MASTERTON TROTTING CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9010, 20 December 1907, Page 6

MASTERTON TROTTING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Masterton Trotting Club held its annual meeting on the Showgrounds yesterday afternoon. The weather was showery, and the attendance was not as large as has been seen at some of the Club's former gatherings. Though the fields were net very large, the racing was excellent, and those present were treated to a good afternoon's sport. The new Gaming Act had its effect on the totalisator receipts, as only the sum of £522 was passed through the machine, as compared with £1,787 for the last meeting. The provision of the Act regarding the closing of the totalisator at the advertised time of starting of the race had a marked effect on the investments on the first race, as the amount placed on the machine was only £3. However, the investments on the other races largely improved as the public became aware of the punctual closing of the machine. Two bookmakers paid £lO each for the privilege of betting, and both did a thriving business. While the machine lacked support, and the hands engaged on it were idle, there was always a cluster of betting men around the bookmakers, who appear- | ed to be taking in the money as fast as they could. The meeting is expected to result in a heavy loss, owing to the early closing of the totalisator and the presence of the bookmakeis. The starting of Mr A. Cometti. with the starting clock, was all that could be desired. During the afternoon a number of selections were played by Mr Reihana Boyes' orchestra. AH the arrangements for the meeting were well carried out by the secretary, Mr A. Hathaway, assisted by an energetic body of officials. The details are as follow :- - MAIDEN HANDICAP (saddle or harness); 1 mile. P. Auld's b m Tuhirangi, syrs, 7sec (H. Mouldy) 1 J. West's ch m Ngaraima, 4yrs, 3sec (J. West) 2 S. Liddington's b m Deborah, 4yrs, 7sec (R. Falloon} 3 Also started—Post Boy lOsec. Post Boy led for half a round. Tihirangi then took charge, and won by several lengths. Time, 2min 47sec. The owner of Tuhirangi was fined 10s for late weighing-in; the owner of Central 10s for not scratching; and the owner of Deborah lOj for racing in the wrong colours. TRIAL TROT (saddle or harness); ii mile. J. West's ch m Ticket, syrs, Tsec (J. West) 1 S. Liddington's b m Deborah, 4yrs, 7sec (R. Falloon) 2 B. Wadham's ch m Vannie. aged. ssec (W. Jensen) 3 Also started—Postboy 12see. Post Boy, the limit horse, led for a round and a-half. Ticket then went to the front, and was never caught, winning by several lengths. A good race for second place was spoiled by Vannie breaking. Time, 4min 2Gsec.

MASTERTON TROTTING CLUB HANDICAP (saddle or harness); 2 miles. Thos. McGrath's b c Childstone, 3yrs, 48sec (N. C. Price) 1 W. D. Watson's br g Rockwood, aged, 48sec (Tai Te Tau) 2 B. Wadham's blk m Glory, aged, 3Gsec (R. P. Maxted) 3 Also started—Magnet 32sec, Miss Rothschild 45sec, Gentleman Jark 48sec. After the second round the race resolved itself into a contest between Childstone and Rockwood. These two were going well together, and the issue was in-doubt until half a round from home, when Rockwood broke. He picked up his lost ground very smartly, however, and was only a length behind Childstone when the post was passed. Time, smin 35sec. DISTRICT HANDICAP (saddle only); \h miles. For horses that have been owned and trained in the Masterton and Wairarapa electoral districts for two months previous to the date of meeting.) W. D. Watson's g g Auctioneer 11., aged, scr (J. Greigg) 1 P. Auld's b m Tuhirangi, syrs, 27 sec (H. Mouldy) 2 Tai Te Tau's br m Apology, aged, 24 sec (Tai Te Tau) 3 Also started—Giggles ISsec, Fairfield 11. 22sec, Vannie 24sec. The feature of this race was the running of Auctioneer 11. Starting nearly half a minute behind the limit horse, he gradually drew up on to the leaders, and passed horse after horse until at the last round there was only Tuhirangi to beat. The latter was caught about 150 yards from home, and the little grey gelding, trotting splendidly, passed the post first with some .lengths to spare. The win was a very popular one. Time, 3min 40 sec. STEWARDS' HANDICAP /saddle or harness); for horses capable of doing 4.15 or better; lAmile. B. Wadham's blk m Glory, aged, 27 sec (R. P. Maxted) 1 W. Morris' b g Giggles, Gyre, 27 sec (W. Morris) 2 11. J. Woodfield's br m Lotus, aged, 22sec (D. Nyan) 3

Also started Magnet 24sec. | Glory was in front ail the way, and won comfortably by several lengths. Magnet dropped out during the race. The owner of Governor was lined £1 for not scratching his horse. Time, 4min 19sec. BOROUGH HANDICAP, (saddle or harness) ; 2 miles. W. D. Watson's g g Auctioneer 11., aged, 12sec behind scr (J. Greigg) 1 W. D. Watson's br g Rockwood, aged, 35sec (Tai ToTau) 2 W. Morris' b g Post Boy, syrs, 40sec (G. Morris) 3 Also started— Vannie 32sec, Childstone 23sec, Gentleman Jack 35sec. Auctioneer 11. put up a better performance even than he did in the District Handicap. He was penalised to the extent of 12sec, and gave the limit horse 52« ec start. Entering on the last round he had passed every horse with the exception of Rockwood. The latter he had beaten early in the last round, and won by about five lengths amid great applause. Childstone dropped out on account of a puncture in the sulky tyre. Time, 4min 57sec. ELECTRIC HANDICAP (saddle or harness); 1 mile. S. J. Gallacher's b m Teeny G, 3yrs, 20sec (S. J. Gallacher)