TO GALLOPERS AGAIN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 12

TO GALLOPERS AGAIN.

FREE HOLMES TO FORSAKE TROTTING.

The Eiccarton trainer, Free Holmes, formerly one of the best-known trainers and riders on the New Zealand Turf, but of later years a prominent figuro in trotting circles, intends at no distant date to relinquish all interest in tho light harness sport and devote his attention to the training of gallopers. There is no better known figure in trotting circles than Free Holmes, who started his connexion with it when it was in, its infancy. Ho has kept stride with his younger rivals and still holds a position as one of the best trainers and drivers in the Dominion. A man of iron constitution and nerve, Holmes has had a very wide experience, and in the matter of'horsemanship boasts a record that is probably unequalled in tho history of New Zealand, for he has been successful on the flat, over hurdles, and over steeplechase country, riding and driving trotters, in the hunting Held, and in exhibitions at agricultural shows.

F. Holmes served his apprenticeship under that great old-time trainer, "Patsy" Butler, and during this time won tho New Zealand and Canterbury Cups on M'anton and the Dunedin Champagne Stakes on Thackeray. Later on ho trained and rode for tho late Mr Walter Spring, of Leeston, for whom he won many races with Bay King, The Idler. Magpie, and other good horses. Holmes set up as a public trainer at Riccarton in 1895 and from then onwards trained many good winners for Mr Victor Harris, including Strathnairn, Epaulet, and Rochester. Holmes was very closely associated with Liberator, perhaps the greatest all-round performer New Zealand has known, and on him he won tho Great Northern Steeplechase, Great Northern Hurdles, and New Zealand) Grand National Hurdles.

On becoming associated with the light harness snort some good performers were under Holmes's care, including Stonewall Jackson, General Power, Black Oats, and Vascoe, and in later years he-earned, notable successes with Trix Pointer, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, Talaro (Auckland Cun), Bonny Logan, Willie Logan, and many other good performers. The training and racing of the horses at present under Holmes's care will be left under the charge of his sons. Freeman, jun., and Maurice, and J. Washington, who has been long associated! with the stable and is better known as the owner-trainer of the Great Northern Derby winner, Daphne de Oro.

It will probably bo early next year when Holmes transfers his attention from the trotters to the gallopers, and for a start he will have a number of two-year-olds by Arrowsmith in his care.

THAMES J.C.

GALA DAY WINS PLATE. (PBESS ASSOCIATION IKUBGKAU.) AUCKLAND, October 31. ' The Thames Jockey Club's Annual Meeting was concluded at Ellerslio to-day in fino weather. There was a good attendance and the totalisator receipts for the day wero £38,579, compared with £15,673 Ws on the corresponding day last year, when the Meeting was held at Thames. The total receipts for the Meeting were £91,676 against £33,153 10s last year, an increase of £58,522 10s. Results:— - ■ ' TOTARA HANDICAP HURDLES, of 150 sovs, ljm. 2. W. Kemp's QUEEN EMERALD 9-10 Mcßae 1 1. A. H. Thomson' 3 Mangani 10-13 N Reniiie 2 3. L. D. Light's Te Tahi 10-12 Rutherford 3 5 Scot Froe 9-0; 7 Marita 9-0; 11 Whakatoe 9-0; 9 Master Arch 9-0; 4 Lucilius 9-0; 10 King of the Air 9-1; 6 Simplicitas 9-1}; 8 Wee Marble 9-1J also started. Won by three lengths; two lengths second and third. Master Arch was fourth. Time, 3.18 2-5. COUNTY HANDICAP, of, 150 sovs. lm. 2. N. Cunningham's and D. S. Thompson's MODEST BOY 8-13 W. Ryan 1 5. W. Lockyor's La Roma-7-7 .. Gill 2 1. F, Earl's Bold Front 6-1 .. Green 3 3 Respirator 8-11; 4'Abbey Day 8-6; 8 Karamu 8-0; 7 Ash Tray 7-7; 18 Master Noel 7-10; 9 Star Comet 7-10; 9 Luxurious. 7-9; 12 The Lover 7-7; 6 Micrometer 7-7; 11 Cullgio 7-2 also started. Won by two lengths; one and a half lengths second and third. Respirator was , fourth. Time, 1.41 2-5. ! PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP, of 300 j sovs. 6f. 1. B. W. Todd's and R. Porter's NANCY LEE 8-6 .. .. Keesing 1 0. F. Earl's High Finance 7-9 .. Green 2 3. Executors Estate of the late Newton King's Oration 8-8 .. Tinker 3 6 Dave 7-8; 4 Subdivision 7-2; 5 Flying Trcsse3 7-0; 7 Josie Melville 7-4 "also started. -.Won by two lengths, one and a half lengths second and third. Dave was fourth. Time, 1.13 3-5. THAMES STEEPLECHASE, of 200 sova. About 3m. 1. T. Wilson's PENDAVIES 10-13 Syme 1' 2. Mrs B. McLeod's Glenotus lt-4 E. Sao 2 5. James Taylor's Raymond 9-0 Jarvis 3 1 Wiltehiro 9-2 bracketed with Pendavies; 4 To Tahi 9-3; 3 Sea Comet 9-0 also started. Won by .three quarters of a length; one and a half lengths second. and third. Sea Ccraet was fourth. Time, 6.8 3 r 5,

