WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1553, 29 January 1920, Page 16

WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. PARTNER WINS GOLD CUP. The Wellington Trotting Club held their annual meeting at Hutt Park on Wednesday in perfect weather, while the attendance reached record proportions. The offer of a £lOO purse to any horse lowering the Australasian mile grass track record was responsible for t»he presence at the meeting of the two cracks, Author Dillon and Cathedral Chimes, and their mission to the Park served as a noteworthy attraction. Author Dillon, driven by his trainer, B. Jarden; made the first attempt, being paced throughout by the galloper Rakaia, with J. Olsen in the saddle. The son of Harold Dillon —Authoress aroused universal admiration by his free movement and rare pace, and travelling with characteristic evenness throughout he got to the end of the mile in 2min. Ssec., thus lowering the Australasian grass track record (2mm. 11 3-ssec) for the eight furlongs by 3 3-ssec. Both driver and horse received a great ovation in recognition of the record-breaking achievement. Cathedral Chimes, with J. Bryce, iun., at the reins, and paced by Evening Chimes, who was driven.m a sulky by” J. Bryce, sen., then set out on his attempt at the record. The son of Four Chimes —Jean Armour succeeded in getting over the mile in 2min. lOsec., which was 1 3-5sC\Y. better than the Australasian record on a grass track.' In connection with both records it must be mentioned that the track was somewhat dead in consequence of the heavy rain experienced prior to the fixture, which makes both performances all the more meritorious... In fact, it is conceded that under more favourable cir cumstances Author Dillon ' would have registered 2min. 4sec. in his attempt.

The day’s programme was productive of some first-rate sport, the fields being- good in every instance, while the efforts of Mr. F. C. Thomas, the handicapper, resulted in a number of fine contests. The totalisator officials were kept busy, the sum of £21,039 finding its way through the machine, as oc’mpared with .£20,686 !f'or the last - meeting.

The gathering was capably controlled by the secretary, Mr. R. W. Short, and his staff, the day’s proceedings passing off in a highly-satis-factory and enjoyable manner. Sea Nymph was the elect of backers in the Hutt Park Trial Handicap, in which there were seven starters, but Yim Kim set out in the lead at the start, and though the favourite made a b.'g effort to catch the daughter of Bingana in the straight the latter maintained her advantage to the finish, winning by a couple of lengths, Hal Joseph being half a dozen lengths away, third.

Of the half-dozen saddled up for the Eorough Handicap Lelia Denver and Blue Drift were best supported. The latter flattered his backers in the early stages, but over the last halfmile he tired perceptibly and was passed by Delta, who, finishing strongly, won by eight lengths from Annie Black, with Blue Drift a couple of lengths away, third. Tarkorea was fourth.

The New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup brought out a field of ten runners, favouritism being accorded Partner, with Lochnagar and Emperor most in demand of the others. Partner (10s.) broke at the start, but Quickly settled down. Fair Puritan (10s.) assuming the lead. The favourite, however, was in charge as the stand was passed the first time, with Fair Puritan, Birdwood and Emperor following in that order, Lochnagar, who failed to strike a gait at the start, being last. Birdwood improved hi® position going along the back, but a bad break caused him to drop back.

Partner still had charge when the stand was reached a second time, Our Girl having run up second, while Emperor was lying third. The order was unchanged until the home bend was negotiated, Emperor running up second, but he had no chance with Partner, who ran in a winner by three lengths, Our Girl being a couple of lengths away, third. Mako Mako was lourth and Peter Mac next.

A quartette was harnessed up for the president’s Handicap Trot, the consistent though unlucky Wonderland being made favourite. Captain Rothschild, who was a good second xavourite, took the lead at the start and was never in danger of defeat, winning by two lengths from Wonderland, who registered his fifth consecutive second, Beeswing being a moderate third.

