TROTTING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 464, 15 June 1899, Page 17

TROTTING

[By

Petronel.]

NORTH ISLAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND. Affiliated Clubs to the North Island Trotting Association. Name of Club. Sbobbtary. Totb P’mit •Auckland T.C. ... ... C. F. Mark .. ... 3 Hawke’s Bay T.C. ... J. T. Cassia 2 •Palmerston North T.C. C. C. Miles 2 Wellington T.C R. J. Barnes ... 2 •Johnsonville and Hutt County T.C.... ... Geo. Bennett.. ... 1 HaweraT.C W. H. Tristram ... 2 •Otahuhu T.C. ... ... W. Lockhart ... 1 New Plymouth T.C. ... A. A. Ambridge ... 1 Normanby T.C. ... ... J. Scott ... ... 0 Total Permits 14 •includes pony racing. C. C. MLLES, Secretary, Palmerston North.

NOTES. The interest in trotting matters in Palmerston North has been down to zero since the last meeting held by the Club over twelve months ago. Those who promoted the sport had all the enterprise taken out of them over certain alleged points in connection with that fixture. The old club died a natural death, but now, after the lapse of so many months, it is likely that the sport will be started again in the district, and placed on a more satisfactory footing to all concerned. A correspondent of Trotter aud Pacer hits the nail on the head as follows :—“ They fuss about bad starters, incompetent judges, and all sorts of things, but nobody ever says a word about bad drivers. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a lot of fellows who are at present posing as great reformers and rending the linen in an effort to do away with hopples, just remain at home for two or three seasons, and learn how to drive before they appear upon the track.” The old, old claim that the mile which Maud S. trotted in 2:09| at Lexington, Ky., November 11th, 1884, is the best performance ever made by a trotter, was made for the ’steenth time in tie Turf, Field and Farm last week, but it will be allowed but by few horsemen. True, the daughter of Harold pulled a high-wheel sulky when she trotted that mile, but was that enough of handicap to make her performance greater than that of Bingen when, in a big field of horses, he trotted a mile in 2:06f at Louisville last fall ? Maud 8. had a specially prepared track and went with a pacemaker. Bingen was in a field of horses, all anxious to secure any advantage possible, and was scored several times before being sent away; Trat his mile in 2.-06 J was a greater performance than the mile in 2:09| by Maud 8. will be conceded by most horsemen —“ Raymond ”in Horse World. Mr C. C. Miles the secretary of the North Island Trotting Association has taken over the proprietorship of the Club Hotel, Palmerston “North.

Wairarapa papers and local 1 orse owners speak well of Mr G. W. Smart’s starting at the meeting of the South Wairarapa Hospital Benefit Trotting Meeting on Queen’s Birthday. The fields in the four trotting events numbered 11, 14, 18, and 17 respectively, Mr George Bennett conducted the meeting in a satisfactory manner. A general meeting of the members of the Canterbury Trotting Club was held on Tuesday night to consider a question of joining Lancaster Park Club in its occupancy of ground lately acquired, next to the Show Grounds, Addington. The matter was discussed at considerable length, and ultimately consideration was deferred for a couple of weeks.

Here is an extract from the Nancy Till—Wild Rose 11. case, in which a man named McMillan was charged with stealing the mare : —“ Samuel Corrigan deposed : Knew the trotting mare Wild Rose 11. The animal belongs to witne s. She is branded on the near shoulder with a half circle, a“ J ” above and “2 ” underneath. The mare in charge of the police is witness’s mare, and is Wild Rose 11. Before the police got her he last saw the animal on March 23 at the Union Hotel stables, when be delivered ber over to James Campbell to turn her out with his own horses.He never gave anyone else authority to take her away. Became aware the mare was missing about April 1. Searched for ber as far as the Seven Mile. Advertised for mare in Greymouth Star. Reported to the police about April 14 that the mare was missing. Reason for reporting to the police was belief that mare was stolen. There is a difference in the mare’s appearance since witness had her last. The mane had been docked and the brand defaced. The fresh brand is over the original, and burned in. There are other marks that witness could swear to the mare by. Bought the mare from H. Schmeidel as Wild Rose 11. Paid £5O for her. Witness declined to say what name the mare was entered in at the Grey mouth meeting, or if entered at all. . . The mare and myself were disqualified by the Greymouth Trotting Club. Reason for not going on with information this morning was because witness could not afford to pay a lawyer. When Mr Joyce came to him about the case he declined to discuss it with him. Mr Mussen was present. From enquiries made, witness did not think accused was the sort of man that would steal the mare.” McMillan was ultimately discharged, the magistrate telling him that he had acted foolishly.

The programme committee of the Canterbury Trotting Club has drawn up a capital programme for the meeting to be held in Grand National week. The sum of about £l2OO will be given in stakes. The High Class Handicap will be worth £l2O, the Addington Handicap £llO, and two other events £lOO each. This club deserves to receive good support from owners as it always gives capital stakes. Mr J. Pettie, the well-known owner of many highclass trotting horses, has made up his mind to reside in Christchurch. He has taken the Terminus Hotel, opposite the Railway Station.

The Horse Fancier, in a recent issue says : “ If the horsemen of Pennsylvania and Illinois want equitable racing laws they must be up and doing. Both States have for years been persecuted by two elements equally bad, the Puritanical zealot, who wants to stop all honest sport, and the gambling freebooter, who wants to race all the time.” Never have we seen or heard the “ truth, and the whole truth,” more concsely or aptly stated. Of the two elements spoken of, it would be hard to tell which is the worst enemy to legitimate sports. A “ Puritanical zealot ” and a totally depraved “gambling freebooter” are " full partners” as emissaries of Satan, and in both Illinois and Pennsylvania they have been holding high carnival for several years. They should be securely tied together and carefully, but certainly and everlastingly, lowered to the bottom of Lake Michigan at the deepest place. Then those who love morality for morality’s sake, and those who love legitimate sports for the true merits they possess as decorous entertainers, could easily get their heads together and formulate equi’able, effective and satisfactory laws governing the same. True Christians and real sportsmen are the precious jewels of Christian civilization, while “ Puritanical zealots ” and “ gambling freebooters ” —who fain would pose as Christians and sportsmen — are alike an abomination in the eyes of both the Lord and genteel mankind. — The Western Horseman.