TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 20

TROTTING.

HONOURS LIST.

STRAIGHT-OUT GAIT.

Mares Overshadow Colts.

RECORD OF BIG EVENTS. L _ Why is it that of the twenty-six best trotters who have raced in New Zealand during the past twenty-five years only four have been colts and that the records are held by inares? Many will contend that the position has arisen from the lack of encouragement extended the trotter, but that is a moot, point. In America, where the trotter is the popular horse, geldings head the honours s.,!\ '"stance. Peter Manning (I..»b») held the world's record for trotters from 1!»22 to 1937. when another geldin» in <ireyhound reduced the record to 1.56, and he is still the world's chain[HOll. With the exception of Todd Lon/.ia. it is twelve years since a colt trotter gained prominence in New Zealand, that was in l!>2t». when the Americanbred J'eterwah came into prominence. He was imported by .Mr. R. C. Visken. and won his way to top class. He won the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Dunedin in 1024. and went on to win the Dominion Trotting Cup in l!12li. Prior that the locally-bred Native King gained distinction. He was a- nreat trotter and took the spotlight by winning the Dominion Trotting Handicap in 1923. To find another colt trotter of good class, one has to po back to 191.">. when Michael (ialindo won his second Dominion Trotting Gup. With these exceptions, all the highclass trotters during the past twenfyfi\ e years have been either geldings or mares. Revenue's Record. It was in 1910 that Revenue established a mile record of 2.11 4-,">, and this stood till 1932, when Todd Lonzia registered 2.11 l-o. In the same year Olive Nelson took a record of 2.11. Then, in 1933. Todd Lonzia reduced his time to 2.9. to be followed in 1934 bv Biddv Parrish. who did 2.8 2-5. Later Worthy Queen trotted a mile in 2.3 3-5, and this is the best yet accomplished by a trotter in the Dominion. An outstanding feature of the roster of best trotters is that for twenty-five years there have been only four "colts in the best class as compared with twelve geldings and ten mares. With the exception of Monte Carlo, who won the first New Zealand Trotting Cup. only one trotter has been successful in the race. That was Reta Peter, who won twice. The is the list of geldings that have achieved distinction since Revenue thrilled the crowd in 1910: Redchild. Submarine, Whispering Willie, Moneyspider, Electrocute, Peter Dean, Huon Voyage, Trampfaet and Waikato Prince. In the mares' section there are: Reta Peter, Effie Bingen, Olive Nelson, Nell Volo. Worthy Queen, Norma Bingen, Air Flow, Sea Gift and Peggutty. At the present time two inares in Sea Gift and Peggotty are highest in public esrteem, with Wahnooka and Waikato Prince as the best geldings. Three Claimants. _ Sea Gift was in commission when Nell Volo and Worthy Queen were at their best, and an interesting match seemed likely until Nell Volo went lame. At that time Worthy Queen earned the right to be the Dominion champion by trotting a mile at Addington in 2.3 3-5. Nell Volo also had strong claims to be a potential champion, and a challenge was issued by the owner of Nell Volp to race Worthy Queen. While negotiations were in train, the connections of Sea Gift suggested that they be allowed to put up a stake to race either Worthy Queen or Nell Volo, or both, over two miles. Unfortunately the match did not take place. At the present time most interest in trotters is centred in Sea Gift H Peggotty, and the next meeting of these two great mares will be one of the star attractions on the calendar.