Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 114, 29 September 1892, Page 5

Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting.

[By

“Sir Launoelot.”]

I received my first introduction to trotting in Auckland on Saturday last, and a very pleasant introduction it proved. Judging by what I saw at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting on Saturday I should say that trotting is properly conducted in Auckland and its neighbourhood, and so long as the Auckland Trotting Club continue in this track there need be no fear about the welfare of the

sport of trotting in this district —it is bound to go ahead and prosper. Saturday morning broke promisingly enough, so that a good many people journeyed out to Potter’s Paddock, but after the first race the weather broke up a bit, though there was only one slight shower of rain the whole afternoon. A capital day’s sport eventuated, and. the officials got the events well off to time. Mr. E. D. Halstead —to whose handicaping a good deal of the success of the meeting was due—made a most efficient starter. Mr. T. McEwin provided an excellent lunch.

A capital commencement was made by the large field of 16 going out for the Maiden Trot. The Broker was a slightly better favourite than Peggy, but he did not get a shop, Peggy winning very comfortably from Ladybird and Major. Peggy is owned by the well-known Taranaki sport Mr. “ Jay ” Russell, who rode her, and well deserved his win for bringing her up from New Plymouth. Nettie was the only absentee from rhe Flying Stakes Handicap, leaving .10 ponies to go to the post. When the signal was given Rodney, who was favourite, singled himself out, and won in a canter from Silkworm.

The big event of the day, the Spring Handicap Trot of 130sovs, two miles and a-half, next came up for decision. Eight put in an appearance, and the scratch nag Charlie was served up a warm favourite. He trotted in first-class style, but with lOsec advantage Nellie proved too good for him. She had got through her field by the time half the journey was covered, and from thence out had things all her own way. The best race of the day was the Tramway Handicap, for ponies, seven furlongs, and Pica once more proved what a good little fellow he is by only being beaten a head by Robin, to whom he was giving no less than 421 b. Robin paid the best dividend of the day—£9 15s, for each 10s invested. We were now all on the tip-toe of expectation to see how the great Rarus, who only a few days previously had at New Brighton lowered the two-mile harness record for New Zealand, would acquit himself from the scratch mark in the Harness Trot, two miles and a-half. With Charlie eliminated only half-a-dozen were left to tackle the big gun, on whom backers laid a shade of odds in the totalisator. Scotchman soon passed the limit animal, Jip, and there was a good deal of speculation as to whether Rarus, who was handicapped to give him 53sec, would catch him. The crack, when he warmed to his work, bounded along in a style seldom seen, and. catching Scotchman about 5 furlongs from home, won very easily. Naturally, his magnificent performance evoked a good deal of enthusiasm, and both he and his old pilot Edwards were loudly cheered. It will be a long time before Rarus’ deeds in the New Zealand trotting world are eclipsed. It was very hard lines on such a game ’un as Pica to again meet more than his match in the Pony Hurdles. He once moi'e struggled gamely to the end with the “ thumper” for one of his inches of 11.7, but was beaten two lengths by Minnie Grey, who was receiving 281 b from him. Rarus was scratched for the Electric Handicap Trot, which was contested by a field of half-a-dozen, Ladybird winning all the way from Midnight, Charlie, the favourite, finishing third. This brought to a conclusion a very pleasant afternoon’s sport, and all concurred in the opinion that the Auckland Trotting Club had commenced the season of 1892 3 most auspiciously. £2,053 10s., at 10s. tickets, went through the totalisator.