TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 755, 25 August 1904, Page 9

TROTTING.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Meeting appears to have passed off very, successfully. The weather throughout was fine, but as the result of recent rain the course at Riccarton, where on this occasion the meeting was held, proved very heavy, but improved a good deal on the third day.

The big event of the opening day, the August Handicap, two miles, was won by Euchre, who was on the ten seconds’ mark. He is a five-year-old brown gelding by Vancleve, and in the race in question led all the way down and won by a length from Durbar. The Stewards’ Handicap fell to Verity, an aged mare by Vancleve from Bar.

On the second day the principal item was the Midwinter Handicap, which was carried off by Vickery, a six-year-old bay mare by Specification. She just got up on the post in time to beat Inspiration by a head. Euchre was again successful, winning the President’s Handicap, while George L. 11., a six-year-old bay gelding by Del Paso from The Witch, scored in the King Edward Handicap.

On the third dav the National Cup proved the star attraction, and for this there were seven starters. Boldrewood, a four-year-old bay colt by General Tracey from Mermaid, who was on the one second mark, won easilv from Verax and Black Child.

The annual meeting of members of the Auckland Trotting Club is advertised to be held on the 31st inst., to receive the .report and balance-sheet, elect six members of committee in the room of those retiring, and appoint stewards for ensuing season.

The annual meeting of the Otahuhu Trotting Club will take place this (Thursday) evening, at the Masonic Hall, Otahuhu, at 8 p.m. The chief business is to receive the annual report and balancesheet. * * * * Mr J. A. Buckland’s well-known trotting sire, Vancleve, who was foaled in America io 1881, died recently at Pine Ridge Station (says the “Referee”). He was imported to New Zealand from America by Mr R. Wilkin, and subsequently came to this State. As a sire he was a great success, his progeny including the champion trotter, Fritz. The N.S.W. Trotting Club made a profit of about £125 on last year’s transactions. • * * * 3 Sir Joseph Ward has written to Mr P. Selig, who was chairman of the recent New Zealand Trotting Conference, stating that he will be prepared to re? ceive applications for totalisator licenses from the clubs mentioned in the list forwarded by .the conference, being a total of twenty-eight licenses amongst sixteen clubs (says the “Canterbury Times”). “With regard to an increased number of totalisator licenses for trotting clubs,” Sir Joseph continues, “I have to point out that for some years past the number of licenses available for racing clubs has been 128, and for trotting clubs 28, total 156, and that the maximum number of licenses which can be issued, being fixed by Act and regulations, no increased ini the number allocated to trotting clubs can be made except by making a corresponding reduction in the number issued to racing clubs. Under these circumstances, unless the racing and trotting clubs in conference, or otherwise, mutually agree to an afteration, I am not prepared to make any change in the allocation of totalisator licenses as between the racing clubs and the trotting clubs.” » * * * Applications are invited in Christchurch for the position of secretary to the N.Z. Trotting Association.