TROTTING Banks Peninsula Club Helping The Trotters

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 4

TROTTING Banks Peninsula Club Helping The Trotters

The Banks Peninsula Trotting Club gave other clubs a lead when it included a race Jpr trotters with one win in the programme for its first annual meeting at Motukarara on Saturday. The club received 26 entries, including three which were giving away time. This was more than sufficient to ensure a satisfactory field. When withdrawals closed last night there was a field of 23. . Few clubs in Canterbury provide races for horses with' one win. The handicapping table for trotters was altered several months ago in an attempt to stop horses with one win competing in races for maiden horses. However, this has proved a complete failure because of the lack of races with suitable limits. Almost 12 months ago the New Zealand Trotting Conference appointed a sub-Committee headed by Mr A. J. Nicoll, president of the Ashburton Trotting Club and a member of the conference executive to investigate the plight of the straight-out trotter, paying particular attention to horses in or near the fast classes. Apart from the minor alterations to the handicapping table, which in the main have achieved very little, the committee has apparently done nothing to help these horses. At the time the committee was formed, it was thought it would recommend some action whereby clubs would be forced to include sufficient races for winners of one or more races and ensure a steady flow of horses through the classes. Such a scheme would, of course, only apply to the more important country clubs. It would be difficult to operate on the West Coast or at meetings in Nelson or Marlborough as owners and trainers prefer to have two opportunities each day for their horses. Last Saturday at Rangiora there were two races for maiden trotters. Included in these fields were 13 horses which had won races, sufficient to provide another field. If the limit for one race had been tightened, the club would have received more than 13 nominations as there are a much greater number of horses available for such a race. This is proved by the entries received for the Banks Peninsula meeting this week. While most clubs continue to ignore the changed handicapping system and refuse to do anything to help the straight-out trotter, there will be still less incentive for owners and, trainers to race these horses, which in the pasl have provided some of the best racing seen on metropolitan courses. Negative Tests The New Zealand -Trotting Conference has received reports of negative tests from the swabs taken from Canyon, Super Snipe, Hoof Beats and Frontier Lad at the Thames Trotting Clubs meeting on December 7 and December 8. Geraldine Totalisator It is understood that arrangements have been made to install an electric totalisator at the Geraldine course, and it is hoped it will be in use at the Geraldine Trotting Club’s meeting or February 23. The course is one of the last in Canterbury to be served by a manual totalisator. Qualifying Trial Shana, a four-year-old gelding by Intruder from Blue Revue, won the qualifying trial at Rangiora on Saturday, pacing the mile and a half in the good time of 3min 25 3-ssec. He beal Scotomy by two lengths, with five lengths to Emerald Heir, and a length and a half to Seagull. The first foui horses qualified. They finished wel clear of the remainder. Strongly Supported Astrol, a big disappointment in hei previous starts this season, was backec down to 4, 6 favouritism in the Hurunui Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday She drifted badly over the first furlong and was always labouring wel back in the field. The Josedale Grattan mare has a pleasing style of trotting and with more experience she

should develop useful form. She is trained by C. S. Donald for her . breeder, Mr B. Grice. Favourite Fails i Marawiti was backed down to fav- i ouritism for the Parnassus Handicap ; at Rangiora on Saturday, but she failed to make any impression over ‘ the final half-mile, finishing well . back. She trailed the pacemaker, I Willowdale, most of the way, but was feeling the strain with four furlongs to run. Marawiti had not raced for ( about two years and the run is expected to have improved her. Next time out, she should go close to making amends. Aldora Hearing • Appeals lodged by W. Thomson and M. C. Flaws against the five-year , terms of disqualification imposed on them will be heard in Christchurch 1 today. Thomson and Flaws were found guilty of failing to take proper , precaution to prevent a drug being administered to the horse, Aldora, at Forbury Park on October 13. Aldora won the President’s Handicap and a swab taken from him after the race proved positive. Wimpy Unlucky Wimpy looked desperately unlucky to be beaten into third place behind Tourie and Wainoni Loyal in the Coldstream Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday. He began brilliantly and was not far from the leaders when Tonga broke in front of him after about two furlongs. They collided and Wimpy was pushed back through the field, losing at least 48 yards before he was clear again. His task looked hopeless even with half a mile to run, but he unwound a fine finishing burst and was only four lengths from the winner at the post. With a little luck, he should graduate from maiden class over the holidays. He stays well and would probably appreciate a two-mile journey. Hot Favourites Kyle Nurse and Next Time were the only horses seriously considered in their respective legs of Saturday’s doubles at Rangiora. In a pool of 94,457 5s tickets on the first leg, the Rangiora Cup, 27,344 were invested on Kyle Nurse. The second favourite, Dalene, had only 15,858 tickets invested on her prospects. In the second leg, the Cheviot Handicap, Next Time was the only horse seriously considered. He had 8882 tickets redeemed on his prospects. Of these 8198 came from off-course sources. The second favourite. Lord Argyle, carried 4430 tickets, and 4403 were invested on Brittania. The Kyle Nurse—Next Time combination paid £8 15s 6d, considerably less than an all-up investment, which would have returned just under £ll. Perth Trip Likely * It appears almost certain that Greek Brigade and Bartender will make the trip to Perth to contest the InterDominion Championship series next February and March. A definite decision about Greek Brigade will be made after the Auckland Cup meeting later this month. The connexions of Bartender stated in Auckland last week that the horse would definitely make the trip. The main difficulty was transport, but it was understood this can be arranged. Both Greek Brigade and Bartender will be in the care of L. J. Bayer, partowner and trainer of Greek Brigade. No decision has been made regarding the driver of Greek Brigade, but Bartender is almost certain to be driven by bis usual reinsman, O. E. Nicholas, who trains him at Kumeu. Nicholas will fly to Perth just before the meeting opens. Both Greek Brigade and Bartender' are engaged in the Auckland Cup on December 27. Bartender will be the main northern hope in the race. He finished second to Caduceus in the race in 1954. Greek Brigade was fourth in the 1952 contest for the race won by Soangetaha.