TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 796, 8 June 1905, Page 11

TROTTING.

’rhe American trotting stallion Rex Derby was sold at auction recently for 105 guineas, to Mr. ■/. Weatherby, of Mortlake.

Trotting stock are bringing good prices in Sydney just now. Mr. E. Gabriel’s four-year-old stallion AVilkes G (Osterley R 3 d Rose, imp.) has been purchased by a Vest Australian buyer for 200 guineas.

Referring to the New Zealand Trotting Association’s Register, the editor of the •• Breeder and Sportsman” says that the National and American A.jvnug .associations could not do a wiser thing than adopt this horse registering plan of their New Zealand contemporary. It would be a great safeguard against ringers, and would also do much to prevent the making of false pedigrees. If the small fee of 25 cents was charged for registering it would fully cover the cost of same and printing the pamphlet at the end of the year. New Zealand and Australia have originated and adopted many new inventions to popularise racing, such as the numbered saddle cloths,. starting gates, totalisators, etc., and this plan of registering all horses that race is one of the best, and is worthy of adoption by this and every other country where racing is held.

A Hobart exchange commends Mr. Hodgman for the stand he is taking in connection with the trotting events at a meeting of the Brighton Jockey Club (Hobart). In the past it has been the custom with unscrupulous owners to nominate their horses, and if they were nut on a favourable mark the entrance fee would be paid. But in the event of the owners referred to not liking their handicaps, they would leave clubs to whistle for the nomination money. To put a stop to this sort of thing Mr. Hodgman has given notice „iiat no trotter will be handicapped unless the entrance fee is paid in advance. Evidently some Tasmanian trotting men are not overburdened with honesty.

Complaints were rife at the Plumpton Park Trotting Club’s meeting regarding the false dividends paid out by the totalisator staff on several races (says the “Weekly Press.’')one instance, in particular, was brought under my notice, which for downright extortion is worthy of another business. When Fancy Girl won the Innovation Handicap on the first day, there was £172-1- invested on her chance, out of a total of £331-1 on the machine. Taking off the 10 per cent, and second dividend, this would leave £223 to be divided amongst the winners, which would work out at £1 5s lOd for each £ invested. By some system of figure working, a dividend of £1 4s was arrived at. which backers had to accept or go without, leaving the machine a gainer of over 17 per cent., instead of the legitimate 10 per cent. This is only one of the many instances that be mentioned, and while they have to put up with such extortion it is no wonder that backers complain bitterly.

While there is much difference of opinion with reference to the necessity for using blind bridles on horses, the reasons why they should not be used would seem to overbalance reasons the opposite (says the “ Breeder and Sportsman.”) Some good authorities argue in favour of their use, while others equally argue that they are not onlv unnecessary, but positively detrimental. The argument more commonly advanced favouring the use of blind bridles claims that they tend to prevent horses from frightening at objects which would otherwise be seen by them and at which they would not become frightened. There is, of course, a measure of truth in the argument, but it is at least questionable if horses do not take fright more frequently from the noise made bv objects which they cannot see than by objects which come into view. Take, for instance, the automobile. The danger would seem to be greater from such a vehicle coming up behind and passing it on the highway when not in sight than if the horse had been permitted to see it.

If horses were accustomed to the sight were to become frightened while they are young, they would learn in time to lose that fear, and therefore, could be safely driven when meeting such objects or when overtaken by them without the necessity of hiding the same from their vision.

Some have claimed that horses drive better when the eyes are hidden. They argue that the horse which may have learned to shirk will go at a better gait when he cannot see the motion of the whip in the hand of the driver. We do not think there is much of an argument in this claim. The horse that is inclined to shirk will shirk with or without blinds, and if he can see tfie motion of the whip in the hand of the driver will oftentimes improve his gait without it being necessary to have the same laid upon him.