A TRIUMPH FOR TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1133, 28 December 1911, Page 8

A TRIUMPH FOR TROTTING.

RECORD MEETING AT ALEXANDRA PARK. BINGANA WINS THE CUP. The Auckland Trotting Club have ■every reason to be delighted with the unqualified success that attended the ■official opening of their splendid new course at Alexandra Park on Wednesday. Never before has the sport of trotting been better patronised in the North Island, and never before have the public been better catered for in regard to the facilities offered for viewing the sport. The new course :and its appointments are certainly a triumph for the club and a credit to Auckland. When it is realised that less than a year ago the Auckland Trotting Club decided to purchase their present course, and that in the interval the property has been transformed into one of the finest trotting tracks in Australasia, the public can appreciate what enterprise and welldirected energy the club has displayed in their endeavour to meet the fast-growing demands of a sport that is yearly becoming more popular. To the president (Mr. John Rowe, J.P.), the secretary (Mr. C. F. Mark) and the stewards of the club the public of Auckland in general and the trotting sportsmen in particular owe a debt of gratitude. It must have been particularly gratifying to these gentlemen on Wednesday to contemplate the result of their zealous work, to see the animated crowds enjoying the sport and to hear the words of unstinted praise that were expressed by all hands.

The attendance at Alexandra Park easily constituted a record for a trotting fixture ,in Auckland, and must have numbered between 8000 and 10,000 people. The appointments and facilities on the course were fully up to' the requirements so that the sport was enjoyed to its full extent by the enthusiastic and orderly crowds. Among those who visited the course on Wednesday were many who had not previously visited a trotting gathering, and to learn from these people how keenly they enjoyed the sport augurs well for the future of the sport; because their enthusiasm was of a very encouraging nature. The trotting generally was . of an interesting order. The fields were large, the competition keen, several of the finishes were most exciting, and above all the sport was clean and ■honest. The totalisator returns were satisfactory for no less a sum than £11,822 passed through the machines during the afternoon, which was £3213 10s in advance of the corresponding day last year. In the race for the Trotting Cup Bingana, the winner, established a competitive two mile record for the track, which was 4min 44' 4-ssec, while the scratch horse, Mandarene, was responsible for a creditable performance as he covered the two miles in 4min 35sec. The results were as follows: — INTRODUCTORY TROT HANDICAP (Saddle) of 50sovs. One mile and a-half. 2 — M. Wilson’s Benalla Boy, 6yrs, by Rothschild —Lady Agnes, 12 sec (W- A. Scott) .... 1 1 — Savanna, 6yrs, lOsec • • ■ -2 3 — Merry Kate, aged, 12sec (McLennan) 3 Also started: 6 Miss Duke 7sec (Fenton), 4 Black Gin lOsec (Osborne),’ 5 Specimen Stone 12sec (Cameron), 7 New Vita lOsec (McElwain), 8. Joe May 15sec (Dye), 9 Pakuranga Boy 15sec (Bowden). Benalla Boy early took charge, but when half the distance was covered Savanna came forward and from this out the two fought out a ding dong race. Entering the straight Savanna had a slight advantage, but broke, allowing ; Benalla Boy to take the lead and going on well won by two lengths. Merry Kate, who closed up with the leaders in the final stages, was too far behind to make much impression, and finished four lengths behind Savanna. Time, 4min 3 2-ssec. WAITEMATA HANDICAP TROT (Saddle) of lOOsovs. One mile and a-half. 2- D. Casey’s Tuatara, 6yrs, by Al-lerton-Reptile, 4sec (A. Hendriksen) 1

