TROTTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 57

TROTTING.

FIXTURES. August 6, 10, 12.—Metropolitan T.C. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. “Tenner” (Dunedin) .—Mr G. J. Barton was fifth on the list of successful owners for the 1926-27 season, his winnings totalling £2713. “Argument,” Timaru.— (1) Waitaki Girl first carried silk at the Waimate meeting in 1923. when she was a three-year-old. She finished second to Logan Lou. (2) In 1926 she won the Timaru Cup in 4.27, ami then went on to the New Brighton meeting, where he won over a mile and a-quarter the first day in 2.45. and over two miles the second day in 4.26 4-5. TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

A WELL-DESERVED TRIBUTE. When Mr H. L. James put down his secretarial pen for the last time, after having wielded it in the interests of the Forbury Park Trotting Club for a lengthy period, the occasion was marked by the presentation to him of a monetary gift from the club. The stewards felt, however, that they would like to give their late secretary some tangible token of their personal regard for him. and at last week’s meeting the President (Mr B. S. Irwin) handed this over in the

form of a valuable gold watch and chain, accompanying them with a deserved tribute to the work and worth of the recipient. As is the experience of most secretaries of racing and trotting clubs, Mr James was on occasions pestered by a section of racegoers who look upon a secretary as merely a figurSTTead who ladles out privileges for the asking, and his very proper refusal to give them to those who were not entitled to them resulted in his being charged with having a brusqueness of manner which was really foreign to his nature. He has the satisfaction of knowing, however, that he stepped into retirement with a figurative pat on the back, and a “Mell done, thou true and faithful servant,” from those he served so long and so well.

THE METROPOLITAN MEETING. The flags will be flying at Addington on Saturday, when the first meeting on the new trotting calendar will be opened. At time of writing the accceptances have not been declared, but even allowing for liberal shrinkages the fields promise to be of sufficient size to ensure interesting racing spectacles. The Introductory Handicap field contains several promising trotters, and speculation on the result will probably take a wide range. Of those on the limit the two that appeal most are Nourmahal and Tamerlane, both of which showed good form at the back end of last season. On the 12yds mark are Katute and Cannonball, and the former will probably carry heavy investments. Great Bell has been long enough in her home to allow of her having settled down properly, and she appears to hold those beside her safe. A recent winner in Real the Great would be supported if there was a guarantee that she would go away on the right leg, but the bulk of the investments will probably be on the chances of Katute, Nourmahal, and Tamerlane. Some slick sprinters will carry silk in the mile saddle heat, and if the track is in good condition the winner will have to pace right up to his handicap. Fashion Queen appears to have lost her nervousness at the post, and she and Native Queen, the Ashburton winner, appear to be the best of the limit lot. Glandore has been worked in saddle a

lot lately, and has improved since going into D. Bennett's stable. Another Ashburton winner in Trimmer is nicely placed, but he and Mountain Chimes will have to be right at their best to keep ahead of the brilliant Author Jinks. In fact, the Author Dillon gelding is entitled to favouritism, with Native Queen and Glandore most inquired for among the others. There will be no loitering by the way in the August Handicap, and if the conditions are favourable it is quite probable that the list of those eligible to start in the New Zealand Cup will be added to. The Auckland pacer Jewel Pointer is having the finishing touches put on him ai Addington. His chances are favoured in certain quarters, but in all probability the winner will come from a mark behind him. On 12yds there are three good ones in Machine Gun, Peterwah, and Terence Dillon, all of whom are well and ready' to run the journey right out. There seems little doubt that the Dunedin-owned pacer Concliff will be made favourite, but be is not entitled to see a very short price, as he has good ones both in front of and behind him. Of the latter Cardinal Logan and Imprint look the most likely to worry him when heads are turned for home. It has all the elements of a fine race, and Concliff, Machine Gun, and Imprint should provide an interesting finish. If Author .links is reserved for the International Handicap the public will find little difficulty in locating the favourite. Final M’Kinncy and Dalmeny are capable of running a good mile, and will make the task of the back-markers anything but an easy one. Fight Ever, Bell Harold, and Sea Pearl have all been doing good work, and when the bells stop ringing the biggest figures will probably be against the names of Author Jinks, Final M’Kinncy, and Fight Ever. Among other horses likely to be well supported are Ariki. Henry Logan, and Logan Park in the Trial Handicap; Genuine, Avenger, and Binscarth in the Selwyn Handicap; Frisco Beau, Audobell, and Le Todd in the Stewards’ Handicap; and William the Great, Peter Swift, and Succession in the Queen Mary Handicap.

