SPORTING ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9124, 7 June 1895, Page 2

SPORTING ITEMS.

Weekly Press and Referee." TROTTING TALK. (By Spectator. C. Harold has had the gelding Wee Ben placed in his hand, bj a patron. Mr Rogun, his late owner, has disposed of the catty son of Lincoln Yet.

Mouat's lease of Pearl expires at the end of this month, and the game little black returns to her owuer, Mr Hawcins, of Wellington.

Black Bessie, and not Black Bess, is the name of the mare that won the trotting race recently at Kowai Pass. There were ■o many named Black Bess that the owner selected the less common (?) name.

If some trotting owner* would learn as quickly how to behave themselves as their horses do under good tutors, people Avho look on from a dUtance would not think half so badly cf the sport and might associate themselves more closely with ir.

Starr, who has had a good deal of ex perience amongst trotters in America and in Australia, was highly complimented on his recent successes with Mr Jardin's stallions, Kentucky and Vikin„, both of which put up better winning records than they held before..

Kentucky tro'ted the first two miles in the Three Mile Harness R ice at the Show GroundsonFiidayin3iiin9.ee. His last mile took _mm 'Uiec, «iis average per mile being 2miu 3G*ec, or just over _*ec in the mile longer than Specification occupied la_t year.

It may be said that we are really in our infancy as regards trotting in this colony. Colonial lads are apt pupils and soon pick up wrinkles. Those who think their education complete are not likely to be successful in the future. I noticed a good many horsemen taking stock of the harnpaa gearing used by St_.rr on the stallion* Viking and Kentucky. I never remember to have seen the latter with his head in proper position before. Kentucky Is not too old to improve yet, but it is a pity that ha did not get the same chanca long ago aa he i* getting now.

Josephine is likely to be turned out now that she has knocked off 20* ec from her record of last year. Considering that the daughter of Berlin has only been working a few months it i* safe to say she is not fully developed. If there were more class races, fine mares like Josephine, instead of being sent to the. stud before their real qualities were elucidated, would adorn the race tracks. As I have time and again remarked, there is more encouragement for owners and trainers to take in hand practically untried stock rather than go on with those ou a back mark in the handicaps; in other words, our trotting men are continually on the look out for undeveloped Josephines. I am sorry to see this marc go out, as we have not seen the best of her.

Nea, who was mated with Imperious laßt season, was sent to Dunedin from Christchurch during the week, and will be turned out. An ofFer of £50 at weaning time for her first foal has been refused. It is not geuerally known that Nea, who is by Childe Harold, descends from thoroughbred blood on the dam's side, but such is the case. Frouatarn, her dam, is by Sir Benjamin from a daughter of Black Beaderley, whose pedigree is traced to the New South Walee Stud Book.

Pastime trotted the fastest half mile at the Canterbury Trotting Club's Meeting on Friday, registering lmln 15.cc in his third round with a flying start. Imperious trotted the same distance in lmin _7__ec, and Stonewall Jackson's full mile was done in 2min 35_sec.

17S horses were entered (169 being in handicap events), 106 accepted, and 90 started during the day at the Canterbury Trotting Club's Birthday Meeting.

Starr drove Kentucky and Viking in locally-made harness, and in a sulky built by Mr T. Walker, a very light and strongly made one.

Berlin was to the front with three winners at the C.T.C. Meeting, Kentuckj, Josephine and Berlin Maid each doing the old fellow credit.

Wilkin, who Avas brought all the way from Hawke'a Bay for the Canterbury Trotting Club's Meeting, -got a nail in one of his feet and, consequently, did not start for his engagements. This was hard luck for Mr Semple, the owner.

I don't suppose that one race card in a hundred is perfectly correct as to names, -weights, colours, ages, __c. The Canterbury Trotting Club's book for their recent meeting was full of mistakes in the colours, descriptions and ages of the horses. Some of the names, too, were badly mixed in the spelling.

Chatteris, the well-known trainer of trotters, ha 3 taken garters at New Brighton, Avhere he will have Duke C, Hurricane and Spurrowhawk in work.

Chatteris saya that there is as much difference between trotting and trotting management in Canterbury now and when he last resided in the City of the Plains, some seven or eight years ago, a. cbalk and cheese.

Wee Ben must have been named when very young and small. He's no a wee un noo.

Blue Mountain has been repurchased from Dr. Reed, of Hawera, and goes back to his old quarters at New Brighton.

An objection has been lodged against Viking, the winner of the Sires Handicap, on tbe ground that his best peiformances were not given at the time of his nomination. ** [By Honestt.l I had supposed that after tbe experience gained at the Easter Meeting, the Blenheim handicappers would have seen the absurdity of allowing over minute starts in trotting races. It ay** not so, however, and at the Birthday M etiag the oveiindulged horses were again seen to the front.

At the Normanby Trotting Club's Meeting on Queen's Birthday, Deceiver won tho Welter Handicap; Claret the Normanby Handicap ; Sir William the Waihi Handicap; and Eric the Consolation. The Maiden Saddle was taken by Carmau, Popohue. who finished first, being disqualified for Avrongful entry. The Maiden Harness was won by Tata.

Really good nominations have been received for the Ashburton Trotting Club's Meetiug Avhich takes place on Friday of next week. Should such as Viking, Imperious, Maud V. and Josephine go to the post, the sport should be full of interest.

George Starr, cousin to the Christchurch reinsman, is at the head of a big establishmen at Torre Haute. Some of the inmates of his stable are the bay horse Lanier, 2.245, by Sr. Just, dam Dora, dam of De.sic Wingate, _._S. by P.ayard Jr ; grey dam mare Phenol, 2.165, by Jersey Wilkes, by Egbert. After the stud season he gets William Perm, 2.12., by Santa Claus, _».1.._. Mr A. A. Bonner is also giving him three of his best young horses, and commenting on this fact the Breeder and Horseman says Starr is a man of life-long experience, and a careful tutor, so that Mr Bonner has made a wise selection for the development of hia speedy young trotters. The Auckland Trotting Club advised the Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association by wire on Wednesday in last week that they had disqualified on the 10th inst. G. M'Bride, during the pleasure of the stewards, for using improper language in connection with officials. The wire

arrived after last week's meeting of the

Association which is reported in this issue. How ia it the Auckland Club took ten days to advise the Association on the matter? By the way, the letter the secretary of the Auckland T.C. wired on May 15th that he was eending the Canterbury Metropolitan Association with reference to the i Kdward'a disqualification, hat not ao far

bepn received by the Canterbury governing body, the executive cf which are anxious to have that missing telegram aiJV.ir cleared up. It will no doubt be dealt with agiin at the next meeting of the Metropolitan T.A. ot Canterbury.