WAIKATO TROTTING CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14261, 12 January 1920, Page 5

WAIKATO TROTTING CLUB

MEETING AT CLAUDELANDS. A RECORD ATTENDANCE. TOTALISATOR INCREASE £8791 10s. The annual meeting of the Waikato Trotting Club was held at the Claudelancls course on Saturday in excellent weather. After the first couple of races speculation took a brightened tone, and the investments were well spread and or .steady proportions throughout the rest of the programme. It was anticipated that the totalisator returns would show a marked advancement on those of last year. Such proved to be the case, a total of £23,920 10s being handled over the eight races, as against £15,129 last year—an increase of £8791 10s- 1 he Waikato Trotting Cup, on which a total of £3985 was rung up, was the heaviest investment race of the day, but it was run very close by the figures of the Farewell Handicap, which closed at £3862 10s- . , In gate receipts, too, the Club established another record, these reaching the figure of £396 13s, as against £248 the total revenue from this direction at the 1919 meeting. The management of the meeting was good. and a special word of appreciation is due the secretarial work of Mr A. J. Smith and his staff. In being devoid of the services of the barrier, the starter’s duties were considerably added to, but Mr F. W. Edwards got goodly sized fields away with credit. The work of the judge (Mr 11. Alexander) was onerous in the couple ot -very close finishes witnessed on Saturday, and while there appeared to be some dissent at his placing in the first race, the judge had better opportunity •of coming to a correct decision than the critics. There were many other officials of the Club, too, who worked indefatigably towards the success of the gathering- , , .. F“l!owing arc the results ol the concluding events: — R AIL W AY 11A N DIC A P, One and a-half mile. Mr J. Bryce’s Oratorio, limit (-1. Bryce) 1 • Mr “K. Burnett’s 1 ' Eady Burlington, 48yds behind (Hall) 2 Mr F. McGovern’s Jewel Fashion, 72yds behind (Robertson) 3 All started. Won by a length, a similar distance between second and third. Time, 3.40 3-5. HAMILTON HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. Two miles. Mr J. Pauli’s Gold Rod, 60yds behind (W. J. Pauli) 1 Mr A. Fleming’s Wonderland, 120yds behind (Flemi-ng) •••••_ 2 Mr E. J. Morrison’s Rita Galindo, limit (Orange) ..... -• .3 Scratched: Rio Grande. Won oy two lengths. Time, 4.52 2-5. FAREWELL HANDICAP of HOsovs. One mile and a-quarter. Mr C 9 Le Campion’s Tim Wilkin, limit (Willetts) - ••• 1 Dir A. Cameron’s Albert Patch, 12vds behind (W. J. Panll) 2 Mr ‘ S. Wootten’s Glen Mavis, 84yds behind (including 12yds _ penalty) ; 3 Scratched: Ngahere. Won by two lengths, third horse a length and a-half away. Time, 3.1. NOTES ON THE RACING. A NOSE VICTORY. The Introductory Handicap brougiit a field of 14 saddle performers, with nothing outstanding as far as quality was'concerned. Canberra was installed favourite, Nikora, Timbell, Miss Murphy and Wild Nut being backed in that order. Native Boy was the out- » sider of the field, and he justified it * ' by finishing last. Vcletta was the first to strike her gait, but she was soon superseded by Favour Royal, Canberra being third as they -passed the stand. Miss Murphy fourth and Wild Nut fifth. Along the back Wild Nut moved up and followed Favour Royai and Miss Murphy (the latter going up a couple of times in the proceeding half mile) into the straight. In a great finish Favour Royal got the verdict by a nose from the locally-owned and trained Wild Nut, whom many thought had won. It was a close, thing, but the man in the box.was in the position to gauge accurately. The winner returned the only two-figure dividend ot the .meeting. A Favourite Wins. Indian Chief was the only defection from the Claudelands Handicap, for which Ngahere was installed a hot favourite. After letting the Te|Amamutu trained Roma make all the running Bryce brought Ngahere, who started badly, along in the last 50 yards to win by three lengths. Flora Dillon made up a lot of ground in the last half mile to get third, but that was fully six lengths away from the winner. Stella /I. was fourth. Won all the Way. When the investment machine had slopped ringing Kewpie was the choice for the Waikato Trotting Gup. for •which George Akwood and Strategy were scratched. Report had it that the former had died in the box during the week. The bracketed pair, Dandy ■Chimes and Whist, were second choice, while Trooper Dillon and Temple came in that order, cacti with over £I2OO on its chances. Queen Pirate and Comedy Chief were the outsiders in the field of eight. Kewpie was very quickly to the front, v-ith Queen Pirate, Temple and Trooper DMion racing !n that order. When the field passed Hie stand Kewpie was still 'he pace-maker, well clear from Comedy Chief, the nearest attendant. The latter faded away turning out of the straight and along the hack Queen Pirate went out after kewpie. There was now a big gap between the pair and the rest of the field. Whisht was making up ground in the second bunch until a couple of bad breaks along the back settled his chances. Half a mile from home Trooper Dillon made a forward move, but the son of Harold Dillon went up | in the air turning into the straight, and this lost him a lot of ground. The three were hard at it down the running hut Kewpie stalled off the challenge by Queen Pirate to win by a couple of lengths. Trooper Dillon was six lengths away, with Whist fourth, Temple, Comedy Chief, Gold Boy and Dandy Chimes strung out in that order. F. W. Cults, the driver of Temple, was fined £5 and severely cautioned ■for interfering with Dandy Chimes. The Frankton Handicap. Goal Light was the popular selection for the Frankton Handicap. Profiteer stumbled at the start, and never got moving. Coal Light took command, but went in the air passing the stand as Rotomanuka went to the front. Along * the back these two and Flora Dillon , \ were well clear of the rest of the field, the latter moving very nicely. At the end of a mile Coal Light was again the pilot, and turned to the straight two lengths clear. Here Flora Dillon was making a strong claim, hut she left her feet badly, and that settled her chances. The leading pair fought out the finish for Coal Light to win handily by three lengths. Leorinc got third, a goo I twenty lengths away. The Stewards’. Tim Doolan and Kewpie were the withdrawal from the Stewards(ilancligap. Prize Pearl was £4OO better sup-

