TROTTING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 494, 11 January 1900, Page 15

TROTTING

[By

PETRONEL.

TROTTING CALENDAR. FIXTURES. February 17, Sat; 21, Wed; 24, Satr-Otahuhu T.C Summer NOMINATIONS. January 26—Otahuhu T.C Summer May 4—Ashburton T.C Autumn HANDICAPS. , February 2—Otahuhu T.C Summer ACCEPTANCES. February 9—Otahuhu T.C Summer NOTES. Close on 1600 trotters and 'pacers have entered the American standard list this season.. The full programme for the Summer Meeting of the Otahuhu Trotting Club appears in this issue. The gathering is fixed to take place on Saturday, February 17, Wednesday, February 21, and Saturday, February 24. The stake money for the three days amounts to 940 eovs. The club has distributed the prize-money very evenly, and the result is that a very attractive programme is presented. The principal trotting race is the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Handicap, over two miles. For this event £lOO is allotted. Horses entered will be handicapped to do 2min 50sec or better for the mile. Other well-endowed trotting races are : The Harness Trot Handicap, two milee, 50 sovs ; Suburban Handicap (saddle) of 60 sovs, two miles; Second Harness Trotting Handicap of 50 sovs, one mile and a half; Criterion Handicap of 60 sovs, one mile and a half; and the Class Trot Handicap, two miles, with a stake of 60 sovs. There are two hurdle races on the programme with 35 sovs each, a steeplechase with 40 sovs, a Pony Cup of 50 eovs, and several other good races for ponies under the 14.3 standard. Nominations for all events on the pro-; gramme close on Friday, January 26, with the secretary, Mr W. I. Lockhart, at the Metropolitan Hotel, and at Otahuhu.

' Bow often one hears an owner say when wish-: ing to dispose of an outclassed trotter or pacer that he is “ a perfect road horse.” An eastern writer in the States gives the following description of the ideal trotter that will bring a big price. How many such horses are owned in any community P "The horse that suits the gentleman driver on either road or speedway must be considered the ideal trotter, because of the very high requirements for such a purpose. The road horse must know what to do when either called , on for a brush, or asked to come for a slow trot or a walk; he must have a mouth that answers to the touch, an ear that hears demands, and a head that possesses brains enough to know what the touch or call means, and the willingness to obey. He must be good looking, sound, very speedy, easily driven, and absolutely fearless ”

Bobert Bonner’s fortune will not be distii buted without a contest. The preliminary stei for this action have been taken in the Surrogatti Court in the name of Mr Bonner’s grandchildre : Bobert Allen and Lawrence Kip Bonner. Ths are sons of Andrew Allen [Bonner, who dif several years ago. g&The adjourned steeplechase put off from t| second day of the Auckland Trotting Olulj Meeting came off on Wednesday evening lafj when Nellie, Karaka and Brooklet faced Mr V L. Lockhart, the starter. Brooklet, who was tjj outsider of the party, jumped beautifully all ti way, and after leading .throughout won by thir lengths.

“From an official French source it is learn; that at the horse show to be held under t; auspices of the French general government, connection with the Paris exposition next yes six classes in the foreign section will be devot, to the English sorts. Sixteen prizes, value 13,9( francs, will go to the Hackneys-, 11 prizes ai; 920 C francs to the Cleveland Bays and Yorkshi Coachers ; German, Austro-Hungarian, America and Russian horses will each have 12 prizes wor 8600. For the purposes of easy calculation fi’ francs make an American dollar, which basis gi| us a total of 15,760d0l to be distributed in priz to foreign breeds and of that sum total 2300 d will be won by American horses.

In a letter to the American press, J. Malcol, Forbes says : “As a horse owner I entirej approve of the two in three heat races, but as] stockholder in a trotting association I* do n( believe that associations can afford to go ov[ entirely to the two in three heat plan. It wouj require too many prizes to be offered in order | have enough races to give an afternoon’s entej tainment. I think its work very well to earn wich in a two in three and a three in five ra< each day. To have races that will encouraj racing in every heat, we must change the distant, flag. I have watched very carefully the for the past three years with the view of doir away with the laying up of heats by drivers, am perfectly sure that no rule will prevent i being done. By far the simplest and best plan to put the distance flag at 100 yards when eigl or morejstart, and at 80 yards when less than eigl horses start. I hope that this will be carefull tried next season.”