TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 19

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel. A copy of the Oamaru Trotting Club’s race book is to hand and acknowledged with thanks. There is a growing interest being taken in the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Labour Day and the card reads sure to attract a large attendance. On Thursday at Addington Indianapolis and Mountain Dell worked 10 furlongs in 2min 40sec. They went the first half in I'min 4 2-Ssce, a mile in 2min 8 3-ssee, and a final quarter in 31 2-osec. A much-needed' scheme of improvements has been started at the Addington course, where the enclosures are being laid down in bitumen. Part of the lawn between the grand stand and the stewards’ stand is also being placed under bitumen. This improvement will be appreciated by the public, for the portion mentioned is subjected to much traffic on race days, with the result that the turf gets worn away, and clouds of dust become evident. Even under adverse conditions, the bitumen will .be more serviceable than turf.

An important amendment made to the handicapping system is that affecting Derby candidates. In the past a class has been attached to the Derby events from which the winner has had to take his new mark but in future, the winner of a classic race will take his penalty from his present mark. That i.s to say. if a maiden pacer wins, he will take his penalty from the maximum mark for the distance, which, in the case of the New Zealand Derby Stakes, will be 3min 43sec for the mile and a-half. If a candidate with a faster mark is successful, then that candidate will take his penalty from that mark, irrespective of how fast it is. The virtue of the amended handicapping system will be realised by associates'of the sport at the OamanrTrottin r Club’s meeting, where 10 New Zealand Trotting Cup candidates are engaged in

the Weston Handicap, which is a mile and a-quartfer race. None of the Cup horses will receive a penalty in the New Zealand Trotting Cup should they be successful in the Weston Handicap at Oamaru. To make it quite plain, the old rule which made a penalty, compulsory in a two-mile race for every two consecutive successes in sprint events has been eliminated from the schedule. Racing history was made at the State fair track to-day,when that veteran pacing stallion Cold Cash won the Chamber of Commerce stake of 2500- dollars in 2min, Imin 581 sec, and Imin oS.Jscc, the fastest three-heat race ever paced, the average Imin 59sec (says the Horseman and Fair World of 'September 5), Not since 1923, when Single G won a heat here in Imin 581,see, has as fast a mile been raced, and on only two occasions has this been beaten in a race; in 1914 by Directum I, and in 1918 by Miss Harris M. The great old warrior, Cold Cash, making his sixth campaign, was invincible, and was driven with excellent judgment. Dick Reynolds, who beat the same field a week earlier, pacing the final heat in 2min, was favoured for the fast pace. He broke soon after the start of the first heat, and Rip Hanover went out in front with Logan Scott next. The half-mile was done in Imin O.jsec, and the threequarters in Imin 31sec, then Thomas came round with Cold Cash, and in a whirlwind finish boat Raider in 2min the last half in 59isec._ Again going away in the second heat, Dick Reynolds broke, and again Rip Hanover and Logan Scott set the early pace, faster this time, the half in 59sec. The three-quarters was passed in Imin SOsec, and then Cold Cash and Raider engaged in another stretch duel with the older horse first, the final quarter in 28Asec, the half in 591 sec, Logan Scott again third. In the filial, Dick Reynolds got away pacing, and raced Logan Scott, the quarter in 30sec, the half in 591 see, and the three-quarters in Imin 29Jsec. Raider was in at the rail, and Cold Cash came round on the outside. He and Dick Reynolds were rubbing wheels as they entered the stretch, Dick Reynolds making a break and Cold Cash coming on to beat Raider in another battle, the old horse taking the lead a few yards from the finish to win in Imin SSlsec.