WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1501, 30 January 1919, Page 21

WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. DEAN DILLON WINS CUP. fFrom our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Favoured with delightful weather there was a record crowd in attendance at the Wellington Trotting Club’s annual meeting to-day. The racing was fairly interesting, and the track was in greatly improved order. In most departments the management was well up to date, the secretary, Mr. R. W. Short .being most attentive to the needs of the club’s patrons. The exception was the totalisator, which was altogether inadequate to meet the heavy betting recorded on most of the events. The investments amounted to £20,686, as compared with £20,151 last year.

Though there was a good-sized field for the liutt Trial Handicap, backers were satisfied to pick it in two, Hickory Wood and Partner. There was every justification for their selection, as was proved by results. Starting much smarter than any of the limit horses, Hickory Wood was in charge at the end of three furlongs. Pacing along in faultless style, the little son of Wildwood end Lenape never subsequently gave the opposition a look in, winning decisively in the smart time of 3min. 44 l-ssec. After getting into trouble twice Partner was putting in great work over the last half-mile, and with a better passage would certainly have been hard to dispose of. Moon Drift lost quite a dozen lengths by going to a break just after the start. On settling down she showed as much speed as anything in the race, but the effort found her wanting at the finish. For some unaccountable reason only five starters went to the post for the Borough Handicap, a North Canterbury representative in Underscrub being backed down to odds-on. He landed the stake all right, but had a good deal of luck on his side. Starting smartly he had a useful lead at the end of a circuit, where Annie Black and Plain Rose were his nearest attendants. A little further on Plain Rose ran up to Underscrub, but in an endeavour to get up on the inside got shut in and went all to pieces. This made matters easy for Underscrub, who always had the measure of Annie Black- Quite the most promising horse seen out in the race was Plain Rose, a six-year-old daughter of Harold Dillon and Black Rose. She paced without hopples, and evidently has speed to burn. Underscrub was ridden by H. Cairns, who evidently knew more of the essential tactics than did the rider of Plain Rose.

Black Yet, who went amiss soon after his arrival, was the only eleventh-hour withdrawal from the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup. Reports of excellent trials executed at Ashburton were no doubt responsible for the support accorded Gladiola, but she did not move at all nicely in her preliminary. The favourite was quick to strike her bell, but Dean Dillon, driven by A. Fleming, at once smothered her for pace. With half a mile left behind Dean Dillon was well clear from Bundong, while Mahinga and Whispering Willie were already hopelessly in the rear. There was practically no change all through the second circuit, at the end of which Dean Dillon. was going very comfortably in front, while most of the others were already under pressure. Two furlongs from home Irvar raced up to Bundong, but could not make the least impression on Dean Dillon, who won comfortably in the smart time of 4min. 43 3-ssec. The winner is trained by his owner, Mr. S- Wootton, of Gisborne. He has a fine turn of speed, which Fleming made the best use of. Irvar stayed on better than in any of his former efforts, but the two favourites. Gladiola and Quadroon, quite failed to race up to expectations.

Quite the most interesting race of the afternoon was that provided by the trotters in the President’s Handicap. The public sorted out Miss Rye and Wonderland as the best to follow, and again they were well on the mark. Wonderland soon got clear of the

limit horses, and with half the journey covered had Plunder, Miss Rye and Idol in close attendance. A bad mistake going along the back for the last time lost Wonderland his place, Rio Grande and Miss Rye being left in charge, with Idol and Miss Lorna heading the others. Mistakes by both the leaders let Idol and Wonderland up to them, and a furlong from the post the quartette were almost in line. By a good final effort Wonderland just headed Idol in the last few strides, winning a fine race by half a length. Excepting for the one mistake, Wonderland gave a nice display of trotting, as did Idol. The favourite, Miss Rye, went patchily, which caused her to tire in the last furlong. Of the unplaced division Our Goldie gave the best showing. The locally-trained Peace, who has a big private reputation, found most favour for the Wellington Handicap in a good betting race For once Moon Drift got to business well, and acted as pacemaker all through the first circuit. Before half the journey had been covered she was in trouble, and at this stage Partner, Peace and Jewel Wood all looked to have winning prospects. Peace was the first to crack up, leaving Partner with a useful lead from Jewel Wood. This the latter gradually reduced, and a furlong from the post he looked like catching the leader. Under pressure he went to a break ,leaving Partner to score rather luckily by a half a dozen lengths. It was a great performance on the part of both horses, as the winner bettered his time by 22sec.

