WEST COAST TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 559, 11 January 1929, Page 11

WEST COAST TROTTING

CHRISTMAS CARNIVALS ENDED (Special to THE SUN) WESTPORT, Wednesday, The growth and popularity of the light-harness sport on the Golden Coast was further demoni strated during the recent holiday season, when successful functions were held at Westport, Hokitika, Reefton and Greymouth. The carnival opened at Westport, where the CoalopoliS Club was extremely unfortunate with the weather conditions, a postponement being necessary on the initial clay on account of the heavy rain. This materially affected the totalisator revenue, while owing* to the inclusion of trotting heats on the Greymouth Jockey Club’s programme, which opened almost immediately after the termination of the Westport fixture, the fields were not as large as usual. Despite these drawbacks, the ra.cing witnessed each day was of a high standard, tlie fine finishes being a tribute to the work of the new hundicupper, Mr. IT. A. Jorden. Robert Guy’s Double The chief event on the programme, the Westport Trotting Club Handicap, was won by the Reefton-owned Robert Guy, a four-year-old gelding by Real Guy—Eclen Child, who was driven by his trainer, Len Paseoe. Robert Guy later in tlie day completed the double, winning* tlie mile dash. At the conclusion of the race, Mr. Albie Colvin, president of tlie club, in a very fine speech, presented Mr. Puscoe, driver of the winner, on behalf of owner Woods, with the valuable cup donated by the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, and paid warm tribute to the association’s general patronage of all forms of sport. He hoped now that continuance was carried that would be their slogan in regard to their support of this club and sport in general. He congratulated both Mi*. Woods, owner, and Mr. Paseoe, driver, on their success, and trusted further successes would come their way. Westland Club’s Misfortune The Westland Trotting Club’s annual meeting was one of the best on record, and but for a protest being entered, and a subsequent appeal being lodged the totalisator investments would have shown a substantial increase over last year’s figures. It will be remembered that in the -Westland T.C. Handicap Young Author won, but the connections of Neeoro at once protested on the grounds of interference. The protest was dismissed and Mr. W. Moir, owner of Neeoro, lodged an appeal with the New Zealand Trotting Association. It is just a question as to whether the club would not have been right in refusing to accept the appeal, for tlie protest was dismissed on a question of fact, and Rule 315 deals with the subject as follows: Question of Fact ”... The finding* of the stewards as to any question of fact shall be.conclusive and shall not be subject to appeal or bo reversed under Rule 321. Provided tiiat a question of fact shall be construed literally, i.e., short weight, a cross, or an obvious pull, a horseman committing a breach of Rule 292 a or other offences under Part xxv. would bo questions of fact.” The club had a very good precedent to act on in the Laplander-Free Advice case at Auckland, and it seems would have been quite justified in paying out both the dividends and the stakes. This was a most unfortunate incident for tlie Hokitika Club, and it is tlie general opinion that the controlling stipendiary steward might have dealt promptly with the affair, which would have obviated the locking up of so much investment money. Big Carnival at Greymouth The Greymouth Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting will go down as the most successful the club has had for some years, and from a speculative point of view the public showed much more liberality than for some time past. Tlie sum of £27,549 put through the machine does not admit of comparison with last year’s figures, when tlie club held a one-day meeting on January 5, at which £11,964 was handled, and another on February 25, when £11,566 was put through. In 1926-27 season £24,782 was handled, in 1925-26 £23,643, and in 3924-25 the totalisator receixits were £25,525. At last week’s meeting the public attended in strong force, the racing was full of interest, and the class of horses engaged was well up to the average. Tho fields were again large, and there were few withdrawals, a fact that reflected credit of the club’s handicapper, Mr. G. S. Simpson, whose work on the West Coast circuit has met with general approval. The racing was very interesting and enjoyable throughout, and except for a fdw minor happenings, tlie task of the stipendiary steward present was not an arduous one. Locanda Boy’s Cup Tlie contest for the Greymouth Cup aroused much enthusiasm. The winner, Locanda Boy, found the slushy going to liis liking, and registered a sterling performance after acting as pacemaker throughout. At the conclusion of the race the silver cup attached to the stake was presented by the club’s president, Mr. H. W. Kitchingham, to Mr. W. Bevan, owner of Locanda Boy. In a few appropriate remarks, Mr. Kitcliingham referred to the growing popularity of tlie Greymo utli meetings, due to a large extent to the support of the Christchurch trotting folk, and to the fact that each year better horses and more competent drivers were attracted to the gatherings. He congratulated Mr. Bevan on his second success with Locanda Boy in tlie race, his previous victory being registered three years Reefton Does Well The Inangahua Club returned to its | former date, and the success which j attended the function proved the wisdom of the executive in selecting a day during the Coast circuit. The racing was interesting throughout, and the victory of the local owner-trainer, A'ic Albom, in the principal event of the day with his promising pacer, Linkman, was well received. Tlie Reefton carnival was well conducted, and the club appears to have now turned the corner.