TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 13

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel Auburn Lad The champion Victorian pacer Auburn Lad is finding it difficult to win in Sydney. He was unplaced in the Flying and Harold Park Handicaps, although he was close to the leaders at the bell during the latter race. Whitewashed At last week's meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association it was decided to remove the disqualification imposed in 1924 on F. Johnston, Sydney. Johnston was disqualified for life for (1) wilfully and corruptly supplying false information, and (2) making false declarations in connection with the horses Don Caesar and Lord Roanchild. A Record Class What is claimed as the fastest class race yet staged in Australia was the chief attraction at the Coronation meeting held at Gloucester Park, Perth (W.A.), on Wednesday, May 12. It was for horses handicapped at 2.12 and faster. There were 16 entrants, but as one of the conditions stipulated that no more than 12 could participate, so as to minimise interference, a ballot had to be taken to remove four, which were subsequently handicapped in other races. It was a great race, and in a thrilling finish victory went to Meditation (L. Williams; 2.11 J rate) from Lulu Mick (2.1 U rate) and Lady Childewood (2.10 rate). Time, 2min 44sec. A Protest At last week's meeting of the Trotting Association Mr J. Simpson stated that he had protested to the Forbury Park Club . against the trainer, R. B. Berry, not being allowed to drive his horse Rollalong. Berry, it was- explained, had been engaged at Ashburton on the first day of the Forbury Park meeting. He had applied for permission for Berry to drive, but this had been refused. His resentment was increased when it was known that a change of drivers was allowed in the case of another horse racing at the meeting. It was decided to await a report from the Forbury Park Club before taking any action. It was decided to forward to the annual conference a remit suggesting that rule 214 be amended to give power to the stipendiary steward and the chairman of the Judicial Committee to deal with any application for a change of drivers. Track Patrol

At one time the patrol stewards acting at Forbury Park moved about in the infield of the track. When cases of interference occurred or when a rider or driver did not maintain a satisfactory line the writer claimed that the stewards did not take up a position to give acceptable evidence on such matters, and suggested that look-out stands should be erected at the turn into the back stretch and another at the far turn. Stewards placed in such positions could have the best view of a field coming from the turn out of the straight and when racing to the far turn. A steward at the far turn could obtain the best view of a field approaching him along the back stretch and then on to the home turn. The stewards on the stand could see what occurred in the straight. The existing stands were then erected and at one meeting a tall crop of oats stood in the infield at Forbury Park, and more than a suspicion existed that a winner of a trotters' race made a "break" at the turn in the back anjd continued in the "break" until well round the far turn. Only the driver's head in the sulky could be seen, and instead of travelling in an even line of march as if carried at a straight trot on this particular stretch it " bobbed" up and down more suggestive of being behind a galloper. Many years have passed since the stands were erected at Forbury Park, and, although patrol -stewards take up positions at Addington, it was suggested at last week's meeting of the Trotting Association by Mr J. R. M'Kenzie that the board should consider the position occupied by stipendiary stewards during the running of races. He did not think a position in the stewards' stand could give an official an ideal view of the racing. From such a position it was impossible to tell how far a horse was away from the rails or whether it was keeping a straight course. The Addington track was not the only one that did not provide the necessary facilities, and he considered that a special stand should be erected near the track, for preference at the top of the straight, which would give a good view of the racing round the turn and down the home stretch. It was decided to forward a remit to conference suggesting that on all courses facilities close to the track should be provided for the viewing of races by stipendiary stewards. Double Gait

According to Edwin T. Keller (Horseman and Fair World), it is 45 years since the appearance gf the first performer able to secure records of 2min lOsec or better at both the trotting and pacing gait. Jay-Eye-See was the first to trot in 2min lOsec, doing so on August 1, 1884. Eight years later, in 1892, he paced in 2min 6isec, thereby becoming the first performer in history to secure records of 2min lOsec or better at both gaits, a fea' that at one time was held as just one of those things that would never happen The total is now 101. Among this group there is one with a record of better than 2min at both gaits and 11 with records of 2min ssec or better at both the trot and pace. Calumet Evelyn, of course, heads the entire list, setting the record for double-gaited stars during the 1935 season when she paced in lmin 59}sec and trotted in 2min within the course of but five days, coming back the past season to reduc further this record, placing it at lmin 59.' ( sec pacing and lmin 59£sec trotting, her latter mark particularly noteworthy through the fact that it came about in the third heat of an actual contest, giving this great mare the distinction of having scored both records in regularly contested events, not via the timerecord method, where everything is in favour of the candidate. Foremost among the new additions of the 1936 campaign is Maralie Hanover, a yearling out of the Old Glory sale at 100 dollars. Another who raced almost all season on the pace was Leon (2min lijsec). He was allowed to shift over to the trot during a v crkout one morning, and a few days later in a record attempt trotted in 2min 4Jsec to become the fastest double-gaited candidate ever bred in Kansas and seventh fastest in the entire list. Iron-sided old Guy the Tramp. 2min 2sec pacing

and 2min 4Jsec trotting, who has covered more miles in his racing career than any other candidate of modern times, and who has run up a string of 45 victories, earned a reduction in his diagonal record late in the year on the Pacific coast, and steps right in behind Leon in the list of top performers in the group.