THAMES PLATE HANDICAP, of 400 so vs. lm. 8. W. H. Wackrow's GALA DAY 7-G Jonos 1 2. W. S. Glenn's In The Shads 8-0 Green 2 1. R. Porter's Mosaic 8-10 .. Kcesing 3 t 12 Pegaway 9-0; 3 Day Guard 8-4; 7 Hipo 8-4; 5 Master Doon 8-1; 11 King Smock 7-12; 6 Sleepy Sol 7-11; 9 Papatu 7-7; 4 Flying Juliet 7-G; 13 Siaosi'7-5; 14 Nucleus 7-1; 15 Lord Star 7-6; 10 Golden Krist 7-0 also etarted:

Won by a long neck; head second and third. Siaosi waa fourth. Time, 1.88 1-5. PARAWAI HANDICAP, of 250 sovs. 7f 2 A. J. Davis's and H. Bennett's BBANSON 8-4 .. .. Driscoll 1 3. Thomas- linpey's SeTang 7-3 r T « , . m -rr , _ . Wiggiljg 2 5. J. Ashers Te Koroke 7-1 .. Jones S 1 Le Choucas 8-9; 4 Archeno 7-9- 1 Automne 7-SJ; 6 Nasstori 7-2 also started. Won by three-quarters of a length; neck second and third. Nasatori was foutth Time, 1.27 4-5. KATTAEBANGA HANDICAP, of 150 sovs. ljm. 8. J. D. Kemp's ACTJSHLA 7-10 ii -r. t i ■ ■ ~ _ Wiggins 1 11. P. Jenkins's Star Comet 7-10 i m -, . *- Keesing 2 4. T. Impeys hassock 8-4 A. Driscoll 3 r- 1 7 ,, Qum^ r i lia ' 9 -°; x Levensido 8-10; 12 Daddy's Girl 6-6;, 10 Wyoming 8-1; 2 Piet 7-10; 9 Restaurant S-l; 3 Komnk 7-9- 6 Pukenmu 7-9; 5 Frowning Beauty 7-9 also started.

Won by a head; half a length second and third. Lcrenside ivas fourth. Time, 212 FAREWELL HANDICAP,' of 250 aov*. im! 3. E. H. B. Milsom's PHAOLA 8-11

1 «i- %-•!,. , „ McTavish 1 1. Oliver Nicholsons and E. It. Davis's Ballymoy 11. 8-10 .. Uyan 2 G. K. B. McLaren's and Mr 3 J. Hend»rcon's War Officer 8-0 .. Wiggins 3 4 Mini Leaf 9-5; 2 JS'ippy 8-7; 9°Riglit and Left 8-7; S Quincomn S-4; 8 Eh Timi S-l; 7 Saucy Lass 8-1 also started. Won by three-quarters of a lenoth- half a- length second and third. Quincom'a was fourth. **

MELBOURNE TRAINING NOTES. (BY CABL*—PBISS AysOCIATIOJT-- COT'SItIGHT.) (.vustbaxias as'd ;r.5. cable association) ' HF;r.UOt:RN T E. Oe.'ober 31. Training operations were carried oat »t Flemington on the tan. Star d'Or covered & mile in XAoi. Rawhetu and Winai'ot -went sciou -furlongs in 1.3-t. At Caulficld Devonshire and Jlurillo Tent seven fnrlongs in 1.32. Tookarby did ten furlongs in 2.20* (Received October 31st, 10.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE. October 31. The Cup day weather forecast is for cloudy and unsettled weather, with scattered rain. Leontes has b3sn scratched for the Jfel- ! bourne Clip. j The 03lcs acceptors are Tovdilla, Ninbela, j Diretto, Princess Amunus, Lonicera, and.J Verstile.