TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8104, 1 September 1904, Page 1

TROTTING.

NOTJSS ON HORSE AND SULKY. &j THE POSSIBLE.) Mambri.no Abdallah won first prizs in a strong class of trotting stallions at the Parkes show, New South Wales. Rumours have been rife during the past week regarding the retirement' of more than one owner and trainer from the trotting game. The Auckland correspondent' of this paper telegraphs: — The annual meeting -of the Otahuhu Trotting Club was held on. Thursday, when the report- and balance-sheet were pr<2«nted and aaopted. During the past season two meetings were held, the club giving in fctakes the sum of £1455, as compared with £1430 last year. A profit of £200 resulted. The following gentlemen' were elected the committee for the ensuing term:— Messrs A. Selby, A. Dibble, W. D. Bush, R. Johnston, W.'Gray, C. S. Brown, G. Clark and J. Molloy. . The annual meeting of the Tahnna Park Trotting Club was held on Wednesday night, and was somewhat sparsely attended. The president (Mr S. b. Myers) occupied the chair, and in moving the adoption of the report said that the profit of close on £300 had not been secured by a cheeseparing policy, but by launching out with a better-provided programme, not alone in money, but in making the meetings more attractive from an owner's and spectator's point of view. The membership had almost trebled. Commencing with forty-seven members, the number had now increased to one hundred and nineteen. That this had not interfered with the gate receipts was shown by the 'fact that this item'showed a considerable increase on me previous year, proving that the general public were taking more interest in the sport. The club could congratulate itself on the fact that it was helping to produce a fine, upstanding, useful class of horses, so much so that many cab- horses about the town at the present time would have won a. good trot in the olden days. Mr W, J. Gore (vice-president) seconded the motion, which was .carried. The president . referred with regret to the serious illness of Mr WRollitfc, who, as secretary of the Trotting Association, had done good work^ and a resolution of sympathy was ordered to be forwarded to that gentleman. : . Latest advices from Sydney briiig/ news of tbe death of the trotting sire Van'cteve, who may be described as the king of Australian trotting stallions. According to the Sydney writer " Milroy " he died; : -as he lived, thoroughly game. Two daye "before the dissolution the old horse appeared to be unwell, but next day ha seemed to hs himself again. On the following day his owner, Mr J. A. Buckland, as is his custom every morning when at -home, -.-visited Vancleve, to "have a yarn"; with him. for the old horee was as sensible ?.e a Christian, and appeared to understand his master. Vancleve gave a deep sigh, and dropped dead. He was buried in the centre of the- trotting track at Pine Ridge, and, doubtless, beforo long, wayfarers travelling Th that direction will ■^Jt}h^B>&mc'feii<lr stone extolling the virtues and successes of the grand old honse underneath. Vanc'cvs was' a remarkable hbree,. who stamped his stock, -unmistakably^ for it did not matter whether his mate was a thoroughbred or a Clydesdale, the progeny .came with quality and style. He was the sire of ' Fritz, the befit trotter Australia has known. Vancleve was well-known in this colony through, his stock, many of whom have performed on New Zealand tracks, and with considerable credit. Everything he sired seemed able to go fast, and his descendants were further noted for their beautiful quality. Vancleve. who was by Harold — Va?sar, was foaled in 1881, and was imported to ■NewZealand -by Mr Robert- Wiitin. Shortly Afterwards he was leased to Mr Ar-.drew Town, of Richmond, New South Wales, end later on he was purchased by\ Mr J. A. Bucklnnd. Ha had a- race record of ' 2min 28sec, but he had covered -a mile in a trial in 2min 16seo. It is plain to most hors-smen that Lou Dillon, the peerless queen of the trotting turf, did not reach the limit of her speed last season when she placed the . world's trotting record at lmin 58^sec (says the "Breeder and Sportsman"). It is eaually plain that windrshield or. no wind-shield, she can dispel all doubts as to the existence of the two-minute trotter. Her mile 'at Cleveland ""recently, in 2mdn 45 sec, '' to | waggon, no wind-shield and a sinsrle paceI maker, clearly. indicates what wonders she | is most sure to accomplish the present season. We. saw 1 her ■ trot .her first mile in 2min last season— at Readville — and we did not believe that at that time the runner in front was any assistance whatever to her, nor do we think so now. .Indeed, we believe she would have trotted just- as fast had she been the ,only horse on the track at the time. She needs nothing other than her own courage to lead her to extreme effort. There.- is not another trotter like her, there has never been one like her, and it is not likely that there will be another like her in the immediate future. "What is her limit" We do. not know. But conditions favouring, we do look for the chestnut daughter of Sidney Dillon to trot in lmin 56sec or better this year, and, further,, we believe that ultimately trotters and pacers, especially pacers 1 , will catch up with the present running record. "We can see no logical reasons for doubting this, for when the harness gaits become sufficiently, fixed, by line-breeding, they will be running" gaits of trotters and pacers, ma, being easier gaits than the running gavh proper, they should be at least as fast. Therefore, as we view the situation, great as are Dan Patch lmin 56Jsee, and' .Lou Dillon lmin 684*20, regarded now, Retime will come w\th them as it has with Jonnaon 2min 6isec and Maud S. 2min B*sec, when they will look mediocre. It may be difficult for some individuals, nearly all Individuals, of the present generation, to grasp these possibilities, but no more difficult than it was for past generations to comprehend the possible accomplishments which to us at this day are commonplace enough. Neither "time in her'fligiie, nor the improvement of progress, turn back, even "just for to-night.""