THE WILDWOOD STUD DISPERSAL SALE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1505, 27 February 1919, Page 16

THE WILDWOOD STUD DISPERSAL SALE.

We would once more refer our readers to the advertisement set out in another place in this issue concerning the dispersal of Mr. W. Kerr’s fine stud of trotting and pacing-bred horses, mostly young ones, ready and coming on to take part in the business of life for which they are destined. The advertisement conveys to readers and intending purchasers something more than the bare information as to the names of the sires and dams of each lot, and the times they have registered. Every lot has received the education necessary to start away from the farm after being shown in harness or on the lead to satisfy those who become their new owners. There is a fair sprinkling of trotters amongst the young ones, though pacers are in the majority. The natural gait of each is set forth in the list, and it may be said is easily discovered; indeed, in the majority of cases within a few hours or a day or two of being foaled a gait natural to the young ones is struck. An occasional one will trot as well as pace, but the double-gaited are not numerous. Wildwood senior was a bold, true-gaited trotter who might have been converted to pace. He got trotters and pacers, and his son Wildwood Junior, the image of his sire, has left both. There is no need to go over the long lists of winners by father and son, or of Ribbonwood, the first son of Wildwood to take up stud life after being the first to distinguish himself as a racehorse and a record holder. Like good wine, the Wildwood family needs no bush. One after another the descendants as they are developed act up to the reputations of their parents, and the sport and business of trotting and pacing having come to stay, and the pleasure and utility horses of the road having become a necessity, this great dispersal sale cannot be let pass by those associated with the light harness business, whether as racing men or breeders. Messrs. H. Matson and Co. are the auctioneers, and they, or the proprietor, Mr. W. Kerr, who is the founder of the stud, and who has been successful as a trainer and rider and owner and breeder from first to last of his career, will furnish catalogues or any information required. on application.

The next meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club will be held on March 22 (Saturday) and 24 (Monday). It has been decided to offer stakes amounting to £3200. The principal events will be the Forbury Cup, £5OO, class 4.38 (two miles), and President’s Handicap, £5OO, class 4.38 (two miles).

.It is a pleasing matter to relate that the Poverty Bay Trotting Club, which" lost its permit in consequence of Cabinet’s decision to restrict racing and trotting fixtures, during the closing stages of the war, has had its permit restored, and will as a result hold its annual meeting on May 24. George Akwood’s win at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting in the Wanganui Cup will be remembered by wool merchants for a long time to come. * * * => Stone Belden’s win at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting was a popular one. The lengthy grey belongs there, and Bryce trained and drove him. • • c • Trotting owners should note that entries for the Taranaki Futurity Stakes (harness), 1921, of 150sovs., for horses three years old at time of starting, iy 2 miles, to be decided at the Waimate Plains Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Hawera on Easter Monday, 1921, are due with the secretary, Mr. G. A. Holder. Box 157 Hawera, on Friday, March 28, 1919, at 9 p.m. No money is required at the time of nomination. The event should make a special appeal to present owners of yearlings, and an excellent response should be forthcoming from the right quarter on the date for the closing of entries.