IN BRIEF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1083, 8 December 1910, Page 9

IN BRIEF.

(By

“HAVOC.”)

Maplewood, who established a mile and a-half record, at the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, is going along satisfactory, and if not asked to conceive enormous starts, should pick up a stake at Xmas.

Annoyed is reported to be showing plenty of pace, and she should make amends for her two failures at no distant date. She is still in R. Hamilton’s stable, which shelters some decidedly useful ones. If rumour is correct, Hamilton has a “dark” maiden in the stable.

W. Orange is getting a big team together at Kohimarama, and this capable educator of trotters may be expected to do his clients a good turn at the A.T.C. Summer Meeting. Orange is now training Mistime, and the stable may pull off both Trotting and Pony Cups.

Trotting enthusiasts will, in all probability, have to journey to Manurewa to witness the favourite pastime, next season. It will be remembered that some few months ago Alexandra Park, which consists of 27 acres, was sold to a syndicate for £20,000. Later the property was on offer at an increase of £4,000, and there appeared to be a prospect of the Auckland Rugby Union, Auckland Trotting Club, and Agricultural Society purchasing the property, but negotiations are now declared off. It is understood that the Auckland Trotting Club’s lease will expire in May next. A fine property close to the railway line at Manurewa is held by the Club and it is understood that no time will be lost in commencing the work of fencing the track and erecting the necessary buildings.

“The Forbury Park stewards would find something to interest them if they got the betting figures attached to the different races on last week’s programme, (says a writer in the Otago “Witness,”) and compared the manner in which some horses were supported for their different starts. It seems strange, to say the least, that a comparatively slight alteration in a handicap should be followed iby a vast alteration in the betting.”

Rothschild was writ large over the Forbury Park programme, and the crack sire continues to assert himself as a speed-producer. On the first day Lochead, a grandson of Rothschild, opened up a winner in the first event, and then came Ravenschild, Lady Baron (a grand-daughter of Rothschild) and Flowerchild, a grandson of the son of Childs Harold. On the second day Miriam B, Lord Chancellor, Lady Baron, Flowerchild, and Embrace kept the line in evidence, so that nine out of 16 races stand to his credit as a sire, either in the first or second generation-

The bookmakers decline to take up the positions allotted to them by the Forbury Park Club, and “struck.” The club refunded the fees in preference to allowing the fielders to operate at their old position, and the latter pooled their risk, and took out three paddock licenses each ; day. The bookmakers who declined to take up the allotted positions were promptly ordered off the course. The fielders were not without reason behind their complaint, as those unfortunate enough to draw the position farthest away from the totalisator would have received very little business-compar-ed to those who were more advantageously placed. Tfie club-, however, possessed the whip hand and did not hesitate to use it, although their action was not quite within the spirit of the act.

Pasha and Smuggler, purchased in Australia by Mr. J. Molloy, arrived in Auckland by the Maheno on Sunday.

Mr. C. F. Mark left for Christchurch on Monday to attend the meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association.

At Forbury Park the bookmakers were allotted a fenced-off corner of the saddling paddock. A humorous punter said the fence was put up to keep the horses out of the fielders’ bags, and another said the club was evidently desirous of placing a hurdle between the public and the odds’ merchants.

Mr H. Thompson’s synchronised starting-clock was used during the Forbury Park meeting, and it won great approval from everyone who inspected it. The writer was given an opportunity to see the clock at work, and there is no doubt about it being a distinct improvement on previous inventions used for the purpose of starting trotting events. The working is simplicity itself. A line leads from the clock to the rail and the starter can set up a continuous ringing to warn and marshall the riders or drivers into their places. Once this is achieved the bell can be stopped and then switched on to give the single bell, which despatches the horses at their various handicaps. It has the large dial, by which horsemen can easily note when they are due to leave the mark; but whilst it resembles other clocks in this respect, it parts company with them at this stage. The clock was handled by Mr L. C. Hazlett who bestowed high praise on its merits, and no doubt the Forbury Park Club will instal one on their course-—“ Canterbury Times.”

Word comes from Melbourne that the grey pacer Kenny K, with a 2.27 record, has been sold to a New Zealand buyer.

Walnut again behaved badly when at the post for his races at Forbury. It is understood the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club have refused to accept further nominations of the horse.

The well-known American-bred mare Norice has produced a colt to Abbey Bells.

Albertorious, having failed to find a buyer when offered for sale, has returned to Mr Edwards’s stable.

A news item from Sydney states that the American-bred mare Edna Patch has foaled a colt to the stallion Abbey Bells. A brother to the foal made 310 gs at the Allendale Stock Farm’s sale.

Ravenschild paced 4min. 46 3-ssec with obviously a great deal in hand, so he must be marked down as one of the best three-year-olds ever seen in New Zealand. He was got by Rothschild from Ravensdale, a mare by Lauderdale, an American-bred son of James Madison, that has occasionally produced something speedy. Laudervale, who went 4min. 3 l-ssec in saddle at Addington in the early part of the month, is a son of Lauderdale.

The world’s record two heats held by a pacing stallion, made by Joe Patchen in 1899, when he won in 2.03, 2.02%, was lowered for the first time when Ross K. paced two heats in 2-02% and 2.03 at Detroit the other week.

Thelma, the dam of Wildwood Junior, is this season represented by a colt foal to Calm, who was mated with her as a two-year-old.

In running second to Lord Chancellor in the Forbury Cup, Bell Metal put up the fastest two miles ever shown on the Forbury course.

Although £6,000 was distributed in stakes, the recent meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club will probably result in a profit of £3,000.

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING.

GENERAL ENTRY DAY ON FRIDAY.

The excellent three days’ programme provided by the Auckland Trotting Club for their summer meeting, to be held on December 27 and 31, and January 7, will have to receive attention from owners of trotting horses and ponies to-morrow (Friday), before 9 p.m., as at that time Mr C. F. Mark, the Club’s secretary, will cease receiving nominations for

all events. As will be seen from the programme appearing on page 2, the stake money exceeds the previous best given by the Club, and there should be a big response from owners tomorrow evening. The principal events to be decided are the Auckland Trotting Cup (harness), of 200 so vs., two miles; Summer Cup (saddle), of 115 sovs., two miles; and the Association Trot (optional), of 115 sovs., two miles and a-half. There are three races for ponies, each being worth 100 sovs. Full particulars can be gleaned from the advertisement appearing in this issue.