TROTTING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 18, 21 July 1926, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

TROTTING FIXTURES. ■ August 7, 11, 13— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. October 16, 20—Auckland T.C, October 23, 25—Greymouth T.C. October 25—Oamaru T.C. October SO—Timaru T.C. , November 9, 11, 12— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 19, 20—Nelson T.C. November 20, 24—Otahuhu T.C. November 26, 27—Forbury Park T.C. December 4—Waikato T.C. December 8, 11—Wellington T.C. December 16, 18—New Brighton T.C. December 27—Ashburton T.C. December 27—Gore T.C. December 27, 2s—South Wairarapa T.C. December 27, 28—Westport T.C. December 28, 30, 31—Auckland T.C. December 30—Winton T.C.

,The handicaps for the Metropolitan Trotting Club's Meeting will give enthusiasts something to consider for the next few weeks. Acceptances do not close until Tuesday, 3rd August. C. W. Griffin, who has raced that good pacer Minton Derby in Sydney recently, was disqualified for.six months over the running of Minton Bells—a half-brother to Minton Derby—in the ' Encourage Stakes at Victoria Park on 12th July. W. J. Kearns, the driver, and the horse met a similar fate.

There has been a deal of comment levelled at the N.S.W.T-.C. over its determination to ban the saddle horse at allfuture meetings of that club. It is argued that the small track is in favour of the saddle horse being encouraged. But that contention is not borne out by figures.- On the bigger course at Victoria Park there has been a greater inclination to race horses in saddle than at Epping. "The figures this year are as follow:—At Victoria Park there have been 1420 starters in harness and 274 in saddle. At Epping there have been 1753 starters in harness and only 249 in saddle. This is conclusive evidence that the contention saddle horses are preferred at Epping is based on false ideas. The light-harness sport is light-harness sport and nothing else. By all means ban the saddle horse, says the "Ro'jree." . According to a Northern writer, both the Auckland Trotting Club and Otahuhu Trotting Club intend to abandon their free-for-all races. To anyone who desires the elevation of trotting this seems decidedly a retrograde step. Like all other bodies, a trotting club gets, presented with more bricks than bouquets, and one particular brick which is consistently being heaved at the Auckland Trotting Club is loaded with a cry for an electric tote. No doubt such a machine is badly wanted at Alexandra Park, and the officials are quite alive to the fact, but to erect; a totalisator which would fill requirements for many years Mvould necessitate the expenditure of a heap of money and a sum which, the Auckland Trotting Club probably does not feel it should load itself with at present. As the song says, "blow but sure is the safer gait," and nobody could accuse the officials of the A.T.C. of being slow, seeing the wonderful improvements made at the Epsom ground during the last few years, writes "Orion." Just as obtains in Christchurch, trotting may be most popular with the people in Auckland and with the increased attendances which have constantly to be catered for, we may take it that the need for an electric totalisator is not . being lost sight of by those controlling trotting in Auckland. Logan Chief is not likely to be nominated for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, as, after being raced at the Metropolitan T.C.s August Meetinc, the son of Logan Pointer and Regina Belle is to be given a good spell. ; . Wharepiana, recently trained by O. H,. Hooper, and Holly Bell, who has been sheltered in R. Humphrey's stable, will in future be trained by M. B. Edwards at Belfast. ,„_..• R. E. Mills has improved Daytime in appearance. The pacer put up a brilliant performance at the Ashburton Trotting Club's Meeting last moDth, and he may be marked off as an early winner in bet ter company. W. J. Tomkinson has tired ot the Australian-bred pacer Escort, and lie has been sent home to his owner. Nelson Price is working only a small team at New Brighton during the: winter months. He has the trotter Whispering Willie, who raced well in his last effort, considering the short space of time he had been in work. The trotter is keeping fairly sound, and Price seems confident he will'bring him back to his best form .later. At present he has not done a great deal of work, owing to the tracks being bad, but as soon aB the weather is favourable he will resume solid training. The fine pacer Prince Pointer is looking in tip-top fettle. Unfortunately he does not seem to show his best on lefthanded tracks, but he may do better next season. . • . W. Warner has just broken in a couple of pacers by Author Dillon, a filly from Cameos, the dam of Onyx, and a colt from a sister to Nancy Stair. Both youngsters go at the pacing gait and promise well. The brilliant pacer Glenelg is in solid work again, after his good spell, and he is training on quite satisfactorily.