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Mushroom trotted very evenly right through the Spring Handicap, the opening event, of the Metropolitan meeting, and with Miss Salisbury breaking 100 yards from home, he won by a length.

Granger went before his bell in the Empire and was called off, and Frost, his rider, fined a tenner. He only wanted to go two seconds before his time, which was a bit over the odds.

Ouimet, when out in front in the Empire, broke badly, and settled what looked like a fair chance of success.

Schnapps trotted very solidly and beat Dillon Eddy by over a length in the Empire Handicap. The little fellow
was beatifully handled by E. McDermott.

Moneymaker began very quickly in the Trotting Cup, and always had a good break on his field till the last furlong, when Trix Pointer ran past him and won very easy.

John Dillon broke up at the start, and took no part in the Cup. Author Dillon seemed as if Jarden had got to the bottom of him, as at no part of the Cup did he ever flatter his large army of supporters, and was well beaten a mile from home. It should be mentioned he left 1 2-5s after his time. Matchlight appeared very sore in his preliminary, but it wore off, and he gave a real good showing, finishing third.


'Cello Sydney Wilkes and Dean Dillon showed a lot of pace in the last round of the Riccarton Handicap, and cleared out from the field, finishing in that order.
Admiral Wood plugged away, and passing a lot of tired horses, got the 40sovs for third in the Riccarton Handicap.

Beeswing, who went off at a great bat, put a big break on the field in the Middleton Handicap, but broke up badly at the five furlong post and was not prominent again. Imperial Crown stayed on well and beat Lady Patricia over the concluding stages of the Middleton Handicap.

Norah Creina and Capriccio stood on the mark, and took no part in the Victoria Handicap. Brown's Nugget showed a lot of pace in the middle stages of the Victoria Handicap, but failed to see it out. Dandy Chimes finished fast, and won the Victoria Handicap in good style. Gleaming trotted solidly all through the Victoria Handicap.

Birdwood dashed away, quickly at the start of the St. Alban's Handicap, and had the race won at the first quarter. He failed badly in his next essay.

Ivan Huon and Craibwood cleared out from the field over the last six furlongs of the Whiteleigh Handicap, and Orange, riding a very confident race on the former, won nicely. The judge could have had his lunch before Grattan Chimes arrived to gather the £25 for third m the Whiteleigh Handicap.

Granger was a hot order for the November, but never looked like assisting the punters to get their money back, as he could not get near the front at any part of the race. Harold Child, when looked to have the November Handicap won, stopped to a walk over the last few yards, and Acushla Machree just grabbed the big end of the purse. Rumor says the win was not anticipated by Owner John Farrell.

'Cello Sydney Wilkes had the Courtenay' Handicap well won a long way from home, and his driver took things leisurely in the straight. Emilius was very sore, and never had a winning show in the Courtenay Handicap.

Asturlo did not leave to his bell. He went a little way with the back markers, but then turned it up altogether. Cappricio just beat Gleaming over the last bit In the Metropolitan Handicap. Rorke's Drift trotted a fair race in the Metropolitan, and easing up Norah Creina, beat him for fourth place.

They went fairly fast in the Free for All — first quarter 32 2-5s, 1/2 mile 1.55, 3/4 mile 1.38 3-5s, mile 2.11 2-5s, 1 1/4 mile 2.44 4-5s. Author Dillon got a great reception on returning to the bird-cage after just outing Cathedral Chimes.

Paul Huon trotted a good race in the Sockburn, but Reta Peter was all too good, and beat him very comfortably over all the concluding stages.

Xavier, who did not leave the mark in the November Handicap, left smartly in the Railway Handicap, and
was in the picture till the last stride, heads only separating Cappricio, Pitaroa and him. Had Pitaroa not got knocked back near the tanks, there would have been no doubt about the result. Bob Reid, the Dunedin jockey who rode Pitaroa, got right through on the fence, and 'thought he' had won.

Miss Salisbury made a one-horse race of the Governor's Handicap, and carved a decent bit off her time. Billy Parole made a bad skip when he appeared to be going very well in the Governor's Handicap. Brown's Nugget had the Lyttelton Handicap well won when they had gone half-a-mile, and he never looked like being beaten.

'Cello Sydney Wilkes won the Christchurch Handicap (his fourth win at the meeting) just as easily as he did his other races. Handicapper Brinkman assessed him as the equal of Author Dillon in the last race. Emilius was very sore behind after the Christchurch Handicap, and did well to get third, just touching Erin's Queen off. The latter did not shape as well as she did in the Cup.

Granger was heavily supported for the Australasian Saddle Handicap, but he never got near the front division. Pitaroa, well-ridden by young Bob Reid, headed Silver Nut six furlongs from home in the Australasian Trot, and never putting a foot wrong, won nicely. His rider has a good idea of the game, and should get plenty of mounts.

Whist trotted solidly right through the Dominion Trotting Handicap, and won well over the last furlong. His success would get his owner square over a bad meeting. Gleaming had the Hornby Handicap won three furlongs from home. There was big money on the course to say he would win. General Link won the Enfield Handicap very easily. Like a lot of other winners he had J. McLellan on the bridge.

John Dillon showed a great burst of speed in the Recovery Handicap, but just failed to stall off a strong late run from Don Caesar. When Pitaroa got second place in the Enfield he put up 2.11 3-5s. This will be the end of the smallest horse m the Dominion for some time.

Xavier (A. Pringle) began very smartly in the Enfield Handicap, but he broke up badly in the straight. The big "skulls" thought Trix Pointer unbeatable in the concluding event, but she could not get up to John Dillon and Don Caesar, both of whom trotted well.

The conditions at Addington last week were well nigh unbearable, and it is high time the management studied the comfort of totalisator investors and put some sand and tar down to lay the dust. This should be done both inside and out. The cost would be a mere trifle to the comfort it would give the investing public.


Credit: 'Silenus' writing in NZ Truth 22 Nov 1919