OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1346, 10 February 1916, Page 14

OTAGO.

Our Thorpe’s Accident —Preparations for Dunedin J.C.’s Fixture. (From Our Dunedin Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Saturday. It was a matter of great regret that the crack pacer Our Thorpe was accidentally deprived of a chance to set a new mile record for Australasia. It was, however, quite obvious that he would require to speed up a good deal over the last six furlongs, as he was only travelling a 2.11 gait when he fell. Our Thorpe had to be left in Dunedin for a couple of days, as he was too sore and stiff to travel. It is, however, pleasing to note that no permanent injuries result from the fall, as the horse is booked for America early next month.

Ardenvhor went a bit sore, and hence was not sent north for the C.J.C. midsummer meeting. Good progress is being made with the installation of a new iron fencing at Wingatui, and when completed the course will present a more up-to-date appearance than formerly. One indication that the Dunedin Cup meeting is likely to be successful consists in the fact that most of the stabling is already booked up. The good going at Forbury Park on the second day of the meeting was responsible for Don Caesar putting a new record for Australasia at 4 28 2-5.

The Auckland Trotting Cup winner, Cathedral Chimes, spoilt his chance in both races at Forbury Park by dwelling on the mark at the start. He, however, is not a champion. J. Olsen has been offered the ride on Rorke’s Drift in the Dunedin Cup. The Calibre gelding arrives at Wingatui during the present week. A long spell of dry weather is likely to find the Wingatui course rather

hard for the Cup meeting. The track, however, carries a good growth of grass and this serves to ease the going. There is not much doubt that the supervision of trotting in Dunedin is open to improvement. It is not uncommon to notice horses performing well outside their form when carrying very little support, and shaping much better when the money indicates that such will be the case.

A great deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed concerning the starting of the mile races at the Forbury Park meeting, and it is safe to say that the stewards will exercise a stricter supervision over that branch of the sport in future. Dunedin has no “carnival” racing week such as exists in Christchurch, and there is a growing opinion in favour of holding our chief trotting meeting in the same week as the Dunedin Cup meeting.