Northland’s Excellent Progress

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 223, 9 December 1927, Page 7

Northland’s Excellent Progress

A Popular Club

After many years of solid work in laying a sound foundation for the sport of trotting in the Whangarei district, the Northland Club won the confidence of the authorities, with the result a totalisator permit was granted in the 1924-25 season, since which time the pastime has flourished in the North. T>RIOR to the May meeting of 1925, the Northland Trotting Club held several fixtures for the express purpose of popularising the pastime in the Whangarei district, and while the fight for advancement was an uphill one, the pioneers of the movement were made of the “never-say-die” material, and eventually won through against all opposition. The enthusiastic workers for the sport in the pre-totalisator days were imbued with the spirit of progress, and their keen foresight led them to believe that once the light-harness industry was established on sound lines it would grow and flourish. These predictions have proved correct and the Northland Club to-day stands as one of the most popular country organisations in the province, its meetings from year to year are most suc-

cessful, and the sport provided is of a high order. All this is a glowing tribute to the work of the trotting pioneers of Whangarei, and they can look with gratification on the splendid achievement resulting from their early arduous duties. The greatest filip given to the game in the North, prior to the installation of the betting machine, was the appearance of that remarkable pacer, Man o’ War. So keen were the enthusiasts of Whangarei on the lightliarness business, a purse was collected and offered to the owner of the Peri Huon horse to give an exhibition at the local fixture, which proved a big attraction. The public, realising the ambitious and progressive policy of the club, lent its support and eventually the Minister of Internal Affairs, impressed with the enthusiasm of .the people of the district and the advantage they would derive from a full-fledged trotting meeting, granted the permit. The club has never looked back, and each season marks further progress and development of the industry. The initial “tote” fixture was held on May 23, 1925, the first race being won by Dillon Huon, driven by Geo.

IcKendrick, and the Cup went to Reiance. The machine handled just

over £9,000 for the day. The next season the meeting was held on March 13, when D. Brideson’s Rockburn, driven by Jack Shaw, won the principal heat of the day. The investments passed the £II,OOO mark, a total that was again reached last year, when the fixture was held at an earlier date, January 8. Buz Buz, with S. M. August behind her, won the cup, defeating Jewel Pointer by a narrow margin. At this function, the best of the Dominion’s pacers, Great Bingen, Prince Pointer and Imprint, were seen in action by the public of the district. This was made possible through the ambitious undertaking of the commit-

tee in placing a free-for-all event on the card. Unfortunately Imprint was from his best, but the other crack-a-jacks put up a fine showing, Great Bingen winning by less than a length in the excellent time of 3.16 for 12 furlongs, a fine advertisement for the Whangarei racing track. As the club did not get the support anticipated or deserved as the result of its enterprise, it was found advisable to again alter the card for this year’s fixture, which was once more shifted round the dial of time. As a

result of the alteration, Whangarei will have staged two trotting carnivals in 1927, the second one opening to-fnorrow, when a splendid and successful function is assured. The progressives of the North deserve to meet with every encouargement and success, and that they have a record meeting to-morrow is the wish of all enthusiasts.