ported on the machine- than Taneatua, 1 while Lucille, Temple and the bracketed ! pair, Bigamist and Glen Mavis, were all well thought of by investors. Prize Pearl played up, a not infrequent custom with the Jewel Chimes gelding, and look no part in the race. The Scout was in the van for a time, but when it came to the serious business with heads turned for home Glen Mavis was the pilot, while Temple was moving up fast. He passed all out. but the leader, and coming at a great gait down the running got up stride by stride, and the pair flashed past the post together, the judge being unable to separate them. The Scout was about a dozen lengths away, and then came Dandy Chimes and Gold Girl. Glen Mavis’ time was 2.22 and Temple's 2.21. A Missed Opportunity. The five acceptors for the Railway all went to the post. Coal Light, through her previous win, earned a 36yds penalty. Oratorio was the public selection, with Jewel Fashion, Trcanao and Coal Light fairly evenly supported, and Lady Burlington the outsider. Coal Light failed to get going and early lost all chance. Treanac was the pilot passing the stand, from Oratorio, with Lady Burlington and Jewel Fashion half-a-dozen lengths back. At the back stretch fiS-eanac went up in the air, and lost ids position, which left Oratorio to go out with Jewel Fashion and Lady Burlington in pursuit. Bryce kept Oratorio on the rails, and Lady Burlington unavailingly tried to get through between the pair. She could not get up until too late, and Oratorio won by a length, Jewel Fashion a similar distance away. If Hall had got Lady Burlington cut at the bottom of Die straight the result could easily have been been different. Gold Rod Wins Well. ( There was very little in public selection between Speculator and Wahenepai for the Hamilton Handicap/the former being a few pounds better favourite. However/ they were both well o'fft of the picture, and never at any stage of tne two miles race did they flatter their supporters. Gold Rod had worked into a handy position, laying third at the end of a mile, and answering all demands passed the then leader, Wonderland. Had Wonderland not left his feet at the serious moment he would have troubled the winner. Rita Galinda went well from the limit for three parts of the journey, while Rotomanuka was always within striking distance of the front lot, and actually finished fourth. The Shorts Event. The good-looking and more than average performer, Ngahere, was not asked to contest the short item of the programme, the Farewell, in saddle. Tills left a field of nine to battle for the honours in which Lucille, Lady Burlington, Albert Patch, Tim Wilkin, The Scout, and the bracketed pair Bigamist and Glen Mavis had big followings. Tim Wilkin was always in a handy position, and, drawing away at the right moment, defeated Albert Patch and Glen Mavis for the honours. Hymen was fourth, and Striker next.