THE DIFFICULTY OF DATES. Of recent years the meetings of the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs have acted as strong magnets to southern owners and trainers, and the officials of the Forbury Park Trotting Club have realised this to the extent of acknowledging that the proximity of the dates for the Otahuhu and Forbury Park spring meetings is not conducive to success at either meeting. At last week’s meeting of the committee a proposal was made that the dates for the local meeting should be put forward a month in the calendar, but if that were carried it might result in putting the club further in the wood. At the end of October the trainers are busy putting the finishing touches on their charges for the New Zealand Cup meeting in November and cannot afford to be away for any length of time. Nor, will the Labour Day meeting of the Oamaru Club be without its effect, for Christchurch trainers will probably prefer to race their horses at the latter meeting, which entails only one day’s absence from home. The Greymouth Trotting Club has always raced late in October, and it is certain that

TAXES TO GO UP? A great deal of interest is being taken at present on the question of taxes — whether they are to go up or not. This is a very serious matter and affects everyone in the community. There is no question, happily, of the price of Bears’ Tobacco going up, which means a lot to smokers. Bears’ is real Virginia, and makes a delightful, cool smoke. All tobacconists stock the popular Bears’. Have you tried it yet? 8d per oz loose. Also in handy packets—loz 9d, 2oz Is 6d. —Advt.

the proposed change of dates will not meet with approval from that direction. The Forbury Park stewards are up against a real difficulty, and may find it necessary to put their meeting still further forward, and this would probably be generally applauded; not least by the public, since it would shorten the lengthy lull that settles on the local track after the winter meeting.

POCKETLESS TRACKS. In advocating the use on American tracks of the offset rail (or the false rail as it is known in New Zealand and Australia), Mr J. F. Jennings, of Cleveland, has the following to say: “For many years I have been an ardent patron of harness racing, and a close observer of every angle of the sport. Very often, while watching close finishes, it has been apparent that one or more of the horses which were trailing the horse on the rails should have had an excellent chance of winning the heat; but they were in a tight ‘ pocket,’ and, although they were striding easy with plenty of ‘brush’ left, never had a chance to get through and win. The late Andy Welch used to remark in his quaint way, when witnessing such heats, ‘ If that trailer had climbers on he could win the heat.’ Now I am not inclined to be suspicious of the actions of drivers, but there are occasions to be observed when through connivance unfairadvantage is taken, especially in the home stretch. For instance, when the driver of the trailer attempts to pull wide so as to go on the outside he is often held in and forced to ‘ back out ’ in order to get a- chance to try for the heat. Then, too, the driver of the horse who happens to be leading on the rails frequently pulls out just enough to encourage the trailer to attempt to go through at the pole, but the trailing driver finds the gap instantly closed when he tries that expedient. Getting a trifling advantage of the horse on the rails and crowding him over just enough to ‘ pinch him off ’ is another thing that the offset would eliminafle. Alsx> there is ‘ helping.’ which is, of course, against the rules, but anyone who follows the trotters knows that there is some of it being done. It’s like this: It is realised that perhaps only two of the starters have a chance to win, while several of the field have none at all. Very naturally drivers who are friendly to each other will give aid, and starters from the same stable will surely do so. The parent association recognises this, for in its 1927 rules it stipulates that where a stable starts more than one horse in a race only one contract driver from that stable will be allowed to drive its entries; the rest of that stable’s entries being driven by outside drivers, appointed by thc judges.”

