TO-DAY’S TROTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17871, 12 June 1926, Page 9

TO-DAY’S TROTS.

ASHBURTON EVENTS. The winter meeting of the Ashburton Trotting Club was held to-day in tine but dull weather. There was a large attendance, the special train frOhi Christchurch being liberally patronised. Results:— TRIAL HANDICAP. Of 1.30 govs. One mile and a half. I—Daytime. 24yds bhd 1 5- Exclusive, 48yds bhd 2 1 -3—Our Bird. 48yds bhd 3 Scratched: Denver's Doll, Drake. Great TVilkes, Pluto. Won by three lengths, with half a length between second and third. Time —3min 32 4-ssec. LONG BEACH HANDICAP. Of 170 sovs. One mile and a half. I—Tramp fast, S4yds bhd 1 o—Young Tom, lOSvds bhd 2 •T—Peter Felix. 36 yds bhd 3 Scratched: Chairman, Kempton. Won easily by four lengths, with One length between second and third. Time —3min 40 4-ssec. ASHBURTON COUNTY HANDICAP. (In harness.) Of 380 sovs. Two miles. 1— Sea Pearl. 12vds bhd 1 4—Downcast, 60vds bhd 2 2 Event. 84yds bhd 3 Scratched: Ratana. Won by a neck. a head between second and third. Time 4min 34 2-ssec. , NEW ZEALAND SAPLING STAKES (in harness^. Of 750 sovs. One mile and a half. 3 RICHORE. Mr R. W. Franks's ch g, by Rev de Oro—Lady Emperor 1 2 HAY DOCK. Mr H. F. Xicolls bf, by Rev de Oro—Victoria .. 2 I—ACRE, Mr R. Peters's b g, by Author Dillon—lrvington mare 3 All started. Won bv a neck, a head between second and third. Time—3min 31sec. ACTON HANDICAP (in harness), Of 150 sovs. One mile and a half. 6 Honour Bright, scr 1 23—Newcourt, 36vds behind .. 2 9—Direct Wood. 36yds behind 3 Scratched: Winter Audubon. Won by two lengths, a neck between second and third. Time—3min 30sec. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP (in Harness), Of 185 sovs. Two miles. 12—Lady Fan, 36yds behind 1 I—Faiflight, 123'ds behind .. 2 1— Engagement. 156yds behind 3 All started. Won by two lengths, four lengths between second and third. Time—4min olsec. WINTER HANDICAP (in harness) Of 175 sovs. One mile and a quarter. 3 Event. 36yd* 1 4 Pete Bingen, 48yds 2 6—Nanw,ch, scr 2 Scratched—Harold Burwood. Won by two lengths, three lengths between second and third. Time—2min 49 3LAURISTON HANDICAP, (In saddle). Of 150 sovs: one mile. 2 Why Worry, 24yds 1 15—Macanda. scr 2 9—Mabon’s Day, scr 3 Scratched—Direct Wood. Sea Pearl. Won by two lengths, three lengths between second and third. Time —2min 16 2 ssec\

NOTES ON THE RACES. (Special to the “Star.") ASHBURTON. June 12. 1 he course was in good order, though * trjfle dead after the overnight frost. Oanime wrap a strong favourite for the Trial Handicap and backers were never uneasy. He waited on the leaders for half the Journey «nd then drew away to win easily from Exclusive, who beat the fast-finishing Our Bird by half a length. The winner will win jn much better company next season. Wee Gus. second favourite, was never sighted. Trampfastj winner of a double at Hawke's Bay last week, was a hot favourite in the Longbeach Handicap. He began slowly, but took charge five furlongs from home and won with ridiculous ease by four lengths. Peter Felix broke in the straight. Young Tom beating him home by eight lengths. Trampfast shapes like being a high-class trotReven acceptors lined up for the Sapling Stakes. Acre was a little better backed than Hay dock and Richore. From the start Acre showed the way to Riohole, Key Logan, Haydock and Maud Richore. Rey Logan. Haydock and Maud LOgan retired. The other four were bunched at the entrance to the straight, Richore winning by a neck from Haydock. who beat Acre by a head. The winner is owned by Mr R. W. Franks, and is the first of the progeny of Rey J»e Oro to win a race. Haydock and Acre were both unlucky in having their preparation* interrupted through aeciThe Ashburton County Handicap was * great contest. In a field of fourteen Sea Pearl was a strong favourite, with Event, Countryman and bowncast disputing second fancy. Billy Whizz and Granite City led for nearly a. mile, when Rosie Nut and Harold Burwood headed them, with Wharepiana, Dalmeny and Downcast handy. Downcast took . harge at the entrance to the straight, but in a great finish Sea Pearl beat him by s neck, with Event a head away, and countryman close up fourth. Harold "Burwood fell at the home turn. The winner was sold recently by Mr H- F. Xlcoll, and is making his second appearance in the colours of the Auckland sportsman. Mr <*. M'Mfllan. There were thirty-two starters for the Acton Handicap, but half the field was out of the hunt from the start. Honour Bright, driven by Butterfield, was quickly in tbs lead, and staved there all the way. Holly Bell. St. Fillan. Gwenleigh and Yen were prominent behind the leader for a mile, but they disappeared at the finish. Honour Bright beat Nercourt by two lengths. With Direc-t Wood a neck away. Kibir;ngi and Rapier were next. Harold Thorpe, the favourite, failed to leave the mark. Fourteen unhoppled trotters took part in the Stewards' Handicap. Faii--1 ight’s stable companion. Trampfast, was a sound favourite. He led Lad}’ Fan till half a mile from home, ami then broke. He headed Lady Fan again n furlong from the post, but both broke. Lady Fan got going to win by two lengths. Engagement being four lengths away. with Little Johnnie fourth. Young Tom and Wildbine, secand third favourites, faded out early. St Maura was a strong favourite in the Winter Handicap, but broke up at the start. Billy Whizz, Four Bells. Nantwich and Ratana led a hunched field to the straight, where Event and Peter Bingen joined in. Event drew out, winning easily by two lengths from P»ter Bingen, with Xantwich three lengths away, and Wharepiana fourth.