Trotting Match Races.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20275, 9 April 1934, Page 6

Trotting Match Races.

Dear Sir, —The two invitation match races put on by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club were a great draw and boosted the sport and the totalisator returns, but as contests they were not the success that they should have been. The first race over a mile, won by Walla Walla, was spoilt by Walla Walla’s driver, in my opinion, anticipating the start and obtaining a decided advantage. The advantage thus gained, in addition to his having drawn the No. 1 position at the starting post, rendered it practically’ impossible for him to be beaten, although that wonder horse and public favourite Harold Logan went as near to accomplishing the task as possible. Conceding Walla Walla three lengths’ advantage after they had gone thirty or forty yards from the start, he overhauled and headed Walla Walla in the straight about eighty yards from the finish, and it was at this juncture that Walla Walla demonstrated what a good horse he really is by again getting his head in front at tne finish, after a desperate struggle over the last seventy or eignty yards, wnen they were going at a twominute gait. Although Walla W’alla was the winner, Harold .Logan's performance was, in the minds of many present, the better of the two. It was a glorious calm day and although Walla Walla had to make the pace there was an absence of wind which made it easier for him. Harold Logan’s behaviour at the starting post was excellent, as it invariably is. Walla Walla was, on the other hand, excited and on his toes. However, when Walla Waila was ready the starter sent them on the journey’, but it would have been better to make him stand for a few seconds, but there was the danger of his being left and that would never have done. The officials of the club should never have entertained the idea of starting these match races froirf a standing start, and I think it was a mistake inviting more than Harold Logan and Red Shadow to meet Walla Walla. The presence of the other horses in these races did no more than provide a further means to punters to throw away money on them, and in the second race they caused trouble that might have proved disastrous and robbed Walla Walla of an opportunity to do his best, or provide the excuse lor his not giving a better showing and robbing the result to a certain extent of the decisiveness of the beating Harold Logan inflicted on those opposed to him. The pace set by Harold was so slow that there was no excuse lor \vaila Walia not being in front with him and if he had been he would have escaped the trouble he got into. It was evident that tne drivers decided to make a race over the final bit of the mile and a hall journey, but the interference met with by’ Walla Walla prevented him from making any showing at the time he was expected to be in the running. Ihe fact that Harold Logan was a genuine stayer and out in front on the rails made the drivers of Red Shadow and Walla Walla retrain from making it a ding-dong race all the way’, as the inside advantage held by Harold Logan was beyond their capabilities. 11 the interference that Walla Walla met with had not taken place I think the result would have been the same as it would have taken a better horse than we have ever seen at Addington to give Harold Logan the advantage of the inside running ana a beating. I understand the owner of Walla Walla intends to send his horse for a record at Addington with pacemakers, and I am sure there are thousands of people who have witnessed these horses in these contests who would be pleased to have the opportunity of witnessing W’alla Walla and liarold Logan in a match race over a mile from a moving start, ihen we would have an opportunity of seeing how near to two minutes these speed merchants are capable of going and settle beyond question which horse is the champion of Australasia, lor as it stands now the question is debatable and not positively settled.—l am, etc., MOVING START PREFERRED.