TROTTING ITEMS

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 11

TROTTING ITEMS

KATENE IS PROMISING NOVICE ’FOREMOST JUNIOR’S GOOD SHOWING J. Walsh has long been regarded as the best horseman in Southland, and his ability played a big part in the two winners he took in yesterday. A Bad Habit There was solid support for Edith Grattan in the Hokonui Trot yesterday, but she lost enough ground at the start to cost her a winning chance. The Grattan Loyal mare made up most of her self-imposed handicap, but from then on she had nothing in reserve. Improvement Expected Vinola went her best Irace for some time yesterday and an improvement in her form may be looked for. Sydney Grand was another who put up a fair showing, but Happy King raced disappointingly. He had every chance. Support Justified Although it was his first appearance in public the support that came for Katene was not without good reason. He began well and was always in the firing line, although he had to be kept right up to his work over the last mile. He is inclined to grossness, but the Great Bingen four-year-old will benefit by this outing and with experience may shape well today. The half-brother to Leeway was credited with having done good work before the meeting.

“Any Old Price” Some of those who contested the Otapiri Trot did not appear to be worth taking to the (races—-not by the way they ran, but judging by the manner in which they were backed. Had Sunny Dell won there would have been no win dividend as there was not a single ticket on her on that machine. War King had £1 invested on his win chance, Catawrack £1 10/- and Capricorn £2. The win pool (totalled £419 10/-, so that they were paying “any old price.” Promising Novice Foremost Junior has done very little racing, but he attracted attention yesterday when he led all the way to be beaten only in the last- few strides by Hanpy Locanda. He races for his breeders, Jamieson Bros., of Winton, and was named after an old favourite, Foremost, who raced for Robert. Jamieson. Foremost has the great distinction of having won a flat race, a hurdle race and a trotting trace, all in the one afternoon.

Tanina’s Prospects In Taruna M. Holmes has a very good three-year-old. who has not been dulled by over-racing, and his effort in the New Zealand Derby pointed to his being little inferior to the best of his age. He has speed and staying ability and while he is set to give away 12 yards in the big Stewards’ Handicap field at New Brighton he may be quite capable of doing the business required of him. There are few more attractive pacers than this three-year-old in the Dominion. OTAUTAU RACING CLUB PROFIT ON ANNUAL MEETING

There was a fair attendance of members at the ’annual meeting of the Otautau Racing Club at Otautau. The president (Mr M. O’Brien) was chairman.

The annual report stated: “The club has made substantial progress during the year, notwithstanding the adverse conditions. Because of the extremely wet weather and the flooded state of the course the committee was forced to abandon the original racing dates in March and select a date in April, and again, because of continuous rains and a flooded track,, had to abandon the meeting for a second time. An application was made, and permission was granted, to race at Invercargill on the Southland Racing Club’s course, the meeting eventually taking place on May 29. It proved very successful, showing a substantial profit. Last year the amount to the credit of No. 1 account was £347 3/5. This year it shows a credit of £7OB 3/1. This must be considered very satisfactory when all the adverse conditions are taken into consideration. Last year the property account showed a credit of £2B 11/8. This has now been changed to a debit balance of £214 8/1, brought about entirely by an extensive drainage scheme and improvements to the property. All ditches have been deepened and the whole of the drains have been renewed with tile drains. The property is now thoroughly drained, and the course will be fit to race on in almost any weather.” GOVERNMENT TAXATION In moving the report and balancesheet, the chairman said they had had a memorable year, and they had had no fewer than four racing dates before they finally held the meeting in Invercargill. The result of the meeting was satisfactory. They were greatly indebted to the Southland Racing Club and to the racing authorities, for after paying all expenses of the two abandoned meetings they were left with a profit of £445 9/7. The Government taxation amounted to £745 13/8, and the Government received £2OO more than the horses and men put together. The gates were good, £312 being taken. They could not expect to get these returns'this year. Discussing the drainage, the chairman said the club had received good value for the money expended. Mr G. Sinclair said the club had a very good year indeed, this being, to a large extent, because the race meeting was held in Invercargill. The abandoned meetings had proved a blessing in disguise, as if they had raced on the regular date they would have had smaller gates. He was pleased to know that the property had been improved, and that they now had a good system of drainage. He hoped it would be kept in order in the future. The course required some preparation before they could race on it, and this should be attended to immediately. They were fortunate to have a good credit balance.

Mr A. R. Simon said the grounds committee was to be congratulated on the good job, but he considered the drain ploughing should receive attention.

Mr K. McKenzie stated it was not possible to’ do this until they had a considerable amount of rain.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officials were elected for two years: President, Mr M. O’Brien; vice-president, Mr A. Bulman; six members of committee, Messrs F. Malcolm, J. Laurie, A. A. Liddell. D. McGregor, A. R. Simon and T. Gill; auditor, Mr G. H. Hodges.