Late Finishing At West Coast Trotting Meetings

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27862, 10 January 1956, Page 4

Late Finishing At West Coast Trotting Meetings

TROTTING

Officials at the five trotting meetings held on the West Coast during the holidays made little apparent effort to run to the advertised starting times. At Westport on December 26 and 27 the last race was run about 50 minutes after the advertised starting time, and at Reefton on December 29 the last race was more than one hour late.

On the first day of the Greymouth meeting last Thursday, the last race was about 35 minutes late, although there was only a fair attendance. On Saturday, the second day of the meeting. ended with the last race starting at 5.22 p.m., more than one hour behind the advertised starting time of 4.20 p.m. West Coast meetings are not the only ores which there are late finishes, but in the main few Canterbury clubs are ever much more than 20 minutes behind at the last race, most of them finishing within a few minutes of the advertised time.

At Greymouth on Saturday there was a good attendance, but totalisator facilities did not appear to be overtaxed. On more than one occasion it was announced that five minutes remained for investing on races, but often 20 minutes passed before the totalisator was closed. Then there was a long delay of from seven to 10 minutes while the machine was balanced. Often it was noticed that for the last five minutes the totalisator was open there were no queues, and only an odd person rushed in to make a last-minute investment.

On the West Coast, where all totalisators are operated manually, clubs are working under difficulty, but a ciub such as Greymouth, which has five days of racing, should be able to keep its meetings up to time.

Altogether there are 22 days of racing on the West Coast each season. 14 being galloping and eight trotting. The eight clubs concerned, with the exception of the Greymouth Trotting Club, and perhaps the Westport Trotting Club, are not in a strong financial position. However, it should be possible for them to purchase or lease a portable electric totalisator. This would probably enable them to run to time.

Johnny Gilbert’s Efforts Johnny Gilbert went th the Greymouth meeting with a big reputation, but he failed dismally in his three races. The Young Bob stallion showed a fair turn of speed in his races, but failed to run on. It is likely that he will be better suited when he reverts to racing on roomier tracks. Showed No Dash Reality failed to show much dash in her races at Greymouth, and in none did she appear likely to be placed. The Dillon Hall mare has a fair turn of speed, and she may not have been suited by the small, turning track at Greymouth. She looked very well, and may soon make amends when the class is not too rich.

Change of Date The Auckland Trotting Club has usually run the Great Northern Trotting Stakes, the main race for two-year-olds in the North Island each season, at its February meeting. This year the race will not be run until the winter meeting in May. The change, which was announced recently, nas met with considerable criticism from owners and trainers in the Auckland district, who had been preparing their horses to race next month. Difference in Stakes

On the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting on January 28 the New Year Handicap will carry a stake of £BOO. of which Ihe winner will receive £525. On the second day, a week later, the Irwin Handicap, which caters for the same class of horse—those assessed at 3min 40sec and faster for one mile and five furlongs—will carry a stake of £lOOO, of which the winner will receive £650. Looked Sore

Care, a firm favourite, looked slightly sore in his preliminary for the County Handicap at Greymouth on Saturday. He lost a length or two at the start, but was soon handy, only to break with one mile to run. Care is a four-year-old gelding by Precaution from Firewater, and he is owned and trained at Yaldhurst by A. Holmes. He looked to be the most likely improver among the trotters produced at Greymouth, and he should soon make amends for Saturday’s failure. Won in Melbourne

The speedy South Australian pacer, Merchant, became one of the favourites for the Inter-Dominion Championship meeting next month when he won the £3OOO A. G. Hunter Cup at Melbourne. Starting favourite at 3 to 1, Merchant finished with a fine burst of speed to beat Avian Again by six yards. The Sydney pacer, Blue Gamble, was five yards back third. Merchant was having only his third start after a spell, and his performance showed that he will be a worthy contender for major honours in Sydney. Promising Pacer The Westport-owned and trained Honest Charles created a good impression when he led throughout in the second division of the Railway Handicap at Greymouth on Saturday. He won by three lengths. Raced bv Mrs R. Powell and trained by K. J. Powell, he is a good type of four-year-old horse by U. Scott from Bell Travis, tracing back to Bell Bingen, ancestress of a host of winners. Honest Charles has had very little racing, and he is certain to show further improvement. He should do good service for his connexions in the next few months. Johnny Globe

Johnny Globe, the greatest stakewinner ever raced in New Zealand will not compete at the Inter-Dominion Championship meeting at Harold Park Sydney, next month. He will have very few opportunities for the remainder of the season, but it is likelv there will be two suitable free-for-alls at the Addington Easter meeting.

Johnny Globe’s appearance in Australia had been eagerly awaited, and even if he had not raced at the championship meeting, his Appearance in, time trials would have been a draw. Most of the New Zealand horses entered at the meeting will leave later in the month. Moss Hall, Armidson. Highland Flirt. Wayward Peter, Thelma Globe, Laureldale, and General Grattan are due to leave Auckland on January 20. Caduceus, Our Roger, and Tactician are booked to leave Wellington on February 4. Veleave for Wellington in the middle of this month. He has already left Cambridge for Wellington.