TROTTING TALK.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9815, 26 August 1897, Page 2

TROTTING TALK.

t% Weekly Press and Referee.^

[Bt Houesty.3

fflio mnv.iso conditions of the c* vnenls was Sfliiiicient to account for the attendance at l&e iir«t day of the C.T.O. Meeting on Tue3cJny not being up to the average of Show (ir.Hiiwl fixtures. Another thing that conduced to the (shrinkage in the audience was that many townsfolk coulcl not well make a start with the dissipation of the week so esu-ly as the Tuesday ; while again the bulk of tho regular National crowd had not reaHied the city. Should it be doomed tlefimhle to have one of the dates of the fixture prior to the Grand National Meeting next year, I would suggest that the day be the one immediately preceding tho commencement of the sport at Riccarton. As in attendance so in speculation, there Was a marked falling off, but then tho club cannot expect to be continually breaking records in this respect. Naturally after the rain that fell the track was somewhat holding, and as no very fast times were looked for, the getting to the end of the two miles in the Spring Handicap in 5.9y- by Hassan stamped him as a performer of real merit. Hassan when a competitor at the New Year Meeting of the club showed himself to be a good one, but his Spring Handicap achievement was undoubtedly the beat he haa accomplished. He went from end to end without skip or break, kept a true gait, and maintained an even speed throughout. It was another North Island representative that disputed with Hassan for the prize ; the issue, in fact, lay between that one, Whisky, and tho winner after the first mile. Whieky was favourite, and his party were sanguine of success. That they had good grounds for supporting the runner-up was evidenced by the raco that Whisky ran, but it could hardly be reckoned that Hassan would show the improvement he did. Silverthe Southland mare, was altogether too fresh, and could not be induced to trot, bo tfhat the good reputation she held was dimmed.

.The AdcKngton Handicap was greatly reduced in interest by tho absence of Vainglorious and Jessie. The latter went out to take part, but, casting a shoe during the tip process, leave was given for her to be withdrawn. Ham was made a warm favourite, and pulled through right enough, though the odds looked like being upset in the first mile, for Mambrino Abdallah bad made up all his handicap on her ; ho, howevec, had taken all the steam out of himself in catching up the leeway, and broke badly when his driver sought to pass into the lead. Monte Carlo made a fine effort in the raco; it was only suiiicient, however, to demonstrate that even at two miles he is not to bo despised in the best of company. Monto Carlo's was the fastest two miles shown, and ho and Hassan were tho star performers of the day. Ham, who commenced slowly, finished up well and her performance was a meritorious one.

