TROTTING SURPRISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 10

TROTTING SURPRISE.

HORSE'S FIRST SUCCESS. VETERAN OWNER'S TRIUMPH. HUNDRED WINS COMPLETED. A long-delayed turn of good luck for Mr. E. 0. Sandall, of Morningsidc, the veteran of trotting in Auckland, was a happy feature of the Cambridge Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday. Mr. Sandall's horse Margaret Wallace, who had raced for years without success and was regarded as a foilorn hope, won the first event of the day, the Introductory Handicap, and paid a dividend approaching aquarter of a century.

The win was the hundredth that Mr. Sandall has had in his long association with trotting. He won his first race at Henderson's Mill 59 years ago, on March 17, 1872. In 1894 he won the Auckland Trolling Cup with Tom Hicks, and in tlie following year was successful with Old Judge. In recent years he raced the old trotter Tradesman, who ran occasional seconds and thirds, and thus paid for his keep. Margaret Wallace also gained some place-money, but it was not until Saturday that she succeeded in winning.. Mr. Sandall's last win was so long ago that he said he could not remember when it was. Omitted from Acceptances.

Some interesting circumstances were connected with Margaret Wallace's win. Her name was left out of the original list of acceptances, ;i happening which frequently proves to bo a good omen. Her number in the race-book was eleven, and she was eleventh, favourite in a field of fifteen.

The amount invested on Margaret Wallace 011 the totalisator was £2O 10s, and as Mr. Sandall put 011 half of this he had a very substantial win. lie said he invested £8 for himself and £2 for the driver, G. Phipps. When the horse was brought back to the birdcage the aged owner, who had been watching the race from the main grandstand, excitedly climbed over the dividing fence and shook hands with the driver. His joy was infectious and those near by gave him an ovation when he called out to someone in the stand, "I have got the centifry at last " First Effort as Driver. There were other interesting incidents during the day's sport. Lady Yvonne started in two races running, dead-heating for third in* the Stewards' Handicap, and then winning the Farewell Handicap. Her trainer, G. T. Mitchell, had another horse, Master Iluia, entered in the Farewell Handicap, and delayed a decision as to which one he would start until he saw how Lady Yvonne shaped in her *T'st outing. At fust it appeared on th D noticeboard that Master Iluia was starting, and that Lady Yvonne had been scratched, but later this was altered to the other way about, with happy results for the winner's party. Impromptu, who won his first race at Thames in March, and sewed three more wins and a second in Tarariaki in April, added ihe Stewards' Handicap to his remarkably consistent record. In all his previous successes he had been driven bv R. A. McMillan, but as McMillan had one of his own team, Prince Pedro, engaged in the Stewards' Handicap, another driver, had to be found for Impromptu. The owner, Mr. C. Moran, a Hamilton business man, who, although he trains his horse, had never driven in a race, decided to try his hand. He drove a very well-judged race from the backmark, 72 yards behind, and won decisively. A Walk of 68 Miles. Prince Lochinvar, who had arrived at Cambridge from Taranaki only 011 the Friday, showed his hardiness by running two races, gaining third place on the second occasion. His owner, Mr. E. G. M. llasler, lives at Kiore, in the backblocks of Taranaki, and owing to a dislocation of train arrangements, Prince Lochinvar had to be walked 68 miles before being entrained. The Cambridge Trotting Cup was won by Mr. 11. A. Swaflield's Gold Treasure, who was the back-marker of the field. A silver salver, valued at £25, which formed part of the stake, was presented to the owner by Mr. G. Baiidon, Mayor of Auckland. In replying, Jlr. Swaffield said this was the second trophy he had won 011 the Cambridge course, his steeplechaser, Kawini, having won the Waikato Hunt Cup in October, 1928. He bred Gohl Treasure himself and raced him at Cambridge four years ago without success. Three or four trainers handled the horse, but could do nothing with him, and it remained for the present one, A. J. Julian, to develop him into a good and profitable performer.