TROTTING MATCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 157, 25 September 1880, Page 2

TROTTING MATCH.

For some time back the horsey men in the districfchavebeen considerably exercised as to the capabilities of the various trotting favoritiea in Ashburton town and district, and arrangements were made for a trotting match that would bring all the best roadsters together. It was at first arranged to have the spin on the Wakanui road, but listening to wiser counsel the promoters decided to have conclusions tried on the racecourse. The course was therefore secured, though at the last moment, and yesterday afternoon..the trotters rolled up. There had been seven entries, but only five horses put in an appearance. These were Mr.* M. C. Winter’s brown cob Rouser, ridden by-the owner ; Mr. M'Rae’s iron-grey gelding Ginger, carrying young Price ; Mr. Octavius Digby's Bijou, with Physick up ; Mr. Robert Millar’s bay gelding, ridden by his owner; and a fifth horse, whose connections we have not yet learned. The entrance fee was Ll., the winning horse getting L 5, the second L 3, and the third saving his stakes. Mr. E. Cookson was starter ; Mr. D. M*Lean judge; Messrs. Stitt and Neil M'Lean, referees, and Mr. Morshead, clerk of course. Mr. Cookson got the troop.off to a good start, Houser having slightly, the best of it. The Rakaia horse , having taken the lead, kept it well throughout, Bijou following up well, with Ginger in attendance, Mr, Millar’s horse next, and the big bay stranger rear guard.. /The stand had to be passed four times in the four miles course the horses were supposed to run, land there was some little misunderstanding about this, but matters were : ultimately squared. The order of running we . have mentioned above was the order of winning, with the exception of Bijou, who, though he came home before Ginger broke into a canter, and was disqualified, Ginger thus getting second honors, to Rouser’s first, who did the four miles in 14mins. 58secs., Mr. Quill having kept the time. We learn that the winner was challenged at the close for a LSO trial, and also L2b, but declined both invitations. It is to be hoped that the next time a trotting spell comes on, some ■ little pains will be taken to avoid misunderstandings about the course, so that no ness of any kind may arise on that score, A second trot took place after the first, for a small sura, which Bijou won. There were about 250 people on the course, many of whom had come a considerable distance. '