CANTERBURY TROTTING

NZ Truth, Issue 578, 15 July 1916, Page 10

CANTERBURY TROTTING

(By "The Looker On.")

The Rlccarton trainer, Fleming:, has made a new training track on bis property. It Is six furlongs In circumference and looks to be an improvement on the old one. Bonilene is not being asked to do a great deal just now. The Americanbred filly trots with a straight knee, and is inclined to hit her joints fairly hard. It was reported that Westland's champion trotter, Gallcian, had once again come over to the City of the Plains to be trained, but if he Is here the Gallndo gelding is being kept very quiet as none of the heads appear to know anything about him. M. Edwards has got a big team m work. In it are uonte speedy pacers, but they are not the best of stayers. Irvlngwood is a good-looking gelding, and he should raco bettor this season as he will bo more seasoned than when last seen out. ♦ With Frandocla and Princess Sherwood as a choice of drives m next sea»on's big-monlod boats Albert Hendricksen will hold a prelty strong ! hand. ' Frandocla has gone into this stable, so that the man who drives him m bis work will handle him la j races. Electrocute, who is something like twelve yeaia old, looks a betler horse now than he did six years ago and he can go a great deal faster. Mlcha«l Galindo haa boen showing a decided limp m front, and on account of it ho la doing all his work on the lead. Unless tho tracks keep very soft there Is little hope of getting this flno trotter to the post next month. Arthur Cox haa recognised that Red Heather wants plenty of work, and the Rothschild gelding has been kept up to the collar mud or no mud, and yet he looka m show condition. Tho AustraJlan-brod trotter. Hardy Wilkes, is a good looker. He moves just as resolutely and with e'i tho freedom of the best of trotter By tho way. what mark will Handicappvr Urlnkman put thus fellow on after ht« Park showing? Madam Shaw Is another that It will trouble tho adjuster to find a murk for and givo satisfaction to her connections.

Norval King is still building up. He is a very lightly-barrelled horse and will alwayn look somewhat mean. His strong point is Bpced.

Irvar is one of the lean kind, but he can pace some. Cox has been keeping the black up to his collar. Admiral Wood is reported to be m good health. He is to be got ready for the big run next November, for which he is sure to be on a good mark. It has been found necessary to blister Cousin Jenny again, as the Galindo mare sprung the injured tendon. Hiram Galindo is being used as a gig horse, and a very sober-sided gentleman he is for a stallion. Marizion has been taken up once more. This time she is being, worked with hobbles on. This is a pity for she was a really good, free- legged pacer, and they are few and far between. The Auckland owned Strategy is'- a iregular attendant on the Addihgton tracks.- So far he has not been -asked ;to do : anything more than solid^jogging. ;He is looking rather on the big side. • ; STcDermott has taken up Gold" Drift again. The Driftwood pacer is looking m good health, and it is to be hoped his. v head keeps cool when facing the clock. The Bequest fllly m Pox's stable is growing into a sturdy mare, but she does'. not look strong enough to pull a heavy gig. Bdb Franks has given up the idea of making: Dora McKinney trot, and I is giving her another try out with the straps on. So far this mare's public form does not make her out to be much good, but her owner intends to try and get something out of her. [ Soda is back m work again. The little mare has great speed for a pony, but a lot of big horses that race m her class have more. J. Bryce did not stick to Harold Minto very long. Got him one sale day^ and dropped him the next. The nev? rule passed by the Trotting Association last week, that any rider or driver fined for breaking away before his bell on two, or more occasions last season 'will have his ticket cancelled for a first offence this season, looks like making a man do two sentences for the one fault If the Association were to cut out all reference to last season, then it would be a rule moving m the right direction. Old Derringcotte is being used as a back to lead Michael Galindo. The ancient pacer is doing so well on it that there is a possibility that he may carry colors once again.

The Metropolitan Trotting Club has decided to alter the name of ■ their classic for, three-year-olds. Why not go one hetter and alter t?ie distance to ten furlongs instead of twelve?

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, a section of the members present (who were evidently prepared) held the balance of power, and passed a resolution that m future all hiiie races run at the Club's meetings should be handicapped by yards instead of seconds. Handicapping by yards may be all right where all races are run under that style of handicapping. The* writer fully admits there are many faults m the present system of starting and handicapping, but he cannot see what benefit can be derived from handicapping by yards. Why did not the gentleman who thought out this very original idea of handicapping pacers and trotters get all the mile heats turned into class trots, and he would have gone down to posterity as having done something useful m the trotting game. <

In this column a few weeks ago it was said that G*ld La«w had slipped her foal. This was not correct, as she dropped dead while In foal.

Pygmalion, who ten years ago was boomed as a coming: champion, and who has been oft the scene for ages, has ouce more put m an appearance on the tracks.

Secretary A. I. Rattray, of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, has an advertisement m this issue notifying the closing of entries for the New Zealand Cup, of 2500 soys. The conditions specify that It is open to all horses that have done 4,36 or better. Entries close, on Wednesday, August 23, at 8 p.m. Adjoining is the programme of the three days' meeting of the same club, to be held on August 12, 16 and IS. There are eight events each day, and valuable prizes for all classes. Nominations for all events close on Wednesday next at 8 p.m.