Past Winners of Hawke’s Bay Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 675, 29 May 1929, Page 14

Past Winners of Hawke’s Bay Cup

THREE REACHHIGH MARK While the Hawke's Bay Trotting Cup contest has only been in vogue as a speculative medium since 1925. It has attracted some performers of promise, and at least three past winners of the principal item at Hastings have risen to a very high rank in the New Zealand light harness world. I f T , HIS is sufficient recommendation to the Hawke's Bay Cup as the stepping -stone to greater attainment t>\ those aspirants who can distinguish themselves in an event of this class It is the country trotting organisaI tions that encourage the improving ' pacers and trotters and they usuallv } arrange their schedules in manner ! that suitf. the rcouirements of those who own horses that have not reached metropolitan standard. But it is at fixtures of the country order where candidates gain their proficient* \- certificates which entitle them to compete in the higher grade, and the records of the Hawke's Bay Cup reveal a striking illustration of the force of this contention. The policy of the larger light harness clubs today is “speed and yet more | speed.” with the result there is a genj eral tightening up of classes for pacers | and trotters, that prohibit the untried (improving or moderate horse from competition in the main centres. Evenone interested in the sport cannot be in possession of ready-made highclass horses, and if it were not for the assistance rendered to owners and trainers of the yet to be made cquines by country clubs the pastime would not be in such popular demand throughout New Zealand today. Founded in 1919. it was not. however (till May, 1925, that the Hawke's Bay j Trotting Club held its first totalisator j meeting, which was a one-day affair, land proved successful, and gave the ; game a start in the right direction -,n J that area. The first event decided under • tote” j regulations at Hustings was won by I Master Cute, while the initial cup con- ! test was captured by Padlock (driven | by Phil Green), who fresh from successes at Hawera and Gisborne, was penalised to 72yds. The class was 4.52, and the journey was tramped in 4.51[ Daphne Wildwood (48) and Peterwah (72) filling the places. Next year the fixture was held in January, and the cup, still with a 4.52 limit, was won by the Hastings-owned mare The Shrew who registered 4.4-4. That year the Poverty Bay Club did not race and Hawke's Bay held another one-day fixture in June, when th* chief event—East Coast Handicap—was won by the Nelson pacer Marshal Neil, who traversed the two miles in 4.43. In 1927 the limit for the Hawke's Bay Cup was reduced to 4.50 and the Hawera trotting mare Sister Beatrice recured the honour, her time bein-; 4.45. Last year, under similar conditions, the cup was won by an Auckland. representative. Lady Barrington. | who went 4.46 off the front. Again through the inability of Gisborne io hold a meeting, the Hastings enthusiasts held another June fixture, when the chief event —East Coast Handicap

—also came to the Auckland Province, the Cambridge pacer. Dealer, being returned the conqueror. Three cup winners, in Padlock, The Shrew and Sister Beatrice, went on to greater things and each has since scoring in the Hawke's Bay Cup. climbed remarkably high up the light harness ladder. Last season Padlock put up a great record, and was classed with the very best in the land. The Shrew Avon her way in open company to a big mark, while Sister Beatrice has achieved fame in the square-gaited world and ranks with the best grade in this department.

There is no telling what budding champions then may be contained in the cup field next Monday at Hastings. The limit has been further reduced, being a 4.47 class, with a rich stake and trophy, has encouraged owners with horses of good calibre to tackle the contest this year. That the heat is suitable to a large number was amply demonstrated on general entry day, when 38 horses were nominated for the cup. While it is hardly likely the acceptance will find that number left in. the field on June 3 will be the strongest numerically, and in point of quality that has yet faced the Hastings track, and patrons can look forward confidently to witnessing the greatest struggle for supremacy that has been known in the history of the club. The committee catered well for the owners, and the latter showed appreciation byresponding liberally, and with a class of competitor that will create intense competition. Club and owhers will this week-end cater for the public in a remarkable degree, and it is left to the latter now to appreciate these efforts by making the attendance on Saturday and Monday a record one.