3 —Good Friday, aged, 7sec (J. T. Paul) 2 7 —Pearlie Maid, aged, scratch (Matthews) 3 Also started: 8 Wild Marie scratch (Scott), 4 Our George scratch (West), 1 La Belle 3sec (Exley), 9 Lord Victor 4sec (A. Julian), 1 Special Flower 9sec (Orange), 6 Bronze Bell 9sec (Redshaw), 10 Prince nerlin 9sec (Lowe), 11 Belle of the Ball 9sec (Austin). Trotting out of the straight Special Flower and Prince Berlin were on terms- Going along the back the former broke badly and Tuatara coming up fast was soon in command, and lead from there out, eventually scoring an easy win by nearly thi ee lengths. Good Friday was only half a length in advance of Pearlie Maid at the finish, while La Belle was close up fourth. Wild Marie pulled up. Time, 3min 44sec. AUCKLAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. Two miles. 3 —F. Porangi’s Bingana, syrs, by Mauritius —Lena, xisec (J. West) 1 2—-Cavalier, aged, by Takapo— Dulce, llsec (S. Hamilton) ... 2 6 —Gold Bell, 6yrs, by CapitalistMerry Bell, 13sec (McNae) ... 3

Also started: 1 Mandarene scratch (W- Hird), 4 Papanui 2sec (H. Hendriksew), 5 Vanclare 12sec K A. George), 5 Bell Gray 13sec (A. Lowe). Gold Bell early assumed command, and passing the stand first time roung had a fair lead, with Bingana, Bell Gray, Cavalier, Papanui and Manderene next in order. Vanclare, who refused to start, followed a considerable distance behind. Going out of the straight Mandarene was fast closing up on the field, but when nearing the north curve stumbled and lost several lengths. Along the back the position of the field remained the same and when the stand was again reached Gold Bell and Bingana were practically on terms, with Cavalier a dozen lengths away third. It was m this order they entered the straight, with Gold Bell still retaining a slight advantage over Bingana, while Cavalier, Mandarene and Papanui were coming fast. It was at this stage that Gold Bell to tire, and faltered. Bingana took the lead. Then an exciting race ensued, for Cavalier and Mandarene were coming very fast. The latter, however, could not get an opening. Bingana went on and won in good style by a couple of lengths from Cavalier, who beat Gold Bell by nearly the same distance. Mandarene was fourth and P- ’ mth. Time, 4min 44 4-ssec.

EDEN HANDICAP TROT (Harness) of lOOsovs. One mile and a-half-5 — c. F. Gleson’s Receiver, aged, by Kentucky—Nellie Case, 4sec C. Gieson) £ 6 — lago, aged, 3sec (J. T. Paul) ... 2 3—Count, aged, 6sec (S. Hamilton) 3 Also started: 4 Airana scratch (Butler), 2 Miss Salisbury Bsec (Burns), 1 Kotiri 12sec (W. C. Hird). Kotiri got well away and had a lead of half a dozen lengths over Count going along the back, but the latter put in a fast sprint and when the stand was reached was in command. Following Kotiri came _ Miss Salisbury, Receiver, lago and Airana. In the straight a great race was witnessed. Receiver put in a splendid run and secured the verdict by a head from lago, with Count a little over a length away third, while Kotiri was close up fourth. Time, 3min 49 l-ssec. PARNELL HANDICAP (Saddle) of lOOsovs- Two miles. 3 — w. a. Scott’s D’Eaglesfield, 6yrs, by The Baron, Bsec (W. A. Scott) 1 I—Pearlie1 —Pearlie Maid, aged, 12sec (Matthews) 2 4 — Monica, aged, lsec (J. Nicholson) 3 Also started: 9 Baron Leugen 2sec (R. Hall), 5 Tableau 4sec (Orange), 7 Viscount 6sec (McMillan), 8 Chieftiny lOsec (McGovern), 6 Waterloo lOsec (A. Hendriksen), 2 Previous 12 sec (J. T. Paul).

D’Eaglesfield piloted the field along the back and passing the stand they were in Indian file, coming in this order: D’Eaglesfield, Pearlie Maid, Monica, Baron Leugen, Previous, Viscount and Tableau. Going past the stand on the next round Monica had a slight advantage over Pearlie Maid.'S When the judge’s box was passed Nicholson, who was riding Monica, apparently thought he had won, eased up. Soon discovering his mistake, however, he went again in pursuit of Pearlie Maid, but ‘ • Gaglesfield had meantime put in a claim and was soon on terms with Pearlie Maid. A keen struggle took place between the two

past the stand, and D’Eaglesfield just managed to win by three parts of a length, while Monica was four lengths away third. Time, 4min 58 l-ssec.

