THE WANGANUI MEETING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 April 1927, Page 7

THE WANGANUI MEETING

By ABAYDOS Totalisator Decrease Another drop in totalisator investments has been recorded by the Wanganui Trotting Club. the amount handled yesterday. £8,778, showing a big falling-off from the corresponding day last year, when £ 15,177 was put through the machine. The decrease on the meeting just concluded was £2,652. Those in charge of the trotting business in the river city appear to be right up against it and there is no doubt the prospects for continuance of the sport in that locality are not encouraging. Is It Apathy? There can be only one of two causes for the continued failure of the sport in Wanganui and it must be either to apathy on the part of the public or lack of proper control on the part of the management. Either one in itself is sufficient to administer a knock-out to any club, but if there should happen to be an indication that both these undesirable factors are operating, then the end must be in sight. An Unhappy Position Whatever the cause may be. it must be admitted by all lovers of the light harness pastime that the lot of the Wanganui club is a most unhappy one and the results obtained each year are deplorable and regrettable. Wherever the trotting banner has been hoisted throughout the Dominion it has continued to flutter proudly and successfully in the breeze, and it is passing strange that in a city like Wanganui, usually noted for its sporting proclivities, the popular pastime should be at such a low ebb. SECOND DAY’S RACING A Promising Filly Halgana was installed a warm favourite for the Improvers’ Ilandicap, the Peterwah filly Enawah being best supported of the remainder, although chere was a fair amount of support for Abruda.nya. The two-year-old, pacing attractively, never gave her opponents a chance, winning nicely by several lengths from the favourite, who made a better showing than on the previous day. Hal Huon Makes Good Hal Huon, who at the Hawkes Bay and Taranaki meetings gave the impression that he would not be long ir. materialising, was given pride of place in the betting on the Suburban Handicap, but there was solid support for Ngahuia, Ce Advanceur and Castle Chimes. The Hal Zolock gelding justified the confidence of his supporters by coming at the right end and winning by a length from Audubon Patch, who also went a good race. Midland's Dual Win The straight-out trotters were given their opportunity in the Borough Handicap, Berkett’s representative. Caterpillar, being installed favourite, with Midland, a winner on the opening day. also well fancied. Bright Light and Lady Ena weer the best backed of the remainder. The final issue was fought out between Midland, Caterpillar and Lady Ena, the former winning cleverly by three lengths. Midland is an aged gelding by Midas, a horse that raced prominently on the West Coast foi many years in the colours of Mr. Kitchingham, from Merry Whispers, a mare owned by Mr. C. Davey, a wellknown trotting enthusiast. Midland should be heard of again when the company is not too classical. The Favourite Lands # Loch Moigh, a winner at Hawkes Bay and Manawatu, was selected by the public as the best of the field in the big event —Liverpool Handicap—while the consistent Great Actress also had a host of admirers and Hope Dillon’s numerous supporters gave him a chance to make amends for the failure on Saturday. The favourite never caused his connections much alarm and stalling off a solid challenge from Great Actress, the son of Nelson Derby won by a small margin. Great Actress put up a good go and was unlucky in striking such a consistent and improving colt as Loch Moigh. Master Cute, who was not extensively supported, did the best of the others and secured the small end of the purse. Easy for Great Kevin Jesmond Dene and Cora Tacks were entrusted with the largest parcels in the Stewards’ Handicap, but Great Kevin was a quiet tip. He fell during the preliminaries and Morris, his rider, sustained a broken collar-bone. Fairham was substituted for the injured horseman and hopping his mount out smartly gave nothing a chance and won easily by over a dozen lengths. Item made the best showing of the remainder and secured second money. Lady Ena at Last Great Change was looked upon as the best of good things in the Ballance Handicap, for unhoppled performers, but Louisiana was a sound second choice and many pinned their faith to Plunder. The winner turned up in Lady Ena, owned and trained in Auckland. The daughter of First Voyage has been expected for some time and her win would be acceptable to her followers. Plunder and Louisiana filled the minoi places, but the favourite could not reach the money. Berkett Has a Win YVith only six starters in the Wanganui Stakes, the public went solidly for Nellie Parsons and Gaza, and when the machine closed the former was a slightly better favourite than the Aucklander. That the public was not far astray in its judgment was demonstrated by the result. Berkett’s filly eventually winning by a length from Cameron’s gelding, with Firebell in third berth. The Final Flutter A big field paraded for the Farewell Handicap, Gaza, who in the previous event finished second, being accorded solid support and was only displaced in the order cf favouritism by Tui Zolock, winner of tjie last race on the first day. Followers of Berkett’s stable again had hopes of Hope Dillon coming to light, who with Castle Chimes carried the bulk of the remaining investments. The favourite went a good race, but had to be content with second berth, being unable to overhaul Castle Chimes, who paced evenly and won by a bare length. Item again filled the minor place, but Gaza anu Hope Dillon weer not in the picture at the finish.

McMillan's Scoop The reinsman, S. McMillan, accomplished a rare feat at the Young Club’s meeting in Sydney recently. There were seven races, and he piloted the winners of six in succession, and did not compete in the seventh. He commenced by taking the Traders’ Trot with Boastick, and then in rotation he won the Trial with Christmas Daisy (who has raced in Sydney), the Flying with Nodleg in 2.25. the Novice Unhoppled. with Boastick. the Club Handicap with Hugh Emmett, in 3.22 J, and the Unhoppled with YVanbanuba,