MATCH RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 175, 25 July 1936, Page 10

MATCH RACES.

CHAMPION TROTTERS.

MR. G. J. BARTON'S VIEWS

INDIANAPOLIS' PROGRAMME.

"Last year's Australasian championship meeting, held at Perth, has done more for trotting in Australia than has been noted during the past five yeais, said Mr. G. .T. Barton, the well-known Dunedin sportsman, who arrived in Auckland by the Monterey from Sydney this morning, after a combined business and pleasure trip to Australia. "Great keenness is being displayed in trotting in both West and South Australia, especially in the latter State, where big pii/.es are offered," he added. Commenting on the proposed match races between the New Zealand champion, Indianapolis, and the Australian horses, Lawn Derby and New Deibj, Mr. Barton stated that everything was at present in the air, but as tlieie was every likelihood of the Australian pair visitimr the Dominion for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's cup carnival at Addington in November, he could see no reason why the contest should not eventuate there. Lawn Derby is one of the best pacers produced. in Australia for a long time, his performances during the past couple of years bring of an outstanding nature. New Derby is reckoned by Australian sportsmen to bo even faster than Lawn Derby, and the meeting between this trio alone would attract large crowds.

"Irrespective of what other engagements are made for Indianapolis ill November," said Mr. Barton, "he will definitely go against the Australasian mile record, at present lield by him, of 2.1 2-5, and I feel confident that atmospheric conditions would only have to be suitable for him to be the first pacer in Australasia to record 2.0." The Dunedin sportsman also intends to send Indianapolis to compete in the Australasian championships at Adelaide in January, his mate for the trip probably being Grand Mogul or Tempest. Regarding his recent successes with Jack Horner in Australia, Mr. Barton said that the colt was now being trained at Caulfield by S. Pyper, who had been looking after his team at Dunedin. He had at present eight horses under his care, four being rising two-year-olds, with Jack Horner, Desert Chief, Reminder and Gay Circle completing the team. Jack Horner would probably be reserved for the Melbourne Cup, while Gay Circle and Desert Chief may be reserved for the Caulfield Cup. In all probability Mr. Barton's horses would be returning to tlia Dominion after conipet ing at the Melbourne Cup carnival. "Business conditions are definitely booming," remarked Mr. Br.rton, "and it is surprising the amount of money that is available for sporting and commercial enterprises, but all the same New Zealand is still good enough for me."