There was spirited betting on the Stewards’ Handicap, Maud Wilkes winding up a slightly better favourite than Waiteranui and Blackford. Clearing right away in the first quarter, it looked any odds on Maud Wilkes prevailing even when half the distance had been covered, so freely was she pasing along in front. With heads in line for home, Linotype, who had always been in second place, closed on the leader and Molly Chimes improved her position fast. Inside the distance Maud Wilkes was under pressure, as was Molly Chimes, while Linotype appeared to be going comfortably. In an interesting finish Molly Chimes got the verdict by half a length from Linotype, who certainly looked as if she could have been made more use of. Maud Wilkes’ display was disappointing in the extreme. Though there were ten starters in the Petone Handicap, backers confined their attention almost entirely to Rita Rose and Pieter Timmerman. The latter followed his usual habit, of starting off at a gallop and took practically no part in the race. Getting to work very smartly Rio Grande was soon well out in front. Three furlongs from home Rita Rose raced up to him, and the two went on together till the favourite quite spoilt her chance by putting in a bad break. From this out there was little interest in the issue, Rio Grande winning by a dozen lengths. Belgian Lad was putting in good work all through the concluding circuit, but even so could make no impression on the leader, who greatly improved on any of his previous displays. The results were: — HUTT PARK TROT HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOsovs. One mile and ahalf. 1— W. R. L. Pascoe’s b g Hickory Wood, by Willowood —Lenape, 6 yrs, Bsec (Owner) 1 2 — J. Coghill’s b g Partner, 4yrs, Ssec (J. Fraser) 2 5 —H. Fox’s b m Tit-bits, syrs, 7sec (Owner) ~ . 3 Also started: 7 Rejoice 7sec (E. Maidment), 10 Bairnchild Bsec (H. Stiles), 6 Ramaroa Ssec (E. Carlyon), 4 Clarion Chimes Bsec (D. Nyhan), 3 Moondrift 9sec (R. Munroe), 11 Tiakorea 9sec (A. Dench), 8 Scottish Child 9sec (T. Aitcheson), 12 Lyall Bay lOsec (W. Morris), Lady Foster lOsec (J. Cotton). Won by four lengths, six lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 43sec. BOROUGH HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150 sovs. One mile and a-half. 1— R, J. Taylor’s b g Underscrub, by Underwood—Brooklyn M., 4 yrs, 3sec (Owner) 1 2— J. S. August’s b m Annie Black, 4yrs, 3sec (Owner) 2 3— H. G. Woodfield’s b m Plain Rose, 6yrs, 3sec (Nyhan) 3 Also started: 4 Bobalink scratch (D. Morris), 5 War Lord 3sec (Owner). Won by 12 lengths. Plain Rose was close up third. Time, Imin N.Z. TROTTING GOLD CUP (Harness) of 450sovs; second 70sovs, and third 30sovs from the stake. Two miles.

3—s. Wotton’s b g Dean Dillon, by Harold Dillon —Ivy Dillon, syrs, 12sec (A. Fleming) 1 9 —W. Rankin’s b g Irvar, by Young Irvington — Ardzigular, aged, 4 sec (R. Warren) 2 B—E.8 —E. L. McKeon’s b g Bundong, by Advance —Wild Rose, syrs, 9sec (R. Mills) • 3 Also started: 7 Whispering Willie 3 sec (G. Murfitt), 4 Mahinga 9sec (A. Butterfield), 6 Miss Havoc 9sec (J. Messervey), 5 Will o’ the "Wisp 9sec

