AUCKLAND PONY AND TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 62, 1 October 1891, Page 3

AUCKLAND PONY AND TROTTING CLUB.

The above Club inaugurated their trotting season with their Spring meeting at Potter’s Paddock last Saturday under the most unfavourable auspices. A cold sou’-west wind, accompanied by heavy squalls, swept across the course, making everything cold and miserable. The attendance was rather meagre. The dub have been unfortunate all through as regards the weather, which is to be regretted, as the Committee work hard to make their meeting a success. The following acted as officials: —Mr. A. Harris as judge, who had not a difficult post, for, with one exception, all the raceswore won easily; Mr. F. W. Mark, clerk of the scales ; Mr. E. D. Halstead, starter, and was most successful in getting some large fields of ponies away. The handicappers, Messrs.

Adams and Halstead, cannot be congratulated on their handicapping. The trotting races were won absurdly easily—Myrtle, notwithstanding her penalties, winning three out of the four events without difficulty.. She is a nice pony, trotting very fairly. It is said that she comes from the Bay of Islands. Messrs Caulton, Halstead, and Wattie were judges of trotting, and did their work on the whole satisfactorily, but they all seem to ignore “skipping,” which was very prevalent. It would not be allowed on any American course nor in England. We know that it is a very difficult thing to break old horses of it (most of those running coming under that head). .Many persons would not notice it, but it decidedly gives a clever “ skipper ” an advantage.. Mr. 0. F. Mark, the secretary, was as indefatigable as ever, superintending everything. Notwithstanding the cold weather, the genial smile was there as usual, and it is hard to believe. that he can be put out of temper. The following rule was strictly enforced, thus enabling good time to be kept:—“Every trainer shall have his horse at the post ready to start at the time appointed by the stewards, and every jockey is to be weighed out ten minutes before the advertised time for starting the race. Any jockey not being weighed out at least ten minutes before the advertised time will be fined in a sum of not less than 2 sov's. and not exceeding 10 sovs. Every trainer not having his horse at the post ready to start at that time may be fifted in a sum not exceeding 10 sovs.” The management was good throughout the afternoon. We heard of no disputes or disagreeinents as regards racing or the totalisator. A rather curious incident occurred just before the first race, but as it is mentioned elsewhere we will only give the bare facts. Several bookmakers came to the gate and were refused admittance, while two that were inside were Ordered out. The reason given was that they had not paid the £5 fine the Club had inflicted on them some months ago for betting without a license.

There are two things that we would suggest to the committee, which would be a great improvement to their meetings. The first is that they should have a new telegraph board. The present one is of a most primitive construction The nunjbers cannot be seen from the stand; even those in the paddock have to squeeze between the rails and the board to obtain the numbers. The other is, to insist on the jockeys either riding in butcher or top boots, not in trousers, as it looks very bad. The Artillery Band, under Mr. Hunter, was in attendance and played during the afternoon, but looked very miserable in the cold and wet. • ’ The Maiden Trot Handicap, two miles, brought out a field of fifteen, to whom the old adage might be applied—they were “ rum’uns to look at, but d— sto go.” Myrtle, 35secs., a nice'goer, soon went to the front, and won by any number of lengths; Jock, 40secs., and Rover, 40secs.. finishing second and third, the remainder strung out in a long line. The Flying Stakes Handicap, of five furlongs, brought out the large field of fourteen ponies. The flag fell to a good start. Sweet Lavender, Syrs, Bst 51b, went to the front immediately, and making all the running, won easily by three lengths; Red Rose, ,7st 101 b, defeating Lady Onslow, 9st, by about half a length, the rest widely®* scattered. The winner last season showed considerable pace, so it is no wonder she did the ponies. The Handicap Trot, two and a half miles, brought nine to the post, and was a repetition of the Maiden Trot. Myrtle, 48secs., having incurred a 12secs. penalty, soon began to make up her ground, and went to the front. In the second round she was eased up, and indulged Ladybird with the lead, but when asked site again went to the front and won very easily by about half-a-dozen lengths; Sailor Boy, 50secs., and Maud S., 35secs., who were trotting very well, finishing second and third. The Tramway Handicap, seven furlongs, produced a field of seven ponies. Vampire, 9st 71b, got away the quickest, and making all the running, just got home a neck in front of Pica, lOst, who was half a length in front of Romeo, 7st 51b. Sweet Lavender, Bst 71b, did not get away well in this race, and also found the distance too far for her. Twelve faced the starter

for the Spring Handicap, three miles. This ; was the principal race of the day. Charlie, SOsecs.; began to make up his ground from the start, and in the second round assumed the lead, and without being pressed won as he

liked by at least a dozen lengths ; Disappointment, 70secs., finishing second and third, the rest being tailed off all round the course. The winner is a chestnut horse that comes from Taranaki, and is a good goer, though inclined to “ skip” ; he gets over the ground at a great, pace. Captain Russell is a nice cut of a trotter, and a good goer; however, he has a way of his own, as he twice bolted for the gate of the saddling paddock and also at the back of the course. If he had gone kindly he would in all probability have troubled the winner. The Hurdle Race, one and a half miles, brought out five ponies, and it was wonderful to see how all but Tormentor, who fell at the first hurdle, jumped. Antic, list, made all the running from Pica, lOst 71b, and won by two lengths, Despised, Bst 91b, third. The winner is a really nice looking pony, and might win a hurdle race among horses. The Handicap Pony Trot, two miles, showed us that Myrtle was something out of the common, for with 22secs. penalty, reducing her start to 13secs., she waited until the last round when she went to the front and won easily, Ladybird, 20secs., second, and Jock, 40secs., third, in 6min. Bsecs., or 12secs. faster than the Maiden. The public picked the winners pretty well, so there were no big dividends, as usually is the case. The totalisator put through £2,454 10s. It was quite evident that some of the competitors were in waiting, and it is to be hoped that the handicappers had their eye on them.