TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21390, 18 July 1931, Page 8

TROTTING

By Sentinel. Mister Pointer has rejoined G. M'Kendry’s stable. Several delegates to the Trotting Conference expressed opinions in favour of fixed penalties. The Trotting Conference would not turn a sympathetic ear to B. Jarden’s request for a restoration of his license, which he lost about two years and a-half ago. The New Zealand Sapling States continues to retain its popularity with owners After the first forfeit for next seasons two-year-old classic 87 horses remain in the race. . Warplane, who has arrived in Christchurch from Auckland, looks as though he has done a good deal of work prior to coming south (says the Press), and if the tracks here remain in good order ho should be in excellent shape for the August meeting. A second ballot for the selection of stewards for the 1931-32 season of the Metropolitan Trotting Club resulted in the re-election of the retiring officers. The following will officiate: —Messrs A. b. Duncan, W H. Holliss, W. Hayward, F. W. Johnston, T. H Ker, A. L. Matson,- C. H. Piper, G. W. C. Smithson, Arthur Smith, J. Westerman. An application by T. M. Sim for the removal of the disqualification imposed on him in 1923 for his part in connection with the Dora Derby-Traylace “ ringingin ” case was granted by the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association at a meeting held in Wellington. Mr H. W. Kitchingham presided in the absence of Mr J. H. Williams owing to illness, and there were also present Messrs _J. B. Thomson, B. M'Carthy, J. R. M'Kenzie, and H. C. Harley. L. Mitchell will take Mountain Dell to Addington for the August meeting, and there will be plenty of Auckland money to support the brilliant pacer in her engagements. She has done a lot of work and is pacing in her best style. A winner of just on £2OOO this season without going outside Auckland, the daughter of Blue Mountain King has done exceedingly well (says “Abaydos”), and ns she is on a favourable mark for one of her brilliancy she has only to be right when she lines up at Addington for her to set the best of the southerners something to do. Her trainer will probably drive her himself in her engagements. From the latest American files comes the news of this season’s first 2min lOsec two-year-old trotter. This is Breyere, a particularly well-bred youngster with the blood of many great brood mares in Ins pedigree. He is by Peter the Brewei, one of the greatest racing sons of Peter the Great, from Jane Revere (2.G|). Jane Revere was got by Guy Axwortny from the unbeaten Volga, who is a daughter of Peter the Great and Nervolo Belle, who is also the dam of Peter Volo. After a brief respite (says the New Zealand Herald), Jewel Pointer and Great Ball in have been taken in band again by F. J. Smith with a view to receiving a sound preparation for the New Zealand Metropolitan Club’s National carnival next month. Both pacers displayed high class form at the local June meeting and are in great heart to tackle serious work again. Great Ballin, who only recently joined Smith’s stable, showed rare sprinting ability during the season for G. F. Robertson, and his dual success in saddle at tlie February meeting at Epsom stamped him as a good horse in saddle. After hia success on the opening day of the February meeting, when he won comfortably in 2.13 4-5 seconds, the Auckland handicapper imposed a 36-yards’ penalty on Great Ballin, but even that severe handicap did not stop him from winning again. Great Ballin should give a good account of himself at Addington. Smith will endeavour to secure the services o f M. Holmes for Great Ballin in the saddle races Jewel Pointer, having made a return to his best form, will be well placed in mile and a-quarter and two-miles events. Ho will be meeting many of the best pacers in the land, but will worthib uphold the honour of the north. With two such fine pacers, Smith’s first visit to Addington should prove successful. The Trotting Conference Executive moved as follows:—“The stewards or judicial committee of a club shall have power, provided they are unanimous in

their decision, and provided a stipendiary steward concurs, to inflict a fine not exceeding £25 on any horseman who, in the opinion of such stewards or committee, has been, during a race, guilty of a breach of any of the Rules of Trotting; and it shall not be necessary for sucri stewards or committee to hear any evidence other than the explanation of the horseman before inflicting such penalty; provided always that if the horseman immediately after learning that he has been so fined by the stewards or judicial com mittee states to the . stewards or judicial committee his objection to being so fined, and immediately deposits with the secretary of the club the amount of £lO, he may require the stewards or judicial committee, instead of inflicting such penalty under the powers given them by this rule, to have a complaint or charge brought against him under the provisions of Rule 347 hereof, and in such case the horseman shall be dealt with under ana in accordance with the provisions of Ku e 347, and all the provisions of Rule oij shall apply. Unless the stewards or judicial committee, after hearing the evidence, consider the horseman had reasonable grounds for objecting to their previous decision, and/or the fine inflicted by them on him under this rule, and fo r requiring the matter to be referred to them again under Rule 347, the £lO deposited with the secretary of the club shall be forfeited.” The remit was carried, with an amendment, that the £lO deposit should carry the appeal to the 'trotting Association. One of the remits before the irottmg Conference that was adopted reads as follows:—“The table of penalties prescribed in the schedule set out in the appendix hereto may be altered or added to from time to time as may be decided upon the by the Stipendiary Stewards Committee, who shall have power to make regulations incorporating such alterations and additions, and also regulations dealing with any other matter in relation to handicapping. Such regulations shad, when signed by' the president and transmitted to the secretary of the conference, be notified in the Official Calendar, and shall thereafter be binding -on all handi cappers and other persons. Nothing contained. however, in this rule shall cm power the Stipendiary Stewards Com ; mittee to substitute _ for the method ot handicapping by limitation of handicappers’ penalties to be applied to placed horses any different method or system of handicapping.” In supporting the proposal, the president said the proposal was a simple one. It aimed at securing that there should be no departure from the handicapping system. A few montiis ago he had convened a meeting in Christchurch, which was attended by members of the Trotting Association and others interested and conversant with the subject. The meeting agreed to certain principles, and a sub-committee then brought down certain proposals. Ihe points agreed on were:—(l) No penalty for third horse; (2) no horse to be penalised till it had won a race; (3) a horse shall not be let up to the preceding line from its handicap mark till after six months, during which period it must have started at least four times, at two or more meetings, without finishing farst oi second, but no horse shall be let up awing the progress of a meeting: (4) horses winning a 2.12 or better mile or a 2.46 or better mile and a-quarter not to be penalised for two miles or a mile and a-half for the first win, and vice versa, but should be penalised 12 yards for a subsequent win; (5) a table of penalties to be issued, indicating on which mark any horse shall be handicapped over all distances, with a compulsory penalty tor winners in the slowest class, optional penalty for middle classes, and compulsory penalty for the fastest class. Those were the main principles, and if the delegates agreed much of the dissatisfaction or the past would be eliminated. Mr Nicoll read a telegram from the Canterbury Breeders ana Owners’ Association, urging the adoption of fixed penalties. GJ this subject he thought that the time was not ripe. The present suggestion was o step towards fixed penalties, and they might see their way to go further later on.