RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

ffly “ARODB.”) FIXTURES, Mav ai-OUhtihti Trotting Club. Jl*y '--fi 23~NorUi Ot.« K o Jockey Club. May 22, 2t-Wanganui Jockey Club. my ;s)—Tnratehi-CVtevtou Racing Club. * - v 31. June 3—Canterbury Park Trotting Crib. Way 3], June 3, .t—Auckland Racing Chib. Junn .I—South Waimapa, Trolling Club. Juno 3, I—Otaki .Mauri Racing Chib. ■ nnc 3, n, 7—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 12—-Ashburton Trotting Club. .it.n« !■!—Olajn Hunt. NOMINATIONS. May 23 Ashburton Trotting Club. HANDICAPS. Jtiiy T(-—Duiierhn Jockey Club. Juno I—Ashburton Trotting C'lnb. ACCEPTANCES, liny 20—Ot.nlu Maori Ra.oing Club, May 21—Tatalftbi-Cattcrloß Racing Club. May 23~South Wmraiapa Trotting Chib. May 23—Auckland Huong Club. May 27--Cant?rbury Piuk Trotting Club. Juno 7—Ashburton Trotting Club. TVhou the sport of trotting; was ju its infancy in tho Do minion, tire pacer was quite mi unknown quantity, all races being contested by tb© ircc-ioggird trotter. Gradually tho pacer made bin appearance, and trainers .and owners 1 were quick to realise tlnit the hoppled liorso as a racing proposition was much ' quicker of development and was likely to earn money on tho track long before the average trotter was lit to go to tho races. Naturally attention was turned to the quickest money-producing liorso, and. tlio trotter gradually dropped into tho background as far as tho race track was concerned, and at one period it seemed .that his total extinction was not far away. Realising Dub fact, the authorities, to protect the trotter, had a rule inserted making it mandatory Utah « certain number of races, and also a certain proportion of tho stakes given by dulls, should, bo devoted solely to the trotter. The decision was nob arrived at without a good deal of opposition, but finally it became law, and tho interests of the trotter, as. a racing proposition, wore conserved. It will bo irecly admitted now, oven by those who wore opposed to the rule, that tho movement was judicious in every way. Since that time there has been a gradual development of the trotter, and today, whilst there lias not yet been produced a champion over a mile course, equal to the deeds of Revenue, the general average of speed has been greatly improved, and two-mile harness races, in. particular, are very popular on trotting dub programmes. With tho improvement in tracks and trainers’ abilities, tho pacing races became harder and harder to win, whilst a few years ago the trotters’ races were comparatively easy. Lately, however, there has been a decided forward movement with tho free-legged horse, many trainers devoting nearly all their attention to their development. Horses which had been tried out at the pacing gait were put to trot ting, and even at tlris, stags of the sport there is to be found a number of horses racing in tho trotters’ division who were at one time pacers. Jn addition, some horses were doublegaited, being almost equally proficient at either gait. With the exception of, the champion, Hardy Willies,, who libs' not been raced over a mile course, Lord Itea.nehiid can bo mentioned as probably the fastest trotter now in commission, and I saw him on one occasion, raced as both gaits on tho same day. It is not surprising, therefore, to sometimes find in trotting races horses not trotting, but pacing, during part, of the journey, and of late there has been a good number who go at both gaits in events confined solely to trotters. A few years ago this matter was discussed by the New Zealand Trotting Association, and it was then pointed out that if any horse engaged in ji, trotting race went at the pacing gait, he had to be treated as though ho had gone to a, break; in other words, he must, bo pulled up and put to tho gait; which, was specified in the conditions of the race. A little time ago i.hq. West Cca.st~o\vned Fernleigh, a double.-ga.itod mare, was protested against for pacing during tho progresr, Cif a race. The Forbury Park Trotting Club baa always stronglv supported tho trotting horse, and.the inauguration of the Now Zealand Trotting Stakes, a classic race for trotters, is a stop towards further encouragement for the free-legged horse, whilst other races on the club’s prograipmes for trotters are well patronised. At the last meeting of the dub I noticed, however, several horses in one of the trotting races breaking into a pace, and had they continued throughout they must ha-vo been disco ali lied. Fortunately, they were ridden by men who understood their business, and they were pulled _up before the conclusion of the race. Horses pacing in trotting races are on the increase, and officials who have charge of the running should pay close attention to this, and immediately demand an explanation from the rider or driver unless efforts are immediately made t,o bring the horse to his oroper gaitMany pacers now racing are capable of going throughout a, race without the assistance of the hopples; in fact, a few arc raced without them, and some successful! v, Whilst protection is still necessary for the trotter, and the present rule should in no way be relaxed, the time is opportune for clubs to consider placing races on their programmes for free-legged horses, allowing trotters and unhoppled pacers to compete. The Greymonth Glut) baa such a race, and whilst it lias not received the attention of many unhoppled pacers, a few have started against the trotters. .Such a race would allow double-gaited horses to he raced without any chance, of disqualification, and I feel sure it would provide an excellent contest and a race altogether different from that usually found on programmes. Clubs are much too conservative in the conditions attached to races. Tn the meantime, however, special attention is drawn to horses racing in trotting races who do not conform to the conditions, but frequently got at. a pacing gait. R. Lor.gley lias just, taken in hand two hor’se.'i for Mr J. C. N. Grieg. One of them is the three-year-old filly Footlights, by Gay Spark—Timvald Beauty, and tho other is a. filly by Calibre. Valencia and Bianor. formerly members of R. J. Mason’s Riccarton team, are now inmates of R. Barlow’s stable! at New Plymouth. The grass track at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s course will bo open to-morrow for horses engaged at the club’s winter meeting. Tho aged gelding Royal Chef, by Coronet—Cuisine, has 1 been the most unlucky performer in the Dominion this season. " He has won £250 in stakes, without securing auvin. his record being made, up of seven seconds and three thirds. At a clearing sale of some of Mr T. H. Lowry’s thoroughbred stock at Hastings two years ago. Mr T. Ingloy. of the Wairarapa.. picked up Chimera (Finland—Landrail) cheaply for 75 guineas. Last season she won 080 sovs iiTvtakes. During the present term she did not strike winning form until the autumn, when she was wall down in the weights. During the east two months she" has scored on half a dozen occasions, and has earned £.lO-3-5 in stakesThe Spalpeen gelding Munster, who ran a. good race, although ho jumped wildly, on the coueluding day at Trentham,' was a. doubly winner at Egmont, He was ridden by H, M’Sweeney. who is attached to J. TV . Lowe’s Trerdham stablA, Muniter is engaged in the Great Northern Hurdles with the minimum weight, and carries 61b extra for the Hawera double win. At the yearling sales held in Sydney last month some 670 youngsters were catalogued, hut onlr eight of them brought over ROOgus. The Finland— Warren re colt bred by Mr T, H. Lowry, topped the list with llOOgns. He is a full-brother in Finmavk and Esfcland, but is reported to be bigger than either

