Trotting Visitors

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7106, 15 March 1933, Page 4

Trotting Visitors

MAGNATES OF THE SPORT

MEN WHO BOOST THE GAME,

(By "Abaydos.”)

There is a good gathering of keen trotting enthusiasts at Palmerston North this week to attend tho annual fixture of tho Manawatu Light Harness Club which takes place at Ashhurst to-day. Tho presence of so many strong advocates of the ever-increasing popular pastime is creating a very keen interest in the local proceedings, and to-day’s meeting promises to be a huge success from every viewpoint. Mr C. E. Goosman, the club’s handicappcr, is without exception tho most reliable man in tho job at present in Now Zealand. With tho exception of tho Wellington Trotting Club, Mr Goosman acts in a similar capacity for all North Island clubs, and it is quite on the cards that next year will sec him sole adjuster for this Island. Mr Goosman lias a fine knowledge of the intricate points of the present handicapping and was the only man in presystoni days who framed handicaps with uniformity and equity.

Mr A. E. Commons is known throughout the Dominion as the "gentleman’' stipe., but in spite of his quiet and retiring disposition, he does his work in a practical manner. Mr Commons is chief stipendiary steward in tho North Island, and his record of service is a good one. Ho has the happy knack of tempering justice with mercy, and tactfulness is a strong feature of his fine personality. Mr. Wilfred Johnstone, of Tama:hcro, Waikato, has raced horses extensively for a great number of years and also breeds trotters and pacers on a large scale. Mr. Johnstone lias dono a good deal to help the popular sport along in the North, and it is a rare occurrence to find a Nortlh Isand meeting whore his livery is not in evidence. Mr. Johnstone owns tho crack pacer Peter Bingen, winner of two New Zealand Cups and Frcc-for-All. and he is now using tho high-class liorso as a sire at his breeding establishment.

Mr. J. 11. Lloyd is tho “king of the trotting gamo” in the Hawke’s Bay district, wliero for a considcrablo number of years he has bred, trained and raced pacers and trotters with a good mcasuro of success. Mr. Lloyd is a good patron of the smaller clubs, and oach year his colours are seen on tho Manawatu - Wanganui - Hawcra - Taranaki circuit.

As an owner-trainer and driver, Mr. C. S. Donald, of Belfast, Canterbury, is known far and wide, ancl his record of successes in recent, years has been remarkable. However, he trains a very big team, and as ho often jokingly remarks, has horses to suit almost any class of handicap, from tho slowest to tho fastest limits. Mr. Donald is an expert reinsman and always produces his charges in first-class condition.

Mr. C. Moran, the Hamilton ownertrainer, while only appearing in the limelight during the last few seasons, has had a lengthy experience of trotting and ns a youth was associated with some high-grade Canterbury mentors. Since taking a keen interest in the training of his horses Mr, Moran has been very successful, and following on good wins with Impromptu, has done well w'ith Free Logan and his latest charge, Edna Worthy. Mr. L. F. Borkott, who hails from Hope Valley, Nelson, is no stranger to Manawatu, and his colours have bo-' como popular with followers of the sport in this province. Mr. Berkctt has been associated with horses of all descriptions since his boyhood days, and in the trotting lino he Ims handled numerous good ones, notably Imprint and Dilworth. He has recently been putting up something of a record with the trotter Nicoya, but his greatest achievement was in winning at Ncl-

son with Wairoa 80110, when sho paid over £IOOO on the machine. Mr. E. Tuke, who is now located in tho Marlborough district, lias had lengthy experience of trotting in Australia and Tasmania, where lie was a [successful trainer before settling in Auckland. While in tho North Mr. Tulco showed marked ability at break-ing-in, gaiting and educating young horses, and several now racing prominently in the northern province wore first handled by the ex-Australian reinsman.

Mr. L. 0. Thomas is Wellington’s leading light-harness trainer and reinsman, but before settling at Hutt Park ho was well up in tlio business in the Canterbury district. Mr. Thomas lias raced many pacers and trotters with a good deal of success, and ono of his charges, Glcnrossic, ranks among the first-flight pacers of the Dominion. Mr. Thomas drove Harold Logan at, Addington when tlie world-beater put up his 4.13 2-5 record, and the driver lias often stated that on that particular day the mighty Harold ran 4.11 from post to post.