STAR-BRED COLTS. The rapidly increasing interest in colt trotters is emphasised by a marked advance in the money offered for two-year-old trotters (says' Walter 'Moore, in a New York daily). Less than five years ago, the Kentucky Futurity, worth 7000dol. was high-water murk for purses given trotters in this class. This year three events for two-year-olds the Rainy Dav Stake at North Randall, Ohio; the Good Time Stake at Goshen, N.Y’., and the Wet Weather Stake at Syracuse, will all exceed 15.000 dollars in value. They are conditioned as they should be, all the money paid in being given to the colts. '1 hey are guaranteed worth 10,000 dollars, but in all the stakes named the excess money over the guarantee is paid to the winners, the amount they race for to be determined by the post payment of 250 dollars, but it is certain that each ‘One of the races will approximate 17,500. as an average of fiftyeight youngsters wore named at the first closing date. Naturally, the list at each place represents the very choicest breed, the most highly tried and the highest-priced colts sold either at public or privately. Goshen, N.Y’., now ranks as tho leading trying-out grounds of the East, and it is doubtful if any track, Lexington, Ky., not excepted, quarters as many high-grade colts as are getting their finishing for the year’s campaign at Goshen. The Good Time stable, owned by W. H. Cane, with Walter Cox as trainer in. chief; Harry Stokes, the capable Ohio reinsman as first assistant, and a capable force of men-in-waiting, ranks first both in number and quality of juvenile trotters. It might also be conservatively stated that not in all the years of colt development has one man ever had such an array of star-bred colts This can be accounted for in several ways. Cox is recognised as one of the best trainers °f colts in the country, and as a salesman of rcady-to-race speed classes first for all time. Some evidence in support of that ! statement is seen in his sale of Adam 2, 2.7. to T. W. Murphy for 25,000 dollars, followed a few weeks later by his sale of Fireglow 2, for 10,000 dollars, to William Bradford, of Bennington. Vt., troth colts having been taken over at the closing out of the Kingston Farm holdings. Fircglow is rated at the present time a mite the best of Cox’s two-year-old division, having worked in 2.17 a, lost half in I.7Jj and last quarter in 52?. with speed in reserve. He is a stunning looking red chestnut colt, by Sa i Francisco. 2.7?. dam Worthy Spirit 2. 2.14 i, by Axworthy, and while the San Francisco colt trotters have been few and far between, this youngster is unquestionably a colt trotter. As a general rule at this period in the spring elimination work to sift the stake colts from the ordinary ones, one or two youngsters will have shown conclusive proof of their superiority over the others; but at the present time there are at least half a dozen colts under Cox’s tutelage that have survived the preliminaries and are ready for the semi-final try-outs. This is shown by the fact that as keen a judge as the Goshen man is of his best colts, he paid the June 1 payment on no fewer than eight two-year olds in the Horse Review Futurity for colts of that age. which event is to be raced at Goshen during the week of August 22.

IN SADDLE AND SULKY. Cardinal Logan is honest over any distance. Succession is well, and may soon he returned a winner. Great Actress will step her way into the best of company. Brentloc is on a mark from which he will find it hard to win. “ They’re off again!” The first fixture of the new season opens at Addington on Saturday.

Bell Harold is shaping as though he might win over a sprint distance before very long. The American-bred Frisco Beau catches the eye on the front of the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday.

Glandore has come, on nicely since going into D. Bennett’s stable. He is a nice pacer and a great stayer.

Acceptances for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting are due at noon to-day. Nothing has been doing better work than Young Blake, and if he keeps to a level gait he should soon catch a stake.

