TROTTING IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 22574, 16 February 1937, Page 7

TROTTING IN AUSTRALIA

SPORT WELL CONTROLLED HIGH! MEETINGS POPULAR \ ' TWO SHILLING TOTALISATOR , [Special to the ' Stab.’] AUCKLAND. February 16. Australian trotting conditions and the conduct of the Centenary Meeting in Adelaide are to be the subject of a special report to be presented to the New Zealand Trotting Conference by Mr J. R. M‘Kenzie, who, with his fellow-delegate, Mr D. F. Glanville, of Christchurch, returned to New Zealand by the Awatea yesterday. Mr M‘Kenzie represented the New Zealand Trotting Conference and Trotting Association, and Mr Glanville the Christchurch Metropolitan Trotting Club at the Adelaide meeting and at the conference of State delegates that followed it. Though thev had little comment to offer, it is likely that Mr M'Kenzie’s report will include some interesting ■suggestions for the popularising of the sport in New Zealand. Both delegates were very much impressed with the manner in which the sport was controlled in Australia and with the attendances that .it was attracting, it was pointed out by them that in Adelaide night meetings were proving very attractive to the public. The Adelaide Club held meetings every Saturday night, and they were well patronised. The Centenary Meeting was extended over four nights, and on the final night there were 42,000 people present, though it followed the test cricket irtatch and a great number of visitors had left the city. This attendance ex* ceeded the test match records. The prizes given were not- generally as good as those offered in New Zealand, but the winner of the main race on the final night of the meeting won £1,600 “ There is a 2s ‘ tote ’ at Adelaide,’ said Mr Glanville, “ and though the course was teeming with bookmakers a total of £IO,OOO went through the machine. There is also a 2s totalisatqr at tho Ascot course, Melbourne, and it is proving most successful. That course, by the way, is a proprietary one, under the control of Sir Gilbert Dyett, and I was very impressed with the way it was run. They, hope soon to be allowed to

run night meetings there, and there is no doubt they will be a big success. The Adelaide Club runs 35 meetings a year. “ The course at Adelaide is exceptionally small. It is only 514yds in circumference, and in a mile horses go four times past the post, yet they do it at a 2.11 gait. Both Mr M'Kenzie and I admitted over there that we did not think that a horse like Indianapolis, for instance, could handle the track.” In addition to other activities Mr M'Kenzie and Mr. Glanville were making preparations for a New Zealand centenary meeting to be held at Addington, Chriscthurch, in 1938. In that they had been very successful, said Mr Glanville. They did not yet know for certain, but it seemed probable that at least seven or eight of the best Australian horses would be competing. The possibilities for New Zealand included John Dan’s Son, Logan Derby, Lawn Derbv, Marble Bath, Auburn Lad, Beduin," Lady Kolect, Lady Childwood, and Wrinkle. Lawn Derby, said Mr Glanville, was probably the best horse he had seen in Australia.