THE TROTTING HORSE VANCLIFFE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 287, 23 January 1896, Page 10

THE TROTTING HORSE VANCLIFFE.

To the Editor.

SSir, —Tn the list of nominations for the Wei lington Trotting Club’s meeting I notice tha Vancliffe is nominated as late Vanman. Of course it is well-known that this horse performed in Sydney under the name of Vanman. He was brought to New Zealand and nominated as Vancliffe, performances m 7, and subsequently won under that name. It was currently reported that Vancliffe was sailing under wrong colours. Now, I don’t mean to infer that Mr Bryant (Vancliffe’s owner) was guilty of wilful “ ringing in.”. My reason for bringing this under your notice is to show you how the stewards of the Wellington Trotting Club perform their duties. At their Winter Meeting a mare called Roseleaf won the Ponv Harness Race, and it was reported that this mare had performed in Sydney under another name. Robertson, the trainer and driver of Roseleaf, after a lot of trouble and expense, got the mare identified, and, acting as a thoroughly honest man, he informed the stewards of the W.T.C. that the mare had been wrongfully entered, the result bring that Roseleaf and her connections were disqualified. Now, I admire officials who perform their duties without fear or favour, and not make fish of one and flesh of another, as the stewards of the W T.C. have done in regard to Vancliffe and Roseleaf. Why punish one man and let another off scot-free when each have committed a similar offence. I may state that I enjoy straight running and would be the last to countenance anything “ shady” on the trotting track. I would like to know why the stewards of the W.T.C. have not asked Mr Bryant, to explain why he nominated Vanman as Vancliffe. If Roseleaf and her connection have received just punishment, then it is veiy apparent that some have not met their deserts. Trusting you have space in your -aluable columns for the insertion of the above, I am &c., Fair Play. Wellington, 13th January, 1896. [P.S. —Your issue of the 3rd October contained a letter from Robertson, which explains how Miss Cleve was nominated as Roseleaf.

To-morrow (Friday) nominations are due for the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting. When the English trotting mare, Lady Combermere, trotted twenty miles against time last June, there was an attachment to her sulky which gave the mare a drink through the bit on her journey. This she had three times —at five, ten, and fifteen miles. This is a decidedly novel idea, but a very humane and sensible one in a race of such a long distance. Trotting races are considered a public benefit by the Government of Finland. The latter consists of a Senate' of about twenty members, every one of whom must be a native born Fin-

lander. They are raised to that office by the Emperor of Russia jointly with the Duke of Finland. Regular meetings and an official track were established in 1875, and the purses since offered reach about 4,000 dole, every year. On account of the shortness of the days in summer, when country folks, mostly owners of trotters, are obliged to give all their time to their crops, the meetings are held in winter on the snow. The Breeder and Sportsman writes as follows : —“ The two-year-old filly Palita, by Palo Alto (2min whose record of 2min 16|sec stands as the best for a filly of that age this season, is a wonderful illustration of the racing potency of the blood of her great sire. Palita has never lost a race or heat. She won at the Breeders’ meeting, making 2min in the second heat. At Napa, two weeks later, she won, trotting in 2min 20,-sec in the last heat. At Woodland she scored another victory in straight heats, reducing her record to 2min 19|sec in the last beat. At the State Fair, Sacramento, she won again, and at San Jose she reduced her record to 2min 16|sec. In all these races she has never had a competitor capable of making her extend herself.” Our Christchurch correspondent wired on Tuesday evening as follows : —lt seems to be only too common for trotters to bear at least two names, fox* besides the cases of Here-I-go and Belbah news comes from Otago that the local horse, Silverwood, is alleged to be identical with a horse trotting there under the name of Rugby. Enquiries are being made here. lam told that Silverwood has never left Christchurch.