Successful Racing At Forbury Park Trots.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 12

Successful Racing At Forbury Park Trots.

FAULTY DRIVING TACTICS IN EVIDENCE IN SEVERAL EVENTS.

The spring meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, which was concluded last Saturday, was one of the most successful ever held by the club. Unfortunately, from a racegoer’s viewpoint, rain fell on the day prior to the opening of the meeting, and the track was bad for the first race. It was cut up a good deal by the first two races, but this did it good, allowing the ah’ to get into it, and it quickly dried, allowing the second half of the first day’s racing to be run on good going, although somewhat on the dead side. Rain fell on the Friday night and early on Saturday morning, the track being very heavy and bad for the second day’s racing, while the conditions overhead were not as good as those prevailing on the first day. The racing was full of interest, even under the somewhat unfavourable conditions, and some fine finishes were witnessed. The meeting was capitally conducted and punctuality was well maintained. Mr W. F. Dunne, the club’s starter, did better work than usual, but he would be .well advised to marshal his fields earlier, so as to have them ready to go immediately the “all clear” flag is hoisted. There was one feature of the meeting that stood out on both days. A large number of experienced reinsmen appeared to show particularly bad judgment in driving. At least two harness races and one saddle event wpuld probably have produced different results had the pilots shown more judgment during the progress of the races. On the first day, a horseman evidently anticipated, when he got into the straight, that he had the opposition well beaten and eased up in his work. Before he could get his mount going again at top an opponent had beaten him by a narrow margin on the post and robbed his horse of a stake. In some of the events drivers, kept too far back in the concluding stages to have any chance, and although their horses had plenty of dash and speed the gap was too great to be bridged successfully. When pacers and trotters are going at a good speed all the way in races, unless they are kept in a good position those behind have little chance. Few horses are capable of giving away half a fur-

long in the last half-mile. One of the favourites on the second day had a particularly good passage all the way, but it seemed that his driver was over-confident and kept in the rear of the field till well down the back stretch. He then sent the pacer along and, coming on full of speed, was fast overtaking the leaders at the finish. He eventually got third in a close finish, and less than a couple of lengths past the post he was in front. Had the pacer not been asked to make up so much ground in the last quarter of a mile he would not have been beaten The chief two-mile harness event on the second day was one of the best races seen on the course, but one of the competitors was driveh with poor judgment, as he tailed the field till the straight was reached and then tried the almost impossible of giving away so much for the final dash to the post. In conversation with the horse’s driver after the race, he admitted his error and acknowledged he should have been closer up before the final stages were commenced. Races, especially the fast ones, are becoming much harder to win than formerly, and a great deal more depends on satisfactory driving. There were a few cases of bad> judgment in driving at the November meeting at Addington, but a great many more were noticeable at Forbury Park Whilst some pacers and trotters suffered defeat through injudicious driving, two races can be mentioned in which the reinsmen scored the victory rather than the horse, by capable handling throughout the race. In one of the trotters’ races a veteran reinsman was seen to great advantage. The trotter was not going steadily and must have given her pilot a busy time, but he was equal to the occasion and eventually landed her first past the post. In this race judgment of the speed shown by those in front was apparent. The driver gradually made up his ground, so that when the final stages were commenced he was handy to the leaders. Drivers, like horses, are not always at their best, but the practice of keeping too far back in races, in the expectation of all the front division coming back, is not a good policy and has resulted in several defeats that should not have happened.

RACING NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

(Special to the " Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 6. During the week there was an inquiry for Bert Hinkler, who may change hands at any time now. The Day Comet—Poi two-year-old has not been worked lately on account of suffering from a severe cold. He has not, however, lost condition and he may resume track work next week. Grand Arch has shown improvement since he raced at Te Kuiti and he should race prominently at Taumarunui and Te Awamutu. Tarrapeen has been distinctly benefited by her racing at Takapuna and bears a more racy appearance. She was not particularly suited to the Takapuna course, but showed speed up to a certain point. If she strikes a firm track this or next week she may do better. The latest addition to A. E. Cox|s team is Kanui. This mare. looks as if she could do with more condition, but judging by her track efforts she will soon be ready to carry silk. St Warrigal has only been in work eight weeks, but in that time has improved materially. He is an exceptionally big horse, but moves over the ground in very taking style. By next winter he will join the ranks of the steeplechasers, for he is an accomplished jumper, like others of the St Amans family. At the price paid by a Taranaki sportsman, 200 guineas, for Belle Star, the purchaser may be reckoned to have a bargain. The Lucullus—Starella filly has been in commission over twelve months and her track work has been very consistent throughout. Properly placed the\ purchase money may be returned through an early win. Sir Russell has now recovered from his recent temporary set-back and js showing plenty of vim in his track gallops. He will not be seen out at Taumarunui, but he is expected to be among the contestants at the Waipa meeting at Te Awamutu next week. Ah Wera is now a member of G. A. Reid’s team. During .the week he has been having an easy time, but will soon be back at work. With Archeen, Ah Wera and St Warrigal, Reid has a nice jumping team and he will have excellent opportunities 'of getting a ‘line from time to time of their capabilities. Te Apurangi, who up to a few months 'ago bore an overgrown appearance, promises to make good in the near future. As a two-year-old he was trained by C. J. Carmont and last season he was a member of Tinker’s stable. Meeting with an accident in a log paddock, he was severely injured and was returtied to his owners at Waitoa, at which time it was thought the Archiestown gelding might never race. Taken in hand by G. A. Reid in the spring, he has shown improvement week by week and is beginning to show a nice turn of speed. , _ , Trainer R. Wallace has taken Bahama in hand and he will be trained locally. The running at Taumarunui may give an idea of Bahama’s capability. Glenstar is again moving soundly in his work, but he will not be seen to advantage until the tracks are much firmer than they are just now. Ifc general respects he is as good as he was last year, so he should not be long in increasing his winning score. Antique is standing up to his work very well and bears a much more racy appearance than he did a couple of months ago. He should not be difficult to place during the remainder of the season, as he is one who can carry weight. The track work yesterday morning was interesting, despite the showery weather. Glenstar, moving soundly, went twice round the plough. Archeen was sent a round at hall pace and another at three-quarter speed. He went exceedingly well. G. A. Reid has the Marble Arch gelding nearly up to his best form. Tarrapeen. King Lap and Leasehold were allotted steady pacing, while Glenson, The Lamb and Miss Albyn were only required to do mediurn pace work., but B„lack Maire went a mile on the plough in a manner that showed he is none the worse for his recent racnSir Russell showed pace over five furlongs, especially in the run down the straight, and Antique slipped over half a mile in 53sec. Lucky Alice put in a round satisfactorily and showed a willingness to go faster. Trig and Te Apurangi were associated over five furlongs on the course proper, the latter finishing ay length in front in lmin 6 2-ssec. St Warrigal, with a light weight up. ran a similar distance in lmin 6sec and finished strongly.