TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19879, 24 February 1928, Page 15

TROTTING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. March 3—Waikato Trotting Club. March 7—Manawatu Trotting Club. March 24—Thames Trotting Club. March 24—Wellington Trotting Club. March .29, 31- -Wanganui Trotting Club. April 7, 9—Hawera Trotting Club, May B—Cambridge Trotting Club. .Tune 23. 27—Auckland Trotting Club. OTAHUHU SUMMER MEETING NOTES ON THE FORM. BY PICADOR. In spite of a decrease of slightly over £IO,OOO in the totalisator turnover, tbe Otahuhu Trotting Club's Summer Meeting pasaed off very successfully. There was a good Attendance on both days and the club should make a satisfactory profit. The fields were excellent throughout and some fine contests were provided. The track was in splendid order and fast times were recorded. Winners included six favourites and the only real surprise was the victory of Maid of the Mountains, who was at a long price in the Newmarket' Handicap. There were a few rather sharp reversals of form, Beveral horses showing considerable improvement on the second day compared with their running on the opening day. The figures showing the support accorded a couple of these horses in their respective engagements make interesting reading and indicate that somebody was prepared for the improvement. The success of any sport is largely due to the amoiat of public patronage it receives. Trotting is a popular sport and the local meetings are always largely attended, but if inconsistent running is allowed to go unchallenged it will not be to the benefit of tbe sport. Lochade seems to be on the improve rnd trotted a fair race to finish third in the Suburban Handicap. The daughter of Cur Thorpe is a comparatively young mare and has yet time to make more progress, so that further improvement in her form may be expected. Lochade should reach tbe winning list at one of the country meetings.

Without managing to win, Anseline had raced consistently well in her previous engagements thia season, and it was therefore pleasing to see her rewarded with a van in the Suburban Handicap. She conceded starts ranging up to 120 yards to her opponents and then won comfortably at the finish. Anseline registered her best effort over two miles by going 4m 475, and is now likely to be on a mark where she will find it difficult to win. It would seem that Leo Mauritius does not stay well. For about a mile and a-half he was trotting in great style in the Suburban Handicap and then tired badly. It is in his favour that tie is fairly solid, but he will need to be carefully placed to be a payable proposition. Fortune had not been kind to J. Gee this season, but his luck took & turn on the second day, when he annexed the first two events with Anseline and Maid of the Mountains. Hitherto the latter has not been too reliable at the barrier and vas almost neglected in the betting, with the result that she returned a very substantial dividend when she won the Newmarket Handicap. Maid of the Mountains is a six-year-old mare by Blue Mountain King from Lou Dillon, hence a half-sister to Dick Dillon. She is the first of her sire's progeny to win. Aftexf racing without luck for some time, Van Rich returned to the winning list in the Sylvia Park Handicap. On the strength of his third in the mile saddle event on the opening day, he was a good second fancy with backers, but, even so, made & nice return. Van Rich is & genuine customer and he is so well at present that he may score again soon. The erratic Direct Morning, who was bracketed with Bingen King, was sent out favourite for the Sylvia Park Handicap, but the best he could do was to finish second. When he hopped off iihe mark in brilliant fashion and ran to the front in four furlongs, his admirers were jubilant. It certainly looked as if he would win once he got away right, but Van Rich wore him down at the finish. Direct Morning has lots of speed, but is not a good racehorse.

Notwithstanding his lack of form this season, Wrigley came in for heavy support in the Sylvia Park Handicap and was a good third choice. He was out in front most of the way, but faded out at the home turn and finished well back. When produced again later in the day in the Farewell Handicap. Wrigley was very little fancied aßd was again well beaten. The Florizel gelding is speedy and might do better if he did not pull so hard.-. Luck was on the side of Sea Pearl when she won the Dominion Handicap, though sho might have won in any case. Nearing the home turn she was awkwardly placed behind Black Lila, with The Shrew closing her in on the rails just in front of a bunch comprising Terence Dillon, Peter Swift and Jewel Pointer. It certainly looked as if she would not get clear until Black Lila broke and capsized The Shrew, allowing Sea Pearl to go through on the rails to win by half a length. Only for the accident The Shrew and Terence Dillon might both have beaten Sea Pearl. The performance of Terence Dillon in winning the Otahuhu Cup in 4m. 25s stamped him as a class pacer. The Anthor •Dillon gelding confirmed that form by going 4m 26b into second place in the Dominion Handicap, after having none the best of the running. Going out of the straight the (last time he was on the outside of three horses and had to cover a lot of ground. With a better run at this ?stc,ge he might easily have turned his defeat into victory.

