throat troubles, and, although the operation was stated to have been successful, Koro Peter has not raced well since, especially over a distance.