TROTTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 27

TROTTING.

Trotting is a grand sport in every way except tho way in which it is sometimes carried on. That, of course, leaves some room for amendment, as even the votaries of tho inside trotting ring will allow. But when it comes to “ trotting dogs” it is time for decent folk to protest. We have seen an illustration in various sporting papers of a trotting dog harnessed to a little cart, and wo havo read that “ he has pulled an 801 b boy and an iron-wheeled cart a quarter of a mile at the rate of 3min ISsec to a mile.” Wo have observed, too, that this animal who is set to pull good-for-nothing boys and insignificant go-carts is a setter. In tho name of common-sense, wo ask what is tho use of harnessing a setter to a go-cart and getting a record out of him ? Speed is not one of the points of a setter. Neither is traction. A setter is not a beast of burden. His value consists in the qualities be uses in hunting, in which sport, necessity it was of old, he is one of man’s most powerful friends. But to put him in a go-cart to pull 80lb boys and their impertinence round a quartermile course is the acme of absurdity. Horses and mules you want for speed and traction. That is their value. Does anybody take out a trotting horse to do “setting” for him? That would be absurd. But not more absurd than to try and make a trotting racehorso out of a setter. CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB. Christchurch, May 21. Tho first day’s racing of tho Canterbury Trotting Club’s Winter Meeting was held to-day. Tho sum of £IO3B was passed through tho totalisator. Pony Handicap (harness), two miles.— Empire, 33soc, 1. Eight others started. Won by 80 yards. Dividend, £2O Gs. Juvenile Stakes (harness), of 170 sovs ; one mile.—First heat: Dictator, 1. Time, 3min 11 4-ssec. Dividend, £1 lGs. Second heat: Imperial, 1. Time, 3inin llsce. Dividend, £1 10s. Third heat: General Standish, 1. Time, 3min Msec. Dividend, £l2 Gs. Winter Handicap (saddle), two miles..— Lady May, 31soc, 1 ; Jeanette, 38seo, 2. Six others started. Won by throe lengths. Time, smin 2(5 2-ssec. Dividend, £1 Gs. Sires’ Handicap (harness), two miles. — Brooklyn, llsee, 1. Three others started. Dividend, £2 12s. Addington Handicap (harness), of 85 sovs ; two miles.—Prineo Imperial, 28sec, 1 ; Albert Victor, S2soe, 2. Ten others started. Won by 20yds. Time, smin losec. Dividend, £2 lGs. Electric Handicap (saddle), one mile.— Miss Poole, Msec, 1. Time, 2min 37scc. Dividend, £4 10s. Dash Handicap (harness), one mile.— Burwood Bess, Msec, 1 ; Albert Victor, 7soc, 2; Prince Imperial, 2see behind, 3. Time, 2inin 49 3-ssec. Dividend, £1 Bs. Christchurch, May 25. At tho second day's racing of the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Winter Meeting, the following were tho winners : —Maiden Handicap (saddle), Mesmerist, £ll Gs dividend; Juvenilo Stakes (harness), Dictator, £1 lGs ; Queen’s Handicap (saddle), Monte Carlo, £5 2s ; Maiden Handicap (harness), Sam Slick, £5 10s; Puny Handicap (harness),Cricket, £2 8s ; Birthday Handicap (harnoss), Ascot, £1 lG.s; Telegraph Handicap (saddle), Spider, £8 Gs, Avon, who finished first, being disqualified for inconsistent running; Final Handicap (harness), Kentucky, £O. The sum of £5997 10s was put through the totalisator, making a total of £10,035 10s for the meeting.