THEY WILL GO FASTER

NZ Truth, Issue 1199, 22 November 1928, Page 13

THEY WILL GO FASTER

Those Improvements To The Ellerslie Track ' •■ ■■ ' ' ■ \ ■ ■ (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) When the Auckland Cup— the richest two-mile handicap m the Dominion— comes up for decision on Boxing; Day at Ellerslie, the track to be traversed will be a shade .different to that of former years. • *

THIS, m all probability, will' tend toI ward faster times being registered for the two miles than have mostly appeared on the records. Not that Rapier's 3.24 3/5 of last ' Boxing Day is likely to be shattered easily. That was great .time over the old up-and-down track.' , ' Rather.it will be m this age of speed and course improvement up north, the average run of times registered m connection with the Auckland Cup will m future be more m keeping with the period. The Ellerslie track itself has been enlarged from the point nearing the rise of the steeplechase hill to the entrance of the straight, and the extended sweep at that end of the course has V^ngr been allowed to consolidate befnre S«tng opened up for racing purpewis. / . Not only lhat, "but the levelling operiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiirniTnwiiiiiiiiiUHirmriMiiimMiiininiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiir

ations down the back of the -track have done away with much of the rise approaching the old five-furlong post. This should also make for further speed and do away m some measure with \the old belief that the Auckland Cup. was/a less strenuous test than the. New Zealand ' Cup.. • . ■ ' " '■ ■ ; ■ ■'■ Though; the undulating nature of the old. track certainly allowed' for a deal of loafing m former years, the attempt made to level Ellerslie at the points indicated should provide for a greater test of stamina, while t^o slightly longer run home from tlia turn should also play its part when it conies to finding out real staying ability. The rise at the old mile post is still m evidence, but it is probably only a matter of time when even that portion of the track will be improved upon from the time-inaking viewpoint.