THE AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 7, 13 September 1890, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

The Trotting Club races came off last Saturday at Potter’s Paddock, Epsom. The day was all in its favour, being the first bright sunny day we have had for some time, and the sun having how some power made a day in the country most enjoyable, consequently the attendance was very good. Mr. A. Harris was judge, Messrs. Halstead and Wattie starters, and Mr. C. F. Mark secretary. There were no disputes or objections and everything passed off quietly and pleasantly, and the committee and secretary might have been highly commended bad they not committed the unpardonable sin of unpunctuality in starting, which so delayed matters that the last race had to be postponed on account of the darkness, and the last two which were run were no pleasure to witness on account of the dim light and coldness at sunset. This is a failing which most young clubs are guilty of, and shows a great want of business capacity and that courtesy which is due to the public. See the position the club would in this instance have been placed had a dead heat, a protest, or anything occurred which would have caused an unavoidable delay. As it was, by negligence, they could not carry out their programme in its integrity, and a dead heat would have made the postponement of more races requisite. As I said before this unpunctuality is a common failing in young clubs, and the cause of much dissatisfaction and shows a want of firmness in the powers that be in carrying out their own rules, as the jockey or trainer renders himself liable to a fine not exceeding for not being at the post at the appointed time. Fining; and starting without those causing the delay, would speedily teach trainers and owners the necessity of punctuality. Everything must have a beginning and so I suppose must trotting races. The class of horses here engaged were very much below par, it would be flattery to call any animal engaged a trotter. The shining light, Mount, who was the winner of the two principal events might be called a good dog cart horse, as he certainly is not within 30 secs, of trotting form. At the same time trotting races should encourage the breeding of trotters, and the finding out of any natural trotters we may possess, and it is to be hoped that the extra training and special attention now directed to them may result in finding and breeding a superior class of animal to that which we at present possess. The following are the results :— Handicap Maiden Trot of 30 sovs. Two miles. Mr. H. Andrew’s ch g Mount (Crowther), 30s 1 Mr. R. S. Bird’s b g Sultan (Harford), 20s 2 Mr. J. Scott’s ch g Laddie, 50s 3 The dividend was j£B 2s. Time 6m. 13s. Selling Trot of 15 sovs. Two miles and a half. Mr. H. Windsor’s b m Rambuster (Thorpe), 305.... 1 Mr. C. E. Abbott’s g g Dick (Harford), 30s 2 Mr. W. McMillan’s br m Jeanette (owner), 45s 3 The winner was sold for £l5 55., the owner buying her in. Dividend £1 18s. Time Bm. “ Pony Cup Handicap of 40 sovs. Seven furlongs. Mr. J. Cummins’ b m Locket, 5 yrs, 9st 81b (McMinnamin) 1 Mr. C. H. Homblow’s r g Sepoy, aged, 7st 71b (J0hn5t0n).................................. 2 Mr. H. Alien’s b f Cupid, 3 yrs, 6st lolb (Smith) .. 3 Time; im. 40s. Dividend 15. Handicap Trot of 50 sovs; second horse to receive 10 sovs from the stakes. Three miles. Mr. H. Andrew’s ch g Mount, 35 sec (Tanner) .... 1 Mr. D. Harford’s b g Hard Times, 30 sec (owner) .. 2 Mr. H. Windsor’s b m Rambuster, 55 sec (J. Thorpe) 3 Time, 9m. 355. Dividend, /3 17s. Handicap Pony Trot of 20 sovs. Two miles. Mr. W. Bumside’s g m Mary Jane, 45 sec I Mr. R. Henwood’s b m The Maid, 45 sec 2 Mr. W. Greenwood’s b m Jessie, 25 sec 3 Dividend, £ll 17s. Handicap Pony Hurdles of 30 sovs. One mile and a half. Mr. W. S. Evans’ b g Reuben, aged, 7st 91b 1 Mr. W. Greenwood’s br g Pica, aged, gst 2 Mr. Forth’s b g Gameock, aged, 7st gib 3 Dividend, Bs. A protest has been entered against Mount, the winner of the Maiden and Handicap Trotting races. On Tuesday afternoon the Forced Handicap Trot of 15 sovs., two miles and a half, postponed at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday took place at Potter’s Paddock, Epsom. Between zoo and 300 people were present. The race was won easily by Hard Times (15 secs) Comet (25 secs) being second. Twelve horses started. The totalisator dividend was £1 14s. for ios. tickets. The sum of £l,llO was passed through the totalisator.