AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 773, 29 December 1904, Page 8

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

A SUCCESSFUL COMMENCEMENT. It is hardly possible to conceive a more beautiful day than Tuesday last, when the Auckland Trotting Club made a commencement with their big Summer Meeting, and as this was the only factor which the committee had no power to arrange for, every other detail having been attended to, it goes without saying that the first day’s sport was a huge success. The electric trams running both by way of Parnell and Symonds-street were crowded to excess and as an excellent service was maintained this meant a big attendance at Alexandra .Bark, and it is doubtful whether there was ever a larger gathering at a trotting meeting in Auckland. The presence of several visiting horses from Sydney and the South proved an additional attraction and the sport provided was of the best. Mr Mark and his large staff did yeoman service in making things go smoothly, and the result must be regarded as extremely satisfactory. Messrs A. R. Harris and I. Hill shared the duties of judge, while Mr O’Connor acted as starter. Speculation was fairly brisk, the sum of C45*28 going through the totalisator.

Proceedings were opened with the Maiden Trot, one and a-half miles, Green Lavender being made a warm avourite of the nine starters. r l he visiting horse Legbreak, who was on scratch, got away before the start and bolted three times round the course, this of course ruining her chance. The race proved a very soft snap for the favourite, who soon went to the front and drawing right away won by nearly a hundred yards from Agnes B, with B ell Car in third place.

Fibre and Specialite were the most fancied candidates in the Pony Trot, one and a-half miles. Fibre and Mangonui were responsible for all the early pacemaking, but then the scratch horse Rushlight, who had been gatheiing them in all the way, got past and won pulling up by fifteen yards from Isabel, who beat Fibre in the straight- by ten yaids. Ten came out to do battle for the Big event of the day, the Auckland Trotting Cup, of -00 sovs, tw r o miles. Rebel Boy, who was on the 7Sec mark, wasbacked for a lot of money, going- out at a little better than even money. Rushlight, w-ho had won the previous race, was soon out making play from Specialist, with the favourite steadily closing on both. Rushlight was still n command at the back, but the effort was finding him out, Rebel Boy and Specialist being alongside him as the straight was entered. A great battle up the straight followed, Hird just getting the favourite home by four yards from Specialist, with Rushlight twice that distance further off third, and then followed Harold Abdallah and Duchess of Rothschild.

There were six starters in the Pony Cup, of 115 sovs, one mile, punters coming very strongly for Gladys Rose, although Reduction, who had the services of Hewitt as pilot, also carried a lot of metal. The race was a great battle between these two, nothing- else halving a chance. Down the back stretch they were together, and so they remained till the straight was entered. A desperate fight all the way home resulted in a halflength win for Reduction, while Forth finished several lengths behind Gladys Rose.

Miss Dunmore and Miss Wilmington carried most of the money in the. MiddleClass Trot, one and a-half miles, and these two had most of the race to themselves, the daughter of Wilmington winning by twenty yards from Miss Dunmore, with Fibre and Legbreak following them home.

Ten came out to do battle in the Great Northern 'Trotting Handicap, Specialist and Baxter coming in for by far the most support. The Mooress, who was quite an outsider, very nearly brought off a surprise for she took command almost from the jump and leading nearly all the way looked almost a certain winner. It was not to be, however, for Specialist came very fast from the distance, getting up in time to win by four yards, with. 'Ballot a fair third.

Of the seven ponies in the Telephone Handicap Orange and Blue, who by the way ran last at Ellerslie on the previous day was made favourite, although there were plenty of supporters for Solitary and Lady French. The race is easily described for Solitary getting well away led from start to finish, winning by three lengths from Whawhai, who was just in front of Orange and Blue and Wheturere. Bell Car carried most investments in the St. Helier’s Handicap Trot, a correct summing up of the situation, for the Bellman gelding led all the way, winning by ten yards from the outsider Colenso, Ballot being a similar distance away third.

