Turf Topics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 157, 8 May 1940, Page 8

Turf Topics

(By Zetland) A FURTHER ADDITION The Matamata trainer, R. Martin, is taking in hand a three year old lialf-forother to Silver Cloud. He jis by Tea Tray, so is likely to be very •speedy. OVER BIG OBSTACLES The hurdler, Agog, is now being schooled over the steeplechase jumps at Ellerslie, in which department he is acquitting himself very creditably. A BEAU PERE JUMPER The first of the Beau Pere stock to be schooled over the jumps is the Cherry Pie gelding, who is attend-' ing the Hunt Club meets in Hawke's Bay with a view to contesting cross country races during the winter months. - NORA GREGOR i Very little has been heard this season in respect to the Bulandshar filly, Nora Grcgor, but it is noAV stated that she has come right and will be sent from Hastings with her stable companion, Kathbella, to compete at Ellerselic in June. A SUCCESSFUL HUNT CLUB The Waikato Hunt Club, with headquarters at Cambridge, has again registered a signally successful year. Its balance sheet shows that the 1939 Labour Day race meeting resulted in a profit of £1232 and the club's accumulated funds now stand, at £7654. FULL OF SCOTCH RESUMES One of the big dividend payers at the Te Aroha meeting in February, Full of Scotch* who went sore just prior to the Brighton Hurdles, has resumed work at Matamata, He likes winter track conditions, so may again have his name enrolled on the winning list in due course. GENTLEMEN RIDERS Gentlemen riders will have the opportunity of displaying their horsemanship at the Waikato meeting in the Waikato Plate, one mile, to be run on the second day. A £10 trophy will go to the winning amateur horseman, and whips for the second and third. There are so fefw races in the Auckland province each season for gentlemen riders, that southern horsemen J|y reason of. greater experience with the colours up, have a definite advantage, with the result that their mounts are invariably spiritedly supported by the investing public. NOW MORE TRACTABLE At the Ilotorua meeting in February the imported black colt, Doug las Hyde, a very fine type, and especially well developed, .showed a distinct disinclination to lining up at the barrier, in fact he absolutely refused to join the other starters and eventually dashed away over lo an adjoining section with its full share of undergrowth, and tlic event was started without him. It is now reported from Rotorua that his behaviour has much improved, so he will again carry racing colours before long, and then the opposition may have to gallop very fast in the endeavour to head him off. RACING IN ENGLAND Early in the season it was anticipated that racing in England would be punctually cancelled OAving to the outbreak of war in Europe. Lately, however, race meetings have been held in the main centres, and the war has had the effect of seeing more French horses in training in England than ever before. The ranks of owners, jockeys and stable lads have been seriously depleted ow ing to the calls for military service, but racing has been carried on much better than expected. It is pstimated that there are about 4000 horses ii". training against the usual 5000. Most of the American owners who race in England have continued to do so.