TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 750, 21 July 1904, Page 9

TROTTING.

NOTES FROM THE TROTTING CONFERENCE. (From Our Wellington Correspondent.) The Trotting Conference, at its recent sitting, made some important additions to its rules. The setting up of an executive of the Conference with supreme power to hold enquiries into matters concerning clubs, and also into the affairs of the New Zealand Trotting Association was a step in the right direction. Through circulars and letters clubs have recently been much exercised as to what takes place at the committee meetings of the Association. Such terms as slipshod has been applied to their actions ; when full details of the recent enquiry reach clubs they will probably agree that it was a searching one. Further enquiry at the hands of the executive of the Conference should be unnecessary, as the present one should clear the air. Several delegates to the Conference, instructed by 'their clubs, asked the Chairman for explanations in connection with circulars, which were duly given, and accepted as satisfactory. Subsequently a resolution was carried unanimously thanking Mr Mark (the North Island member of the Association, who recently approached the clubs by means of a circular) for the manner in which he had carried out his duties to trotting clubs during his first year on the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association. A hearty vote of thanks was also voted to the retiring Chairman, Mr P. Selig, who has filled the chair in an estimable manner during the past five years. Mr Selig regretted that he was unable to devote the necessary time to the duties, but would always be pleased to do anything that would tend to further the interests of trotting. Mr G. H. McHaffie, the new Chairman of the Trotting Conference and also of its executive, is an enthusiast in trotting. He is President of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, the most influential trotting body in the Australasian colonies, and he should ably fill the new position, and as head of the supreme body he will assist the executive to raise trotting to the highest standard. The question of the number of totalisator permits available for trotting clubs was touched upon by the Chairman in his opening address., Thirty-three is the number to which they were entitled when the reduction was made by order of Parliament some time back. The Hon. Jas. Carroll, then Colonial Secretary, however, only allotted twenty-eight, and when approached by the Chairman of the Trotting Conference mentioned that he held some in reserve for emergency. The Conference unanimously resolved to wait as a body upon Sir J. Ward, Colonial Secretary, with regard to the five permits to which trotting clubs are entitled. Owing, however, to Sir Joseph’s enforced absence at Invercargill, the Conference deputation failed to meet him. Mr James Colvin, M.H.R., however, undertook to assist those members of the Conference who resided in Wellington in placing the views of the Conference before the Colonial Secretary, the chairman having supplied all data. A deputation will be introduced by Mr Colvin next week and the matter fully placed before Sir Joseph Ward.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Meeting will take place on August 13, 17, and 19.

A horse forty-one years old died recently on the farm of Philip Putnam, Franklin, 0., where, since a foal, it had been used continuously as a driver up to four years ago. He was sound in wind and limb, and died from old age.

Red Wilkes, one of the greatest of the sons of Geo. Wilkes, died at Shadeland Farm, Pa., April 29. He was thirty years old- and a vigorous horse up to this year, having been bred to several mares this spring. His list of standard performers is a long one, and will receive quite a number of additions during the next few years, as he has left quite a number of youngsters from weanlings to five-year-olds that will be trained for records. Nine of his get took records last year, giving him a total of one hundred ’ and twenty trotters and forty-six pacers in the list. "His sons have made a good showing as producers, there being one hundred and four of them that have sired three hundred and nineteen trotters and two hundred and fifty-seven pacers. His daughters have produced well, one hundred and five having produced one hundred and twelve trotters and fortyfour pacers.

According to the “Referee,” Ribbonwood’s owner has issued a challenge to trot his horse against Almont or any other in Australasia for £250 or £5OO aside ; mile heats, best two in three, or three in five, or one mile, two miles, and three miles, best two in three. Match to take place within three months.

Totalisator permits have been allocated for the ensuing season as follows : — Auckland T.C., three; Ashburton T.C., two ; Greymouth T.C., two ; Gore T.G., one; Inangahua T.C., one ; Masterton T.C., one; New Zealand Metropolitan T.C., four • New Brighton T.C., two ; Nelson T.C., one ; Otahuhu T.C., two ; Plumpton Park T.C., two ; South Wairarapa T.C., one; Tahuna Park T.C., three ; Westport T.C., one ; Wairau T.C., one ; Hutt Valley T.C., one. * * * * Mr C. F. Mark has returned from his trip South, where he represented the Auckland Trotting Club at the Conference, and was also present at the monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association. The question of Mr Mark’s circular to the clubs was brought up at the latter meeting, the Northern member enquiring of the Chairman as to why it was consideted to be incorrect. A long discussion followed, which appeared to prove nothing, and then the matter was dropped. *