TROTTING IN NINETIES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 6

TROTTING IN NINETIES

The race-card of the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club's Spring' Meeting, run on November 8, 1838, now ofrhriJ c hy \ nterestjng reading, says a Christchurch writer. That Christchurch fixture was the "star" meeting n i ?nn ay< bU^ the bigsest Prize was only 100 soys though it was a princely sum for a trotting event in those times.

The hundred-pounder was a twomile race with a ten seconds limit Among the starters were Mr. Lou Robertsons Valetta Junior. In a saddle race, also over two miles. Monte Carlo (who later won the first New Zealand T™tting Cup) competed. The list of officials included Messrs. D. Barns E Clarkson. N. Harris, C. Louisson.' G. McClatchie. D. C. Mclntyre, Captain Popham, Messrs. J. Perkins. G. Pavling W. Rollitt. H. N. styche, L. Wilson, and G. Wright. The starter was Mr C 0 Connor, and the secretary, Mr. A. I Kattray. This was the committee that formed the New Zealand Metropolitan 1 rotting Club, .and of those mentioned Mr. Raltray is the only one who is'still alive.

It was in 1899 that the Lancaster Park Club began to look around for a suitable ground to develop its activities, and after securing the present property at Addington. which was then a very rough paddock, the club decided to change its name lo the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. Two years later the Canterbury Trotting Club, whose headquarters were the present Show Grounds amalgamated with tSe New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club.

With an attendance of 60.650 at his first Caulfield Cup Meeting since his appointment as secretary of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, Mr. F. E. Elbeshausen was able to announce thai these were record figures. The largest attendance previously was 53,676 in 1029. Last year 53 210 saw the Cup. This year's tolalisator investments amounted to £03.691 15s. an increase of £9892 13s on the figures of last year.