TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel. August 24, 31 .. Metropolitan T.C. August 31 .... Auckland T.C. September 7 .. New Brighton T.C September 21 .. .Wellington T.C. October 5 .. .. Methven T.C. ’October 5 .. .. New Brighton T.C Jottings Medical Student, one of last season’s most consistent performers, is engaged at the National meeting. Margaret Hall is reported to be in splendid condition for her engagements at the National meeting. Radical, the brother to Knave of Diamonds, is expected to step his way much further back in the handicaps this season. Pirouette, one of the field in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes, is by Grattan Loyal from Lady’s Slipper. She is one of E. Berry’s team and last season collected a second and three thirds in six starts. A Good Record Lucky Loyal has been nominated for the principal two-mile events at the Metropolitan meeting. W. R. Butt had a run of success with the Grattan Loyal pacer last season, his record showing that bfe. was only four times out of a place in 16 starts Raven

There is no doubt about Raven's speed, but he sometimes adds to his handicap by making a slow beginning. Increasing age should, however, bring about an improvement in this respect.

A Genuine Type Elvo’s Pride was started no fewer than 23 times last season and thrived on it. The Nelson Derby mare is a genuine type of pacer and O. E. Hooper should have a good season with her. Tall Timber

Tall Timber started last season well by winning his first race, which he quickly followed up with a second and a third. In 11 subsequent starts he failed to reach a place. With several improvers alongside him in. the handicaps the Gallant Knight trotter will not find it easy to win again.

More Permits Needed “ Has the time not arrived when this control should be lifted? ” asked the president (Mr H. F. Nicoll) at the Trotting Conference. "We are very hard hit when our race days were reduced by 50 per cent, during the war, and some of our clubs suffered severely. To-day, times have altered. Looking round, we find that in England racing has resumed almost its normal activities. Race meetings are being held on week days, other than Saturdays. I noticed in the latest English papers that there were four consecutive days at Ascot, and three at Newmarket in May and June. In America, as mentioned before, racing goes on daily Those two countries are- straining every nerve to increase production, and it is cleat that their statesmen do not consider that racing interferes with this, otherwise they would not sanction it. In spite of the present confinement of trotting to Saturdays and holidays, we are still able to arrange dates for our clubs, and are in a position to allocate more days when authorised to do so. but the existing restriction is a serious matter for owners, adding as it does, considerably to their expenses.”

Extra Permits The agitation for more permits for light-harness racing deserves every consideration, but the calendar is already well filled with dates for racing and troting. If more permits were granted for trotting, clubs would be faced with the problem of obtaining dates likely to assist the success of a meeting. It would not assist the success of light-harness racing if permits were granted to clubs racing in more or less outlandish districts, where a minimum of accommodation is obtainable for men and horses. The most serious handicap under which racing and trottirtg labour at present is due to granting permits to clubs situated where very limited accommodation can ‘be obtained For instance Geraldine holds two permits instead of being compelled to amalgamate with the South Canterbury Jockey Club at Washdyke, where ample accommodation can be obtained. In addition, the Geraldine track is not safe or suitable for large fields. It has been stated that some clubs instead of seeking the assistance of the Racing Conference or Trotting Conference in their efforts to get permits have been approaching parliamentarians to work on their behalf. Such action is most unsportsmanlike, as the racing and trotting authorities can surely be relied on to dispense fair play to clubs under their control. Clubs exist for the furtherance of the general Interests of the sport and not for the benefit of any individual club or district. That point of view cannot be too firmly stressed when the granting of permits comes under consideration.