FORBURY PARK TROTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 11

FORBURY PARK TROTS

. CONCLUDING DAY TO-DAY There is said to be a silver lining to every, dour .and- dull cloud,, and that the silv'erene side is sure,, to ■show the bright side of things : sooner ,or later: This seems' to 'be the case with the' Forbury Park Trotting Club's winter meeting.-The exasperating, weather/of•;the past .week nasi. at,.last shown ;signs of: clearing, and indications:,point .to 'the track- and' atmospheric - conditions being comparatively, 'quite , favourable. v to at' least" a: rather satisfactdry : conclusion! of'the programme when abandonment ■ threatened, to vbe the Only, way rout' of the i difficulty. The committee: of jfche''club: was ; . forced to - make another. .postponement, and •: then, placed the' solution of the situation- at' the .wish of .the owners and trainers mostly interested.- They decided: to' remain, and race' their • horses-to-day, and • the committee willingly fell in with- the 'general opinion ih\prererence-.toracing,ras some suggested,' on - the ■ following day. ■ ' The club has now decided- to. race hail, -rain, or -snow to-day, biit, fortunately;,' atrthe time 5 of'writing, the antagonistic' weather seems.to : be ; exhausted' and prospects of very much- better conditions are indicated 'by: generally accepted^signs in direction'. The owners. and :trainers with horses,-engaged- at the; meeting have .proved, themselves very • loyal in- deciding to 'stand by the . c'lubi :They recognise that the club, made a particularly special effort to'Stage ah exceptionally good programmes that would 'have - been ■' both' a great sporting and • financial .success. sure to ; result in-.placinjs:; progressive programmes, for, next 'season. . The element, of luck, proved a.' bar to complete success, but at least sufficient' has 'been 'shown that'.th'e Forbury Park' Club holds a strong desire to- cater oh-the .very best lines', for the 'light harness sport.. -A stumble on the threshhold of success does not mean defeat'but merely .success delayed.- The. owners and trainers recognise the"'fact, and in a good sporting spirit resolved' to' stand : by the , club. Their' interests are' mutual, .and it only requires the sporting public to rally-round and by attendance to-day help to provide a stepping stope.to-progressive programmes for next season. As far as can be gathered, there will, be very few scratchings from the fields, -and the star attraction, the battle between Walla Walla and. Harold Logan, will take place according .to. the original contract'oh the card. Harold Logan will be ; a better horse.to-day,than if: started on Saturday last; when he must have, suffered bit of-leg ; weariness as a result Of a rush: journey from -Auckland.: Now both' horses will meet on fairly even terms on, the score of racing condition and fitness, and: the going promises . to be as good for one horse as another; Opinions are varied as to the result,:but it promises to- be an- epochmaking battle that will place .Forbury Park',conspicuously on the sporting map and one .that will provide much food for conversation ■ amongst- in the future. There is, in fact, a silver" lining showing through the clouds, and it augurs well for the sport, owneVs, trainers, and the - sporting public and the increasingly attractive cards the club will be able to provide, in the.future. . . ~ 1 Yesterday afternoon the track at Forbuiy Park had dried up in remarkable fashion, and at least 60 horses were worked on it in the afternoon, - -.