TROTTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 57

TROTTING.

FIXTURES, May 19. —Oamaru T.C. Meeting. June 2, 4.—Canterbury Park T.C Meetin" June 4.—Hawke's Bay T.C. Meeting. June 9.—Ashburton TC. Meeting z June 23, 27.—Auckland T.C. Meeting

TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

THE OAMARU MEETING. Another milestone in the history of the Oamaru club will be reached on Saturday 7, when the present course will be raced on for the last time. The club has experienced a long succession of successful meetings in its present home, and there is every indication that this pleasing record will lie added to this week. At time of writing the acceptances have not been received, consequently much has to be taken for granted when discussing the fields, which one is tempted to hope will dwindle considerably. Many of the horses engaged at the meeting were racing at the recent Forbury Park meeting, and the form shown at the latter may help backers to solve the problem of locating winners. Several of those engaged in the President’s Handicap would be better suited by a race over a sprint distance, and so it will probably be found that the heavier investments will be confined to very few horses. Ever since the declaration of the handicaps, that good and game little pacer Jolly Pet has been favourite, principally as a result of his running at the Forbury Park meeting, where he paced two capital races and showed that he is at the top of his form. He is, however, alongside a good one in Vesuvius, who won the Dunbar Handicap at Ashburton and who was unlucky at Forbury Park. Out on the limit is Revolt, who came with a great run over the final furlong in the Railway Handicap on the concluding day at Forburv Park to finish in third place behind Jollv Pct and Tennessee's Child. He is a good stayer, but must have firm going. Shadowland led Vesuvius home in the Manawatu Cup when in receipt of 12yds. and as the difference has been widened by 24yds, the Realm gelding would appear to have all the better of it. He has, however, not come on so well as Vesuvius, who will probably not find him hard to beat. Liberal's aversion to being hitched to a sulky is a sufficient reason for backers preferring something else, and the aptly-named Genuine will have a call over him. If J. M’Lcnnan could manage to keep the hard-pulling Brentloe back to his field over the first mile, he would smother the others for speed over the balance of the journey, but the Brent Locanda gelding has still to prove that a race over two miles Ts not beyond him. Tn a field that is not particularly strong. Jolly Chimes looks better placed than he has been for some time, and it will be no surprise if only Jolly Pet, Vesuvius, and Brentloe are in more demand than he is. The Electric Handl can is a very open race, and there is not likely to be a pronounced favourite. At the Timaru meeting in March Winter Audubon showed a lot of speed in the mile saddle races, and at the New Brighton meeting, late in the same month, she ran third to Panto and Sungleam in 2.18 2-5. She looks nicely placed on the limit, and may be in almost as much demand as Storm Bell and Mv Sonny. Horses likely to be among the favourites in the other races are: Victor Bingen. Rcnute, and Hawkesbur.vs Pride in the Innovation Handicap; Adois. Dice, and No F«ar in the Advance Handicap: Lou Thorne, Streak, and Listen In in tlm Papakaio Handicap: Peter Boy, Reta Corona, and

Wattle Patch in Waikaura Handicap; Dundas Boy. Parkwood, and White Sun in the Enfield Handicap; and Vican, Nan Brent, and Great Triumph in the Stewards’ Handicap. TROTTING IN GERMANY. The Chicago “ Horse Review,” in commenting on the progress trotting has made in Germany, and the fact that last season 16 two-year-old trotters had trotted 2.24 and better, remarked: “German sportsmen have exhibited remarkable activity and initiative in the past half-dozen years, despite a situation which, at the outset, was extremely discouraging. That country, as a consequence, is now reaping the reward of this enterprise, and is clearly the leader, outside America, in light-harness sport.” Of last season’s 16 two-year-old trotters in Germany, four have trotted in better than 2.17, another at the rate of 2.185, and another at the rate of 2.20 f. The crack German two-year-old trotter is Arion Bingen, who trotted a mile in 2.164. He is by Arion Guy, who trotted 1.59* as a four-year-old, from Lucilo Bingen, 2.3}, by Bingen, 2.6}. Lucile Bingen was in foal to Arion Guy when purchased by the Germans. She was a famous mare, both as a racehorse and at the stud, and the Americans are bewail®

