TROTTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1446, 3 January 1918, Page 25

TROTTING.

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. SUMMER MEETING. STEEL BELL WINS THE CUP. PRESIDENT WILSON THE DERBY. It was a record crowd that witnessed the sport prov ded at Alexandra Park by the Auckland Trotting Club on Thursday, and the visitors were ■well repaid. There were some very fine races, and a very popular mare in Steel Bell won the Auckland Trotting Cup in good style from the back mark, putting up a record time performance for the race. The G-reat Northern Trotting Derby only drew two competitors, but they were both of good class and the race between them was of the keenest description throughout. The stands were all packed with people, and the need of increased accommodation was never more apparent. The track was in splendid cond tion, though as time wore on it got rather dusty for the back mark horses, though it had been very well watered early in the day. The management left nothing wanting. The races were got off smart on time and there were no enquiries or delays. Speculation was very keen, and the sum of £31,095 was handled at the totalisators, as against £24,584 last year, thus showing a substantial increase over the opening day of 1916. The Introductory Trot went to the favourite, Armentieres, but it was only after a neck and neck race with the outsider Celia, and nothing else was in the race over the last half of the journey, though Miss Murphy led for that distance.

The next event, the December Handicap, resulted in another race confined to a pair. These were the favourite, Breadalbane, and the th’rd favourite, Huon Gratton. Jimmie Harden’s sulky met with an accident, the driver stand ng up on the shafts for half a mile of the journey, when he pulled off. He was second fancy. It very rarely happens that two horses cut out such a fast mile and a-half in th’s class of race, but they went nearer a 2.20 gait than to 2.30 all through, and Breadalbane won with only a little to spare. The Auckland Trotting Cup was contested by a dozen runners. The public made Chid, driven by J. Bryce, favourite, Steel Bell being next in request, Peter Mac, Harold Junior and Asturio each having friends. Starting away from her mark well, Steel Bell, it can be said, commenced to lessen her handicap without delay, and though the favourite struck the front early he failed to keep his place, Waverley and Asturio staying on better. The last-named was a bit unlucky, but Waverley had every chance. Steel Bell went in such style, however, that she had the race as good as won a furlong and a-half from home and the rest was easy, and she came home two lengths ahead of Messrs. Richards fine horse, Asturio being three lengths away. Harold Junior and Whispering Willie were also beating the favourite. Steel Bell covered the two

mites l in-' 4min 33 4-ssec, which is the 1 best from a back mark ever accomplished on the course, and the cheering when she won could be heard a long way off. Mr. Roe’s grey is most consistent, and there has never been a more popular performer in Auckland. She won three years ago, but has gone on improving steadily ever since.

An old public favourite in the black stallion Hova caused a surprise by winning the Eden Handicap Trot from a mark well back, and, being an outsider, his supporters received a dividend approaching a quarter of a century. Scientist, still less fancied, came in second and his backers too got a substantial dividend. Sweet Memory, the favourite, cut up badly, and Theseus and Amberite failed to run up to expectations. In the Parnell Handicap Manuka Park failed once more when carrying good support. Scottish Queen was in front practically all the way and beat Miss Rolfe by two lengths. Lieutenant was a fair third. A pair of nice three-year-olds came out for the Great Northern Derby. “Mr. F. J. Remington’s” fine colt President Wilson, purchased from his breeder and trainer (Mr. William Kerr) and driven with great coolness by A. Hendricksen, after allowing Queen Chimes, who went without a break or skip throughout, came with a final run over the last furlong, and once in front had a little to spare and won by a neck. The colt was too keen for his work, and his supporters were never very sanguine until the straight was reached, but he came at the right end and satisfied them. As showing what a useful filly Queen Chimes is, Mr. Corrigan’s representative came out and won the St. Heliers Handicap after a close race from Treanac in the good time of 2min 24 1-5 sec. Jimmie Harden, the favourite, failed to leave the mark until all chance was gone. Victor G. and Prince Child came in third and fourth. In the previous race, Dorothy Dimple, the second favourite, ridden with great confidence by N. Cunningham, beat Beckom, ridden by Bryce, Junr., by half a length, a neck in front of Fashionwood. The results were: — INTRODUCTORY TROT HANDICAP (Saddle) of lOOsovs; second lOsovs, third ssovs. One mile and a-half. 1 — J. R. Corrigan’s br g Armentieres, syrs, by Wildwood Chief — unknown, 12yds behind (W. Scott) 1 8— T. Allen’s b m Celia, syrs, limit (Allen) 2 2— W. Douglas’ b m Miss Murphy, syrs, limit (Smallfield) 3 Also started: 4 Waikoukou limit (T. W. Price), 10 Favour Royal limit (R. May), 7 Gova limit (V. R. Nash), 9 Gold Rod 12yds behind (J. Paul), 12 Ripon Boy 12yds behind (Churches), 6 Toiler 24yds behind (W. A. Perry), 5 Dignity 48yds behind (A. J. Farley), 11 Jaylyn 72yds behind (Rimmont), 3 Kereone 108yds behind (W. Orange). Won by a neck, a hundred yards between second and third. Kereone was fourth. Time, 3min 51 3-ssec. DECEMBER HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOsovs; second lOsovs, third ssovs. One mile and a-half. 1 — G. Cormac’s b g Breadalbane, 4 yrs, by Diadem—-Black Angel, 12 yds behind (Leggett) 1 3 — C. R. Bailey’s ch g Huon Grattan, syrs, limit (McMasters) 2 9 — F. Whitehead’s blk g George the Fourth, 4yrs, 12yds behind (A. Julian) 3 Also started: 11 Dimboola limit (J. Williams), 12 Albert Wilkes 12yds behind (J. A. Paul), 6 The Bathe 12yds behind (A. Cameron), 10 Marinoto 12 yds behind (C. L. Kasper), 5 Gallipoli 24yds behind (J. Gee), 14 Nellie Clive 24yds behind (McKendrick), Te Awa 36yds behind (J. T. Paul), 8 Gold Girl 48yds behind (Rimmont), 13 Dandy Jack 48yds (Shaw), 7 Belgian Queen 48yds behind (Kelsey), 15 Miss Chevalier 48 yds behind (Hauer), 2 Jimmie Harden 60yds behind (R. Fisher). Won by a length, 150 yards between second and third. Time, 3min 32 2-ssec. AUCKLAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOOsovs; second 200sovs, third lOOsovs. Two miles. 2 — T. Roe’s gr m Steel Bell, aged, by Gold Bell—King George mare, 96yds behind (Lynch) 1 6 —Richards and Weston’s br h Waverley, 6yrs, limit (Richards) ... 2 s—“ Mr.5 —“Mr. Weymouth’s” b g Asturio, 6yrs, limit (Cunningham) 3 Also started: 7 Mahinga limit (Nyhan), 12 Brown's Nugget limit (Abbott), 11 Pax limit (W. E. Simes), 1 Chid limit (Bryce), 10 Derby Dillon limit (Robinson), 9 Whispering Willie 12yds behind (Orange), 4 Harold Junior 24yds behind (A. Brown), 3 Peter Mac 24yds behind (Henderson), 8 Sir Fulham 36yds behind (Julian). Won by two lengths, three lengths between second and third. Whispering Willie vas fourth and Harold Junior fifth. Time, 4min 33 4-ssec. EDEN HANDICAP TROT (Harness) of 250sovs; second 35sovs, and third 15 sovs. Two miles. 8— Geo. Paul’s blk h Hova, aged, by Pirate — Murmur, 96yds behind (Geo. Paul) 1 9 — J. T. Paul’s b g Scientist, aged, limit (J. T. Paul) 5 —J. D. Piper’s b m Grattan Chimes, aged, 36yds behind (Nyhan» ... 3 Also started 4 Tattles limit < Rimmont), 1 Sweet Memory limit (Orange), 3 Amberite limit (J. Gee), 9 Miss Huon Junior 36yds behind (A. Lowe), 8 Grattan Abbey 36yds behind (McMaster), 2 Theseus 48yds behind (Bryce), 7 Todd

