TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 53, 25 May 1927, Page 6

TROTTING

NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR (By “ABAYDOS.”) Will He Improve? Our Pirate, who swept High Sea out of second money at Cambridge when in receipt of 12 yards, appears on the same mark as the Hawera winner at Christchurch for June 3. On his recent showing, the Te Awamutu gelding will require to improve to have a winning chance with some of those in front of him. Flying High High Sea, who let his numerous supporters down at Cambridge after cleaning up tbfe saddle opposition on the concluding day at Hawera, is flying high and is set down to tackle some “hot” ones at Canterbury Park next month. The two-mile go may suit the Blue Ribbon gelding. A Solid Trotter Elzear is one of the most improved unhoppled exponents seen out this season, and according to latest reports the Petereta mare is in rare buckle just now. Tomkinson will have her engaged at Canterbury Park, and she will in all probability then be labelled for Auckland. Going Strong Bridget Galindo is a name well known in Auckland light harness circles, and certainly not unfamiliar in the South Island, and particularly in Christchurch, where she created something in the nature of a sensation at Easter. Bridget is doing great work on the Southern track of late, and may extend her operations to Epsom next month. May Come to Auckland

Logan Park cost his connections a nice bundle when he failed to win at Hawera during the Easter holidays, but it is whispered in certain circles that the party behind the Logan Pointer gelding has not lost a great deal of sleep over the failing, but have bright dreams of picking up a good stake at Auckland, and a handsome gold cui> as well. Likes It Hard Glandore is not being overworked by his juvenile mentor, but the roan horse is in nice trim for winding up operations. It seems a pity that the speedy son of Honest Huon will not do his .best on the grass track when required, but, as one good judge recently remarked, why not try him at Addington, where he would be capable of going anything. If he did it right, Glandore would set the Christchurch heads thinking all right. Coming On If Doctor Dillon continues to put the biff into his work, he will keep some of the Southern, pacers busy next month. Rae ife getting the Harold Dillon gelding into first-class shape, and if appearance is any criterion, the Doctor was never in better health. A win for owner McGregor would be well received by the sporting public. Studying Saddle Steeds

The Canterbury Park Trotting Club is one of the very few in the Dominion that cater foi* saddle horses over a journey, and the Lyttelton Plandicap, on the opening day, is for pacers and trotters that like to feel the weight on top. • The further appearance of a mile saddle race each day serves to prove that the Canterbury Park executive is partial to saddle items. A New Position

J. H. Wilson, the well-known Canterbury horseman, has accepted the position of private trainer to Mr. Charlie Allington, owner of that great ball of trotting muscle, Whispering Willie. Wilson will also have the pacer Jackie Audubon, brother to the Coast pony. Red Comet, and Mickey Audubon, the promising trotter, from the good mare Lady Irving, which also raced prominently in the Allington royal blue and gold livery. Katute a Good One Katute is going to be a credit to her parents, Nelson Bingen and Muricata. She is a fast, good-gaited trotter, and when her fifth birthday is passed she will be able to race conspicuously over two-mile journeys. The roan filly is in good form at present, and figures on a 3.34 mark in a 12-furlong trotters’ event at Canterbury Park. On Holiday

The two-year-old pacing gelding by Author Dillon from Marie Tempest has been turned out for a spell. He is a good pacer, but is on the small side, and B. Jarden considered a spell would be beneficial. The aristocraticallybred youngster will probably be taken in hand again in time to undergo a preparation for. the Great Northern Derby.

A Promising Filly Mavis Wood, who recently won a two-mile race at Ashburton, is a promising filly by Rogerwood from a Lyonaise mare, that threatens to make a name for herself at the pacing business. Mavis, who revels in the longer journeys, is engaged in the two-mile saddle at Christchurch on His Majesty’s Birthday. A Fine Field Although only 12 horses are handicapped in the big event for Canterbury Park, they represent pacers and trotters of exceptional calibre, and there is material to provide speculators with plenty of food for thought and spectators with plenty of excitement on the day. If the 12 accept it will be some race. Trotters v. Pacers

Two trotters are included in the field at present for the King George Handicap at Christchurch on June 3, and a brilliant pair they are. The cream of the pacing fraternity will be pitted against them, but those with the straps on will know they have been to the races when Escapade and Peterwah are done with them. A Speedy Pair.

Logan Holme and Author Jinks look like fighting their Dunedin duel over again at Canterbury Park. At the Forbury fixture the Logan Pointer gelding was in receipt of 12 yards from the son of Dillon, and the former won in 2.12 1-5, while the latter tramped 2.12 3-5 for third money. In a 10-furlong flutter next month both are 24 yards behind, and the pair will make things interesting and exciting.

