TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 58, 9 March 1932, Page 11

TROTTING.

QUIET PERIOD LOCALLY.

SWEEPSTAKES PROPOSED

THE SPORT IN AUSTRALIA

The New South Wales Trotting Club has given the "distance post" a fair tryout, and its best friend cannot say it lias proved a success, says "Sydney Sportsman. " At the last meeting some 20 horses were ordered to stand down for a period of eight weeks because they had not been on the right side of the distance post when the winner passed the judge. To make the distance post a success the running of each horse dealt with would have to be thrashed out by the stewards. The time a race is won in should form the basis of the inquiry. Last week's Harold Park Handicap was one of the most unsatisfactory races seen on the track for a considerable time. The betting ring presaged what might have been expected. May's Machine was at odds on and when she ran off the course, the pitiable exhibition that ensued can best be gauged by the time the race was won in, 4.43.

MANAWATU HANDICAP. Astral, whose handicaps for the Manawatu Trotting Club's meeting next Wednesday were withheld, has been placed on 48yds in the Komako Handicap and 12yds in the Pohangina Handicap.

HARD PROPOSITION. When S. August goes South with Valloden for the Easter meeting at Addington it is possible he will, also take The Abbey. The chestnut is a hard proposition. Not only is he handicapped on a very-tight mark, but he is also unreliable at the barrier.

PASSED BY. Auckland owners will not bo represented at either the South Wairarapa or Manawatu meetings. The South Wairarapa fixture takes place on Saturday and the Manawatu meeting the following Wednesday, the same class of horses being engaged at both places.

WILL HE LEAVE RIGHT? The Hamilton owner-trainer, C. Moran, is taking Free Logan to the Manawatu meeting/ and the speedy little pacer has only to leave the barrier right to get the money. He lias a torrent of speed for one racing in his class, but there is always the possibility of him failing to go away with the others. With a good beginning any price should be a good one.

MAY BE RICMT. As a two-year-old Todd Lonzia was hailed as the best trotter of his nee produced in the Dominion, but ho has not lived up to the prediction. As a three-year-old he went a <ouple of really good races and recorded fast time for one of Ids age, but even so there was nothing to warrant him being heralded as a champion. At Wellington on Saturday the gelding was produced twice, and after being beaten into second place in the opening trot, came out later in the day and won. He is rfow trained by D. Withers and it may be that the gelding is at that stage when continued improvement can be expected.

"ALL TRIERS' BRIGADE:" Mr, John Pretty, secretary of the Victorian Owners and Trainers' Association, is-the world's'greatest optimist. In a long letter to the Press he proposes that Victorian trotting horsemen form an "All Triers' Brigade," the members of which must make a compact that every horse they start in a race must try, regardless of 'the betting odds offered. Mr. Pretty cannot be well versed with the turf if lie is not aware that all owners are triers. Some to win and some to lose, says a Sydney writer. The only way to ensure members of Mr. Pretty's brigade being all triers to win, would be under the rules of >tho British Donkey Racing Association. An owner rides another owner's donkey, and the last donkey gets the prize.

SWEEPSTAKES. Though sweepstakes are frequently a feature of galloping and coursing events, trotting clubs for many years have not adopted such, a method of adding to the prizemoney. The Bendigo Trotting Club (Melbourne), however, has taken the initiative in this respect, and is including a big event on these lines in the April programme. The event will be called the President's Cup and is for harness horses only. As a rule in the country, horses can be ridden i£ desired, and mixed fields are a common occurrence. In addition to a valuable trophy, a sum of £50 is added by the club. It will cost each owner £5 5/ to nominate, but the whole of the money will be split up among the first four horses, the club not even taking a percentage.