TROTTING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1355, 13 April 1916, Page 25

TROTTING

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

The weather was perfect for the opening of the Auckland Trotting Club’s autumn meeting on Wednesday of last week and the track in very good order, almost as fast as when right at its best. The attendance was large for a Wednesday, and there were, as is now a regular thing, visitors from the South Island, with and without horses, and visitors from different parts of the North Island with their representatives taking an active part. The fields were of quite average dimensions, and the presence of good horses in some number, if a few also of the star order and of a useful all round class, was noticeable. Fast times were the order of the day, and every winner without exception, and the whole of the placed horses and some of those unplaced, did better time than they were handicapped to do, and nearly all better than they have previously had registered against them. Visiting owners provided very strong favourites during the day, but for once in a way most of their presumed good things failed to materialise. Several of them got into the places, and some returned investors part of their money by getting into second berths. The big race of the meeting proved a good thing for Rena Pointer, driven by J. Bryce, who has had so many successes at Alexandra Park. The same driver was unlucky with Colmena in the Cornwall Handicap through getting hampered, but the speedy Woodvere was beaten in her race and by a locally-owned gelding in Grampian, who is eight years old, and though he has trotted every year in occasional races, had not won a race since he was two years old. Good dividends on winners and on some of the second horses were paid out. There was a fair amount of speculation, the sum of £12,157 being handled during the afternoon, which represented a decrease of £lB5B 10s. as compared with the opening day last year. Mr. F. Macmanemin started, getting the horses away very well, while the management generally was quite up to date. The business opened with the Improvers’ Trot Handicap, for which Proud Moor was made a better favourite than Amazona in a good betting race. The winner turned up in Special Bloom, who paid a fair price, while a rank outsider in Special Constable, also by Specialist, got second, but had to be ruled out for galloping over the last half furlong. Amazona, who hails from Canterbury, was awarded second place. Casket was third, Proud Moor and Jaylyn coming next. The Mangere Handicap saw Bushchild go out favourite, Ex-

pressive next in demand. After a long series of “outs” Bushchild scored, and for a field of 15 the dividend was a small one. It was a bit of hard luck for the South Island visitor Nancy Patch, who started at an outside price, however, to get beaten after putting up such a sterling performance for a three-year-old. Miss Lonsdale was a good third. Belgian Queen showed improved behaviour and got fourth, while Wildfire and Charlie’s Aunt were next.

The Campbell Handicap, the race of most value and with the highest limit, followed, and there was a great run on Rena Pointer, an imported daughter of Star Pointer, driven by J. Bryce, and owned by Mr. F. Johnston. The next in favour was Adelaide Direct, and then came Pearl d’Or and Steel Bell. The last-named showed a lot of speed and was travelling so well over the last mile that she kept Rena Pointer busy. The latter, however, won by a dozen yards or thereabouts in 4min 37sec, Steel Bell doing 4min 32sec, the second best performance of the day, Master Park, who paced up to his very best form, averaging 2min 18sec to the mile. Adelaide Direct at no time looked likely to win, but she was up near Master Park’s wheel and hers was the actual best time registered, though she was just outside a place. Rena Pointer was the hottest favourite of the day, “odds on” being laid. The Easter Handicap was a better betting race, though the pool was not so large, King Capitalist, Wallace M., Eruption and Dorothy Dimple each carrying good sums. Eruption, it transpired afterwards on an enquiry held by the stewards, got startled by the rattle of wheels and did not get gaited and took no part in the race. Tim Doolan got tired and Wai lace M. rushed through after going over a mile and led, but tired away again and was passed by Lieutenant, and eventually both were headed by Clive, the ????-year-old son of Cleveland winning by half a dozen lengths in 4min 42£sec, about four seconds better than he ever did before. Lieutenant and Wallace M. more than equalled their best previous efforts. Prince Rufus, the favourite, was better supported than Mintson for the Hobson Handicap, and put up a good performance in running the mile and a-half at better than a 2min 20secgait and this performance was bettered by Alf. McKinney, who got to the end of the journey three seconds faster —a 2min 18sec-gait. Sundial doing her best go to date. Derby Dillon showed some speed too, but did not come on at the business end, and the scratch horse Mintson failed to show improvement on his best previous showing over the course. Alf. McKinney’s supporters got a good dividend for second place. Eruption and Grattan Abbey came in for most support for the Stewards’ Trot Handicap, and the firstnamed won in good style, the handsome Grattan Downs Stock Farm’s horse finishing second, with Floranz third. A demonstration was made

