THE TROTTING TRACK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8778, 15 November 1906, Page 1

THE TROTTING TRACK.

NOTES ON HORSE AND SULKY (By THE POSSIBLE.) The Tahuna, Park Trotting Club has altered the date of its meeting to November 30 and December 1. Euchre did not succeed in winning a race at the meeting just closed, but, if I am not mistaken, he put up a faster performance in the Exhibition Cup than anything he has previously done in public* Jewels Heiress put up a fine performance in winning the' Shorts Handicap in 2min 19fiec. It was very bad luck for the connections of Prince Elmo to run up against such a speedy customer as the American mare. Electrician and Al F, two members of Albaugh's team, were among the mcst unlucky performers at the meeting, as they both reduced their records considerably without winning. Al F was three time third out of four starts. , - The victory of Lady , Inez in the last race of the meeting, the Au Revoir Handicap, was rather unpopular with a section of the crowd, who* apparently found it hard to reconcile her winning performance with her defeat earlier in the meeting. When still a lap from home in the Champion Handicap, won by Verity, Black Venus was pulled up the bank and slowed down. Her driver. Wright, was asked for an explanation, when he informed the stewards that he thought it was the last lap. The explanation was accepted. The racing throughout the four days Tvas uniformly jicod, Mr Brinkman having brought his fields well together. No records were broken, but the times recorded) taken on the whole, were very fast, and more than one horse had the task of winning in future seriously affected by a big reduction on its previous record, without the compensation of annexing a stake. Though he had to put up with second place in the Exhibition Cup, Dan Patch proved that he was quite- worthy of the reputation that preceded him to Chrtetchurch from Melbourne. Immediately after the big race he was brought out for the Pioneer Handicap, in which he registered a mile and a quarter in 2min 53 2-ssec, which works out at about 2min 19sec for the mile. The big stakes offered by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at its recent rieeting proved an excellent corrective against non-triers. All the same, there were several palpable cases of waiting tactics, and, in one case at least, the totalisator figures on the next occasion when the horse started furnished plenty of proof that a much better display could be expected. The Allendale Stock Farm's team, under the care of the Robertson Brothers, captured a fair share of the spoil at the recent meeting. Dan Patch was the best winner, capturing the Christchurch Handicap and Pioneer Handicap, besides finishing second in the Exhibition Cuo. Alice Palm won the Halswell Handicap, Birchmark the Best and Best Handican and Jewel's Heir-ess the Shorts Handicap. C. Piper has received many fine performers from Mr J. A. Buckland, but I doubt if he has had many more -oromisinor than Vanish and Vivid. These two Vancleve mares have only been in New Zealand for a few weeks, yet one is 'already, close down to the 4.50 mark, and. tho other -broke sm i n when -bc*?t-&H in her first race last week. Both mares can probably be improved a lot yet, so that # they should keep the cracks moving before the season closes. Albertorious is a greatly improved horse since he first raced on Canterbury tracks last June. At that time his owner was anxious that his horse should reach the smin mark, but despaired of its accomplishment. He has, however, gradually gone on doing better, and now, with 4min 46 2-seec opposite his name, I would not like to say that he has reached his limit, as his last win was gained in very decisive fashion. G. Miteom's Sydney team, though successful in several races, wps.a trifle unlucky, several unprofitable placed performances being recorded. The disqualification of Little Ned for starting before his time in the Lincoln Handicap was most unfortunate, but I do not see how the stewards could hare d-one otherwise than uphold their official after he had reported the matter. I learn, by the way, that it is Milsom's intention to remain in Christchurch with his horses for a few months. The recent meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club may be described as the most successful t-rot- j ting fixture ever held in New Zealand. The attendance was large on each day of the meeting, the crowd present on Friday being one of the biggest I have ever seen on the ground. The visitors were prepared to bet, too, and but for the rain which fell on Thursday afternoon the record totalisator turnover, £48j428, would have been considerably larger than it was. The grounds were j in fine order, and the track provided first-class going. Although in a very bad state on Thursday night, the track was looking all right again on Friday morning, and Caretaker French must have put in a lot of work to have it in sneh order after the soaking it got on Thursday afternoon. Sal Tasker, who won the Juvenile Stakes two seasons ago in the record time of 2min 20sec, made only one appearance at the meeting, this. being on the last daj\ when she came out to contest the Exhibition Cup, the most valuable prize ever given for a trotting race in New Zealand. Since she last raced in New Zealand, Sal Tasker has filled out a lot, and she now takes the eye as a beautiful specimen of the trotting horse. D. J. Price had her looking well, and the manner in which she saw out the fast two-mile journey fur^ nished abundant evidence that her condition was all right. Drawing to the front at the start, she was never seriously challenged till a mile had been covered, when Dan Patch ran up to her. For half a mile Sal Tasker seemed to be at top, but she proved too §reat a sticker, and had Dan Patch eaten when the back stretch was entered. From that point she was never troubled, and won easily in 4min 44 8-ssec. That she has reached the limit ! of her speed yet I do not believe, and . I quite expect to see her do something better before this season closes. Mrs R. 0. Duncan, the owner of Sal Tasker, can certainly feel proud of owning such a five performer. Quite recently, I i learn, Mrs Duncan purchased Jessie and a yearling sister to Sal Tasker, and the mare has been sent to Melbourne to be mated with the Americanbred sire, Abbey Bells.