THE TROTTING TRACK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8249, 23 February 1905, Page 4

THE TROTTING TRACK.

NOTES ON HOUSE AND SULKY , (By THE POSSIBLE.) The Sydney mare Julian won a mile race in Sydnev this month in 2min 23sec, D. J. Price has taken in hand the American bred mare AI.F. It will be interesting ot learn ;• how she shapes with him, as in the past she has proved anything but a tractable mare to handle. At a meeting held at Winton, Southland, last week, a trotting club was formed. Judging by tha enthusiasm displayed at the initial meeting, the new club looks like developing into a strong, one. , Some talk was occasioned at the trotting meeting on Saturday, when it was seen that L. Robertson was driving Jewels Heiress in the Improvers' Handicap, in which he also had a horse of his own, Birchmark, running. Mr*F. C. Thomas, one of the compilers of the New Zealand Trotting Stud Book, was busy on both days of last week's meeting circulating forms among those likely to be in a position to provide information for the work. The prominent American trainer and driver, E. Geers, has expressed the opinion that Lou Dillon's fast work early last summer,, after her winter spent in idleness, was responsible for her failure to trot in two minutes without a wind shield, a feat he believes her capable of performing. The trotting events always form one of the mo£t interesting features of the Bathufrst show, which annually attracts visitors from all parts of New South Wales. This year's show will be held early in April, and in addition to other attractions for trotting men I notice that £50 is offered for the horse (trotter or pacer) that breaks the Australian mile record. Ribbonwood has just finished a most successful season, and several mares have already been booked to him for next season. Some of the best mares in Australia visited him, so that he has been given a great chance to make a name as a sire. Ribbonwood is now being prepared for the coming shows, and he has shown to such advantage in his work that his owner and trainer J anticipate that when well he will be equal to acting up to his best New Zealand form. An American exchange reckons that the trotting enthusiast, Mr C. K. G. Billings, has more than £60,000 invested in fine horse-flesh. The cost of maintaining these horses is placed at £20,000 a pear. He owns, among others, Lou Dillon, 2min lsec, queen of the trotting turf ; Major Delmar, 2min lisec, world's champion gelding; The Monk and Equity, world's trotting record to pole, 2min 7-2sec ; Charlie Mac, 2min 14lsec ; world's record to saddle j Prince Direct and Hontas Crook, lmin isa,c, world's pacing record half-mile to pole ; Morning Star and Prince Direct, 2min '6sec, world's amateur- pacing record to pole; Prince of Orange, lmin 6£sec; Louise Jefferson, 2min 9isec; Fred S. Wedgewood, 2min ssec; Mkzette, 2min 4isec; and Angiis Pointer, 2niin 4£sec. Mr Billings is the sole owner of the mile track at Memphis, where he aho owns the entire street railway sys'om. His great fortune, left by his father, was made in the Chicago gas companies consolidation. The meeting of tue New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club last week was one of the most successful gatherings ever hold at this season of the year. The attendance on both days was well up to the average, and speculation was brisk, the investments for the meeting being £11.043, an increase of £318 on last . year's figures. The racing was exceptionally good, in fact, taking it all through, I have rarely witnessed better at any meeting. The times registered on the first day were all on the slow side, and- for this 1 fancy the track was responsible. The work it got on Thursday improved it, and on Saturday it appeared to be a lot faster, ' though records were never in- danger. Proceedings opened on Thursday with uie Spreydon Handicap, in which Yestiria had her opponents well beaten before half a mile had been covered. Vestina, who isTby Varicleve from the American-bred Molly Pitcher, is a neat looking ' mare v with a nice clean style of trotting:. 'Master Poole, who was favourite, ,is a three-year-old by Wild-wood—r-Miss PooJe, but he does not take ' the eyo as one likely to make a good one. Hebe was a strong favourite for