against Eruption by many people from different parts of the course, who wanted the driver, Mr. A. Williamson, the owner “put up.” The clamour had no avail and it would have been unfair to punish the owner for what those present at the start of his first race convinced the stewards was no fault of the owner of Eruption. Colmena, another of Mr. F. Johnston’s horses, driven by J. Bryce, was made a very solid favourite —oddson —for the Cornwall Handicap, John Dillon. Jewel Chimes, Sundial and Mintson coming next in order. It was a capital race in which Colmena failed to begin fast and though he ran along evenly he was soon pocketed. He was going well over the last quarter, but Ludski had had the luck to ge through on the rails and covering the mile in 2min 15 2-ssec beat Colmena, who lost over one second of his handicap, doing the journey in 2min 18 4-ssec. Linotype, who was an outsider, was third, and Normintson, John Dillon and Jewel Chimes came next. In a field of 14 Woodvere, another trained by J. Bryce, was supported a little more strongly than Lady Specialist, while Full Sail was also backed. Grampian, who had not won a race for six years, scored by several lengths over the favourite, Salamander getting third, each all out, their respective times being 2min 20sec, 2min 22 2-ssec and 2min 24sec. A fine of £2 was imposed on the driver of Dick Fly in the last race for starting before time. The results were: —

IMPROVERS’ TROT (Saddle) of 75 sovs; second lOsovs, third ssovs. One mile and a-half.

7—Mr. J. Finlay’s b g Special Bloom, 6yrs, by Special.st—unknown, lOsec (Finlay) 1 2— R. S. Borland's b m Amazona aged, 9see (Johnston) 2 6— G. Gray’s b h Solon Dillon, aged, 13sec (McMillan) 3 Also staited: 10 Congo scratch (Greenwood), 1 Proud Moor lsec (Julian), 4 Jaylyn 4sec (Hird), 9 Caloola 9sec (Wilson), 7 Miss George lOsec (Orange), 3 Casket 12sec (Bayliss), 5 Dignity 13sec (H. Price), 11 Special Constable 13sec cT. Allen). Won by a length from Special Constable, who was disqaulified for galloping, Amazona and Solon Dillon handy. Time, 3min 51 2-ssec. MANGERE HANDICAP (Harness) of 75sovs; second lOsovs, third osovs. One mile and a-half. I—W. A. Scott’s b h Bushchild. 4 yrs, by Royal Rothschild —Rebo, ISsec (Owner) . 1 7 — R. Fleming’s b m Nancy Patch. 3yrs, 9sec (Fleming) 2 3— A. W. Jones’ rn m Miss Lonsdale, aged, ISsec (T, W. Price) 3 Also started: 9 Wildfire 9sec (Robert son), 6 Belgian Queen 13sec (Kelsey) 2 Expressive 15sec (Orange). 12 Te Awa 16sec (Tims), 4 Bronze Patch 16 sec (Redshaw), S Treanac 16sec (J. T. Paul), 15 Master Grattan 16sec (Herbert), 13 Charley’s Aunt 16sec (McMillan). 5 Bell Meadow 16sec (Edwards), 10 Miss Chevalier ISsec (Hauer), 10 Nellie Clive ISsec (McKendrick), 14 Patch of Gold 19sec (Harrison). Won all the way. Nancy Patch getting within a length. Miss Lonsdale several lengths away. Belgian Queen was foui th. Time, 3min 44sec. CAMPBELL HANDICAP (Harness) of SOOsovs; second 45sovs. third 20sovs. Two miles. I—F.1 —F. Johnston’s b m Rena Pointer, aged, by Star Pointer —Cupid’s Bow, lOsec (Bryce) 1