The following are the particulars : — MAIDE'N TROT HANDICAP, of 30 sovs ; One mile and a-half. Mr W. A. Scott’s gr g Green Lavender, by Wilmington—Fibre, 4yrs, 19sec (owner) 1 Mr T. Brady's b m Agnes B, syrs, 18sec (F. Brady) 2 Mr F. Julian’s ch g Bell Car, syrs, 9sec (A. Lowe) 3 Other starters : —Legbreak, scratch ; Melba, scratch ; Lincoln Yet, 9sec ; Diavolo (late Dandy), IGsec : Mangonui, 19sec ; Victress, 22sec. Won by about 80yds. Time, 4min 21 sec. Dividends, £1 and £1 13s (10s tickets. PONY TROT HANDICAP, of 25 sovs. One mile and a- half. Mr T. Wyllie’s b g Rushlight, by Young Irvington — Twilight, aged, scratch (Duncan) 1 Mr J. Burfoot’s blk m Isabel, aged, 3sec (Murfitt) 2 Mr J. G. Lecky’s gr m Fibre, aged, 22sec (owner) 3 Other starters :—Little Paul, 6sec ; Victor C (late Victor Hugo), lOsec ; Specialite, 18sec ; Mangonui, 24sec ; Cleveland’s Pride, 27sec. Won by 10yds. Time, 3min 57 3-ssec. Dividends, £2 8s and £1 15s (10s tickets). AUCKLAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP, of 200 sovs. Two miles. Mr T. Penny’s rn g Rebel Boy, by Rebel Childe, aged, 7sec (Hird) 1 Mr F. H. Ridder’s br c Specialist, 3yrs, llsec (Hamilton) 2 Mr T. Wyllie’s gr g Rushlight, aged, 16sec (Duncan) 3 Other starters : — Young McKinney, scratch ; Harold Abdallah, 12sec ; Cornwall, 12sec ; Sir Robert, 14sec ; Little Doctor, 14sec ; Thorndean, 18sec ; Duchess of Rothschild, 19sec , Old J udge, 22sec. Won by a bare length. Time, smin 3sec. Dividends, £1 is and £1 18s (10s tickets). PONY. CUP HANDICAP, of 115 sovs. One mile. Mr D. M. McLean's b m Reduction, by Mauser —Moderation, syrs, Bst 101 b ‘ (Hewitt) 1 Mr J. Montgomery’s b m Gladys Rose, aged, 7st 81b (Jones) 2 Mr R, Hannon’s ch g Forth, aged, Bst 41b (Pinker) ; 3 Other starters :—Sally Horner, 7st 21b ; Laodice, 7st 21b ; Miss Cuirassier, 7st Won by a short length, lime, Imin 45fsec. Dividends, £1 6s and 5s (10s tickets). 71b. MIDDLE-CLASS HANDICAP TROT, of 50 sovs. One mile and a-half. Mr G. Stafford’s br in Miss Wilmington, by Wilmington—Anteros mare, aged, 13sec (Tighe) 1 Mr Crooke’s b m Miss Dunmore, syrs, 24sec (Murfitt) ‘2 Mr J. G. Lecky’s gr m Fibre, 25sec (owner) 3 Other starters : —Logan, Isec ; Legbreak, 7sec ; Belladonna, lOsec ; Donizetti, 12sec; Victor C, 13sec.; Little Ben, 225. Won by 20yds. Time, 4min 3sec. Dividends, £1 10s and 9s (10s tickets). GREAT NORTHERN TROTTING HANDICAP, of 125 sovs. One mile. Mr F. H. Ridder’s br c Specialist, by Specification, 3yrs, 6sec (Hamilton) 1 Mr Wi Kaama’s blk m The Mooress, 6yrs, llsec (Tozer) 2 Mr P. Williams’ b g Ballot, 6yrs, 2sec (Duncan) 3 Other starters :—Wait ekauri, 2sec ; Baxter, 2sec ; Taihoa, 3sec ; Little Doctor, 7sec ; Heiress, 9sec ; Colenso, 9sec ; Juliette, llsec. Won by rather over a length. Time, 2min 32 2-ssec. Dividends, £2 12s and £5 10s (£1 tickets). TELEPHONE HANDICAP, of 50 sovs. Five furlongs. Mr W. Gall’s ch in Solitary, by Recluse —Queenie, aged, 7st 121 b (Pinker) 1 Mr D. Leslie’s b g Whawhai, aged, 7st 51b (Jones) 2 Mr H. Barr’s b m Orange and Blue, aged, 9st (O’Connell) 3 Other starters : —Delia Rose, 9st : Lady French (late Eureka), 7st 121 b; Wheturere, 7s t 51b ; Kyra, 7st. Won by three lengths. Time, Imin 6 2-5 sec. Dividends, £3 18s and £1 15s (£1 tickets. ST HELI ER’S HANDICAP TROT, of 40 sovs. One mile. Mr F. Julian’s ch g Bell Car, by Bellman —Carmen, syrs, !4sec (Lowe) ... 1 Mr G. Herbert’s b g Colenso, aged, 7sec (owner) 2 Mr P. Williams’ b g Ballot, Gyrs, scratch (Duncan) 3 Other starters : — Logan, 4sec ; St. John, 9sec ; Juliette, 9sec ; Donizetti, llsec ; Macquarrie, 14sec. Won by three lengths. Time, 2min 47 sec. Dividends, £2 15s and C 4 (£1 tickets).