THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 10

THE TURF.

BRIDGE'S RECORD CUP. DIVERGENCE OF OPINION AS TO TIME. fBY TELEGRAPH.] (From Sir Bedivere.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Such various opinions have been expressed in relation to the time registered in Bridge's New Zealand Cup that one really does not know what to think. Personally, ps I have said over and over again, I do not place any reliance in time registered in races — one £0 frequently sees inferior animals putting up record performances. There are, however, many thick-and-thin believers therein, and for their sake one likes to be assured of its accuracy. Never in my experience have I known of such extraordinary disagreement with reference to the minutes and seconds occupied by a winner to traverse a certain distance as there has been in connection with this year's Cup. Tho official timekeeper, who, I may say in parenthesis, is in the wrong position to time races accurately, for he is too near to the horses as they flash past the winning post, made it 3inin 25sec- Other watches held by experienced racing men registered 3min 25 3-ssec. R. J. Mason, W. M'Donald, and F. Holmes, trainers who are probably as well practised in the art of timekeeping as anybody, each made the last mil© and a half of the Cup to be run in 2min 37 2-5 sec to 3-ssec. Now, neither of these men is likely to make much mistake, and, assuming they were correct, t/he first half-mile was, 'if the official watchh6lder was accurate, run in 47 3-bsee, or better. No one with even the crudest knowledge of pace, however, could imagine for one moment that such a thing was possible, and either the three trainers whose names ] have mentioned were all astray, or other watches, including that held by the club's official, were started or stopped at the wrong moment. Mr. Mason, moreover, clocked the middle four furlongs to be run m 52 2-ssec and the last mile in lmin 45 l-ssec. That there was something radically wrong somewhere there can be very little doubt, and so quickly did Mr. Piper send the field on its journey that, personally, I canndl help thinking everybody wa'j caught napping, and at the moment the tapes rose not a single watch was started. In view of the great inter est that is taken in* the question of times registered by winners, it is a pity there- should be any room for doubt as to the accuracy of their taking. But, there it is. Bridge will be given credit for getting to the end of v, two-mile course more quickly than any other horse has done, or is likely to do, for many years to come, in the Southern Hemisphere, and it is regrettable that his performance should be in th& least questionable. In owning what is unquestionably tho finest grandstand in New Zealand the Metropolitan Trotting Club is to be 1 congratulated. It stands as a monument 10 the great liold that the sport of trotting hat obtained in Canterbury, and is ihe chief appointment in connection with a trotting 1 track which, for all j round excellence, is not even approach- \ ed by any otber in Australasia. But one thing is now wanted, and all will be complete. Tie old stewards' and pv sb stand, which still dopu duty, ih .ilfo^ether out of date, and at times euch\ as this tbo aocemmodatien for (hose, who represent Lno big daily and w-eeklj journals is all too cramped. The .'n-st £1000 stake offered for the harness hors© in New Zealand was competed for vesberday, and a great strugj^lb was i-^xy anticipated. Unfortunately, however, the race was considerably spoilt through. Walnut swervyig across Mandarens at iho btarh, with fchu result that each lost its diiver. King Cole also play-ed up, and caused a similar thing to happan to Al Franz, .whilst Durbar refused to get going. Despite the lass of her reinsman, Mandaronfc kept going and, being drrverlesfc, sho considerably interfered with Verax and other comoetitors. Wildwood Juur., however put up v sterling good performance, and getting to th& front, in the back stretch, he went on and won very comfortably by four lengths, in the Australasian record time of 4min Sisec. Private watches made the- various distances to be traversed' as follows : — One mile, 2min 17 2-ssec; one mile and a half, 3min 32sec ;. two miles, 4min 32 2-ssec. The previous record for the distance was held by Ribbonwood, who trotted the distance in 4min 35 4-ssec. Winners to-day were particularly hard to find, and many good dividends were paid. Discussing with me the subject of Bcanerges's poor performance, his trainer, George Price, mentioned that the track horse had never run well at Riccarton,- and expressed the opinion that he dislikes the somewhat false going to be found ab the top turn. This, I asm quite inclined to think, may be the true explanation of things, for there ii no doubt that the . Riccarton course is not quite what it snould be between th& five furlongs post and the head of the straight. METROPOLITAN TROTTING CLUB. CUP WON BY WILDWOOD JUNIOR fBX TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.! CHEISTCHURCH, Bth Nov. At the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's November Meeting the principal event was robbed of» some of its' interest by a mishap at the start — the result of Walnut interfering with. Handarene, who lost his driver, while King Colo, who took no part in ,the race, brought Al Franz's driver to grief. Walnut did not take part in the race, nor did Durbar, who would not leave the mark. Wildwood Junior repeated his performance of last year, when he won the big event of the meeting comfortably, establishing an Australian race record. Ths totalisator investments were £17,036 10s, as against £16,291 last year. Twenty-eight bookmakers y.ere licensed at £20 each. Thet following are the concluding results :—: — New Zealand Cup Handicap, of 1000 soys; two miles.— Mr. W. Kerr's Bile h Wildwood Junior, by Wildwood — Thelma, 6yrs, scr, 1; Bright, Bsec, 2; Rjbbons, 7sec. 3. Also started— Dick Fly lsec, Durbar lsec, Terra Nova 3sec, Al Franz 4sec, Lady Clare 4sec, Albertorious ssec, Aberfeldy 6see, King Cole 6sec, Imperial Polly 6sec, Fusee 7sec, Verax Bsec, and Walnut Bsec. Wildwood Junior was' with the field with one lap to go, and taking charge going out of the straight, won by three lengths comfortably, with Ribbons several lengths back. Time, 4min 33sec. Empire Handicap, of 175 soys; two miles. — Laudervale, 4sec 1 ; Combine 18sec, 2; King Lynn, 4sec, 3. Also started — Marietta Huon, Prince Wilkin, Lulaatfce, Link, Ferira, Ivy Dean, and Blackchild Boy. Won Jjj; jpur lmshs.

Riccarton Handicap, of 175 soys ; one mile and a half. — Wallace M., 6sec, 1; Millie C, Bsec, 2; Starchild, ssec, 3. Also started — Bonification, Kalgoorlie, Brown Bell. Lord Ashton, lola, Idaho, Stormlet, Silver Princess, Cleopatra, and Lou Doble. Won by two lengths. Time, 3miu 45 4-ssec. Middleton Handicap, of 200 soys; two miles. — Lord Cardigan, 22sec, 1; White Rock, 19sec, 2; Lulu Child, 19sdc, 3. Also started— Te Kuiti, Dick G., Electric Jack, Rotholia, Bellona, Perzaline. Sir Joe, Salt Air, Vigorous, Rosalie, Lone Hand, Valmore, J.C.H., ' Crash, and Vanguard. Won easily. Time, smin 11 3-ssec. Au Revoir Handicap, of 175 sovs; one mile.— Ripon Child, Bsec. 1 ; Little Tib, Bsec, 2; Ariel, 6sec. 3. Also started — Elector. Truth, Royal Ribbon, Embrace, Dayspring, Miramar, Princess Minto, N«ll Gwyrme, and Mavourneen. Won by three lengths. Time, 2min 26sec. St. Albans Handicap, of 175 soys ; one mile. — lanto, lOsec. 1 ; Eulogy, llsec, 2 ; Viewmont, 7sec, 3. Also started — Almond, First Pefc, Lucky Mount, Ben Hair, Repeater, Ned Corbett, Imperial, Troubadour, Jackaroo, Bellis, Ticket, Phingari, Cora Lynn, Gold Lace, and Erina. Won hy four lengths. Time, 2min 23sec.