TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 247, 19 July 1928, Page 15

TROTTING

FIXTURES. July 19—Waimato District Hunt (one event). July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club (one event). August 11, 15, 17—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. NOMINATIONS. July 19— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. ACCEPTANCES. July 16—South Canterbury Hunt. August 7—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By ‘‘Overcheck.’’) Nominations for the August meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Chili's meeting will close to-day at noon. Audubon I,ad lias been placed under the euro of A. Hendrickson at Halswell. Connie Audubon, who has developed lameness, and Wonlo. who is suffering from a spliut, have been turned out for a spell. Mr. G. S. Simpson has been reappointed handicapper by the Nelson Trotting Club. Marlindo lias left C. Tasker’s establishment,'and is now under the cure of C. S. Donald, the Belfast trainer. It is understood the latter has secured a lease of him. Southerners arc expecting Sarclla to be amongst the winners early iu tho forthcoming season. This mare has shown very promising form during the current season, and she may do even better next term. Baron Biugen is, states "Mascot,” building into a nice coll. He is said to be doing useful work, and if all goes well, should win his share of stake money. Meb is one of the regular workers at Addington these days. Her form in the races she has contested during the year Ims not been up to the standard of which her three-year-old efforts gave promise. Still, there is time for her yet, as she is only now approaching her fifth year. Tho Southern sportsman, Mr. C. M. Ollivier, lost his promising pacer Great Earl recently, the animal being staked In a paddock, and having to be destroyed. Great Earl was a five-year-old gelding by Great- Audubon from Erleeu. During the current season he did not have a very strenuous time, being asked to race on only five occasions. In his first outing he ran second to Arlkl in tho Trial Handicap at Addington in August. On tho third day of tho Metropolitan Club’s meeting he was made favourite for the Canterbury Handicap, but ran unplaced. He did not sport silk again until the New Brighton Club’s meeting In March last, when he ran second to'Native Queen in the Wainoni ■Handicap of one mile and a quarter, going 2.50 4-5. He was on the scene again at Addington in April, running unplaced in this Express Handicap the first day, and occupying second berth behind Jean MeElwyn In the Halswell Handicap the following day. There was only half a length between the pair at the finish, the lllly going 4.36 and Great Earl 4.36 1-5. The track was fast that day, but in this particular race neither ran up to its handicap of 4.35. Among the unplaced division were Jackie Audbon, Dalmany and Epigram, so it will be seen that Great Earl’s performance Lad a good deal of merit in it.

A southern exchange states that there is a possibility of N. C. Price shifting from New Brighton to Rangiora as the conditions at the seaside do not suit his mixed family of trotters and gallopers.

That good horse Terence Dillon Is going along splendidly in his work, and will be a competitor at Addington next month. Terence will reach a tight mark next season.

The more one studies the position the stronger the conclusion becomes that the highest class of horses do not earn stake money in keeping with their prowess, and it behoves all those engaged in the management of the sport to do what they can to have matters placed on a more satisfactory footing, for it is the best class of horse that the public wish to see. In the galloping sport, the best horses are well catered for by weight-for-age races, and it would seem that what is wanted in the light harness world is a number of short limit handicaps so that the best of our horses will not be continually bumping up against horses that have not quite reached the zenith of their powers. - Nd doubt In their younger days, with their continued improvement in form, the present day .back-markers were a thorn in the side of those behind them, and had a good run from a stake-earning point of view. This, however, is no argument against taking such action as will encourage their owners to keep them in commission and make them profitable horses to own. At the present time we are faced with a somewhat paradoxical position—the better the horse and tho tighter the mark he is on, the less valuable he is from a racing point of view. To illustrate the necessity of some action being taken in the direction indicated, let us take the horses that competed in the last New Zealand Cup and follow their fortunes during the season. Great Bingen failed to win a raee., The same applies to Man-o-War, whose only placed performances were a third in the Cup, and in the King George Handicap in August. Cardinal Logan, second in tho Cup, won three races, each one of which was over a short course, but he was also placed In four other races. Kohara, after winning tho Cup, got no nearer than fourth in his subsequent races. Queen’s Own won one race at a mile and a quarter, worth 200 sovs. to her owner, but finished in the money on five other occasions. Escapade’s best effort was her fourth in the Kowo Handicap, for unhoppled trotters. Sea Pearl won one race, was once second, three times third, and twice fourth out of 23 attempts. Logan Chief, after a long period of “outs,” again struck winning form, securing three firsts, two seconds, and a third out of 22 starts. Peter Bingen was in the money on four occasions, only being nine times unplaced. Talaro was seen out on twentyone occasions for two seconds, two thirds and one fourth. Black Admiral was not raced to the same extent, but three seconds, a third and a fourth vero his portion. Acron secured one third, one fourth, and was fourteen times unplaced. Great Hope’s record was nine starts for two seconds. Prince Pointer won the sprint event at Wellington in September, but could not do better than two seconds tor the remainder of the season. Loganwood won twice at Addington in August —onco at a mllo and once at two miles, while at New Brighton in December ho registered a further win at one mile and a quarter. A third was his only other placed performance. Imprint registered ono win, a second and two thirds. Other horses that were eligible, but did not take part in (lie New Zealand Cup, were Ahurlrl, Jack Potts mid Wnitaki Girl, not. ono of whom won more than ouo race during the season. It is, I know, n difficult matter Io cuter for ail classes of horses, but if there is one class that appears to warrant special consideration it is the horses that have proved themselves to be the best iu commission.

The programme for tlio Waimnto District. Hunt Club’s iiieeting. which is 1.0 bo hold to-day, includes one trotting event, tho Winter Trot Handicap, In wliieh Roger Lyon and Dan Logan appear likely to command plenty of support.