TROTTING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 14

TROTTING NOTES.

Although the nominations for the two light harness events on the Ashburton County Racing Club's programme are not so numerous as usual, owners have been quite liberal in according their support, and some useful horses are engaged. In the Rakaia Handicap Wrackler and Arethusa have been nominated, and in view of important engagements ahead the presence of this pair will be of considerable interest to racegoers. Wrackler has already won the race twice, in 1928 from a 2.66 mark, while twelve months ago he was very leniently handicapped on 2.53 and made no race of it. In view of his form during the past year Wrackler i? likely to be handicapped on a much tighter mark than was the case in last year's race. He requires a lot of work and Mb trainer, p. Warren, is evidently going to take every opportunity to race him during nis New Zealand Cup preparation. Arethusa is Wrackler's full-sister and stablemate, and her mission is the Great Northern and New Zealand Derbies. Plying Cloud, who figures amon"st the nominations for the Senna Trot Handicap, is a three-year-old filly bv Wrack from Pearlchild and is also engaged in this season's classics. Some time ago Mr G. J. Barton made a present of Hinkler to the Victorian sportsman, Mr W Balloch, who promptly won several races with the New Zealand gelding. In return Mr Balloch gave Surprise Journey to Mr Barton, who also collected a good stake with the srelding on Saturday last. The present"tions have been distinctly profitable to both sportsmen. A meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association will be held at 10 a.m on Friday Some excitement was caused in the vicinitv of Melbourne's wharves last Thursday, when Warinda Derby, be--1 coming frightened of a train, overcame his driver, and with a collapsed wheel bolted straight into the Yarra (says the Australian "Trotting Record" ot August 27th). In the water for the best part of an hour his struggles were watched by the thousands who had congregated at the spot, and drowning seemed certain At this stage Norman Gath. employed in the owner's stable, plunged into the water, and after cutting the frantic nacer free of the impeding sulky guided the animal towards the edge. Owing-to the steepness of the bank landing was a most difficult matter, and it was necessary to haul tin a rope placed round the horse's hindquarters before the rescue was completed. Beyond minor injuries Wnrinda Derby did not suffer as a result of his immersion, as a few days later he won a race at Richmond. The first "show down" with the new Auckland Trotting Committee, composed of nine Auckland and five Otahuhu members, took place over the appointment of a handicapper (says an Auckland writer). The contest was narrowed down to Mr G. Paul (Auckland : and Mr C. E. Gooseman (Otahuhu). It is understood that it was a 50-50 "O. and on the casting vote of the chairman (Mr John Rowe) Mr Paul was reappointed. , A petition, signed by over 100 Auckland provincial owners and trainers, was presented asking that in the interests of the sport generally a monopoly of the position should not he created by the appointment of an official who held a similar office for a largo southern club.

DUNEDIN J.C. PERMIT FOR BENEFIT MEETING. (PBEB3 ASSOCIATION TELEOIUM.) DUNEDIN, September 3. The secretary of the Dunodin Jockey Club (Mr L. G. Hill) received advice to-day from the Minister for Internal Affairs that a permit had been granted to hold 8 two-dajß' meeting on dates to be fixed by the club, in aid of the funds of trie st. John Ambulance Association; one-third, of the .proceeds to go to tbe Hospitn.l Board's unemployment fund. The stakes for the meeting are not to exceed £2OOO. All taxation ii to be remitted.