Ing the fact that she was allowed to leave America. THE BURDEN OF TAXATION. It cannot he gainsaid that many racing and trotting clubs are figuratively groaning under the burden of taxation, and now that a rough balance has been struck by the- Forbury Park Club for its meetings this season it must be included among the number. As a matter of fact, the Beason’s workings will show a loss of approximately £SO, which would have been very much heavier but for the refund to which the club is entitled under Section 8 of the Finance Act of 1925. Were the stewards of the club so inclined, they couid say that they had been working for the Government during the season, a statement which will be acknowledged to be well founded when one glances at the amount paid over by wav of taxation. The amount was no less than £12,955 Is 6d, made up as follows: —Spring meeting—totalisator tax £1312 15s 3d, dividend tax £2363 Bs, stakes tax £250, receipts tax £32 9s sd, amusement tax £96 7s 7d; summer meeting—totalisator tax £1550 7s 9d, dividend tax £2791 2s, stakes tax £260, amusement tax £llO Jos 10d; winter meeting—totalisator tax £1332 18s 9d, dividend tax £2399 12s, stakes tax £240. amusement tax £96 Is 2d. When it is stated that the club also paid £634 8s 5d by way of local taxes, £lB 15s income tax, £6l 10s lid land tax, and £39 2s 9d as tax pn members’ subscriptions, the question, W has become of the money? ” is stifled before it is framed. On the face of it the Government would-appear to be on a good wicket,” but the position savours somewhat of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. IN SADDLE AND SULKY. Parkwood may win a sprint race before the season is over. Peter Boy will go better on the Oamaru track than he did at Forbury. Nominations for the Canterbury Park club s winter meeting are due on Thursday. Locanda Dillon is past his best, and his owner will find it hard to place him for a win. i s ' n s °}’d work again, and will be raced at the June meeting of the Auckland Club. Red Shiner can hit a good gait once he gets into full flight, but he is still unreliable at flag-fall. x Young Blake is doing good work on the cracks, and is in capital condition for the winter meetings. My Sonny goes well in saddle, and his iorm this season suggests that he will run well at the Oamaru meeting. Brentloc will be out in front before two furlongs have been covered in the liesidents Handicap on Saturday. It is within the realms of probability .hat the smart trotter Tamerlane will be taken to Australia and raced there.

Dice has been shaping well at Addington and there will be support for her if she is harnessed up for the Advance Handicap On Saturday.

One of B. Grice’s team at Tinwald is Dough Neagh, a five-year-old gelding by Dogan Pointer from a mare by Prince Imperial. He shows plenty of promise. ?r ellt is a sweet mover of whom the best has not yet been seen by a loneway. She will be a good stake-winner next season.

„ In G ° ri ? bi ” e is » coinin g right, and a looseWrn n aCe Kot be be y o nd him when he has had a little experience with the colours up.

Mountain Ore, one of J. Grice’s team nt Tinwald, is spoken of as a prospecHe is a four-year-old by Rey de Oro from Dot Pointer. We V’ and bas been moving nicelj m his work, but his race record does not encourage one to support him in his coming engagements.

Vesuvius is a smart pacer, and honest over any distance. The Matchlight ing should be racing in the tightest classes next season. h

l Vi ?, ter carries her speed right to the end of the Electric Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday, the others will have to go fast to beat her.

, V ra ttl e Patch could be persuaded to hit his top gait more quickly than he does, he would net be long in winniim a loose-class trotters’ race.

The Matchlight gelding Firelight has been leased by Mr. W. M'Donald, the • owner of King Pointer, and he will be g repared for his future racing by O E Looper.

Kerrwood Bell ran two good races at the Forbury Park meeting, and on that . r, P, the e y e as likely to run well in the Waikaura Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday.

White Sun, who has gone into W. J. lomkinson s stable, will reach much better company than he has yet been in He is a very honest pacer whose speed has not yet been fully developed.

In some of his races Panto has given the impression that he is not genuine \\ hen in the right mood he is a smart pacer, capable of winning either in saddle oi harness.

The racing she had at Ashburton may find No hear running an improved race in the Advance Handicap at Oamaru. She is very smart, but so far has been travelling in an unlucky groove.

Vican is an improving pacer who looks like an early winner. lie races in the interests of the Waimate sportsman, Mr ±l. oaunders, for whom some seasons ago that good pacer Vilo raced prominently. Adois has improved, and now has the speed to win a loose-class race. She is entitled to be among the fancied ones in the Advance Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday.