The Shrew disappointed in the Otahuhu Cup, fading out quickly after being the leader for about a mile and a-half. -Differently handled, she went a much better race in tho Dominion Handicap and looked l ; ke being the hardest to beat when she struck trouble just before the home turn was reached. The Shrew was running second at the time the mishap occurred, and on her running should win an important l.«ndicap soon. • Despite the fact that he is now on a tight mark. Jewel Pointer continues to add to his winnings. There was no doubt an element of luck in his third in the Dominion Handicap, but his dead-heat for first with Nelson Fame in the Coates Handicap was a brilliant performance. It was with a courageous finishing effort that he got up to divide the honours, as he gave Nelson Fame several lengths' start in the run home. Jewel - Pointer is undoubtedly one of the best pacers in the Dominion over all distances. It was the general opinion that Native Prince was particularly well handicapped in the Richmond Handicap and backers bad no hesitation in making him a Lot favourite. Whereas he had been alow away in bis previous start. Native Prince went through the field quickly on this occasion and before going a mile was in a handy position on the rails. After that he never looked like getting beaten and won jtoing away in spite of a determined effort by Padlock. Native Prince is good and his connections were indeed fortunate to have him so favourably handicapped, Of! a 4m 80s mark Padlock went 4m 28 3-Rs in the Richmond Handicap and got beaten into second place. His time was a tick faster than that recorded by Sea Pearl in winning the big race ar.d demonstrates how hard it is sometimes to win in the slower class. If Padlock hsd been eligible for the Dominion Handicap he would no doubt have won. As a result of |iis latest performance he is now qualified to compete in big races. The fastest times recorded over a mile and a-quarter in the Dominion stand to the eretfit of Mintcn Derby (2m 40 1-Ss) and Great Bingen (3m 40 8-ss). It will