LYN GOLF BALM. 2s each, 28a down. CHALLENGER (Heavy n.nd Floating), 8b 8d cac.n, 88s dozen. ARCH COLONEL fSpeoial), 4b each, 47b dozen, GOLF CLUBS by beat Scotch maker*. Mason, stb,others and co.. i/ro., Colombo Street,

of the named. Some of tin? critics took exception to ouo of bis kticos, but liis buyer, the RoschilJ trainer \\. Booth, did not, think them was anything wrong with tlio you tighter. A record of Desert Gold's prefonnances shows that she lias won tiiirtynx races, besides being hecond fifteen tunes, third lour times and unplaced only three times—a,ll her unplaced, efforts coming this season. Her stake earning:-; amount to £23,024, and in this respect she is second only to Carbine aiming Australasian horses- At one stage of her career sho was .ridden by one jockey only, J. O’Shea, but last year she was piloted by six different horsemen. In the A.J.C. Spring Stakes and Graven I’late ,1. O’Shoa rode flic mn.ro, M’Ha.nglilan had fho mount in the Melbourne Stakes, IV. Fonlshura in the Melbourne Cup, H. Cray in the Taranaki Stakes, M aurora. Stakes, Jllgmont Stakes and Manawatu Stakes. In the Faster Handicap at Auckland M’Flyun rode Desert Gold, and 0. Emerson rode hor in the Awapnni Gold Cup. H. Gray rode her m her only wins this season At the last meeting of the eonrnittea of the Riverton Racing Chib it was decided to make application for an extra permit, and in doing so claim that a club with such a. standing in the centre of so large a sporting community is entitled to the consideration asked for. The club is committed tan building scheme that will entail an expenditure of over £.101)0, and with only one meeting a year members de not feel justified in taking the step until they build up their reserve. An extra, meeting would ensure this being accomplished, and patrons would get tho accommodation they are entitled to. The matter will bo placed'in tho hands of Mr J. C. Thomson. M.P., and the representatives of the club on the conference. roitreb who won the Autumn Stakes nt Randwick on Saturday, will be remembered as the horse which unexbeat Desert Gold at weight-for-age in tho Spring Stakes in October. Konnaqnbair, who wa.s behind him on that occasion, occupied a rear position again on Saturday, so that Poitrel confirmed the spring form, though at that time his victory was held to bo a- fluke. This argument does not seem sound when it is remembered that the timo was 2min 31sec. However. Kennaqnhair reversed the form in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, but probably the severe race ho had in the Soring' Stakes got to the bottom of Poitrel. for he failed badly tor the rest of the meeting.