A hot favourite in Kirriemuir suffered defeat in the Wellington Handicap, which attracted a field of eight starters. The favourite showed out in front at the start, but was soon headed by Sea Nymph, who was the outsider of the field, the latter maintaining his advantage to the finish, winning by half a dozen lengths from Kirriemuir, with Plain Rose ten lengths away, third. The bracketed pair Glen Mavis and Bigamist claimed most attention on the machine among the dozen which contested the Stewards’ Handicap. The former took the lead early, and with Delta and King Lear as her nearest attendants she continued her position in front until tlie post was reached, registering a length victory from Delta, with King Lear threeparts of a length away, third. Emerald Green was selected as the most likely to score in the Petone Handicap, but when in a handy position he broke badly, eventually finishing out of a place. The winner turned up in the Hutt-trained Turo H wi, who led all the way and prevailed at the finish by five lengths fiom Brachycombe, with Ururua three lengths away, third. The concluding event, the’ Electric Handicap, was an excellent betting race, solid support being accorded Emperor, Chaos, and Lovelock. Going to the front soon after the start Chaos continued in the lead throughout, winning handily by three lengths from Our Girl, with Emperor third. Gladeye was fourth. • The results were: — HUTT PARK TRIAL HANDICAP (Harness) of lOOsovs. One mile and ahalf. 3— C. Macdonald’s b m Yim Kim, -lyrs, by Bingana — Orphan M„ lOsec (Holmes) '.......... 1 1 — C. L. Kasper’s b g Sea Nymph, 9sec (Shaw) 2 2— H. Palmer’s b g Hal Joseph, 10 sec (Maidment) 3 Also started: 5 Plain Rose ssec (H. Woodfield), 4 Ladysmith lOsec (Bryce), 6 Pillage lOsec (Dench), 7 Lady Foster lOsec (Cotton). Won by two lengths, six lengths between second and third. Time, Smin. 4 2 l-ssec. BOROUGH HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150sovs. One mile and a-half. 5—R. J. Taylor’s b g Delta, aged, by Rothschild—Arieda, 2sec (J. Trotter) , 1 4 — J. and- H. August’s b m - Annie Black, lOsec (S. August) 2 2— F. Hickenbotham’s b g Blue Drift, lyrs, lOsec (Pringle) .... 3 . Also started: 1 Leila Denver scr. (M. Edwards, junr.), 3 Peace 2sec (Smith), 0 Taikorea 4sec (Dench). Won by six lengths, three lengths between second and third. Time, 3min. 40 3-ssec. N.Z. TROTTING GOLD CUP (Harness), a gold cup value lOOsovs, and 400sovs in specie. Two miles. 1 — J. Cog-hill’s b g Partner, syrs, by Petereta — Rothschild mare, lOsec (Fleming) .............. 1 3— A. E. Webster’s b g Emperor, 5 yrs, Ssec (Holmes) 2 7—R. Fairbain’s b m Our Girl, 9sec (McDermott) '.. 3 Also started: 9 Tamarisk 9sec (W. Smith), 6 Peter Mac 6sec (K. Smith), 4 Birdwood 7sec (Jarden), S Mako Mako 7sec (Brown), 2 Lochnagar Bsec (J. Bryce), 5 Fair Puritan lOsec (Shadbolt). Won by five lengths, three lengths between second and third. Time, 4min. 48 4-ssec. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. Two miles. 2— G. Watson’s b g Captain Rothschild, aged, by Rothschild— Polly Wnrbeck, 12sec (Bryce) 1

1 — A. Fleming's gr g Wonderland, scr. (Fleming) 2 3—M. Edwards’ b m Beeswing, scr. (M. Edwards) 3 Also started: 4 Miss Pirate 12sec (Taylor).Won by two lengths. Time, smin. 8 ,l-ssec. PURSE FOR RECORD, a purse of 100 sovs for any horse breaking Australasian grass track record of 2min. 11 3-ssec., purse to go to horse establishing best time. Exors. J. Knight’s b h Author Dillon, aged, by Harold Dillon— Authoress; time 2min. Ssec (B. Jarden) 1 J. B. Thomson’s br h Cathedral Chimes, aged, by Four Chimes —Jean Armour; time 2min. 10 sec (J. Bryce, junr.) 2 WELLINGTON HANDICAP (Harness) of 150sovs. Two miles. 2— C. Kasper’s bg- Sea Nymph, 4yrs, by Brent Locanda —Wild Wave, 12sec (Shaw) 1 I—J.1 —J. McConaghie’s br m Kirriemuir, 12sec (McDermott) 2 4—H. J. Woodfield’s b m Plain Rose, llsec (Woodfield) 3 Also started: 5 Hiram Galindo 2sec (Maidment), 7 The Bathe 9sec (Dench), 6 War Lord lOsec (Craig), 3 Day Drift 12sec (Munro), S Lady Foster 12sec (Cotton). Won by eight lengths, ten lengths between second and third. Time, smin. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP (Saddle) of of 150sovs. One mile. I—W.1 —W. Wootton’s ch m Glen Mavis, aged, by Harold Dillon — Rose Elect, 12yds (McDermott) 1 10 —R. J. Taylor’s b g Delta, 12yds (Trotter) 2 9 —A. S. Kilworth’s br g King Lear, scr. (Holmes) 3 Also started: 1 Bigamist scr. (Fleming) bracketed with Glen Mavis, 8 .Hedgewood scr. (Barraclough), 2 Rearguard 12yds (AV. Smith), 5 Robert Dillon 12yds (Humphries), 7 Miss Havoc 24yds (Edwards, junr.), 11 Prinzora 24 yd's (Willett), 3 Gold Queen 36yds (J. Bryce, junr.), 4 Peter Mac 36yds (C. Smith),'6 Letitia 48yds (Frost). Won by two lengths, a length between second and third. Time, 2min. 21sec.

PETONE HANDICAP (Saddle) of 150 sovs. One mile and a-half. •I—C. Skill’s b g Turo Kiwi, aged, bv King George—Blue Spec, 17 sec (Skill) 1 3 —W. Murray’s b g Brachycombe, llsec (Murray) 2 2—-M. O’Brien’s blk g Ururua, llsec. (E. McDermott) 3 Also started: 1 Emerald Green 17sec (Pringle), 5 Wallace Reid 17sec (Dench). Won by. eight lengths, four lengths between second and third. Time, 4min. Isec. ELECTRIC HANDICAP (Harness) of 200sovs. One mile and a-quarter. 2—Mrs. M. Rodger’s b g Chaos, 6yrs, by Galindo — Lady Linton, scr. (Jarden) 1 6 —J. Hill’s ch m Letitia, 4 Syds (Frost) 2 I—A.1 —A. E. Webster’s b g Emperor, 4 8 yds (Holmes) 3 Also started: 3 Lovelock scratch (H. Mouldy), 4 Evening Chimes 12yds (J. Bryce), 7 Glad Eye 24yds, S Our Girl 72yds (McDermott), 5 Rearguard 12yds (VV. Smith). Won by a length, the same distant separating second and third. Time. 2min. 56 l-ssec.