TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 270, 26 September 1895, Page 10

TROTTING.

OFFICIAL CALEN D A B. THE AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. Dubham Street East, August 30th. To the Editor Sporting Review. Sir, —I have been instructed by the Committee of this Club to inform you that your paper has this day been appointed the Official Calendar for trotting clubs in the Provincial district of Auckland. Yours faithfully, C. F. MARK, Secretary.

COMING EVENTS. October 9—Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan T.C. Spring October 9—Wellington T.C. First Spring October 12—Tahuna Park T. and R.C. Spring October 31 —Timaru T.C. November 16, 30—Auckland Trotting Club Spring November 20—Wellington T.C. Second Spring December 28, January 4—Auckland Trotting Club Summer NOMINATIONS. September 21—Wellington T.C. First Spring September 27—Timaru T.C. October 30—Wellington T.C. Second Spring November I—Auckland T.C. Spring (first day) HANDICAPS. September 28—Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan T.C. Spring September 28 -Wellington T.C. First Spring October 4 —Timaru T.C. November s—Auckland T.C. Spring (first day) November 6—Wellington T.C. Second Spring ACCEPTANCES. October s—Hawke’s Bay Metropoiitan T.C. Spring October s—Tahuna Park T. and R.C. Spring October s—Wellington T.C.. First Spring October 18 —Timaru T.C. November B—Auckland T.C. Spring (first day) November 13—Wellington T.C. Second Spring

By the remarks which appear in one of our Christchurch contemporaries anent the statement made by the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the effect that the number of permits for trotting meetings would be equally divided between the two Islands—exception is being taken by the Southerners to what is manifestly only fair. The grounds of the Southern objections are that there are many trotting horses and many breeders of trotting stock in their district. We cannot own that these arguments should hold good for the purpose for which they are intended. The principal reason, as we understand it, for having trotting meetings is to encourage the breeding of a better class of stock. Canterbury has for years gone in for trotting with the result that there are, we may say, scores of trotting sires standing in that district so that there is no chance of the breeding of that class of stock languishing, as they will be bred for utility now that the industry is thoroughly established. On the other hand the North Islanders have only of very late years had their attention directed to the improvement to be made through the introduction of this class of stock. The industry is therefore only in its infancy, and the improvement is just beginning to make itself evident. Our contention therefore is that as the object of trotting meetings is accomplished in the South Island and is only beginning to make itself felt in the North there is no reason why it should be any longer fostered in the South if it is at our expense. We therefore think that it would be a very great injustice if anything is done to take any of those meetings to which we are entitled from us for the benefit of what is really the professional trainers in Canterbury. Trotting meetings in the Canterbury district had so increased in number of recent years that they are becoming a nuisance to the community. There were no less than thirteen meetings in the town of Christchurch alone in the one year, that is to say more than one meeting each month for the town alone, while with the six country districts which were held, making nineteen in all, there were just about as many in Canterbury as there were in the whole North Island. Now, the Canterbury people say in effect that as they have overdone the business in the past they are therefore entitled to more than a fair share now that the restriction has come into force. It is a fortunate thing for the North Island clubs that the Hon. the Colonial Secretary is an absolutely impartial judge and takes a,comprehensive view of the case, as if he paid attention to the demands of the Canterbury trotting authorities we poor Northerners would be left “ poor indeed.” The Colonial Secretary has agreed to recognise the North Island Trotting. Association as the controlling body as regards trotting in this island. The recently formed Taranaki Trotting Association was not represented at the Palmerston .Conference, as the Association did not deem it necessary to appoint a delegate. There was an old theory that big horses do not make trotters, but the American fliers give such theory a bad shaking. Nearly all the first flighters in the trotting section are said to be as large as the most approved coach horse, and the top-sawyer pacing horse, Joe Patchen, weighs 12001bs. The following is a copy of the resolution passed by the Auckland Trotting Club in answer to the request of the Eight Hours Demonstration Committee that the Auckland Trotting Club Spring Meeting should be postponed so as not to clash with the Eight Hours sports : —“ That a deputation from the Eight Hours Demonstration Sports Committee consisting of Messrs J. M. Shera, G. Aickin, R. Fawcus and S. Baker having waited on the Committee of this Club and asked them to alter the date of the Spring Meeting on account of it clashing with the sports on October 26th, it was resolved to accede to the request and that the Secretary be instructed to inform them that the Committee were not aware at the time of fixing the date of their meeting that the Eight Hours sports took place on that date.” Mr J. Creamer,

of the Eight Hours Committee, thereupon sen the following reply to the Secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club : —“ lam instructed by the Eight Hours Demonstration Committee to forward the following resolution passed at our meeting last Friday (September 13th), viz., ‘That a cordial vote of thanks be accorded to the Committee of the Auckland Trotting Club for their truly sportsmanlike action in deferring their meeting so as not to clash with ours on October 26th.’ ” WELLINGTON NOTES. [by WIRE FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] September 24. At a meeting of the Wellington Trotting Association it was resolved to alter the rule in reference to re-handicapping so that seven seconds limits hitherto in vogue should be abolished, leaving the re-handicap penalty entirely <‘t the option of the handicapper. The Association also decided to endorse the suspension of the Auckland Trotting Club by the Canterbury Metropolitan Association, and to have no connection witli the North Island Trotting Association as at present constituted. I understand Wellington will be supported by the Taranaki Association. It is a great pity that some amicable arrangement cannot be come to. I believe the local Association is willing to join the North Island Association if given more voice in the management of affairs than was proposed at the meeting held at Palmerston. The Colonial Secretary has granted the Wellington Trotting Club two totalisator permits, which represents four days’ racing, but it is doubtful what permits will be granted to the Johnsonville and Upper Hutt Clubs. Edwards is quartered at Miramar with a string of trotters, including Rarus and Three Cheers.