NAPIER NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 293, 5 March 1896, Page 10

NAPIER NOTES.

[PBOM OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

March 3.

Mr H. P. Cohen has sold his trotter Rob Roy, and although he is nominated in Mr C. Siddel’s name for the Hawke’s Bay Trotting Meeting, I believe he is now owned by a syndicate. The price paid was, I believe, in the vicinity of half a century.

News comes from America of the death of that great trotting sire Pilot Medium. Owing to an injury received when young he was never developed for speed, and is a brilliant example for the supporters of the non-developed sire theory. By Happy Medium, out of Tackey, 2min 26sec, the dam of Naiad Oueen, 2min 20|sec; Pilot Boy, 2min 20sec, and Class Leader, 2min 221 sec, by Pilot Jr.; 2nd dam Jenny Lind, by Belfounder, he was, therefore, magnificently bred, and though for some years he did not get a choice band of brood mares he soon proved that he was a sire of great merit. The grey gelding Jack, 2min ll£sec, was the first of his get to attract attention, but other fast ones by him followed in rapid sucsession. 8.8. P., 2min 09|sec, as a four-year-old; Piletta, 2min Ilf sec; Lee’s Pilot, 2min 12£sec, and Bacine, 2rain Msec, are a few samples in the fast list.

PALMERSTON NORTH TROTTING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING-

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 1896

[Weather Fine, with strong wind blowing—Attendance, about 800. J

Maiden Trot Handicap (saddle) of 20 sovs; second hor-e to receive 3 sovs from the stake. Two miles. 13 Mr J. L. Kimbell’s blk g Darkie, aged,

ssec behind, Henley... ... .. 1 39 Mr F. Capstiek’s h g Judge Retford, 4yrs, 15sec behind, J. Taggart ... 2 Also started -35 Fred Sutton, limit, Orange ; 1 Gasworks, limit, G. Murfitt ; 2 Goldstream, limit, Christensen ; 56 Miss Cant, lOsec behind, F. Murfitt; 9 Crofton, 15sec, R. Henry.

Crofton refused to leave the post, and did not take part in the race. Darkie got to the front at the end of the first mile, and pegging along managed to keep in front of Judge Retford for the second mile, winning by a length and a half ; Blackbird and Miss Cant outside the distance next. Time, 6min 9sec. Dividend, £ll 4s.

Palmerston jVortii Handicap Trot (saddle) of 50 sovs ; second horse to receive 7 sovs and third horse 3 sovs from the stake. Three miles. 75 Mr S. J. Ileighway’s b m Misnomer (late Sally Gash), 9sec behind, R. Day ... ... •• • • • • • 1 Also started —45 Awahuri, limit, Henley ; 30 Claret, limit, Hammond ; 13 Doll, 4sec behind, J. Taggart; 106 Tom Hicks, Msec behind, Sandall ; 8 Gold Dust, 17sec behind, G. Murfitt; 15 Kapai, 17sec behind, Henry ; 9 Wild Rose, 22sec behind, J. L. Ryan ; 63 St. James, 2sec behind, Mouldey.

St. James was the first to take up a leading position, but after going about half a mile broke up badly, and Awahuri and Doll passed him, and. lead alternately for some distance. Passing the stand after going once round (nearly a mile), Misnomer was leading by eight lengths, Doll next three lengths in front of St. James. Tom Hicks next. Going along the back Misnomer was nearly a furlong in front of Doll and St. James. Passing the stand the third time Misnomer was fifteen or twenty lengths ahead of Tom Hicks, and trotting well, St. James and Doll being the nearest of the beaten division. Misnomer trotted along well within herself, distanced the others, and passed the winning post fourteen seconds ahead of St. James, who beat Tom Hicks (who broke half down the straight) on the post. Time, Bmin 21 sec. Dividend, £4 7s.

Handicap Pont Trot (harness) of 20 sovs; second pony to receive 3 sovs from the stake. Two miles. 82 Mr F. Murfitt’s b g Eric, aged, 35sec behind, owner ... ... ... 1 43 Mr J. Fitzgerald’s b m Roseleaf, 6yrs, 31sec behind, L. Robertson ... 2 45 Mr G. B. Murfitt’s gr g Silver Grey, 23sec behind, owner ... ... 3 21 No Name, limit, Woolfield, also started. The latter, after going a short distance refused.to trot, and was pulled up. Silver Grey was in the lead until going along the back the last time, when Eric passed him. Roseleaf, who had been breaking badly, began to make up her ground, only to break again in the straight, and Eric won by five lengths ; six lengths between second and third. Time, smin 44sec. Dividend, £2 Is.

