TROTTING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 23

TROTTING NOTES

TROTTING'FIXTUItES. lime 2, 4—Canterbury Park T.C. Juno 4—H?.77ites Bay T.C. ' Juno 9—Ashburton T.C. June 23. 27—Auckland- T.C. The Hawkes Bay Meeting. . ' The prospects for a successful meeting at Hastings, on Monday, 4th June, are good. The club has decided on a Icushilling totalisator, and there is a prospect of the cracks of the district- being sccii in action—Peterwah and Tho Shrew. Petei'wah is required' to give away over a furlong start—24o yards—in two miles. Already some of the' visiting horses have arrived. The Two-Year-Olds. Although the number engaged in the Sapling Stakes to be decided at Ashburton on 9th June is not so, large as might generally have been expected, there are ten well-bred two-year-olds engaged, including Wrackler and Grand Light. Previous to Saturday last Wraeklcr's chances .were very highly thought of, but a good race by Grand Light at Oamaru on.Saturday caused the latter's stocks to rise. Grand Light is a very useful sort, and there -may be something else in the race capable of extending -the pair already .mentioned.: The Great Northern Derby. The- Auckland Trotting Club has decided to make some alterations in the conditions governing its 1929 Great Northern Derby. In recent years this race has been decided at the Club's Spring Meetjng hr October* but next year it. will, bo held at. the Summer Meeting in December. The-conditions provide for. a subscription ,of 10 soys each unless forfeit of 1 soy is declared at the date of general entry for Summer Meeting, 1928, or forfeit of 2 soys on day of general entry for Spring Meeting. Notification of intention to continue engagement, or otherwise, must bo received on forfeit dates, or engagement ceases. Previously the mere fact that an owner did not withdraw his three-year-old left him liable for the full stake of 10 soys. In Canterbury trotting circles it is generally considered that the date on which the final forfeit falls due—some four months before the actual contest—in far too early for owners and trainers. It is suggested that if the date of final forfeit is altered to acceptance day for the Summer Meeting, trainers will hnve'a better idea of the capabilities of their horses, and the result will be a more representative field in'the classic race. ' . Trotting in France. The best mare in France last season was Uranie, who has won -move than 1,000,000 francs. The most important race in Franco is. the Prix d'Amcriquo. Uranie has won this race on three successive occasions. Five furlongs in lmin 23%5ec —the end of a' two-miles race—is the fastest time credited to Uranic. Less than four years ago Uranie, who is now the idol of France, was offered to M. Ihlen, a member of the Society dcs Amateurs de Trotting, for about £100, because she would not start in her races. Soon afterwards an Italian nanied Capovilla came to France, and he soon had Uranie in a better humour. An American breeder wished to buy Uranie recently, but the announcement caused such a, stir that M. Ihlen says the people of France simply would not allow her to be sold. French stewards are very strict. Misdemeanours ' are punished by disqualification for a lifetime, or the best part of it. The public, too, regard it so seriously that a driver seldom risks their wrath. Riders and drivers are inspected before each race to see that they are shaven and dressed smartly. . ■France always has had its breed of trotting horses. This has been gradually improved by the introduction vi galloping blood. M. Ihlen says that he has never* seen an American "trotter defeat the French horse, although he admits that dnly a few have tried. Two Americans started in tho Prix d'Amerique, but Uranie was too good, i ■ ' .. ' From 15th December to, the middle of. February, trotting has no opposition in Paris, as the steeplechasers and gallopers go to..the llivieva. One o£ the most important racing days in' the year is Good Friday.' It is the only day that butchers' shops in France are.closed. This means a great gathering of butchers at the trots, as history has always associated butchers and trotting. Miscellaneous. A number of Southern horses have gone into Canterbury stables of late, J. N. Clarke having secured Jolly Chimes, W. J. Tomkinson White Sun, and now R. >B. Berry has taken in hand the Sungod gelding 'Sunfish. The last-named is at least useful, and phould win races. Mr: W. E. Simes, who is widely known in trotting circles, will be a candidate for a seat on the New Zealand Trotting Association at the 'approaching election. li. C. M'Dcrmott is speeding Rose Audo along, The trotter has a good turn of speed, but she does not possess much stamina. She may stay better with age. J. Deyell has brought his trotter Nelson Ata into work again. The Nelson Bingen horse should race well next season, as ho has had a good spell and he has not been over-raced. ■ . • „ : - 11. Gaskell has Little Logan going well. Tho trotterelooks as though he has done a good deal of work.. Little Logan, however, races best in the summer time. The trotter Elzear continues to please by the manner in which she gets through her work in training. Elzear has steadieddown a lot of late and promises well for the new season.Lingfield. seems to be putting a little more dash into her work of late. When she first went, to Aldington she was not at her best. Tomkinsou is persevering with tho Author Dillon mare, who is a rare good stayer, but not endowed with much brilliancy.