T.P.T.C.'S WINTER MEETING

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 54

T.P.T.C.'S WINTER MEETING

The Tahuna Park Trotting Club hr-ld tho Srst day of the club's Winter meeting on Thursday last, and although there was a vorv large attendance the amount parsed through tho machine fell short by £208 of the sum handled on the firr-t <!ay of la«t year's Winter meeting. One thin? noticeable about the attendance wns that it con sifted largely of country visitors, and also that a large attendance do«*s not necessarily mean large totulisator receipts. There can bo no doubt that tlie meeting suffered from a financial point of view by not beint» held on dates that fit in with the D.J.C.'s Winter meeting, because many large speculators attend fiat racing meetings from choice, but are frequently found at trotting meetings by accident only. Should the dates of a trotting fixture dovetail with the dates of a race meeting, followers of the latrer sport frequently attend the former pastime for want of something better. The weather can also be blamed for preventing the attendance of other racc-goeis, as the fact that 'the he iiv rains w)<ich had fallen prior to the m-'ftm? had completely flooded the park vaa aufficieut to seriously iat«ri«r« tfiib fch*

amount of patronage bestowed on the meeting. However, when the park was reached on Thursday last it was found that the- club bad grappled with the water fiend very successfully, and by employing a. number of men to dig drains and spread sand and cinders where required the surface water was quickly got rid of. It was found necessary to dig a> trench across the track at one place, and to guard against accident a man was stationed at that point during the day to fill up any holes made> by the horses when crossing that particular place. The terra«?e was found to be a blessing, and the ground was fairly dry along its surface. The racing commenced with the Maiden Handicap, and Baron Rothschild won easily after Waipounamu put in a break, which settled his chance of success. The winner is a rising three-year-old, by Rothschild, whom Mr J. M'Kowen purchased as a yearling when sold under the hammer in Christchurch. Baron Rothschild has grown into a talcing sort of a horse, and m time will no doubt gain further winning honours in moro pietentkm3 company than he defeated in the ATaiden at Tahuna Park. In the Progressive Handicap The G'eoi, who had also started in the Maiden, in which he had shaped very brdly, won pulling up six lengths in front of Fairehild 11. The Christchurch mare Verice was made favourite, but lost 'her chance of success through breaking badly, after looking a likely wmner, when the first mile of the race was being traversed. With tho decision of fclie Progressive Handicap the way was cleared for the Prince of Wales Handicap, which race formed the cliief item on th-e programme of the meeting. In tho first heat eight horses lined up for the contest, and of these the chnaices of Boldr-ewood and Wild Agnes were in receipt of tho attention of the majority of punters. In the race The Heir did not begin too kindly, but when he struck his gait he quickly overhauled tho&e iii front. In tho early stage of the ra.ee> Wild Agnes looked to possess a great chance, but two furlongs from home was clone with and dropped out of the contour. At this stage Boldrewood had assumed command of affairs, and The Heir was also putting in good work. Boldrewood turned into the «traig-ht slightly in advance of The Heir, and the latter was rscing wide on Ehe- outbids to get the benefit of the firmer going. After an exciting finish had been witnessed between the pair, the judge was unable tr> sepanu-e- diem, and his verdict was a dead hoat. Airedale shaped surpii=:ngly well, and was not' far behind the dead-heaters at tho finish. The time (2min 29isec) for the mile was very good, #onMdering the state of th& track, and the race furnished one of the most exciting contests c-\cr witnessed at Tahuna Park. In tho «econd heat, after Officer and Lssey had been prominent in the firr.t half-mile, Phoebe assumed command, and afterwards won easily in 2min 44sec. Officer tired badly in tho last part of the journey, and the <-anae remark apjjlies to many of the other pacers- raced during the clay ; in fact, the heavy going was responsible for the downfall of many who would have raced much -better on a. dry track. The Marram Pony Handicap was won by Crest with little to spare from Del Avis. Tho former required judicious handling to Ret her to trot kindly. The opposition to Boldrewood in the President's Handicap did not prove very strong, as eight furlongs from home ho had assumed the leadership, and afterwards was never seriously troubled. Verax shaped fairly well, but was outpaced by Boldrewood. Plan and Cottago Boy did not trot too kindly, and put in some bad break?. The- day's sport was brought to a conclusion with the Ocean Eeach Handicap, and after Phoebe was prominent for three laps she broke badly. From this out a. good race resulted between the placed hordes, and George L.'s superior pace enabled him to win by three lengths from Comrade, who finished the same distance in front of Airedale.