(R. Allen), 2 Quadroon llsec (Brown), 1 Gladiola 12sec (A. Pringle). Won easily, a close third. Miss Havoc was fourth. Time, 4min 43 3-5 sec. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP TROT (Harness) of 200sovs. Two miles. 2—A. Fleming’s g g Wonderland, by Wildwood Junr. — Lady Mary, 6 yrs, 22sec (Owner) 1 5 — J. H. Webb’s b m Idol, aged, 18 sec (J. Smith) 2 1 — D. Dedrick’s ch m Miss Rye, aged, 15sec (M. Edwards) 3 Also started: 3 Whispering Willie scratch (G. Murfitt), 6 Reta Peter 7sec (A. Wilson), 10 Miss Lorna 14sec (R. Allen), 4 Our Goldie ISsec (G. Robinson), 12 Miss Pirate 23sec (W. Taylor), 9 Plunder 23sec (J. Shaw), 5 Belgium Lad 23sec (E. McDermott), 13 WiOletta 23sec (C. Skill), 7 Rio Grande 23sec (P. Green), 9 Eley 23sec (J. Armstrong). . Won by a head, six lengths between second and third. Time, 4min 54 1-5 sec. WELLINGTON HANDICAP (Harness) of 150sovs. Two miles. 2— J. Coghill’s b g Partner, by Petereta — Rothschild M., 12sec (J. Fraser) 1 3 — C. Arden’s br g Jewell Wood, 4yrs, Bsec (H. Barraclough) ... 2 1 — Samuel’s b m Peace, syrs, 12 sec (D. Nyhan) 3 Also started: 5 Warlock scratch (A. Fleming), 8 Bobalink lOsec, 9 Lady Foster 12sec (A. Shaw), 6 Hickory Wood 12sec (Owner), 4 Moondrift 12 sec (Owner), 7 Tit-bits 12sec (Owner). Warlock was called off for leaving before his time, A. Fleming, his driver, being fined £5. Won by a dozen lengths, a similar distance between second and third. Time, 4min 50sec. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150sovs. One mile. 7—J. Nyhan’s b m Molly Chimes, by Jewell Chimes —Molly Wood, 4yrs, 12yds behind (D. Nyhan) 1 6— J. Malone’s b m Linotype, aged, scratch (H. Barraclough) 2 2 — Mrs. W. Pascoe’s b m Maud Wilkes, 6yrs, scratch (R. Smith) 3 Also started: 1 Louie Drift scratch (R. Moore), 6 Prince Akwood 24yds behind (R. Wilkie) coupled with. Linotype, 4 Blackford scratch (N. Price), 5 Miss Havoc 12yds behind (Messervey), 3 Waiteranui 36yds behind (A. Butterfield). Won by half a length, three-parts of a length between second and third. Waiteranui was fourth. Time, 2min 19sec. PETONE HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150 sovs. One mile and a-half. 3— A. H. Coe’s b g Rio Grange, by Harold Dillon—Maud, 13sec (P. Green) 1 1— Edwards and Humphrey’s b mRita Rose, 4yrs, 13sec (Edwards) 2 4— G. Nairn’s b g Belgium Lad, 6 yrs, 12sec (J. McDermott) .... 3 Also started: 8 Miss Lorna scratch (Allen), 6 Precision 6sec (W. Taylor), 5 Eley 12sec (J. Armstrong), 10 Miss Pirate ISsec (Taylor), Speculator 13sec (Mouldey), 9 Dark Boy 13sec (D. Nyhan), 2 Peter Timmerman 13sec (A. Fleming). Won by 12 lengths, six lengths between second and third. Speculator was fourth. Time, 2min 56sec. ELECTRIC HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. One mile and a-half. 5— E. L. McKeon’s br g Bundong, by Advance —Wild Rose, syrs, 60yds behind (R. Mills) 1 2 — H. Ellaway’s br m Serenity, syrs, scratch (A. Hendrickson) 2 4 —Mrs. W. Pascoe’s b m Maud Wilkes, 6yrs, scratch (R. Smith) 3 Also started: 7 Louie Drift scratch (R. Munroe), 3 Mykot scratch (M. Edwards), 1 Pleasant Mount scratch (W. Warren), 6 Will o’ the Wisp 36yds behind (R. Allan). Won by three lengths. Will o’ the Wisp was fourth. Time, 2min 56sec.