Both the milo races produced capital finishes. Electioneer was hemmed in in the early stages of his race, but won in fine style in the end ; his attendant home, the big Ashburton gekling Commotion, had by no means a cloar passage, and his absence from the trade hns not m any way impaired his speed. Norinun made a bold display, and lod into the straight, but commenced to plunge and kick when asked, for a special effort. King'u Errand had the Electric Handicap won and then lost before lie finally succeeded in stealing homo from Stockholm and Sacramento, first ova and then the other of whom looked liko winning in the run home. It is a long time since Stockholm previously trotted, and mostpoople had evidently forgotten her good deeds, for she was at an outsido price. She was unlucky to lo«e. Sacramento gaveamuch better showing than ho has hitherto done. Tho moftioy was down for Electra in the Maiden saddle; she, hov/evei , , had her chance-' spoiled by tearing off a boot in the first round, which caused her to break up. Had it all been plain sailing with Electra she would require to have boon fully as good as represented to have buaton Merry Legs, to whom the r.vco was loft after the first mile. Thu Wellington-owned Agnea was the pot for tho pony event, she, however, was no match for Ruby 11., who went in really well when onco she settled down. The owner had £2 invested on hie mare's chance, so had a good raco. It could certainly not be on her appearance that La Mare was fancied for the Selling Bace, for besides showing symptoms of lameness she is in foal. The mare, however, justified confidence by giving everything the go by in double quick time, and finishing alone. The Progressive Handicap was another easily won race, Grenadier going to the front early in the race, and remaining at the head of affairs. Everything conduced to the success of the second day, and a- successful day's sport it was. The three chief events produced really fine contests. Wild wood, the favourite for the High Class Handicap, had nothing to do with the finish ; he seemed unable to get round the. turns with any facility and was rather behind hie handicap than otherwise at the end of tho two miles, Viking being followed over the line by General Tracy and Prince Imperial. The latter put up the best performance-and must have covered over tho distance as he had to do a lot of out track work to get whero be did. General Tracy seemed a little fresh and broke once or twice, but was coming in fine style at the end. The winner was not once headed, and was going so really well at the finish that he might have successfully beaten off anything that got to him. Gazelle proved herself to bo one of the best we have by her succese in the August Handicap, and although Maggie M kept her going fGift long way, and was responsible for the making of such fast time, the odds laid on the winner were at no time in serious jeopardy. Monte Carlo, as on the first day, registered a notable performance, and it was hard lines for him to again 'suffer defeat. When,, however, he reached Ascot he was about run out, while the other had something in reserve. That Candidate was i\ first-class youngster ho showed at the May meeting, but his performance in the Nursery Handicap last week was better than any would have credited him with being capable. Though by the book reckoned a three-year-old, it will be some months before he is actually that age, and 2.39 is a tiptop record for him. After Norman's good showing on the first day it was no ewrpriee to see him to the fore in the Telegraph Handicap, in whioh there was a lot of blocking. A popular win was that of Tracy Bolle in the Maiden Handicap. A good dividend was paid out on her, and another unexpectedly good return from the totaJisator was made on Sailor Boy IL, who had no trouble in appropriating the Pony Race. At time of writing an inquiry is pending over fche concluding race, in which tho Ashburton mare Bed of Stone cot home in front of tho favourite, Linda. It is complained that Bed of Stone jostled Linda, and that the winner's perSujioftuoe was inconsistent with a previous showing., I-have frequently held that inconsJMfcenoy should not be permitted as a ground of protect. *If a horso obviously shows inconsistent form it is a matter for the stewards to look into without the intervention of owners. Inconsistent performances areof common occurrence and that without the slightest fraud being chargeable to their connections. \ The trotting horses of Mr James "Martin, of Auckland, wero submitted at Christcfcurch lattersall'a on Saturday last. The sold was Schoolgirl, who fell to the bidV am t^ hitc, Roxburgh, Otago, ot £30S Albert Victor was withdrawn at £160 and> JJictator at £90, and will probably be shipped for Auckland in charge of Mr G. Duncan this week.

The Dunedin Jockey Club will not in future include trotting events on their programmes. Thie was anticipated. j Maggie L. could have been sold at £40 Inst week, but Mr J. McKewen preferred to take her home. _ The Wellington correspondent of this journal writes:—Sailor Boy !£., who is trained at Miram&r by R. Henry, was a strong order in town for the event ho won at tho Canterbury TVotting Meeting, the line dividend which be paid compensating local trotting enthusiasts who backed Whisky on the The latter was considered a real good thing, and Taggart had extremely bad Tack ra ratming up against such a snag as Hassan. At a meeting of the committee of the Hawcra Trotting Club held on. Joly 23rd, the following office-bearers were elected :—« Mr F. McGuire, M.H.R., presideatj Mr W. C. Symea, vice-president; Mr Jas. Davidson, chairman of committee ; Mr A. G. Bwtt, treasurer; Mr W. Hirst, eecreUr£» Mr Jotm. Segfaffi, jw^ii-jMtl jfcj

Crocker, starter; Mr Robert Hicks, timekeeper and handicapper; Mr Thos. Higginson, olerk of the course; Messrs Faber, Lucena, Bartlett, Buckingham, Harbley, Jury, Daily, Budge, and Dabinet, stewards. The retiring secretary wasappointeddelegate to the association and elected an honorary member.

At a meeting of the subscribers to the fund for the benefit of the widow and children of the late Mr E. Price, at Ashburton, the formal appointment of Mr P. Devane and Mr Hugo Friedhuider as Trustees was confirmed. The sum now in hand amounts to uearly £120, including £3 3s voted by the Ashburton Club, and £3 3s voted "by the Ashburton Racing Club. The Trustees propo.se investing the money in a cottage property as a home for Mrs Price and her chiidren.