4— T. Rowe’s gr m Steel Bell. 6yrs, 4sec (McNae) z 5— N. Cunningham's blk g Master Park, ageu, 7sec (Owner) 3 Also . started: 2 Adelande Direct scratch (Edwards), 6 St. Ursula lsec (Abbott), 8 Futurity ssec (.Greenhead), 7 Walnut ssec (Richards), 3 Pearl d’Or 9sec (Scott). Rena Pointer led throughout and won by two lengths. Master Park four lengths away, Adelaide Direct fourth. Time, 4min 31 sec. EASTER HANDICAP (Harness) of 150 sovs; second 20sovs. third lOsovs - Two. miles. 6—E. H. Cucksey's br g Clive, aged. by Cleveland—Peggy’s dam, lsec (McMaster) j 1— F. O. Weine’s b g Lieutenant, aged, 2sec (Hall) . s J 2— J. Molloy’s b g Wallace M„ scratch (Orange) 3 Also started: 9 Sa: inlander 2sec (McMillan), 3 Eruption 7sec (Williamson), 1 Kmg Capitalist 9sec (Edwards), 8 Selkirk llsec (McCammon),. 4 Dorothy Dimple 12sec (Cunningham, 5 Tim Doolan izsec (Abbott). Won by six lengths, three lengths between second and third. Eruption dwelt and never took any part in the lace. Time, 4min 42 l-ssec HOBSON HANDICAP (Harness) of 100 sovs; second lOsovs, third ssovs. One mile and a-half. I—R1 —R- T. Reeds rn g Prince Rufus, : aged, by Prince imperial—Fanny Wood, ssec Apulian) . ; 1 3— C. Molloy’s b g Alf. McKinney, aged, lsec (Jack Paul) 2 6—Mr. Remington’s b m Sundial, aged, isec (H. Price) 3 Also started: 2 Mintson scratch (.J. Bryce), 5 Derby Dillon 6sec (Robertson), 3 Hymen lOsec (McNae), 4. W xmoton ivi. ilsec uaaher), 6 ceorge iv llsec (Herbert). . Prmce Rufus forgeu ahead and won by two lengths. Sundial tour lengths away. Time. 3min 29 4-osec. STEWARDS’ TROT (Harness) of 150 sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. One mile and a-half. 1 — A. Wdliamson’s ch g Eruption, 4yrs, by Gfioai —Waiiere, 4sec (Owner) i 2— Grattan Downs Stock Faim’s ch ’ h Grattan Abbey, Bsec (Robert- • son) 2 4—Preece and Hamilton’s b m Floranz, isec (Hamilton) 3 ’Also started: 8 Lady Wilmington scratch ...xcCammon), 5 Blackthorn scratch . (Wyatt), . 6 Kirikiriroa lsec (.Hi.d), 7 Auckland Girl 2sec (Brvce), 3. Teddy McKinney 9sec (T. W. Plice), 10 Matilda lOse/j (Orange), 9 Miss Huon Junr. lOsec (Osborne). Won by six lengths, two lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 35sec. CORNWALL HANDICAP (Harness) of SOOsovs; second 30sovs, third 15sovs. One mile. . . . 7 —H. McNulty’s blk g Ludski, aged, by Specialist—Lucy Hinton, 3 sec (McMillan) 1 I—F. Johnston’s ch g Colmena, aged, ssec (Bryce) 2 9—C. Baker’s b m Linotype, 6yrs, 7sec (W. F. Baker) 3 Also started: 3 Jewel Chimes 2sec (McNae), 5 Mintson 3sec (Fleming) -z John Dillon 3sec (Edwards), 10. Joan of Arc 4sec (Scott), 8 Prince Ru us ssec (Julian), 11 Normintson (Lee (Payne), 6 Huia Grey 7sec (C. Nicholson), • 4 Sundial 7sec (H. Price). Won by a good length, a close third. Time, 2min 15 2-.sse;c. MARCONI HANDICAP (Saddle) of 100 sovs; second lOsovs. third ssovs. One mile. 5 —W. Ryan’s b g Grampian, aged, by Norval—Mistle, 7sec (Julian) 1 I—M. Kennington’s b ni Woodvere. 4yrs, 9sec (Frost) .' 2 7 —R. A. McMillan’s ch g Salamander. 4yrs, 7sec (McMillan) .... 3 Also started: 13 Aotea-roa scratch (Smith), 12 Dick Fly lsec (Osbo:ne), 6