TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21984, 20 June 1933, Page 4

TROTTING

By Sentinel. M. B. Edwards contemplates making a trip to Australia. Application for licenses for the coming season must be lodged not later than June 30. It is understood that a substantial offer was refused for the two-year-old Chancellor during his trip south for the Sapling Stakes, Gold Paper, the winner of the Nelson Cup, was foaled in 1928, and ’ is a four-year-old colt by Rey de Oro from Glimpse, by Logan Pointer from a Prince Imperial mare, who also produced Lyon’s Heir, Thixendale, Lough Neigh, Denver City, and Logan Princess. Gold Paper is a half-brother to Royal Silk. According to reports, Portljght, trained and driven by C. S. Donald, was unlucky in not gaining some of the place money in the Trial Handicap at Greymouth on Friday last. Finishing wide out underneath the judge’s box, lie appeared to be a comfortable second, but to the surprise of the majority he was not included amongst the first four when the numbers were hoisted. Modern Lady, who appeared to be fourth, was placed second. Portlight showed a great burst of speed approaching the straight, and finishing on in great style attracted attention to his future prospects. It is probable (remarks the Christchurch Times) that a special trotting meeting will be held at Addington in September, under the auspices of the three Christchurch Trotting Clubs, for the purpose of raising funds to assist the Relief Committee in its endeavour to raise £25.000. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has communicated with the Canterbury Park and the New Brighton Trotting Clubs, asking them to co-operate in running the meeting, which no doubt will be held if a totalisator permit can be obtained. Occasionally a trainer or owner is heard contending that there should be a reduction in the fees charged for nominations and acceptances, but it would seem that those in the trotting sport in New Zealand are in a very happy position coinpared to the men who race trotters in America; In a race carrying £IOOO stake money in America it costs £32 10s to make the nomination and subsequent payments. For the Fox Pacing Stake of £2000,; for two-year-olds, the nomination fee is £2, there is a first payment of £3, and three more payments of £2O each — in all £65. ....... The American Grand Circuit starts at North Randall on June 26 and concludes at Lexington, Kentucky, at the end of September. Nine tracks ; comprise the Grand Circuit. Each track has a number of days’ racing, and on the last day, like the Arabs, the trainers pack up their belongings and go on to the next track. North Randall starts on June 26 and races continuously for 13 days. The teams leave North Randall on July 8 and start racing at. Toledo on July 10. Lexington, Kentucky, finishes up the raging from September 18 to September 23. Lexington this year has two handicaps, a most unusual thing in America. What sort of races they must be can be judged from the method of handicapping the horses. Some time since America discarded classing horses according to their times. They are classified according to their stake winnings. The conditions for one handicap, worth £4OO are: Horses that have not won £BOO scratch, winners of £ISOO 40ft behind, of £2OOO 75ft behind, all others, regardless of winnings, 105 ft behind. There is probably no pacer in Auckland who handles a soft track better than Peter Pirate, and though there is no guarantee (says “ Orion ”) that the track conditions will be heavy next week, the Auckland Trotting Club has been so unlucky in the matter of weather during the past year or so that ideal conditions seem almost too much to hope for. Twelve months ago Peter Pirate practically carried all before him at the winter meeting, including a brilliant win in the Adams Gup, and on 24yds he is nicely placed to repeat the performance. But it is just a question whether Mr Moodalie’s gelding will be quite ready. A month ago he was not in work, and though he has come on rapidly since being put into training he will be meeting a lot of thoroughly seasoned horses, whose condition will enable them to maintain a solid pace from barrier to judge. In addition to winning the Adams Cup last year Peter Pirate had on a previous occasion finished second in the race. RACEHORSE DRUGGED PENALTIES IMPOSED, “ \ (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, June 19. (Received June 19, at 9.40 p.m.) The Victoria Racing Club stewards disqualified for two years W. M. Markley, an owner and trainer, for dishonourable conduct in connection with the running of the racehorse Spherical in the Rothsay Trial Stakes at Flemington on June 3. The evidence was that a drug was administered by somebody to Spherical. M. Bourke, part owner of Spherical, was fined £25 for negligent supervision of the horse.