THE TROTTING TRACK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7892, 23 December 1903, Page 1

THE TROTTING TRACK.

! NOTES ON HORSE AND SULKY. | ■ (By THE POSSIBLE.) The American trotter Cresceus -will not be racEd again in public, except for charit\' purposes. He has been definitely retired to toe stud. The Templeton Handicap, at the Christj church Racing Club's meeting last week, i did rot praviiie a very interesting contest. Nabiiuckiissii was served up favourite, and iie never leifc the issue in doubt, leading ail the way. Ballot, put up a decent performance- in finishing second, but the feature, of the raca, outsid© the winner's "go," was the form shown by Harold C, who has rarely been seen to such "advantage. Dearest was favourite in the Islingr ton Handicap, and at the end of half a mile sh© seemed to have the race •well in hind. When she faced the wind, however, she tired badly, and Hamlin, who bad cut his field down in great style, won with a little in hand. Hamlin's performance, considering- the state of tho track, and the high wind that was blowing, was full of merit. None of the other starters shewed up prominently. Messrs J. Pettie and D. J. Price left this week for Auckland with five horses, to take part in the big trotting meeting which opens on Monday. Several of the local trotting trainers are troubled with strangles .in their stables at present. D. J. Price has quite ai number on the sick list, Young M'Kinney, Director, Autocrat and Felony being among those that 'have been laid up with the ailment. The Dunedin correspondent of this paper advises, that the Gore- Trotting Club was unfortunate in tie- matter of weather for its meeting on Wednesday and Thursday last. On the fir.^t day it was showery, aaid the attendance was small; -while on the second day the weather was most unseasonable, and only £415 was put through the totalisator. The Tahunai Park Trotting Club has received favourable replies from several Canterbury trainers to the request that they should patronise two smin lOsec races at tile next meeting. Belmont M., the brother to Almont, v.-ns sent out an odds-on favourite for the Kensington Handicap, one mile and a half, at the last meeting of the New South Wnilee Trotting Club. At the turn for home Harry looked like winning, but Belmont M. finished up with a great dash of speed, and won- on the post. The time was 4-min ssec.