TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 746, 23 June 1904, Page 9

TROTTING.

THE AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S WINTER MEETING.

OPENING DAY. The Auckland Trotting Club’s Winter Meeting was commenced on Saturday afternoon at Takapuna Racecourse. The weather cleared up just in time, and the club was favoured with a fine, if cold, afternoon. The enclosure had dried up wonderfully, but the course itself was very holding, quite nullifying any attempts at fast time. This fact decided Mr Price not to attempt any record breaking with his famous pacer Hibbonwood. The meeting was well attended, and excellently managed by Mr Mark and his assistants, everything going off very smoothly. Mr O’Connor got the fields away in his usual fashion, while Mr A. R. Harris occupied the judge’s box. The sport was first-class, •some of the finishes being very exciting. The sum of £2OlB 10s was passed through the totalisator during the afternoon.

Proceedings commenced with the Maiden Trot, one mile and a-half, for which Albertorious was made favourite. Aided by his long handicap the son of Albert ictor made things very willing from the jump, with Pleasanton as his nearest competitor. Donizetti gradually closed up in the last two furlongs, but could never reach the favourite, who won by twenty ■yards, with Pleasanton a moderate third.

There were seven runners in the Oats Handicap, six and a-half furlongs, Sally Horner being dropped on as a good thing for this. Mr O’Connor let them 20 to an even start, Kyra and Sweet Marie immediately singling out in front. Down the back Sally Horner gradually went up to the leader, and at the bottom bend was alongside Lady Lottie, these two clearingout from the field. At the distance Lady Lottie was done with, the favourite winning by two lengths, with Sweet Marie six lengths off third. Next followed the Winter Handicap, two miles, for which Rushlight, Autocrat and Rebel Boy were in most demand. Rushlight, taking good advantage of his handicap, headed the field for a couple of rounds, with Belladonna and Autocrat fast closing up. At tne bottom bend the last round the leader broke badly, letting the other two past, while Te V hiti also drew up alongside. It was a very pretty race up the straight, Autocrat getting home by five yards from Te Whiti with Belladonna twice as far off third. A field of thirteen turned out to compete in the Middle-Class Trot Handicap one mile and a-half, and of these My Lady and Countess found the most supporters. Pleasanton, on the limit, set out to make matters willing, with Mack as his nearest attendant. Half-a-mile from home Countess drew up to the leader, while Young Salisbury, on scratch, bad passed more than half of his field. He broke once or twice rather ’badly, and Countess trotting well looked like winning easily. Thirty yards from the post she broke, and Pleasanton -oming again with a rush almost caug’it her or the post, being beaten by three yards, with Fibre a verv moderate third.

Only five turned out i ~>r the Ladies’ Bracelet Trot, one mile and a halt, and of these Belladonna received much the most support. Invicta, the Lmit male, refusing to trot at all, Eric was left with the lead, and he was in front to three furlongs from home, when Belladonna, who had been waiting handy, went to the front and, easily si ailing off a late run by George, won uy ten yards, with Eric thirty yards further back. Garnet was a fairly strong order for the Flying Handicap, five furlongs,, with Lady Lottie next in demand. I’ahwaihi and the favourite got veil away and led down the back to the bend, where Garnet fell back a length. With beads turned for home Lady Lottie .singled out in chase of the leaders, and nt the distance all were under the whip. A great race home saw Pahwaihi last long <mough to win by nearly a length, T.ady L n tie defeating Garnet by a head for second place. There was a big demand for Kiddie Gee in the concluding event, the Fl er, trie Trot, one mile, Rushlight being the only other to come in for support. Bell Car led for a bit, but when the favourite once showed in front the race was over, for the daughter of Elmo 11. had Hie foot of all her opponents, winning by nearly forty yards from Mummel Childe, with Victor C a good third.