Machine Gun has settled down to lefthand courses, and R. Berry has him doing good work. He is better now than he has ever been previously. William the Great has been given ‘plenty of beach and road work at New Brighton, and has thrived on it. He can be ticked off to show up well in the new season. Kola Boy has been trotting very attractively in his workouts, and N. L. Price will have him at the top of his form for the meeting at Addington. W. Willetts, the Cambridge trainer, who has for some time been located at Mangere, has decided to set up as a trainer at Christchurch;

Double Event leaves his pace in the stable on race days. He would worry a mile saddle Geld if he paced up to his track work.

Eighty-four youngters remain in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, 1928, after the first forfeits. Great Bingen is represented by a filly from Lightnin’. The Dunedin-owned trotters Ingle Bingen and Le Todd will take their places in the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday. Of the two the latter seems the better proposition. The Australian gelding Roieolc is in good order. He can travel fast and stay, and the first time he is in the mood to race genuinely he will make those against him step their best. St. Maura has been stepping some slick circuits, and lacks nothing on the score of condition. She is, however, close to some good ones in the handicaps next week, and will find it hard to win. Sea Pearl is a picture of condition, and has been hitting out well in her track

work. She gives promise of being one of R. Berry's best stake-winners during the coming season.

Final M’Kinney is a brilliant sprinter when travelling at top, but it usually takes her about a furlong to get righjj into her stride. Consequently she gives away more than her handicap. Glimmer, who won the £5OO Trotting Cup at Richmond recently, at one time got into the pound and was sold to pay expenses. He was bought by his present owner for £2 10s.

Main Voyage, who did not pace up to his best clip while in the Dominion. has regained his form since returning to'Australia, where he was recently led in a winner.

R. Townley has been putting in a lot of time with Nelson M’Kinney, and the Dunedin-owned trotter has thrived on the work allotted to him. He is not finished with yet.

The card for the Otago Hunt Club's meeting, to be held on September 10, carries a race for trotters over a mile and a-half. Nominations close on Monday of next week.

The three-year-old gelding by Author Dillon —Pleasant Drive, who looks every inch of a prospective champion, has been named Artistic. Pleasant Drive is the dam of a brace of useful pacers in Dalmeny and Dalnahine.

The Victorian sportsman Mr F. B. M’Farlanc, who had Nimble Direct, Toni Marvin, and Roekeretia racing in the Dominion for him last season, contemplates bringing a team of three pacers across in the spring.

Event will be tried out in the saddle events at the Metropolitan meeting, ami a win for his Dunedin owner, Mr W. Quirk, would certainly not be out of its turn. He has been a costly disappointment.

The trotter Sarsaparilla has been causing his trainer a few sleepless nights. The stylish son of Ballin is threatened with unsoundness, and in consequence is being carefully nursed in anticipation of a complete recovery being effected. M. B. Edwards ia dev-eliping a four-year-old half-brother to Tamerlane and Nellie Hugo. For a novice the gelding shapes well in his work, and promises to be useful in trotting races when properly seasoned.

The sweet-actioned Concliffe has been revelling in hife work, and his appearance at the Metropolitan meeting is being looked forward to with keen interest. If he gets the track to suit him he should go very close to qualifying for the Cup.

Logan King has been off colour lately, and his owner has wisely decided to give him a good spell. The gelding has a deh : cate constitution, and. it will take time for him to strengthen sufficiently to stand tip to racing.

• If Logan Park does not add to, his handicap by dwelling at the post he will add interest to the finishes of the races he starts in at the Metropolitan meeting. He is a greatly improved pacer, and promises to step well inside the best gait he has yet recorded.' The Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting, which opens on Saturday, provides the last opportunity for horses to step to a gait that makes them eligible for the Cup, to be run in November. That fact gives added interest to the first meeting on the new season’s calendar.

The trotting gelding Tiger Salve, who was one of the disappointments I. Richards purchased in Australia, has changed his quarters from Otahuhu to Epsom, having become a member of C. G. Lee’s team. The change of stables might effect the desired improvement.

