TROTTING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1925, Page 12

TROTTING NOTES

FIXTURES.

February 7—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Summer. February 20, 23—Wanganui T.C. Annual. February 21, 25—Otahuhu T.C. Summer. February 27—Nelson T.C. Annual.

(By "Vedette.") Tho Summer Meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club will be held on Saturday. A Southern writer states that Kawhaki, the winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Forbury Park on Sat-' urday, was very sore when raced on the first day of the meeting. This did not prevent the son of Nelson Bingen and Runaway from starting at nearly two-to-one on in the betting. Logan Chief registered a race record for the Dunedin Cup, his time, 4min 29 l-ssec, being 2 l-ssec better than that of Great Bingen, the previous best. J. J. Kennerly drove Great' Bingen last year, and also scored with Logan Chief this year. ._- When the leaders passed the winningpost at Forbury Park in the Dune xdin Cup race on Thursday, the drivers of Loganwood (D. Withers) and Logan Chief (J. J. Kennerley) were in some doubt as to who had won, states the "Southland Times,", particularly Withers. He thought the horses had finished together, and said so, but Isennerly retorted that, even if this were the case, Logan Chief should get the verdict by "a | head," as he was tho bigger horse. This was good argument, as a vast difference in size is all in favour of Logan Chief.

It is stated that with a clear run in >tho_ straight in the Dunedin Cup, Whispering Willie would have beaten Logan Chief and Loganwood. The Forbury Park Club timed its last race for 5.45 p.m. on Thursday, with the inevitable result that it was not decided until after 6 o'clock. This late running of races is a serious fault of nearly all trotting clubs. The Tasmanian straight-out trotter, Snorter, gave a good display at bis only start at Forbury Park, and he is expected to make good in the Dominion.

Returns for the Forbury Park Race .Meeting last week show that the gate takings constittue a record. The attendance was numerically nearly equal to the highest in the club's history, and the money return was actually higher, tins being accounted for by the increase from Ss to 6s for admittanec to the grandstand. On the other hand, the totahsator money was less than last year, and in the general result the club makes but a very small profit, whilst the Government rakes in over £5000 At such times as the present, when wine clubs are struggling for existence, and in fact are seriously thinking about dropping out of the running, it seems indiscreet for another club to publish statements about the "success" of a meeting based on the financial returns, writes "Sentinel" in the "Otago IJaily Times." Such statements merely strengthen the hands, of the Government to cling to the exorbitant taxation which it continues to impose on ™C 1"? a»cJ trotting. The Wellington J rotting Club made-a profit of 800 soys over their recent meeting after paying over 3000 soys in tax. When such a state of things exists it is not surprising that the Government should agree t0 an issue of additional permits. A Umstchuvch trainer, who was in Uunedin taking part in the meeting of. the 1-orbury Bark Trotting Club, when questioned regarding the Forbury Park racing track-, made" some »vory coniplimeutary .comments regarding it, states a Uunerlm writer. He said that he liad driven on most of tho tracks in Australia and New Zealand, and that the fastest Iraek ho knew of was tho ,Vie tona T»ark track in Sydney. As re- ? a™s*orbury Park, be said that the formation of the track had been excellently carried out, and that the turns and banking were also very well armiißeu, iuq truck, hi fuel, i le considered,

was as good as any in the Dominion, and better than nfost. Asked why I lie times were not as fast as those at Addington, he said the explanation was quite simple. He considered he could make Forbury track a lightning track if the surface were properly treated. The stewards of Forbury Park Trotting Club, he held, were using a drag with long prongs, and he was not in favour of heavy watering. The track should be scarified first with a drag with fairly long prongs, and then rolled. Then the surface should be lightly scarified again with prongs not more than half an inch long. Forbury Park would then be faster than the Addington track. Using long prongs caused the ground to be broken and,Jbecome lumpy, and the lumps got in the horses' hoofs,and made them lose their balance. The driver referred to said that it was noticeable that Logan Chief in the big race on Ihursday had to come on the outside of his field, where the surface had not been so deeply turned up as was the case nearer the rails, and he considered that this helped the Logan Pointer horse to achieve his victory. Ahuriri had also come on the outside of the. field: and secured second place in the last race on that day. Wee Olga, who trotted well jjt Hutt Park, -would have scored at'Forbury but for two breaks in the straight. Dillon S., who defeated her, galloped past the post. C. Donald had mixed fortune at Forbury, winning with Gleaming, Harbour Light, and Wharepeana, but being disqualified for the last-named's improved form.