The results were as follows : — MAIDEN TROT HANDICAP ; one mile and a-half. Mr J. Dickson’s b h Albertorious, byAlbert Victor—Dulce, 3yrs, 30sec (Baker) 1 Mr W. A. Scott’s b g Donizetti, aged, 19sec (Scott) Mrs M. Greenwood’s b h Pleasanton, aged, 28sec (Greenwood) 3 Other starters : Mummel Childe (late Pop), scratch ; Lance, 15sec : Bell Car. 18sec ; Nui, 24sec ; Mack, 25sec ; Huanui. Slsec. Won easily by half-a-dozen lengths. Time, 4min 23 2-ssec. Dividends, £1 4s and £1 2s. OATS HANDICAP ; six furlongs and ahalf. Mr H. Bernard’s b m Sally Horner, by Hornpipe —Anteros mare, 6yrs, 9.8 (Deeley) 1 Mr K. Finlayson’s b m Lady Lottie, aged, 9.0 (White) 2 Mr M. Whitelaw’s b m Sweet Marie, aged, 9.0 (Chaafe) 3 Other starters : Annoyed, 12.10 ; Whawhai, 9.7 ; Kyra, 9.7 ; Signal, 9.0. Won by rather better than two lengths. Time, Imin 33 4-ssec. Dividends, £1 5s and 16s. WINTER HANDICAP TROT ; two miles. Mr E. G. Sandall’s gr h Autocrat, by Albert Victor —Nellie, 6yrs, 26sec (Price) 1 Mr J. Craig’s br g Te Whiti, 28sec (Gosnell) 2 Mr W. Humphrey’s b m Belladonna, aged, 32sec (Baker) 3 Other starters : Fichu, scratch ; Rosalind, lSsec ; Duke C, 13sec ; Harold Abdallah, 1 sec ; Rebel Boy, 3 Bsec ; Old Judge, 24sec ; K.D., 24sec ; Coleiso, 32 sec ; Miss Huon, 34sec ; Rushlight, 34sec. Won by a length. Time .’>min 33 2-ssec. Dividends, £1 18s and £2 >'s. MIDDLE-CLASS TROT HAND! CAP; one mile and a-half. Mr T. Exley’s br m Countess, by Vic tor, aged, 21sec (Baker) ..... 1 Mr M. Greenwood’s b h Pleasanton, aged, 30sec (W. Greenwood) 2 Mr J. G. Lecky’s gr m Fibre, am' I, 22sec (Trotty) 3 Other starters : Young Salisbury, scratch ; My Lady, 12sec ; Empress. .15 sec : Little Ben, 19sec • I’ioko, L9sec ; Snip, 21sec ; Bliss Irvington, 21 sec . Bert 21sec ; George, 24sec ; Mack, 28sec. Won by less than half-a-length. Time. 4min 21 2-ssec. Dividends, £1 36s and 15s. LADIES’ BRACELET HANDICAP TROT: one mile and a-half. Miss Dickson’s b m Belladonna, Ly Judge Belden—lniquity, aged, 13sec (Mr C. Baker, jun.) 1 Miss L. Hardinge’s b g George, aged, 25sec (Mr McMasters) 2 Mrs Isabella Wood’s b g Eric, aged, 16sec (Mr Wood) 3 Other starters : K.D., 7sec ; Invicta, 36sec. Won by a length. Time, 4min 18 2-5 sec. Dividend, £l. FLYING HANDICAP : five furlongs. Mr J. McDonald’s b h Pahwaihi, aged, by Guncotton, 9.3 (Cotton) 1 Mr K. Finlayson’s b m Lady Lottie, aged, 9.0 (Searle) 2 Mr W. Smith’s b m Garnet, 6yrs, 9.13 (Julian) 3 Other starters : Fashionable, 9.12 ; Whawhai, 9.10 ; Lady Trench, 9.3 ; Sentinel, 9.0. Won by three-parts of a length. Time, Imin 12sec. Dividends, £3 7s and 3 2s. ELECTRIC TROT HANDICAP ; one mile. Mr R. P. Munro’s b m Kiddie Gee, syrs, by Elmo IT. —Marvellous mare, 12sec (Edwards) 1 Mr W. Thomson’s b g Mummel Childe,. (late Pop), 6yrs, 12sec (Thomson)... 2 Mrs T. Cotton’s b g Victor (late Victor Hugo), aged, 20sec (Cotton) ... 3 Other starters : Waitekauri, lOsec ; Isabel, 14sec ; Colenso, lSsec ; Rushlight, 19sec ; Bryn. 21sec ; Bell Car, 24sec ; Countess, 19sec (including ssec penalty) ; Bert, 24sec ; Fibre, 25sec. Won by twelve or thirteen lengths. Time, 2min 39sec. Dividends, £1 3s and £1 14s.

The management of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Meeting was the subject of favourable comment on Saturday. * * * * A good deal of disappointment was expressed on Saturday at the non-appear-ance of Ribbonwood, although it was very generally recognised that it would have been absurd to send the Champion for a record on such a heavy track.

Belladonna was dropped on as something especially good in the Ladies’ Bracelet, and the daughter of Judge Belden easily landed the handsome trophy. I remember seeing the winner’s sire landed in Sydney, and a beautiful horse he looked, Mr Hordern being very pleased with his appearance. He has since got some fine stock.

I was very sorry to see that only five horses were accepted for the Ladies’ Bracelet Trot. It ought to have been the most popular event of the day.

Punters were on very good terms with themselves on the opening day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Meeting. I heard of one who had backed every winner, while many others finished well on the credit side. Some of them wanted it, too, after the disastrous Ellerslie meeting.