’ The pacing gelding Sahib, who won a race at Westport at Christmas time, and another later in the season at Auckland, has gone into J. M'Lean’s stable at Addington. M'Lean came well into the limelight last season as a result of his success with that smart sprinter Logan Holme. Katute is not yet solid at the end of a two-mile journey, but over less ground than that she is more than useful. She is vefry slick over the first mile, and in races in which she has gone away at the right gait she has always been nicely placed soon after the start. Western King, the recently-imported son of Rock Huon—Hopefield Maid, is enjoying a spell, but will be taken up in time for the Auckland and Otahuhu spring meetings. He touched 4.32 in Australia, Hid gives every indication of getting a share of the big money attached to the tightest classes. The Oamaru Trotting Club has a balance of assets over liabilities of £12,536 Ils. The assets include buildings, ground and plant, £4727 15s; deposit at call and accrued interest, £3926 18s Id; loan on mortgage £2300; balance at Post Office Savings Bank, £644 5s 8d; and balance at bank, £B7 19s 7d. The Southland-owned pacing stallion Chimer, has built up in pleasing style since joining M. B. Edwards’s team, and now gives every promise of doing his best when carrying silk. When trained down south he had all the attributes of an outlaw, but the change of stables has apparently done him good. The racy-looking gelding Daytime, who cost his admirers a parcel of money each day at Alexandra Park, figures on the end of a two mile heat at Addington on Saturday. The son of Nelson Bingen— Olive Wood is close to some speedy customers, and will i. _ed to improve vastly on his Auckland form to be returned a Winner.

At last week’s - meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s stewards it was decided to forward a letter to the Auckland Trotting Club sympathising with it in the loss it had suffered through the death of Mr C. F. Mark, who was an ideal secretary and a. wise counsellor. "A* wire expressing sympathy with Mrs Mark was despatched immediately the news cf her husband’s death became known.

The Campbell Handicap winner Terence Dillon looks fit to race for the proverbial kingdom, and he will be one of the popular fancies in the August Handicap on Saturday. If he and- Machine Gun both go to the post the result of the race might help to settle the argument as to whether it was lucky for the Author Dillon gelding that Machine Gun fell in the big race at Auckland. ,

Homer has improved considerably during the past few weeks, and will be well forward for the Metropolitan meeting. Her only success last season was when she won a two-mile saddle race at the New Brighton summer meeting on a dry track. At the Forbury Park spring meeting she ran third to Maearanda and Colehill on a heavy track, but as there were only five starters there was little merit in the performance.

At Denmark on May 5 Double King established a new Danish record by trotting a mile in 2.152. Later in the same day the American-bred trotter Harrison Dillon got to the end of a similar journey in 2.12 J, which is the fastest time ever trotted in Denmark in a_race. The Danish Trotting Club is now desirous of encouraging a horse that will set a record of 2.10.

Atter just getting beaten at Melbourne, the erratic trotting gelding Tom Marvin won a race a few weeks ago. The Marvin's Heir —Golden Queen gelding is a fine trotter when travelling at a level gait, but can very seldom be persuaded to do so. On the second day of the Forbury Park summer meeting last season he was made favourite for the Waverley Handicap, but was on his worst behaviour in the race, and never got near the front. The winner was the Southland-owned Great Bell.

At the meeting of the Oamaru Trotting Club on Wednesday night, the President (Mr M. J. Hannon) stated that a vigorous effort was to be made to improve the new course so that it would be made the course beautiful.” . The new' ground lent itself admirably to improvement and beautification. It was desired to make it such a pretty place that it would be an attraction to women. Mr Hannon pointed out that a recent visitor had been much impressed with the Wanganui course, .zhich was converted into a rende r.-ous for picnic parties. The Ellerslie course was also a very'beautiful spot, and portions of it were regularly thrown open to the public for picnics. Mr Hannon was o 7 opinion that the Oamaru course could, with a small -•xpenditure. be made most attractive. This ©pinion was endorsed by other members ®f the committee.