DECEMBER HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOsovs. One mile and a-half. 1— M. Maher’s Lord Roanchild, 3yrs, by Roan Child —Ha Ha mare, 18sec. (M. Maher) .... 1 5 — Miss Dulce, syrs, 18sec. (J. Exley) 2 9 — Cinderette, 4yrs, 18s. (A. Hendriksen) 3 Also started: 13—Uniform, scratch (Barraclough); 9 —Normintson, lsec. (Perrin); 4 —Robert Huon, 6sec. (Forbes); 3 — Speciality, 15sec. (Richards); 2—Lincoln Guard, 15sec. (Hird); 3—Ghoam, 18sec. (Burns); 2 — Special Flower, 18sec. (Orange); 6— Moorish Chief, 2lsec. (Nicholson); 10 — Lady Doctor, 2lsec. (Chatteris); 14 —Olivette, 21sec. (Tanner); 6 — Lady Specialist, 2lsec. (Paul). 'Llady Specialist was soon in the lead followed by Lord Roanchild, but the fatter easily overhauled Lady Specialist going along the back stretch, and from this out he kept a comfortable lead, eventually winning by a dozen lengths. Miss Dulce was second, eight lengths in advance of Cinderetta, and then came Lady Specialist, Specialty and Lady Doctor. Time, 3.44 2-5.

GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP (Saddle) of lOOsovs. One mile. 2— H. Wick’s Lady Richmond, syrs by Royal Victor —My Lady, 4sec. (McNae) 1 3 — Miss Bell Boy, 6yrs, lOsec. (A. Julian) 2 4— Undine, 6yrs, Bs. (T. Richards) 3 Also started: 12—Maplewood, lsec. (R. Hall); 9 —Royal Victor, 2sec. (Wilson); I—St.1 —St. Michael, ssec. (McLennan 1; s—Golden5 —Golden Rose, ssec. (Barraclough); 11—Bell Gray, ssec. (C. Lowe); B—John8 —John Harold, 7sec. (Brennan) ; 7 —Charming Boy, 7sec. (H. Hendriksen; 10 —Robex, 9sec (Hird); 6—Madam Melba, 9sec. (Nicholson). After covering a couple of furlongs Miss Bell Boy and Undine were companions in the lead, with John Harold’ Lady Tticlimond, and St. Micbael next in order. When half the distance was gone Undine had established a good lead, but Lady Richmond put in a strong challenge, and had no difficulty in outpacing Undine. She won comfortably by about three lengths, while Miss Bell Boy beat Undine by seven lengths for second honours. St. Michael, the favourite, was a poor fourth. Time, 2.18 1-5. ST- HELLERS HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOsovs. One mile. 8- —F. Martin’s Lord Specialist, 4yrs, by Specialist —Nellie, 15sec (F. Martin) • 1 3 —Master Park, 4yrs, llsec (Hamilton) 2 5 — Irvy Woodburn, syrs, ssec " (Mumford) 3 Also started: 12 Grampian scratch (Carl), 2 Alf. McKinney Bsec (Duncan), 11 Phyllistina 9sec (Robinson), 1 Lord Dillon llsec UxcMillan), 9 General Joubert llsec (Butler), 10 Jim . Mac L3sec (Forbes), 6 Ben F. 14sec (McNae), 4 La Belle 1/sec (Exley), 7 Monotype ISsec VJJ aker). Monotype and Irvy Woodburn led out of the straight, followed by Lord Specialist and La Belle. Over the last furlong Lord Specialist showed his superiority and won by two and a-half lengths, while Master Park was a length ahead of Irvy Woodburn. Time, 2min 28 l-ssec.