THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MAIDEN HURDLE RACE AT THE A.R.C. WINTER MEETING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 310, 2 July 1896, Page 8

THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MAIDEN HURDLE RACE AT THE A.R.C. WINTER MEETING

A meeting of the Hawera Trotting Club was held on Saturday evening, June 20th, when accounts were passed and other routine business done. It was decided to pay out on Seadale on receipt of satisfaktory indemity. The nominations paid by the owners of Ruby and Kapai were refunded. It was decided to send notice to defaulters that if nominations and acceptances were not paid they will be placed on the defaulters’ list. The secretary, Mr Tristram, was presented with a bonus of £lO in appreciation of his services. The Johnsonville Trotting Meeting will be held without the totalisator. The great American mare Nightingale, 2min Bsec, fell dead while at exercise recently. She (says the New York Spirit of the Times) was foaled, in 1885, and was bred by her owner, Mr 0. J. Hamlin, whose property she was at the time of her death. By Mambrino King, dam Minnaqua Maid, by Wood’s Hambletonian, she was the fastest of his get and the brightest star in his crown. She began her career as a three-year-old, and took a record of 2min 32|sec. She did not do much as a four-year-old, but reduced her re-

cord to 2min 29|sec and (at five) to 2min 25|sec. At six years of age she showed her metal, winning the 10,000 dol Charter Oak Stakes against a big field, and she closed the year with a record of 2min 18isec. In 1892 she cut her record to2min 10|sec, where it stayed till last year, when she put it at 2min Bsec. At Nashville, in October, 1892, she won the two-mile championship in 4min 33|see, and at the same track, in the autumn in 1893, she captured the three-mile championship in 6min 55|sec. A wealthy Englishman last winter wished to buy the mare, but the negotiations fell through. A blind trotting horse, named Havey Wilkes, who had a record of 2min has just died in America. Trotting people in Canterbury who a short time ago began to think they would not have much chance of picking up a stake before the spring, will have an opportunity next month at New Brighton, and in August at the Show Grounds. Both -programmes are exceptionally good, especially that for the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Meeting.

I am pleased to notice that Mr H. R. Woon has been appointed secretary of the Johnsonville Trotting Club. The following circular, issued by the Canterbury Trotting Association to trotting clubs, is,] I fancy, a trifle mixed. Anyway, it does not seem to read sense : —“ The Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association has had. under consideration the advisability of all the trotting clubs in New Zealand moving in the matter of securing their proper allowance of trotting meetings for each province, on t he basis proposed for the years 1895 and 1896. The Racing Conference me< ts in Wellington during the month of July (date not yet fixed), and an endeavour should be made to obtain an interview with the Racing Conference, by a delegate from each of the trotting clubs, and at the same time to act on the advice of the Colonial Secretary to see him a few days before the Racing Conference meets. That, if possible, each trotting club be represented by a delegate, and each club to pay their delegate’s expenses to Wellington. That a united and energetic effort be made to secure the just and common interest of all trotting clubs in New Zealand, by obtaining their fair share of the totalisator permits, so that the strongest combination of the clubs is required. * The interest and influence of all members of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of each electorate where trotting meetings are held, would have to be solicited for their assistance in this matter to secure our rights. Any matters other than the above in the interest of trotting could be discussed by- the delegates at the same time. Your prompt reply in assisting this will be obvious.’