NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 478, 21 September 1899, Page 17

NOTES.

At the adjourned enquiry held by the Tahuna Park Trotting Club into the lona fides of the trotter Kelt, owned by G. Wallace. Mr Soloman, Wallace’s counsel, said he, desired to withdraw the defence and also the evidence given on behalf of Wallace at the previous meeting. Mr Soloman then spoke strongly in mitigation of punishment. After due consideration, it was decided that George Wallace and the horse Kelt, otherwise known as Souter Johnny or Pat, should be disqualified during the pleasure of the club. Ido not what the extenuating circumstances are, but, certainly, the punishment does not “ fit ” the crime of “ ringing in.” This fraud is becoming far too common, and disqualification during the pleasure of a club is only dealing with the matter in half-hearted manner. A ringer-in deserves to go up for life.

I have received fi >m Mr Rollitt, the secretary ■of the New Zealand Trotting Association a copy of the Rules of Trotting adopted at the annual Conference held during July at Wellington. No trotting club should bo without a good supply of these little books for distribution amongst the members. There is much valuable information contained in the rules, therefore every owner and trainer of trotting horses ought to be possessed ■of a copy. Rule 3 of the totalisator rules to be observed at all trotting meetings in New Zealand, says, “ It is optional with clubs to pay dividends on both the first and second horses, three-fourths of the investments to be divided among the backers of first horse, and one-fourth to be divided amongst the backers of the second horse.” The rule is not worded exactly as I have written it, for it says, “ three-fourths of the investments to be ■divided amongst the winners." The latter is rather a hazy statement, the rule was evidently intended to read as I have first written it. To give a first and second horse dividend is not a all a, bad idea from the public’s point of view. Rule 26 of the Trotting Association totalisator rules, says, “ When an owner or owners run two or more horses in one race the names of the horses in one race the names of the horses shall be bracketed together on the machine.” Why is it, that if Christchurch trotting people can bracket horses, Christchurch galloping people •cannot do the same ? At the Racing Conference a proposal to carry the bracketing motion was lost. It is really strange that a body supposed to look after the welfare of horse-racing should veto such an honest an honourable proposal. The first meeting of the Auckland trotting reason is rapidly approaching, and owners and trainers have been taking every advantage of the late fine weather in working their horses.

While driving the bay mare Kappa in the Free-for-All trot at Livingstone, Montana, and just as he was rounding the turn into the straight, a driver named George Davidson was seen to fall back in the sulky, and then fall out. His hands were firmly grasping the reins, consequently he was dragged some yards. When assistance reached him he was quite dead, and as he was not bruised to any extent it was apparent that death was due to heart disease.

Cloud Pointer, a brother to the champion Star Pointer, has been returned by his trainer to his owner. At one time very great deeds were expected from this horse.

So far this season Hal 8., by Hal Dillard out of fillen M., has paced the fastest mile in America. He has done 2min at Cleveland. He won the 2.9 pacing event in straight heats, his other times being 2.6 J and 2 4£. At the Cleveland (Ohio) meeting, in the last week in July, a horse called The Abbot won the 2.8 trotting class event, three out of five heats straight. His times were 2.8 f, and 2.8 f. From a glance at the American papers it would seem that the list of 2.10 pacers and 2.15 trotters for 1899 will be a long one. Horses going these gaits are added to the list week after week, and according to report they will not stop coming yet awhile. Nominations for all events to be decided at the Spring Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club close with the secretary, Mr C. F. Mark, tomorrow (Friday), September 22. Owners and trainers should bear in mind that the club has provided a very attractive programme for the opening of the trot ting season in Auckland, and that the nomination and acceptance fees are not in any way prohibitive. I expect Mr Mark will be very busy at his office in Durham Street, and I hope to see first rate entries for all the events. On the first day of the New Brighton Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, the principal events are the Burwood Handicap, two miles, in saddle, and the Brighton Handicap, two miles, in harness. Both these races have stake money amounting to £7O. On the second day the races of chief importance are the Spring Handicap, two miles, in harness, and the Avon Handicap, two miles, in saddle ; the prize money in each case being £7O. Nominations for all events close on Saturday, September 30th, with the secretary, Mr A. I. Rattray.

The Masterton Trotting Club will hold a meeting at the Agricultural Show Grounds on Thursday, October 26th. Stake money to the value of £2lO is provided for the seven races on the programme. Entries close with the secretary, Mr Thomas Duncan, on Saturday, October 7.

The Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club will hold its Summer Meeting on Tuesday, December 26. The New Zealand Trotting Association Board will meet on the first Wednesday of every month The Ashburton Trotting Club holds its Spring Meeting on October 28. Stake money to the amount of £lB5 is provided for the seven races upon the programme. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr W. Simpson, on Tuesday, October 19.

The Spring Meeting of the Plumpton Pai k Trotting Club takes place on November 2 and 8. On the first day there are two races with an £BO stake — the Sockburn Handicap, two miles, in saddle, for horses that can do 5.25 or better, and the Plumpton Handicap, two miles, in harness, for horses that can get over the distance in 5.25 or under. On the second day, the Hornby Handicap, two miles, in saddle, is worth 90 sovs, and is open to horses that can do 5.25 or better for the journey. The Riccarton Handicap, two miles, in harness, is another 90 sov race, and the entries will be handicapped to do 5 25 or under for the two miles. There are many other valuable races on the club’s programme. Nominations for all the races at the meeting close with the secretary, Mr A. I. Rattray, on Monday, October 16.