Hawke's Bay Club Plays the Game

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 649, 29 April 1929, Page 13

Hawke's Bay Club Plays the Game

TWO-DAY JUNE FIXTURE ATTRACTIVE TROTTING CARD Having permanently secured the Poverty Bay Trotting Club’s permit, the Hawke’s Bay light harness organisation has wisely decided on holding the fixtures together this season, making a twoday function, as previously suggested by THE SUN. When the extra permit was avail- I able on former occasions, it was uti- '■ Used for a winter fixture, the Hawke’s j Bay annual function having been got off in January. Those shaping the destiny of this club are evidently perfectly satisfied with the possibilities of winter trotting, and the 1929 carnival, extending over two days, will •be staged on June 1 and 3. This action on the part of the Bay administration will meet with the approval of owners and trainers whose candidates are eligible to compete at Hastings. The fixture is a popular one, although many owners found the expense too solid to make the trip for a one-day meeting, but, under the netv arrangement, they will be induced to visit the East Coast, and the club will benefit considerably as a result. A Good Lead In this objective, the Hawke’s Bay Club has given a good lead to other clubs, which are happy in the possession of more than one permit, but insist on holding the meetings at vastly separate periods. It is a subject also that appears to have appealed to the Trotting Conference, S.s a recommendation was made to the Wellington Club to arrange in future for two-day functions in lieu of its wideapart one-day policy. One or two other trotting bodies that utilise their privileges at different periods of the year would no doubt find it advantageous to pool the days in similar fashion to Hawkes Bay, and such a move would be generally appreciated by owners and trainers. The wisdom of the East Coast organisation’s policy will be reflected in a marked degree when entries are received for the approaching fixture. An Attractive Card The Hawke’s Bay Club has also shown an appreciable progressive spirit in the arrangement of its programme for June 1 and 3. The card is an attractive one, and pacers and trotters are both well catered for. The sum of £2,100 is offered in stakes for 15 interesting events, tho chief of which is the Hawke’s Bay Cup, run on the King’s Birthday, and endowed with a stake of £3OO, to which is added a

handsome 50-guinca cup for the owner of the lucky candidate, while the winning driver will also receive a goldmounted whip. No race is of less value than £IOO, and, in fact, only one item has this allotment, the remainder ranging from £llO to £2OO. The latter is the prize-money attached to the principal heat on the opening day—the East Coast Handicap, run over the middle distance of 13 furlongs. Two events each day are confined to the square-gaited fraternity, the respective distances being 12 and 16 furlongs. With such an appetising trotting menu, the response from owners will be on a liberal scale, *and when secretary A. E. Palmer, of Hastings. tackles the job of listing the nominations on May 13, he will be kept decidedly busy. Appended is a summary of the schedule: First Day, June 1. Novice Handicap, of £100; limit, 3.45: 1 h miles. Uavelock Handicap, of £l2O, for unlioppled trotters only; limit, 3.50; lb miles. Napier Handicap, of £120; limit, 3.40; lb miles. East Coast Handicap, of £200; limit, 3.54: 13 furlongs. Hastings Handicap, of £120; limit, 3.5: 12 miles. Stewards’ Handicap, of £l4O, unlioppled trotters only; limit, 5.5; 2 miles. June Handicap, of £130; limit, 2.58; 12 miles. Second Day, June 3 Clive Handicap, of £110; limit, 3.45; 11 miles. Taradale Handicap, of £l2O, unhoppled trotters only; limit, 3.50; 12 miles. Whakatu Handicap, of £120; limit, 3.40; 1£ miles. Hawke’s Bay Cup, of £3OO and 50guinea cup; limit, 4.47; 2 miles. Longland's Handicap, of £120; limit, 3.5: 12 miles. Tomoana Handicap, of £l5O, for unhoppled trotters only; limit, 5.3; 2 miles. Heretaunga Handicap, of £120; limit, 3.36; lb miles. Farewell Handicap, of £130; limit, 2.38; nine furlongs. TROTTING FIXTURES Forbury Park T.C.—May 2. 4. For bury Park T.C.—May 2-4. Cambridge T.C.—May 4. Oamaru T.C.—May 18. Hawke’s Bay T.C.—June 1-3. Canterbury Park T.C.—June 1-3. Ashburton T.C.—June 8. Auckland T.C.—June 22-24.