FIXTURES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 694, 25 June 1903, Page 15

FIXTURES.

New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. —August 8, 12, and 14. Vincent J.C. (four trotting events), January 1 and 2.

In America—the home of the trotter —- the stipulated race weights are lost 101 b in harness, and lost 51b under saddle while in New Zealand, where trotting is a real live sport, and in New South Wales, where it is now making great headway, the allotments are, in harness, catch weights, and under saddle, lost.

Far from satisfied (says the “ Sportsman ”) with the result of the recent match between Fritz and Ribbonwoid, Mr Buckland, being still of opinion that his horse is the faster of the two, is prepared to match him against the crack New Zealander for £lOOO a-side. Fritz was far from well when he last raced, the result of a severe cold that he caught while making the trip from Sydney.

It is reported that the famous trotting stallion, Cresceus, will not race in America this season, his owner, Mr George BL Ketcham, having decided to tour in Europe, and to bring the chain ion trotter with him. Naturally (says an exchange), English trotting enthusiasts are delighted that- the opportunity will be afforded them of seeing this grand performer on their own racing tracks. Cresceus, who is Dy Robert MacGregor out of Mabel; was foaled in 1895 on the farm of his owner, George H. Ketcham, near Toledo, Ohio.

At present the South Island Trotting Clubs hold nineteen meetings, and five North Island Clubs hold nine meetings. The Wellington Club having become defunct, one of its permits has gone to the South Island (Wairau). The other permit would probably be given to South to South Canterbury or Hokitika.

The annual conference of delegates of clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Trotting Association will be held in Wellington next month, when several notices of motions of proposed additions and amendments to the rules will be considered. One of the most important, moved by the Masterton Trotting Club, is in favour of altering the constitution of the Association as at present existing. The Masterton Club desires that Rule 1 should be altered to read as follows :—“ The Association shall be called the New Zealand Trotting Association, with its headquarters at Christchurch, and shall be composed of nine members, seven of whom shall be members of the South Island Trotting Clubs, and two members of the North Island Trotting Clubs.” At present the Board of Management of the Association consists, of nine members, all of whom reside in Christchurch (with the exception of the Hon. Hugh Gourlay, of Dunedin). The difficulty of the expenses of delegates from districts outside Christchurch attending meetings of the Association was overcome at the last conference, when it was agreed to pay the out-of-pocket expenses of members attending the monthly meetings held in Christchurch. • The Board is at present elected by ballot of the affiliated clubs. As the South Island has ten clubs affiliated out of a total of fifteen, it will be seen that there is little chance of the’North Island being represented, unless some of the Southern clubs vote for the Northern candidates, which is unlikely. It appears, therefore, that the only way that clubs in this island can secure the election, of representatives to the Board of Management, is to adopt the proposal of the Masterton Club and alter the rules. Many North Island matters come before the Association, and yet there is no North Island representative on the Board. The proposal of the Mas'terton Cldb appears to be in the direction of • strengthening the Board. The Masterton Trotting: Club, the Greymouth Trotting Club, the Auckland Trotting Club, and the Association are putting forward a number of amendments concerning the Rules of Trotting. Manx 7 of these are quite necessary, and are sure to become Jaw. Altogether the sport should benefit if the delegates to the Conference carry out the suggested reforms.

A Cleveland paper says : —“ Lou Dillon's remarkable half in 1:00$, the last quarter in 29$ sec, was one of the most creditable performances eVer witnessed over the Glenville track. This sensational youngs trotter can brush as fast as any trotter that ever wore iron, and her gait is as Smooth and perfect as a piece of frictionlese machinery.”

The match race for $lO,OOO, between Major Delmar 2:05J and Lord Derby 2:05f will be trotted over the Empire City track, July 4. The location of th® race was left to Alta driver of Major Delmar, and George Speer, driver of Lord Derby, and the Empire City track secured the race on the best bid. Lord Derby is two years older than Major Delmar, as he was foaled in 1895, and has had two years’ more campaigning experience. Comparing eight winning races of Major Delmar with eight winning races of, Lord Derby last season, and the Derby horse shows the fastest average speed, and four of Lord Derby si races were to wagon. Major Delmar has the fastest first heat to his credit, 2:05£; but the best second and third heats he has | trotted are 2;06£ and 2:09, while Lord| Derbv has gone a second heat in 2:06, and a third in 2:06. Lord Derby has trotted; three heats in 2:05f, 2:06 and 2:06, while; Major* Delmar’s best three are 2 05£, 2:06£ j and 2:09. These figures favour Lord Derf, by, and if he comes forthe word fit and in 1 good temper he should win- —(“ American; Sportsman.”) i