Anxious for Fight Old Nighborn seems determined to trim some of the later generation of improved trotters before he gives up the game, and it will not occasion any surprise, judging from his recent displays, if Ben Jarden gets another race with the Charlie McKinney—Maid of Perth gelding. Nighborn must be getting nigh done now, but he is one of the die-hards. A Big Team ,

The largest team of light harness horses controlled in Australia for many years is that presided over by C. J. Clarke, of Perth (W.A.). Clarke has just taken over Lord Brazil, Red Comet, Mazegin and Spotless, who have been leased to him. Clarke’s string of horses comprises, in addition to those mentioned, Great Storm, Peri Delavan, Millie Huon, Reisorel, Miss Conceit, Chesper, Equator, Lady Oxish, Miss Renxma, Alfreda, Rene Donald Moonbrae, Miss Priscilla, August Yvonne Alto, Rose Adonis, and Selector. Clarke employs a big staff, anct his stable is replete with every convenience. Horses racing in his name have won £1,475 this season.

THE ELIMINATION OF FREE-FOR-ALLS

NOT SUFFICIENT BETTING A POOR EXCUSE A few of the more entex*prising trotting clubs in different. parts of New Zealand have been lending additional attraction to their programmes by including a “Free-for-All” on the correct card. This came as a real bocn to followers of the light harness sport in the districts affected, and gave the public a rare chance to see the cream of the Dominion’s pacers "in action. IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST The benefit of such an innovation to the public was, of course, more effective in country districts, as in any case on metropolitan courses and at meetings more centrally situated patrons can always see the very best pacers and trotters measuring strides in handicap races. The Greymouth Trotting Club, on the West Coast of the South Island, and the Northland Club in the Whangarei district serve as interesting illustrations of the benefit derived by followers of the popular pastime through the progressiveness of these clubs in catering for the cracks in a Free-for-All, and it will be admited by the officials of either organisation that the attendance on days when the crack-a-jacks were pit:ed against each other constituted a record. UNSPORTSMANLIKE VIEW They will admit, too, that the totalisator investments showed a big decrease on this particular race, but that should only be a secondary consideration. It is regrettable to note, never the less, that in some quarters the loss of revenue on the machine, resulting from the inclusion of a Free-for-All on certain schedules, is being put forward as an excuse for future elimination of such a contest. Whether this is the definite reason assigned for the disappearance of the “all off the mark” crack-a-jack go at Greymouth or not, the writer does not know, but a Coast writer to a weekly sporting journal makes it appear as if such was the case. GREYMOUTH ENTERPRISE In drafting the October programme in 1925, the Greymouth executive conceived the ambitious idea of inducing the cream of pacers to visit the meeting and accordingly a Free-for-All event appeared on the card. The writer will state without fear of contradic:ion, that at the time the West Coast officials were imbued with the idea of bringing the cracks to Greymouth for the public benefit, and the “tote bogey” was not the first consideration. PUBLIC APPRECIATION The result of the 1925 experiment justified the ambition and enterprise of the Southern progressives, and there was a great attendance at the meeting, people travelling from all parts of the Coast to see such speed merchants as

Great Bingen, Acron, Great Hope, Vllo and Taurekareka in action. Great Hope defeated the Great Bingen-Acron bracket in a memorable contest, in which “Scotty” Bryces candidate tramped 3.19 4-5 for the twelve furlongs—a great go on the Grey track. EVENT STILL POPULAR The following year, 1926, the Greymouth club again launched a FYee-for-All, and again the general public showed appreciation by turning up in great numbers. The “stars” on this occasion were Great Bingen, Acron, Native Chief, Talaro and Golden Devon (the pride of the Coast), and Great Bingen demonstrated his ability to outclass the opposition, a performance he repeated on the concluding day in the short limit event, in which he was conceding Acron 12 yards and Talaro and Golden Devon 48 yards. REPLACING THE i|VENT In deleting the attractive heat this year the club is filling the vacancy with* a short limit handicap in the hope, as some writers put it, that the totalisator revenue will be increased. If this is the only reason then the Greymouth club will find it has made an error of judgment but it is hardly fair to criticise the club’s action on the opinions of some critics. However, the public of the West Coast will regret the decision of the popular club, but it will not surprise the writer t see a Free-for-All on the January schedule for Greymouth. COMING NEARER HOME* The Northland Trotting Club, which in January last celebrated its firs', "tote” meeting, catered for the sporting public by including a Free-for*A!: on the programme, and although tie field was small the high class competitors, Great Bingen, Prince Pointer, and Imprint drew a record attendance. CRACK-A-JACKS MEET The meeting of Prince Pointer, who had i-egistered 4.22 in the spring at som, and Great Bingen, who eclipaw this by going 4.19 2-5 on AlexanlP Park at the summer fixture, was a great draw and the club was amp*.' repaid for its enterprise in the exprtssions of gratification and appreciation of the general public, wrho enjoyed seeing the top-notchers measuring stnaea Great Bingen’s feat in tramping twe.v£ furlongs in 3.16 on the Whangarei trao brought the young progressive clu into prominence, and set the seaJ success on their enterprise. THE “SPORTY” SIDE After the success attending their terprise last January it is fairly predict that our trotting friends • Whangarei will again place a Free** 0 *' All on their next schedule, and d> _■ doing they will receive the warn l Vn i. probation of all true sportsmen. * ting has its “sportive” as weu - ; “speculative" side, and in the int ®\L of those who like to see the very in the land measuring strides. ‘ g respective of the totalisator w . the heat, the progressive coun "“Ltoi who have made a name for them - in the light harness world will db advised to consider the future programmes of the Free-m