TROTTING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 19

TROTTING

TROTTING IN CANTERBURY. SOME IMPRESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. During a motoring tour through Canterbury this week, a “Review” representative availed himself of a kind invitation to visit the Santa Rosa trotting and stud establishment of Mr. R. McMillan at Halswell, where are domiciled a capital collection of trotters and pacers, some of whom are destined to pay a prominent part in the light harness business in New Zealand in years to come. McMillan has a capital farm of sixty acres, all enclosed in convenientlysized paddocks, which are nicely sheltered from the prevailing winds and offer all the advantages that the thoroughbred requires. On the place are two clay tracks, both of which are half a mile in circumference, and are fenced, besides being nicely banked. The buildings on the property comprise fifteen loose-boxes, three harness rooms, a blacksmith’s shop (a blacksmith being constantly employed), and several outbuildings for the men, 'five of whom are constantly employed in attending to the horses’ welfare. The establishment is probably the best-appointed place of its kind to be found in New Zealand, every detail appertaining to the horses’ and employees’ welfare beingattended to without any concern as to the cost thereof, everything having for its object the thoroughness of carrying out the business in a successful manner. A native of Canada and identified with trotting since a lad, McMillan came to New Zealand nineteen years ago, and since then he has been associated with the sport, having during this period turned out many winners, while his prospects for the future are very bright indeed. During his sojourn in this country he has made two trips to America for the purpose of buying some additions to his stud, while a further trip is contemplated next year with the same object in view, as McMillan recognises that to keep trotting up to a high standard he must necessarily journey to the United States for this purpose. The sires on the property comprise

two straight-out trotters in Petereta, by Peter the Great —Recoleta, and Nelson Bingen, by Bingen—Susette Baron, the latter being owned by Mr. E. E. Lelievre, of Akaroa, and two pacing stallions in Harold Dillon, by Guycara, also owned by Mr. Lelievre, and Brent; Locanda, by Locanda — Affie. The sires named all come •from the best trotting strains of America, and their presence in New Zealand is thought susceptible of adding materially to increase the breeding of trotters in this country.

A splendid type of a trotter in the horse Elkton Hall (imp.), by Walnut Hall, gave the writer an idea that there was a brilliant future in store for him. He is a black in colour, with capital bone and substance, and his efforts on the track stamped him as an ideal light harness horse. The seven-year-old chestnut gelding Lord Dillon, by Harold Dillon — Lady Mab, and Bogash, a brown in colour, by Harold Dillon —Solon Gazelle, \ooked in rare trim when their coverings were removed, and gave one the impression that they would keep their opponents busy in trotting events to be decided during the next few months. A maiden three year-old horse in Chnako (Harold Dillon —Grattanette), who has not yet started, looked in rare fettle when his rugs were removed, and it is safe to assume that this chestnut will bring some prestige to McMillan’s establishment when the time arrives for him to face the starter.

A maiden pacer in Bertha Bell (imp.), a five-year-old mare by Peter the Great —Corinna Mac, who has not yet raced, created a very favourable impression by the manner in which she struck out in a preliminary, and from her conformation and gait one would expect her to develop into a top-notcher.

Two three-year-old fillies by Peter the Great from a couple of well-bred mares looked well to the eye, and there is no saying what they will be equal to doing when they face the starter.

With the splendid team he has in work and the young ones coming on, the name of R. McMillan should occupy a prominent position in the trotting world of New Zealand during the next few years. R. D. PETRIE’S TEAM.

In close proximity to Mr. McMillan’s property is the cropping and stud farm of Mr. R. D. Petrie, of the Railway Hotel, in Christchurch, who has a splendid place of one hundred and eleven acres, all of which is devoted to the growing of cereal.n and foodstuffs.

After the lamentable death of Mr. C. Kerr, who' was the foremost man in trotting circles in New Zealand, Mr. Petrie was fortunate enough to purchase Wildmoor, a straight-out trotter by Wildwood (imp.) from Alice Amoor (imp.), and a full-brother to Alice Wood, with 2min. 22sec. opposite his name. Wildmoor is, a handsome horse, standing sixteen hands, and the fact of him siring Country Belle, the champion trotter of New Zealand, is a sufficient recommendation of his capable qualities. With the patronage of breeders of wellbred mares, Wildmoor should yet attain to a high position amongst trotting sires in New Zealand. Ard Chain, a seven-year-old horse by Rothschild from a Prince Imperial mare, who has fared well in trotting events during the last two seasons, looked in capital trim when his coverings were removed. A perfect actioned horse with ample bone and substance, Ard Chain should make a decided acquisition to the ranks of trotting sires of New Zealand when his racing days are ended. An unraced two-year-old colt by Rothschild—Areida is unquestionably the makings of an ideal trotter. The youngster shows a lot of promise, and from the manner in which he strode over a circuit in the paddock the writer selects this beginner to the trotting business to bring some success to Mr. Petrie during the next few seasons.

With his small but select team, and some promising youngsters Mr. Petrie should occupy a prominent position amongst winning owners during the next few years.

Mr. Burke sold his old horse Clive at a reasonable figure at auction, and he has joined McMasters’ care at Helensville.