TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 18 May 1905, Page 12

TROTTING.

Now that the meeting of the Auckland Trottinor Club has been numbered with the vast, trotting matters are very quiet in Auckland, and are likely to remain so for some little time to come.

By the record the fastest pacing team in the world on their individual records is now in England, and owned by- Mr. Winans. It is composed of Prince Alert imin. 59|5., and Fanny Dillard 3#sec. The next x,. .test on the same rule is owned by Charles E. Chapin, of Rochester, N.Y., and js made up of Dariel, 2min. Ojsec., and Connor, 2min. ;’£sec.

Owners of trotting stock should buy the second volume of the Register of the New Zealand Trotting Association, containing the names of all horses rostered up to the end of July last. Th volume, which is published at two shillings, can be obtained from Mr. J. B. Norrie, secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association, Christchurch. .** * *

It is a mistake that trotting-bred horses are only suiitable foi racing pur poses, and that every foal dropped upon the farm must show extreme speed witn a few months’ development or is worthless and useless material. The more quickly this idea is g,uten nd of the better it will be for the owner. The well-bred, well-grown, and properly broken light-harness horse is always a money-maker in the hands of a rustling owner. The only carriage horse of general utility comes from the union of trot-ting-bred stallions and trottmg-bred mares.

It is impossible to disassociate the feeding and digestion of horses from the question of their teeth, as beyond all doubt many animals suffer greatly from dental troubles, and lose both health and strength therefrom. It is to be recommended, therefore, that if a horse goes off his feed, and no sufficient reason can be produced, his mouth should be the subject of a careful examination by somebody who is competent to undertake the duty. Even in the case of horses where there is no suspicion that there is anything wrong with the teeth, a periodical inspection will frequently reveal the fact that attention is required, and a very simple operation at such a time will obviate much suffering and trouble later on. As a consequence it may be repeated that habitual neglect of the condition of his horse’s mouth is a rather serious sin of omission on the part 01 ’.3 owner. ♦ ♦ ♦ *

The champion trotter Ribbonwood s first foal, now six months’ old, is in Melbourne, and is described by his owner as a jet black colt, resembling his sire very much, and even now shows undoubted ability to trot. His owner is so pleased with him that he has written to Mr. Plavfair, owner of Ribbonwood, to choose a name for the colt, and that gentleman has selected “ First Ribbon” as being most apnropriate.