TROTTING MATCH.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1922, 22 April 1880, Page 2

TROTTING MATCH.

A trotting race came off on Wednesday on the Christchurch Racecourse between Mr B. Hale’s Minnie and Mr B. Boltby’s Polly. The terms were two miles, ten stone up, and £25 a side. The match attracted a very large attendance, and a good deal of money changed hands on the result. Mr Calvert officiated as starter, and Messrs Saunders and John Lunn as referees. By arrangement it was decided to trot on tho plough, but by some mistake the distance covered by the two mares was virtually only a little over a mile and a-half. Mr W. Thomson rode Polly and Mr Hale piloted his own mare. The betting at the start was six to five on Polly. The two got away rather badly, and Thomson, thinking it was a false start, got a bit the worst of it. Minnie thus got away several lengths in front, an advantage she maintained past the stand and up to the Fords. Here Polly commenced gradually to creep up, and, despite several breaks, had nearly got on terms with her opponent at tho turn into the straight. Hero another break lost her some ground, but she showed a lot of pace coming home, so much so that she rapidly overhauled her leader and but for another break half-way up the rails would have won. As it was, Mr Hale won by several lengths. Had the race been the full distance it was the opinion of most that the verdict would have been reversed ; as it was, only for her bad start and breaking so often, Polly would have been uncommonly dangerous at the finish. Apropos of trotting it is understood that at the next annual meeting of the Heathcote Racing Club a 100 eov. stake will be given.