Trotting

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 608, 11 September 1902, Page 18

Trotting

The Racing Rules of the Australian -Trotting Association have recently been revised. One of the rules passed provides that any rider or driver speaking to any persoiu or persons on the course, with the exception of the starter, clerk of the course, or other racing official, may be disqualified for the rare m which he is engaged, or fined, as the stewards may direct. Another rule provides that the stewards shall have power to relect any rider or driver, and try any horse trotting at their meeting should they deem it desirable to do so. In France, where the sport is subsidised by the Government, it is making great strides.. At a meeting held at St. Cloud recently, when a race known as th© Prix du President de la Republique was decided, the Minister of Agriculture attended in hia official capacity, and with him came all the officials of his department, as well as the directors of the Government studs. The race wa s an event for three-year-olds, the distance being a mile and threeand the stake £2OOO added to a sweepstake. This prize is given by the Government in order to encourage the breeding oj tre tiers, -and is an 1 annual gift—fin 'the year of the Exhibition its value was doubled. It must be the richest trotting race in the world, andj as it admiteedly does a great deal towardcs improving the breed, the money must be looked (upon as well expended. It is rather singular that trotting has only a alight Ij/old on| the English public. Just now there is a sort of revival going on, but the stakes are not large— one race of £l5O, run in heats, being the general rule for a day’s sport—and until more valuable prizes axe given the trotter ia not likely to, be honoured nearly so highly a® he is in France. The curious thing is that French breeders have for years been buying mares in England in order to breed speedy trotters. That they he-vn szucceeded so well shows plainly that the Old Country could hold its own in producing trotters, just it does with thoroughbreds, if it cared to do so. We arc in receipt of the Official Minutes of the Conference of the representatives of the Affiliated Trotting Clubs of New Zealand ; also the balance-sheet submitted to the Conference.