Epsom Statistics

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 13

Epsom Statistics

AUCKLAND’S TROTTING

Province Gets Lion Share

SUMMARY OF SEASON’S ACTIVITIES

_ By “Abaydos.” r\ RIX(j t'no light-harness season now fast drawing to a . e l° se > the Auckland and Otahuhu Clubs disbursed in prize-money, independent of trophies, the large total of |o.jG,ri2s. Of this liberal amount horses trained in the Auckland Province captured the lion’s share with £25,365. The I amahere team trained by K. A. McMillan, chiefly through the agency of Machine Gun and Peter McKinney, secured £4,172. -

For several seasons past it appeared to be a regular habit with owners and trainers from Canterbury to come to the North and capture the biggest end ot the liberal stakes which were annually offered by the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs. Various reasons were advanced for the disability of local candidates to stem the fierce attacks of the Southern contingents. Chief of these were a dearth of high-class horses and a lack of training facilities. The latter factor was due more to bad weather, which was often experienced at periods prior to local fixtures, and which hampered training operations. of later years, however, horses trained in the Auckland Province have done well, irrespective of the training conditions, which have certainly not been any improvement on former periods. This proves that trainers have suited themselves to the conditions obtaining, and scrapped the policy of working only when climatic conditions were congenial. The majority of aspirants are possibly no better as far as class is concerned than those which, in former years, were overshadowed in the winning list by visiting contestants, and while the Aucklanders this season have practically swept the board with earnings at Epsom fixtures, it is not contended that the present local brigade is. generally speaking, of a higher calibre than its predecessors. Track conditions', after all, are similar in

various centres, and that the provincial preparation grounds are as good as the majority is demonstrated by the splendid __ success achieved this season by our Northern representatives. Auckland Club Figures “Abaydos” has delved into the statistics of the two local clubs for the 1920-30 season dealing with the amount given as prize money (trophy values excluded), and the earning power of the competitors from various districts. As already stated. Auckland provincial horses had a remarkably good season, securing by a good majority the cream of the liberal offerings. Four meetings were staged by the Auckland Club, including the special benefit fixture for the relief of the earthquake sufferers. In all cash prizes to the value of £26,475 were distributed, and of this fine sum £16,685 was retained in the province. Canterbury owners received £5,595, while horses trained in other parts of tho North Island collected £3,550. The only other- South Island representative, Dilworth, from Nelson, took away £ 645. The chief stake-earner at fixtures under tho auspices of the Auckland Club was Gold Jacket, who, after winning a sprint event at the benefit meeting, annexed the Auckland Trotting Cup (for the second time in succession) and netted £1,300. He was closely followed by the trotter Peter McKinney, whose cheque reached £1.260. The tliree-year-old Great Parrish, winner of the Great Northern Derby as well as minor races, took out £985, while Florent, who showed consistent form throughout, and especir ally at the winter carnival, had a similar tally. Other good stake-earners were Stanmoor £935, Machine Gun £BO7 10s, Great Peter £770, Enawah £640. Reremai £595. Rockburn £525 and Carmel £507 3 os. Of the Canterbury visitors rackler

£ 1,480, was an easy first, and the brilliant lour-year-old was unlucky on the final day of the Auckland Christmas carnival in the principal event, or his tally would have been considerably augmented. That rare old sduaregaiter. Young Blake, was responsible for £BOO going South, while at the recent fixture the greater improved and pacer Harold Logan eolle<The most successful North Island ropresentaUves ™' in n “^ llln a^ £560: Padlock (Manawatu) £472 10s, and Kohara (Taranaki), £4-d. By defeating Wrackler at Christmas. Dilworth the Kelson candidate, gave that province a share of the prize allotments to the extent of £ b4o. Otahuhu Pay-Roll For its two fixture* the Otahuhu Club distributed £10,050 m prize money. Of this fine total, horses Tselo. the baUnce P, be7n g allotted to ’ visitors - f rom Canterbury, Manawatu and Hawke s Bay. The Abbev came out at the head of ?ol!owed b>’ Machine Gun who won tho Otahuhu Cup a ”te. these ihrec received their good slice the hi once was well spread over a number £ contestants The largest purses fleo £2lO and Rose Bingen £-10.

Of the amounts going to Canterbury £9OO, Writer was the principal scorer with £2BO, and then came Laplander £195. The brilliant young trotter. White Satin, collected £l4O, while Sunshower's cheque was £135. Through the agency of Raima £2lO went to Hastings, and Audo Spray took £2OO to Ashliurst. Combined Winnings This highly satisfactory state of affairs at the various fixtures of the respective clubs gives some of the Auckland provincial competitors a very fine total for the season, as is shown in the appended summary, which places in the order of their earnings tho 20 highest in the list, with their respective trainers; £ Machine Gun (R. A. McMillan) .. 1,832-5 Gold Jacket (L. McMahon) .. .. 3,300 Peter McKinney (It. A. McMillan) 1,260 Florent (A. W. Broughton) .. .. 1,240 The Abbey (W. Clifton) 1,135 Stanmoor (S. AT. August) .. .. 1,080 Great Parrish (J. T. Paul) .. .. 1,025 Carmel (J. S. Shaw) 9S2i Nelson Tasker (S. Groat) 950 Reremai (J. Simkin) 850 Belle Axworthy (A. J. Julian) .. 755 Great Peter (J. T. Paul) 770 ltockburn (S. M. August) 700 Enawah (R. A. McMillan) 640 Rose Bingen (A. J. Julian) 610 Akenehi (J. T. Paul) 555 Warspite (J. S. Shaw) 515 Linnett the Great (F. J. Smith) .. 470

