LIGHT HARNESS RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 53

LIGHT HARNESS RACING.

Xevec since the day cf the RibbonwoodFriti match lias the writer seen such an irmni?— e throng of people at a New Zealand Metropolitan^ Turf Club's meeting as was tha cute on Tuesday ~*ast,« when boo leadi&g caterers for lignt-hameetf sport conuneßced another popular gathering at the Addington track. The stands were croacled -in-*, naoab juncamfot^abte manner, and locomotion on the la.wn was of necessity of a very zig-ztj, nature. ' The im-, provemente recently commenced by the club have progressed so far a.s to 'almost complete the eocteaskx?- at the *r«ck. the b?id of an artificial lake has been -excavated, the tea house shifted- to its new position, and a- start is to be made almost immediately on tihe building- and alteration of the stands.' It is quite evident from 4he vast attendance which flowed through The Addington pates that the extension of the accommodation is not happening a moment too soon. As it was, Last week it -was •almost impossible to get a good ' view of a* race unless one took up a good position about a quarter of an hour before- ■ {•-ach race. The lawn fence, for instance, ' was lined half a dozen deep in ' places 1 during- tfhe progress of some of the- events It , vv'as extremely difficult to -gain c , place on the stacd or along the terrace, < and tiie late-oomecs had to do a lot of neck -stretching to gain a fleeting view of , the boreea as .they raced' along the track. A great atnooa of interest was taken in the New Zealand Cup Handicap, . of 700sovs, but although it attracted a fairly large field considering it was for a 4.-4S class, tfee actual race was not partoularly exciting-,' «s Wildwood, Jun., had it won a Jong «sf from home. . Durbar, a torse of great speed, lost a lot of ground at 4he start, and. was never in the, rat» afterwards. King Cole did not get co dangerous as commonly expected, and John M., who was in nearly everbody's mouth as the winner, collapsed over half «• mile from home r£ter making himself proi»ine«' in the earlier stages. Wildwood, Jun., is a handsome black stallion. Ifive ye*rs old, and got by Ribbonwood from. Thelma* by Kentucky from Pride of Lincoln (dam of Lincoln Yet. Contractor, Stonewall Jackson, and Stratagem, the produce of Terra Nova), by Touchstone, Wildwood. Jun., won in 4min 39sec, and jogged home over the last furlong. It is .quite dear, he could have stepped a much better mark if there had been anything in the race capable of keeping in tne stretch over the lest mile of the race. Revenue subsequently won in 2.15, and Durbar, Lord Elmo, and King Cole did' not become as -dangerous as -they threatened on paper. It ie & pity Durbar did not strike his gait at the vtart, as he is a horse whose record shows he "would have been a menace to thte. soooees of Wildwood, Jan., e-rien thoturh the' latter won with something in hand.

— Whistlecrait gave moderate displays at Winlon, whilst Gnnboat, whom he beat at the D.J.O. winter meeting, won * good race at Riccarton. Wfcistlecxaft is evidently not in his best xacing afaape, but when- fit and well he should pag his way amongst the •quthe.ru meetings.