OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 933, 23 January 1908, Page 7

OTAGO.

DUNEDIN, January 22. The launching out of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club.in the direction of acquiring a private track has met with general approval, and debentures are being freely taken up in order that the course be made fit for racing with a minimum of delay. It is to be hoped that the club will lay out as b’g a track as possible, and at least of five furlongs, in order to do away with the necessity of having the starts on a bend as is the case at present at Tahuna Park. Races at Tahuna Park are frequently robbed of a great deal of their interest by the fact that the horses, after leaving the mark, are on to a turn at once, and this tends to unsettle them in their gait, if not break them up altogether. Visitors to Tahuna Park will allow that the majority of breaks occur at the south bend, just as the horses appear to have safely negotiated this portion of the track. If the fields were started at some part of the track where the horses could get a straight go for at least a furlong or so, it would make a decided improvement in the racing. This is a selfevident fact, and there is no particular reason why a four furlong track should be built when there is ample room for a larger one. In fact there a?’e many good reasons why the four furlongs’ course should be abandoned. It appears to be essential for the success of trotting that the track should not be larger than six furlongs in circumference, because, to maintain the public interest, it is not advisable that the horses should be racing too far away from the stand. The situat’oa of the new track will be much superior to that of Tahuna Park, as it will lie to the sun, and not in such an exposed position as the present track..

St. Denis landed a double at Tuakepa in a style that was reminiscent of his bold galloping in the days of his power. It is well over four seasons back since St. Denis won a race, and it is worthy of note that the St.

Clair gelding made his debut on the turf in 1808.

Sir Percival obtained about a three lengths’ advantage at the start of the Flying Handicap at Tuapeka, and this practically made the horse a present of the race as he apparently had very little to spare at the finish.

The cranky-pated Tongey ran in a new ownership at Tuapeka. He went to the post three times and got away with bis field once. On the successful occasion he was chased off the mark by a man armed with a huge lump of wood that looked from a short distance like a prehistoric war club. It was not a very dignified way to make a noble thoroughbred speed to victory or defeat, but it had the merit of at least making the ballant steed leave the vicinity of the aforesaid club.

T. Tilson, the well-known Southland trainer and rider of trotters, produced a likely sort of a green performer in Commanderite at Tuapeka, where he won the Final Trot in 2.52. The time reads slow, but Commanderite, with ordinary luck, will go to a much better mark. His sire was got by General Tracey from B B . the dam of the well-known pacer Fichu, but unfortunately Commander had a brief career at the stud. One of the winners on the second day of the Tuapeka meeting was, according to the opinion of the owner, not correctly placed by the judge when the latter dealt with the horse’s number on the first day. To mark his disapproval of the matter the owner entered the stewards’ room and verbally requested that the horse should be “ scratched for all engagements.’' Reflection evidently brought a change of mind, and the written notice of the withdrawal was not given in, with the result that a win was recorded on the second day. The objection against Lupulite lodged in connection with his winning at the Wyndham meeting will be dealt with at a meeting of the D.J.C. committee, to be held on Thursday of this week. Included amongst the events in the Tahuna Park Trotting Club’s autumn meeting are four handicaps carrying lOOsovs each in prize money, eight events of 50sovs. including two races for trotters only. The starting at the Tuapeka meeting undoubtedly left something to be desired, and the gentleman who wielded the flag was not so happy in his despatches as was the case last year. He had two ibad-tempered horses in Toney and Curiosity to deal with occasionally, but any official should be sufficiently conversant with racing matters to have given this pair scant latitude. The starter did not exercise sufficient authority over the riders, and some of the fields when at the post were mixing about as if they were attempting an intricate movement at a country dance. In the Flying Handicap on the second day the winner was fully three lengths in front of his field as they moved up and got the word to go. It is quite possible the margin owing to the angle may have looked worse from the hill than was actually the case, but the club should authorise one of the cheap and movable barriers which are in the market. The writer, by the way, is not an agent for sporting carriers. No official time was taken m St. Denis’ race on the first day of the Tuapeka meeting, but the writer made the four furlongs occupy 50 2-ss. from a walking-up start. The gelding ran five furlongs in the mud on the second day in lm. 5 4-ss. with 8.13, and won from the moderate opposition in a very easy manner. Judging by his form at the meetin, it would appear that the old fellow is something like his old shape, and had he been reserved for an even more valuable race would have made a good fight. St. Dems has been doing light harness work, and this no doubt helped to condition him for his races. He may not last long, as hard going would probably send him to retirement.