the Queen's Handicr-p, bnt though she trotted well she had no chance at the finish with Viscount, who hsd the race in hand some distance from home. Ski-o shaoed well, and finished fast in third place. Tlie Manager was favourite for the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, but he cut up badly. The race resolved itself into a duel between My Lady and Bettv, the former winning cleverly at the finish. My Mistake was going very strongly at the finish. The February Handicap was a poor race, Blvthechild heading a procession all the way. She cut out ner first mile in about 2min 26sec, but tired a lot in the closing stage of the journey, when Electioneer Belle was overhauling her fast. None of. the others ,had a chance at anv part of the race. 'Ine Parliamentary Handicap brought out a good field, and provided a fine race. Cinders broke up at the start, but all the others shaped, well. Nabocklish cut out tne running froni i'redericS, and a lap from home they ware stm in front, closely attended by Plain G, Lopp and M'Kinley, with Black Child ten lengths away. Two furlongs from hoine Lopp was done with, and Plain G also retired. From this point a fine struggle ensued, M'Kinley eventually getting norne by a neck from Nabocklish. Frederick failed in the final pinch, and ran in three lengths behind uie other pair. The three placed horses all ran well. M'Kinley and Nabocklish both finished strongiy, but Frederick, as he has done more than once, shaped as if a two mile journey was a trifle far for him. Plain G also ran like a sprinter, but Black Child put in an astonishing run over the last half-mile. Lopp gave a disappointing display, shutting up very quickly in the last round. The Members' Handicap showed Revenue up. in a favourable light. *or once he trotted very kindly, and never gave his opponents a chance. Half a mile from home Felony left General Lyon3 and • went after Revenue, but she could make no impression on him. The Speedwell Handicap provided a fine race. Lily C.ledioff, but at the halfmile post there, was nothing to choose between Lily C, Bradlaugh, Sunol, Victor Huon, Electioneer Belle and Austrey. A little further on Electioneer Belle and Sunol drew out clear of the others, and the former staying better than Sunol won comfortably at the finish. The Final Handicap was a poor race, Pygmalion shooting out early and winning very easily. On Saturday racing commenced with the Improvers' Handicap, in which the imported mare, Jewels Heiress, gave a nice exhibition, and won without much trouble. Ngapara performed well, and forced the winner to put up pretty fast time. None of the others, however, made any show, and there was a strong suspicion that some of them might have done better. There was a good finish in the Ladies' Bracelet between Leura and To-morrow, the former winning by a head after a great battle all the way. The Zealandia Handicap provided an interesting race. Elector made the pace, but a little over a lap from home he was joined by Vickery and Verax. Elector then left his feet, and Vickery put in a great burst of speed tor a hundred yards, and from this out she had the race in hand. Black Chikl again finished very strongly, and his • time was nearly equal to his best record, established about a year ago. The Southern Handicap resolved itselr into a match between Zeppa and Huon King for the last six furlongs, the others being shaken off at that point. A lap from home Zeppa gained a slight advantage, which he held easily to the finish. The winner had to run the gauntlet of an inquiry tor boring Huon Kin?, but the stewards did not alter the judge's verdict. It certainly appeared that Huon King was badiy interfered with. The Antarctic Handicap showed how easily Vestma had won on the first day, as, though she bro*e once or twice, she soon settled down, and gave her opponents little chance. Dopplegan^er and Robex both shaped well, but General Mac, after putting in. a fast mile, retired. There was a great struggle in the Councillors Handicap. Three furlong^ from home Sierra, Miss Bank, Big Jim, Moira and Durbar were in a bunch. Miss Bank and Moira were the first to drop out, but the other, three ran on in company. Durbar took the lead in the straight, but Big Jim put in a great clash in the last twenty yards and just failed to catch Durbar by a head, Sierra being less than a length away. The Sportsman's Handicap saw another great race. Hettie H. lost a lot of ground at the start, but once she got under way she showed plenty of pace, and three furlongs from home she was close behind Wild Wave, the leader. The effort was too much for her. however, and in the' run home she could not foot it with Wild Wave and Hamlin , the latter, who put in a fast half at the finish, just getting up in time to make a dead heat. Hettie H. was only two lengths away, and she must have put- up a phenomenally good performance. The meeting closed- with the Pressmen's Handicap, in which G. was in front all the way, winning Very easily. Half a mile from home Ben Hur, Bradlaugh, St Simon and Cocoanut were in company, and JJen Hur, finishing better than usual, just . gained .second place from Bradlaugb, though the latter was_ probably unfortunate, a break costing him several lengths. ._