Bells. 60yds behind- (Barraclough); 10 Kirikiriroa 96yds behind (Kelsey), 11 King Capitalist 120yds behind (Smith), 6 Blackthorn 132yds behind (Wyatt). Won by half a length, three-quarters of a length, between second and third. Tattles was fourth and Blackthorn fifth. Time, 4min 50 3-ssec. PARNELL HANDICAP (Harness) of 150sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. Two miles. 3—N. Nordquist’s b m Scottish Queen, syrs, by Diadem —Black Angel, limit (N. Nordquist) .... 1 2 —R. T. Reid’s ch f Miss Rolfe, 4yrs, 36yds behind (Julian) 2 9 —F. O. Weine’s b g Lieutenant, aged, 96yds behind (Hall) - 3 Also started: 8 Kempsey limit (J. T. Paul), 10 Miss Salisbury limit (Geo. Paul), 9 Rotomanuka limit (Cotton, Jr.), 1 Manuka Park (W. A. Scott), 4 Tim Doolan 48yds behind (Abbott), 7 St. Trella 48yds behind (Greenwood), 6 Wereoa 48yds behind (Malcolm). Won by two lengths, with four lengths between second and third. Time, 4min 50sec. GREAT NORTHERN TROTTING DERBY of 350sovs; second 70sovs, and third 30sovs. One mile and ahalf. 1— F. J. Remington’s b c President Wilson, 3yrs, by Wildwood Junr. —Wattle- 1 2 — J. R. Corrigan’s b f Queen Chimes, 3yrs, by Coldstream Bells —Vanquish (Bryce) 2 The only starters. Won handily r by a long neck. Time, 3min 34 3-ssec. GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP (Saddle) of 200sovs; second 30sovs, and third 15sovs. One mile. 2 — N. Cunningham’s gr m Dorothy Dimple, aged, by Papanui—Lady Linton, limit (Cunningham) .... 1 1 — F. Johnston’s blk g Beckom, aged, 48yds behind (Bryce, Junr.) ... 2 3 — C. Arden’s b g Fashionwood, aged, 12yds behind (Barraclough) ... 3 Also started: 4 Pax limit (W. Simes), 5 Prince Rufus limit (Julian), 6 Sandrift 12yds behind (Deeley). Won by half a length, a neck between second and third. Time, 2min 19sec. ST. HELIERS HANDICAP (Harness) of 150sovs; second 20sovs, third lOsovs. One mile. 2 — J. R. Corrigan’s b f Queen Chimes, 3yrs, by Coldstream Bells —Vanquish, 24yds behind (J. Bryce) 1 7—W. J. Brain’s br g Treanac, aged, limit (J. T. Paul) 2 11 —S. Galbraith’s rn g Victor G., aged, 24yds behind (H. Gladding) 3 Also started: 4 Prince Child limit (Shepherd), 3 Hymen limit (Julian), 5 Shanghai limit (A. Brown), 8 Wildfire limit (Robertson), 9 Lady 7 S. limit (Lynch), 1 Jimmie Harden limit (Fisken), 12 Sundial 36yds behind (Malcolm), 13 Silver Black 36yds behind (Rimmont), 6 False Alarm 48yds behind (B. Edwards), 10 August Child 60yds behind (A. Cameron).

Won by a neck, with four lengths between second and third. Time, 2min 24sec.