NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 303, 14 May 1896, Page 7

NOTES.

By

Fritz.

The following handicaps have been declared for the May Trot, to be decided at the Dunedin May races :—J.H. scr, Sail Home, lOsec, Butcher Boy 11. 12sec, The Baillie Msec, Bedale 18sec, Telephone 21sec, Prince Imprrial 23sec, Woolston 25sec, Count 27sec, Prince 29sec, Maggie L. 31sec, Mungo 33sec, Gaiety 35sec, Gordon 40sec, Cowboy 43sec, Andrew 52sec, Doreen 52sec, Counding Stone 54sec, Little Fame 54sec, Matai 54sec, Leo 56sec, May 56sec, Taieri Maid 58sec, Minnie Grey 58sec, Charlie 58sec, Tickler 70sec.

The match between Osterley, the well-known Melbourne trotter (brother to Sir William who is located at Palmerston North), and cyclist Harris for the best of three one mile heats did not come off, as Harris after being beaten in |the first heat complained that the track was too treacherous, and wouldn’t go on with the match, yet Yankee Martin, the cyclist, could put up a quarter mile on the same track in 29 3-ssec. Osterley trotted the first one mile, handled by Taylor, and Mr John Robertson’s consistent horse trotted the distance in 2min 29 3-ssec, Harris was some distance behind. During the afteanoon Osterley made two attempts to lower the Australian record, put up by Fritz (2min 14 l-6sec) at Moonee Valley, and although Richmond Park is a more even track Osterley was not equal to the task. In his ffrst attempt he registered 2min 28isec, and in the second attempt put up 2min 29see, wonderfully consistent performances.

William Simpson, who bought Johnß. Gentry, 2.03 j, at W. B. Fasig and Co.’s sale, has decided to make his name shorter, and in future he will be known as Gentry. The son of Ashland Wilkes and Dame Wood, at Henry C. Jewett’s covered track, is looking fine, and moving sound as a new dollar. William J. Andrews is highly pleased with Gentry, and his many friends expect to see him riding ’in the front ranks again next season. He will inaugurate the campaign season at Mystic Park’s early meeting, then go to Saugus, where the Simpson horses are entered in stakes. Bouncer, 2.10 J, is wintering nicely, and, barring accidents, will be decidedly in front this year. The horses under Andrews’ guidence are being jogged slowly. Among the number will be Gentry, 2.03 J; Bouncer, 2.10|; Quality, 2.21; Adornment. 2.161; Kate Greenlander, 2.17|; Sufficient, 2.211; Spalpeen, 2.17 f, and several green ones. About the last of April Mr Andrews will probably take the horses to the Cuba (N.Y.) mile track, where Mr Simpson’s farm is located, to put. on the finishing touches for the early campaign down in the Old Bay State.

The campaigning stable from Village Farm, Buffalo, will have a special car this season with all conveniences. The special horse car which is being built for Village Farm campaigners is said to be an improvement over all others. It will be sixty-two feet long, resting on two six-wheel trucks, with steel tires, and strictly modern in every respect. Mr J. A. Connell, the secretary of the Wellington Trotting Club, I notice has received an appointment at Nelson. This will no doubt cause his resignation from the Empire City Club, and if the Club get a man as secretary whose judgment on trotting matters is more sound, they may yet see that it will pay them to join the North Island Trotting Association. The Club cannot claim that the two last meetings have been a success in point of entries. At the Auckland Trotting Club’s usual monthly meeting, the committee endorsed the disqualification imposed on Fiona, alias Clive, by the Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan Trotting Club.

CANTERBURY NOTES.

The nominations for the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Meeting are very good. Over £3OO was received for nomination fees.

Mr A. J. Rattray and the late owner of Sultan had no difficulty in recognising Moody, as identical with Sultan, when the saw the horse at Geraldine last Wednesday. As a result an information for alleged intent to defraud was laid against the nominator of the horse by the chairman of the Geraldine Trotting Club. The case will be heard in the Geraldine CourtonWednesdav, the 13th inst.

The Canterbury ITrotting Club have effected several improvements at the Show Grounds, and given fine weather the first two days’ trotting meeting in the colony should be a great success. Almost every racin g track is being utilised to work trotters on, and it is estimated there are at least from two to three hundred trotters in work in Canterbury. If trotting is to succeed Jhere, as those in authority hope it will, I should imagine

that it will be absolutely necessary to introduce class trotting, as this is the only way to give the tip-top horses a fair chance. I hear that some rather unlooked for disclosures may shortly be made as to the Silverwood —Rugby “ ringing-in” case.

TROTTING RESULTS.

HAWERA TROTTING CLUB. The first meeting. of the above club without the totalisator was decided on Friday. Owing to the cold and dull sort of weather, the attendance did not number more than about 600. Six bookmakers paid the license fee of £5. The following results are to hand : — Maiden Handicap Trot (saddle) of 12 sovs; second horse 2 sovs from the stakes. Two miles. Mr A. H. Richard’s b m Seadale, aged, 15sec, Corrigan ... ... ... ••• ••• 1 Mr J. Homes’ ch g Dynamite, 35sec ... ... 2 Mr E. Murfitt’s b m Miss Cant, ssec... ... 3 Also started — Music 15sec, Tawhiti 15sec, White Wings 18sec, Thunderbolt 23sec, Golden King 28sec, Lady 35sec. Betting—2 to 1 Seadale, 4to 1 Thunderbolt, Dynamite, and Golden King, 5 to 1 Lady, White Wings, and Tawhiti, 7 to 1 Miss Cant and Music. After a mile had been covered Seadale had the lead, and going on won easily. Time, 6min 17sec.

Pony Handicap Trot (harness) of 12 sovs; second pony 2 sovs from the stake. Two miles. Mr F. Bolton’s ch g Sailor Boy 11., scr, owner 1 Mr J. Guy’s b g Toby, 33sec ... ... ... 2 Mr W. Kilgour’s rn g Bit-o’-Blue, 23sec ... 3 Also started —Wee Jacob 4sec, Colorado 20sec, Kate 28sec, Premier 35sec. Won easily by two lengths. Time, 6min 29sec. Hawera Handicap Trot (saddle) of 35 sovs; second horse 5 sovs from the stake. Two and

a half miles. Mr H. Hammond’s br g Claret, 20sec ... 1 Mr P. J. Henley’s ch g Awahuri, 30sec ... 2 Mr H. N. Liardet’s b h Bellman, 38sec ... 3 Also started—Maud V. scr, Otakeho 15sec, lolanthe 18sec, Gold Dust 18sec, Tinker 20sec, Nellie 23sec, Hard Case 33sec, The Grey 35sec, and Dynamite 45sec. Betting—2 to 1 Claret and Awahuri; 3to 1 lolanthe, Otakeho, and Nellie; 4 to 1 Gold Dust and Hard Case ; 5 to 1 Dynamite, Bellman, and Tinker. Claret soon went to the front, and won easily. Time, 7min 12 2-ssec. Handicap Pony Trot (saddle) of 12 sovs; second pony 2 sovs from the stake. One and a half miles. Mr F. Bolton’s ch g Sailor Boy 11., 7sec behind scr (including 7sec penalty), owner ... 1 Mr A. Campbell’s b g Grasshopper, 28sec ... 2 Mr W. Kilgour’s rn g Bit o’ Blue, 18sec ... 3