President’s Handicap Trot (harness) of 50 sovs ; second horse to receive 7 s >vb and third horse 3 sovs from the stake. Three miles. 29 Mr J. Mackay’s b m Jenny, aged, 2sec

behind, owner 148 Mr E. G. Sandall’s b g Tom Hicks, 6yrs, lOsec behind, owner ... 39 Mr H. Woodfield’s ch g Sonny, aged, 37sec behind, owner...

Also started —30 Roseleaf, limit, L. Robertson ; 34 Misnomer, 20sec behind (inc. 15sec penalty), R. Day ; 7 Wild Rose, 21sec behind, J. Ryan; 6 Marion, 27sec behind, G. Murfitt; 18 Cleveland, 27sec behind, Henley ; 36 Rosebud, 34sec behind, Henry.

Roseleaf quickly got to work, but just as soon started to break, and after going once round she was four lengths behind Jenny, with Tom Hicks four lengths awav, next. Passing the stand the second round Jenny was ten lengths ahead of Tom Hicks, Marion and Roseleaf close handy. Tom Hicks and Roseleaf were breaking badly, while Jenny was trotting steadily and gaining ground. Going along the back of the course the last time, Tom Hicks began to lessen the gap between him and Jenny, and it looked as if he would catch her, but breaking again his chance of winning was hopeless, and although he made up a lot of ground in the last quarter the old mare maintained her position, and won by seven or eight lengths, Sonny just finishing inside the distance. Time, Bmin 47sec. Dividend, £lO 15s.

Pony Handicap Saddle Trot cf 20 sovs; second pony to receive 3 sovs from the stake. Two miles. 86 Mr J. Fitzgerald.s b m Roseleaf, 6yrs, 23see behind, F.Robertson ... ... 1 Also started—l 4 Gasworks, limit, G. Murfitt; 2 No Name, limit, Trask; 1 Tommy, limit, Christenson ; 3 Bluey, limit, Wells ; 74 New Chum, 23sec behind, F. Mufitt After ofoing- half a mile Roseleaf assumed command, and won by a distance, New Chum being the nearest to her. Time, sinin 52 3-ssec. Dividend, £1 17s. Electric Handicap (saddle) of 25 sovs ; second horse 5 sovs fr.nn the stakes. One mile. 8 Mr H. Hammond’s b g Claret, aged, Bsec behind, owner ... ... ... 1 40 Mr R. Lewis’ blk m Rose, aged, 2s-c behind, J. Taggart. ... ... 2 15 Mr Henley’s eh g Awahuri, aged, Bsec behind, owner ... ... ... 3 Also started —7 New Chum, 2see behind, F. Murfitt; 87 St. James, 9sec behind, Mouldy; 15 Doll, 9sec behind Robertson; 33 Hassan, Msec behind. Orange; 30 Tom Hicks, Msec behind, Sand ill; I Gold Dust, 15sec behind G. Murfi't; 1 Kapai, 15see behind, R. Henry ; 7 Wild Rose, 17sec behind, K. Day. Rose held the lead going along the back, opposite the stand, where Claret passed her, with. Awahuri and Tom Hicks close behind. Coming into the straight Tom Hicks and Awahuri were overhauling Claret, but both breaking badly Claret ran home a comfortable winner by five lengths ; three lengths between second and third. Time, 2min 53 2-ssec. Dividend, £27 9s. Dash Handicap Harness Trot of 25 sovs second horse to receive 5 sovs from the stake One mile. 21 Mr G. B. Murfitt’s gr g Silver Grey, limit, owner ... ... ... ... 1 21 Mr G. B. Murfitt’s eh m Marion, aged, 17sec behind, E. Murfitt ... .. 2 59 Mr E. G. Sandall’s b g Tom Hicks, 6yrs, lOsec behind, owner ... ... 3 Also started —23 Awahuri, 6sec behind, Henlev ; 29 Jenny, 9sec behind (inc. 3sec penalty), Mackay ; 31 Erie, 9sec behind (inc. 3sec penalty), F. Murfitt; 19 Sonny, 20sec behind, Woodfield. Silver Grey, getting to work quickly, soon established a good lead, while Tom Hicks and Marion, who looked as if they would catch him, broke badly at the end of half a mile. Turning into the straight Silver Grey had a long lead of Tom Hicks, Eric, and Marion, who were together, but the little pony, trotting splendidly, won comfortably by seven lengths; five lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 2sec. Dividend, £8 14s. j Totalisator investments for the day, £1691, as compared with £2174 for the corresponding meeting last year. J