therefore be recognised that Nelson and Jewel Pointer registered brilliwii performance# when they went 2ra 41s «o dead-heat in the Coates Handicap. Tho time is not a record for the local track; as it vu at Alexandra Park that Greta Bingen went 3m 40 3-ss, That was when he won the Penrose Handicap at the Auckland Summer Meeting in 1926. Still 'be performance emphasises the claims r,i Nelson Fame and Jewel Pointer to rank amorfg the best aprihters in the Dominion. Their rate of speed worked oat at about •Jm 9a to the mile. Several visiting trainers expressed the opinion before the meeting opened that Great Bingen waa not aa good aa he used to, be and his two defeats tend to prove the correctness of that idea. The Nelson Bingen horse was favourably handicapped in both engagements and waa beaten off the aame mark by Nelson Fame and Jewel Pointer. This latter pair are brilliant, but at his best Great Bingen would be* aelected to beat them both. Perhaps the champion is beginning to feci the effects of a strenuous career, although it is possible he will freshen up with a short spell and regain his best form. Though never sighted in the Tamaki Handicap on the opening day, Great Actress was confidently backed in the Farewell Handicap and she duly scored. The fact that she was off the limit instead of the back mark, as in her first engagement, no doivbt made a difference, for her display in the Farewell Handicap was characterised by considerable dash and she was always going like a winner. RACING TAXATION. OTAHUHU CLUB'S PAYMENTS. The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Otahuhu Trotting Club's recent summer meeting amounted to £6478 0s 6cL made up as follows: £ r. d. Totalisator tar ~ .. 2140 12 0. Dividend tax .. ..' 3853 2 0 Stakes tax .. ~ 357 10 0 Amusement tax .. .. 126 16 6 Total .. . . *46478™ 0 6, MARLBOROUGH MEETING. THE HANDICAPS DECLARED. ! V. ■' —"—' , - v [b® telegraph.—peess association.] BLENHEIM. Thursday. The following handicaps have been declared for the 'Marlborough Trotting Club'a annual meeting on Friday. March 2:— TRIAL HANDICAP; 1} miles.—Ballin's Pride, Kadiola, Araehne. Dolorosa, Royal Thorpe. Mona Logan, Waipuki, Koleraine. Lady Bee, limit; Dura, 12yds bhd; Our Nelson, 24; Red Roy. Great Wilkes. 36; George Again, 48. STEWARDS' HANDICAP; If miles.™ Balayah, Audo Spray, St. Petrox, Petri*. Eva. Reta Bsllin. Bill. Billy Bingen. Nelson Moor, Theda. limit; Rebecca, Tidewater, 48yds bhd; West wood, P. McMillan, 84; Maori Peter, 96. MARLBOROUGH HANDICAP: 2 miles.— Nelson Parsons, Nelson _ Boy, Warranore, Young Author, limit; Dillon's Pride, 12yds bhd; Zella, Mercury. 24; Aorangi. Lottie Advance, 36; Audo Child. 48; Neerson, 84; Ricorda, 108. WATERLEA HANDICAP; li ptiles.— Tracey Boy, Ail Tlrorpe. ■ Our Nelson. Red ' Rey. Warranore, BflTy Bingen, limit; Kangaloon. Country Life. 12yds bhd; Greythorpe, Sea Nymph, 24. LADIES' BRACELET; 1} miles,-Bsllin'* Pride. Radiolti, Arachne, Dolorosa, Roysl Thorpe. Star Cluster, Waipnki, Palm Leaf, Koleraine. Locanda Rose, limit; Eura. 24yds bhd: Great "Wilkes. 48: Tracey Boy, George Attain, 60; Lord Denver. 72; Sea Nymph. 9G. - PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP: 2 miles.--Nelson Moor. Balayah. Audo Spray, Petri;;. Eva, Reta Ballin. Bill. Hue Audubon. Theda, limit; Westwood, 24yds bhd; Dipnoi. Rebecca, 36; Tidewater, 48; Peter McMilian, 84; Maori Peter, 108; Fille de Ballin, 120: ■ Louisiana. 168. . DASH HANDICAP; 1 mile.-Losan Way. Nelson Parsons, Audubon Mac, Nelson Boy. Young Author, Direct Wave, Lady Bee, limit; Lottie Advance, 12yds bhd; Item. Audubon Child, Aorangi. Dillon's Pride. 24; Mercury, Zella, 86; Lincoln Huon, 60. FAREWELL HANDICAP: li miles.Tracey Boy, All Thorpe. Our Nelson, Palpi Leaf, Kangaloon, Eura, Waipnki, Wairenore, Country Life, Bingen Wilkes, limit; Sea Nymph. Grey thorpe. 12yds bhd; Clive Bell, Nelson Bay, 24; Annerley, 60, THE MARLBOROUGH CLUB. [BY TELEGBAFH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] BLENHEIM. Thursday! The following are the .handicaps for the trotting events on the first day o. the Marlborough Racing Club's Summer Meeting, March 1 and 3:— STARBOROUGH HANDICAP; li miles Balayah, Audo Spray, St. Petrox, Petrix, Eva, Reta, Hester, Audubon, Peterthon, Theda, limit; Westwood. 24yds bhd; Rebecca, Tidewater, 48; Locanda Rose, 60; Peter McMillan, 84; Maori Peter, 96. AWATERE TROTTING HANDICAP; \\ miles.—Dolorosa, Mona Logan, Waipuki. Palm Lcsf, Koleraine. Locanda Rose. Lad.v Bee, limit; Eura, 12yds bhd; Bingen Wilke?. Our Nelson," 24; Great Wilkes. Red Rey. 36:» George Again, 48: Wsrrenore. 60; Kangaloon. Conntry Life, 72; Greythorpe. Sen Nymph, 84. WAIKATO TROTTING CLUB. The committee of the Waikato Trotting Club notify that in the event of the »ede|ptances for the Progressive and Farewell Handicaps warranting it, those xaces will in two divisions and that in ality. the stake in' each race will then be increased by 50 per cen'.