As the result of the form he showed on the second day at the Forbury Park meeting Victor Bingen will be well supported at Oamaru. He will later on be one of R. Townley’s best horses. It is understood that tho Programme Committee of the Forbury Park Club

'intends to recommend that the Sires’ Produce Stakes should be included in the club’s winter programme for next season.

The two-year-old Trustworthy, a speedy daughter of Worthy Bond—Connie, will probably make her next appearance in the Great Northern Derby. She is spoken of as a most promising candidate for the classic. Off the front end of the trotting events at the Auckland winter meeting Sebisca will be a hard horse to beat. He is just about at the top of his form now, and should have won at Te Aroha and Cambridge. Curfew Boy, the promising three-year-old by Rey de Oro from Curfew Bell, who won the Victory Handicap at the Wyndham meeting at New Year time, is in steady work, but he may not be asked to race again until next season.

Listen In, who is near the front of the Papakaio Handicap, is a smart four-year-old by Brent Locanda from a Lord Chancellor mare. He showed promise when winning the mile saddle race at the Waikouaiti meeting at New Year. The best has not yet been seen of Morning Sun, a three-year-old by Sungod from Jenny Bell in E. Todd’s stable at Wyndham. He gives every indication of being a good winner next season, and is regarded by the stable as a more promising pacer than his full brother, White Sun. Audubon Lad, winner of the Rakaia Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, is a six-year-old gelding by Great Audubon from an Irvington mare, and it is doubtful if he will improve much. Last season he won a couple of minor events at the West Coast meetings.

Although Storm Bell did not get near t ae money at the Forbury Park meeting she gave a glimpse of her best speed, and the Oamaru meeting may find her at the top of her form. She is smart over a mile in saddle, and she looks well jilaced in the Electric Handicap. lhe two-year-old Nelsonian, who was raced, at the Nelson Jockey Club’s meeting. is snoken of as a very promising pacer. He is by Nelson Bingen from Princess Eugenie, and is owned by Mr I. B. Louisson, the owner of that good horse Imprint.

Lou Thorpe is not a champion, but he has the speed to win from the mark he is still on. If he is saddled up for the 1 apakaio Handicap on Saturday there will be plenty of support from those who remember that he paced well at the Innaru meeting in March.

Bon Wood was one of the disappointments at the Forbury Park meeting, but one bad display is not sufficient justification for writing a horse down as a bad proposition. If Bon Wood is raced at Oamaru on Saturday he will have the advantage of being on his home course. If Streak does not add to his handicap by dwelling at barrier-rise he will finish close to the money in his races this week. He put in a fine run to get up and win the Western Handicap at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting in March after being well back from the leaders.

Kreisler did not step into money at the Forbury Park meeting, but in the Railway Handicap on the second day he was pacing nicely just in behind the leaders for most of the way. He will be racing over less ground at Oamaru on Saturday, and so should be found carrying his top speed from barrier to post.

Prince Bingen continues to do good work for J. Pollock at Forbury Park, and m all probability he will carry silk for the first time in the Advance Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday. The fact that his speed is not yet fully developed, and the further one that he lacks race experience will probably cause him to be one of the outsiders, but the race will serve to give a line on his prospects for meetings ahead. Fair Dillon, who finished third in the Rakaia Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday is an aged chestnut gelding by Harold Dillon from a Blackwood mare. He is one of C. S. Donald s team, and was started in the Autumn Trial Handicap at the Wellington meeting, but as he carried only 13 tickets out of a total of nearly 1300 it will be seen that his chances were not favoured.

Travis Axworthy, a winner at Ashburton on Saturday, is a well-bred stallion by Dillon Axworthy from the Peter the Great mare Lady Peter, and was imported from America by Nir E. X. Lelievre. He is now five years old’ and has done several seasons at the stud, but Saturday was the first occasion on which he carried silk, accidents having kept him off the race tracks.

The Tasmanian Trotting Association has suspended the registering of a mare called Little May, pending her production for inspection. The association will hold an inquiry as to the bona tides of all parties believed to be concerned. Recently the police were informed that a head of a horse had been washed up on the shore of Risdon. Police and an expert hurried to the spot, and on examination declared the head to be that of an aged equine. But, of course, the sex could not be determined. There was every indication that the animal had been killed by a blow on the head. The police are communicating with the authorities in Sydney and Melbourne to ascertain where the mare with G on one of her shoulders, together with other descriptions, came from.