Te Wahla (R. A. McMillan) 415 Evelyn Locanda (W. Nightingale) . . 375 Chief Performances The outstanding performance among the many successful trainers and reinsmen was that of R. A. McMillan, the Tamahere trotting-farmer, whose charges collected the large surp of £4,172 for the season. This success was all the more remarkable us two of his high prizewinners, Machine Gun and Peter McKinney. were purchased at moderate prices. Between them the pair won just over £3,000, while each was responsible for their owner also receiving a handsome cabinet of cutlery. On some occasions the grass circuit at Alexandra Park provided excellent footing for last racing, and several high-class performances were registered over various distances. To finish second to Genuine, who went 2.12 in the mile tho last day of the Christmas function of the Auckland Club, Bessie Logan registered 2.10 1-5. The same day Belle Axworthy defeated Great Parrish over 12 furlongs, to wind the watch up to 3.21, the colt tramping 3.22 1-5 for second money. Great Peter, who had scored well on the first and second days, set fans talking by winning the last day over two miles, to register 4.28 2-5 from 4.35, and do it comfortably. Wrackler also gave great displays at Epsom. In October he captured both big races, and at Christmas won a mile and a-quarter on his head. The last day, after having a bad passage, he put in a sensational dash over the final stages of the President’s Handicap,- to suffer a narrow defeat in 4.28 4-5. The “heads” Derby finish between Great Parrish, Ngin go Ngingo and Royal Silk provided one of the thrills of the season, while Gold Jacket’s cup victory was a masterpiece. At Christmas Young Blake capped his

fine trotting record by winning a double, after being third in the Rowe Cup. The winter fixture saw Harold Logan cleaning up good fields in the easiest possible manner and his impressive displays will not readily b*» forgotten by Aucklanders. White Satin’s Record Fixtures held by the Otahuhu Club were also responsible for fast times being recorded on occasions. The great tliree-year-old trotter White Satin, at tho summer meeting, caused a sensation by beating a solid field of older rivals, to establish a mile and a-half record 3.31 4-5 for one of her age Machine Gun won, the Otahuhu Cup in 4.27, and on the second day displayed wonderful brilliance over 19 furlongs in 2.43. It was the manner in which he accomplished the job that made his effort outstanding, and or the day, Alan McMillan’s pacer was fit to down a free-for-all field. Reremai, generally acclaimed a soft track mare, upset this theory .by tramping two miles in 4.26 2-5, and was followed home by Florent in 4.27 This pair finished similarly in the recent Mark Memorial Handicap. The Abbey, the same day won the Dominion Handicap in 4.27, after beiner runner-up to Machine Gun in the Cun on the opening day. Belle Axworthy who raced soundly throughout the season, was responsible for a tine effort over a mile and a-quarter at this fixture, going 2.46 3-5. Double-Figure Dividends There were instances of “surprise victories” during the season at the

Park. The two biggest dividend returners hailed from Otahuhu, Togo’s Promise, trained by W. Lincoln, winning at the Otahuhu spring fixture, and Realty, trained by S. Groat, scoring at the Auckland winter meeting. Both paid over two. score. Next, on the list comes Florent, who upset calculations at Christmas time in a classy ten-furlong heat to give a return approaching a quarter of a century. When The Abbey won the principal race at tho Otahuhu spring carnival, his price was well on the way' toward a score. At this function First Flight (first) and Haerenga Pai (second) were double-figure merchants. At the Auckland spring fixture Explosion (first) and Rockburn (second) were responsible for two-figure prices, while Genuine, in the last event on the Christmas card, also passed the “tenner” mark. From the foregoing records of the season’s activities it will be undoubtedly conceded that many of the Auckland provincial owners and trainers have had a good season. Viewed in a general’sense it is highlv satisfactory, and speaks well for the standard of the game in this district. The sport provided at Epsom during the year was of a high order, enjoyabb to the public, while the cleanness with which it was conducted, assisted to increase the popularity of the thrilling pastime. The officials of the clubs operating on the metropolitan course are deserving of every’- praise for the excellent manner in which they have provided the public with good, healthy sport, while the results achieved in this respect must be gratifying to the promoters. “Abaydos” extends congratulations to all concerned in the successes achieved, and adds the wish that the new season will see even higher attainments. TROTTING FIXTURES NEW SEASON. Dales applied for. August 9 13, 16—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. September 6 —New Brighton T.C. October 4— Methven T.C. October 11 —Waikato T.C. October IS—New Brighton T.C. October 25. 27—Greymouth T.C.