TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1119, 21 September 1911, Page 7

TROTTING.

In this issue we published the programme for the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, to be held at Alexandra Park on October 18 and 21. Last year the Maiden Handicap, was restricted to trotters only, while this year it is open to pacers as well. Stakes have been increased for three events on the first day, namely, October Handicap, which is now worth. 40sovs, as against BOsovs last year. The Trotting Handicap and MiddleClass Handicap have also had an additional 5 sovs. added. On the second day the Alexandra Handicap will this year carry a stake of 100 sovs, which is an increase of 4'osovs on the amount paid out last season. The Ellerslie Trotting Handicap has also had lOsovs. added to the prize money. Last year this event was for trotters only, but this season it is open to pacers as well. Perhaps the most striking alteration in the programme is the elimination of pony races. The Auckland Trotting Club are to be congratulated on their enterprise, and doubtless the additional stake money will be gratifying to owners.

P. Selig has been re-elected president of the New Zealand Trotting Association. When returning thanks for his re-election, he said that it would ill become him to talk of retiring, as he had thought of doing, in view of the great compliment that had been paid him prior to his departure for Sydney some little time ago. He thought that such a compliment, coming from the trotting clubs of the Dominion, was quite unique, because during his term of office he had perhaps ha dto say and do things that might be unpalatable to clubs.

The sale has been reported of Irish Molly, by Charles Tutt to A. G. Warnock.

At a recent meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association, there was more than a suggestion that the Association may not be the happy family in future that it has been in the past. “There was nothing but the customary courtesy in open evidence, says a Christchurch exchange, but there was an unmistakeable undercurrent suggesting that the Association is “divided against itself.” The new blood has apparently grievances to ventilate, and there was more than a suspicion of veiled hostility on their part towards some of the older members. This was only made apparent in the successful attempt to increase the number of the Licensing Committee from two members to three, by adding W. H. Denton’s name to those of W. G. Garrard and R. O. Duncan. It is doubtful whether this is exactly a harmonious combination, and it would have been made better had this important business been left to Garrard and Duncan, whose wide experience and untiring energy have equipped them particularly well for the delicate work they are called upon to perform.”