TROTTING AT ADDINGTON

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 12

TROTTING AT ADDINGTON

Travis Axworthy Wins Well.

The conditions were ideal yesterday, when the summer meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club was commenced at Addington. The track was in capital order, and provided fast going. There was a large holiday attendance, among those present being a number of visitors from the North Island and various parts of the South Island. As has been the case in other parts of the Dominion lately, there was a drop in the totalisator investments, the day’s total being £27,706, compared with £34,516 last New Year’s Day.

Good fields contested all the events and there was some very interesting sport, with several performances of great merit. Travis Axworthy won the Canterbury Handicap in impressive fashion, outstaying the opposition at the end of a fast race, in which the speed was on all the way. It was the best effort of the American horse over two miles. He was followed home by Vesuvius, who was operated on for throat xruoble four months ago and had been in work only three weeks. His performance showed that the operation had been a great success. The West Coast trotter, Olive Nelson, won the Stewards’ Handicap like a high class mare, while she was followed home by the English horse, Stanle\ T T., who shewed exceptional speed, after losing a lot of ground at the start. The meeting was well managed in every department. The president, Mr W. T. Franks, was a busy man, giving a general oversight. The secretarial department was controlled by Mr A. I. Rattray in the customary capable manner, while all the other officials discharged their duties with credit, assisting towards a successful day’s racing. Travis Axworthy Stays Well. Tom Thumb and Lindbergh were slow to go away in the Canterbury Handicap, and at the end of half a

mile the former was pulled up. It looked in the early stages as though the race would be somewhat devoid of interest, as the field was well strung out, with Vesuvius, Great Logan, Travis Axworthy and Grand Light racing in that order in front. With a round to go the field began to close up, and Kingcraft made a decided forward movement. Lindbergh made up a lot of ground, but the effort left him without any reserve. The speed was on all the way, and Vesuvius stayed on a long way better than was anticipated, being just beaten by a brilliant dash by Travis Axworthy at the finish. Great Logan finished a well-run race by getting third. The great speed settled the chances of Grand Light and Vendcfme, but Harold Thorpe went a fine race, especially in the last half-mile. Erin’s Fortune raced poorly. Lindbergh failed at the end, after having to cover a lot of extra ground. Logan Chief raced quite up to his best form. Kingcraft, who went over a lot of ground, failed in the last quarter of a mile. High Class Trotters. Stanley T, who was favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap, jigged at the mark, losing a lot of ground, and it looked hopeless to pursue the field when he hit his gait. Kyra went out best and established a good lead. She was in front at half the journey, having New Metford, Jock Bingen, Trampcrisp and Olive Nelson following in that order. Just as the back stretch was reached Olive Nelson went to the front, while Stanley T. had gathered up more than half the field. Olive Nelson drew further away and came into the straight in front of Stanley T. The latter tired at the end and Olive Nelson had a very easy victory. White Satin came on and got third place, with the tiring Kyra next. The field was well strung out at the finish. j in in m m in m ® @ ® a a a a a a a a in in @