THE N.Z.M.T.C. MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 58

THE N.Z.M.T.C. MEETING.

The. light-harness horse is still keeping its grip on the public, and the attendances which mustered on each day of fhe-N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting rivalled those of any other gathering held on the same course. Light-harness racing is the sport of the people, and those who are prominent as the owners and runners of the gallopers seldom or never put in an appearance at Addingfcon. This is somewhat astonishing, as the sport is really i verj fine at times. Trotting has a few ; 6fcaunch adherents amongst tho3e who maintain a thoroughbred team, but as the leading spirits of the Canterbury ' Jockey Club are usually conspicuous by their absence from Addington, it would seem that ihey do not feel too kindly disposed towards the sport. Nevertheless, the N.Z.JIT.C. is in a highly prosperous condition, and their grounds are thronged at meeting after j meeting. One thing greatly in favour of ! the club is that their track is situated within easy distan.ee of the town, and the cost of a day's sport is comparatively oheap. Admittance to the lawn and paddock is 3s 6d', and -to the outside stand and enclosure Is. Add to this the trifling charge for conveyance to and from the track, also the fact that there is always a lengthy programme of -eight events, and it will be seen that the public get a iair amount of sport for very little outlay. The club still stick to their ill-shaped traok, and it is to be hoped that the day is not fir distant when they will wake up to the importance of having it altered. It is understood that they are building up a reserve fund, and in good time will remedy the fault of their running ground. They havp achieved a great deal towards popularising the lightharness horse sport, but until we have a proper track the trne merit of the New Zealand trotjters and pacers will never be fully demonstrated. The chief feature of the recently concluded meeting was the pace displayed by Durbar in his races. In the National Cup he stepped 4min 39 2-ssec in a field of 10, and had anything been on the track capable of keeping the Vancleve gelding on the stretch, it is safe to say he would haA r e gone close -to an Australasian record. When he made his 4rnin 39 2-ssec JDurbar did not begin too kindly and mixed a bit in the early part of his race. He had the field at his mercy at about seven furlongs from the post, and finally won easily. Judging by the manner in which he ran his two-mile race, and seeing that he won w.ith something in hand when he came out after an interval of two races and went 2min 16sec comfortably, it would take something smart to beat him over any distance up to a couple of miles. To A. Pringle is due a great deal of praise for the in which he brought Durbar to the track and also for the manner in which he handled his charge in his races. Mr H. F. Nicoll is a good supporter of the sport, and is naturally proud of his horse. So much so that he is prepared to match him against anything in New Zealand for SOOsovs a-side. If the N.Z.M.T.C. hung up a purse oi a similar amount in the event of the challenge being accepted, they would have a magnetic drawing card for their November meeting, and as a commercial proposition there is a lot in the idea for their favourable consideration.