ELECTRICAL TRACKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 605, 6 March 1929, Page 12

ELECTRICAL TRACKS

SPEEDING UP AT CLAUDELANDS ARE THE DISTANCES CORRECT? In this advanced age of the light harness horse, followers of the pastime are prepared to find many competitors improving their status as the season progresses, but it is doubtful if anyone anticipated such striking time fractures as were recorded in several instances at Claudelands on Saturday. The track at Hamilton is recognised as possessing a footing conducive to speed, and even in its older days the Claudelands turf was fast. But since the rearranging of the circuit for trotting only, it is even faster, and after some of Saturday’s performances it will have earned a reputation equalling that of Addington. The latter, with its clay formation, is at times electrical, but if the times recorded in a few of the events last week-end are 1<» be taken at their face value, then Claudelands was nothing short of lightning. In only one contest, the Dominion Handicap, did the stake-earners fail to reduce their handicap time, and while in some cases where improvement was registered the margin was nothing to entluise about, there were a few instances where the reduction was so substantial as to cause many to stop and think if such a thing were possible. Take the case of Carmel and Mountain Dell in the Progressive Handicap, where they knocked over 11 seconds off their handicap. Without wishing to depreciate the meritorious performances of this pair, it seems incredible that either of the

novices should be capable of such marked improvement as the watch recorded. Carmel had a win to his credit at Hutt Park in 3.37, while Mountain Dell had so far failed to get any money, and her most ardent admirers would doubtless receive a shock to find her registering 3.26 for 12 furlongs, to get £4O. As a result of his performance, for which he received £IOO, Carmel—who was originally handicapped on the front of the Mapawatu Cup, 4.46 limit, and worth to the winner £165, with the addition of a handsome piece of silver—has been penalised 60 yards, showing forcibly the disadvantages of winning on an electrified track. Cornelian and Limosa also trimmed lumps off their previous best, registering times that have quickly put them out of hack company. Then there is the case of the placed horses in the Cup. When Torpedo Huon won at Alexandra Park, he was all in to go 4.34 1-5 officially, although private watches ticked it a shade faster, but in another week to tramp 4.27 4-5 is a wonderful improvement. Alexandra Park is looked upon as a fast track when the conditions are favourable but it looks as if Claudelands is so much faster, and can be given the palm as the greatest grass speedway in the Dominion.

Suggestions have been put forth that the track may be somewhat on the short side, and if such proved to bo the case it would put a different aspect on the future operations of those who trekked” so swiftly on Saturday. While there may be no- * } 1X 1? suggestion, .the executive «>f the Waikato Club might find it worth while having the track measured as a means of satisfying owners and trainers as to whether their charges have made such rapid advancement as the clock indicated during the week-end. Handicappers will find the “fast track” problem difficult of solution and advocates of systematic liandicappmg will advance the argument that their theory is the only one whereby 2" c ; h . difficulties will he overcome, but handicappers have certain discretionary powers, and it is only reJson able to assume that allowances will be made in future for such exceptional occurrences as those which obtained at «. speedy c,a udelands last week-end. Abaydos” appends a summary of the improvement shown bv nlneegetters on Saturday: TWELVE FURLONGS

Handi - Time Tamahine (first) . . Te Ngutu (second) cap. i recorded. ment. 3.50 3.50 3.45 2-5 4 3-5 Lochade (third) .. 3.50 Carmel (first) . . 3.37 11 2-5 Mount. Dell (second) 3.37 Regret (third) . . . 3.35 3.20 2-5 5 3-5 TWO MILES Torpedo Huon (first) 4 34 Gold Dial (second) 4.34 Lj. Dun more (third) Anseline (first) 4.4G Ivoro Peter (second) Cornelian (first) . 4.43 Limosa (second) . . 4.44 4.37 2-5 G 3-5 EIGHT AND TEN FURLONGS Tony Victor (first) Gold Dial (second) Medusa .(third) .. 2.18 2.15 2.13 1-5 2.12 4-5 4 4-5 2 1-5 Nella Dillon (first) 2.57 •1 5 r Moun. Dell (second) 2.57 3 2-5 3 1-5 Regret (third) . . . 2.57 2.53 4-5