RACING ASHBURTON MEETING POSTPONED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 4

RACING ASHBURTON MEETING POSTPONED

Drying Track Expected For Tomorrow

The Ashburton County Racing Club hopes for a drying, if easy, trade for tomorrow, when it will stage its autumn meeting. The meeting was postponed from Saturday because of the waterlogged state of the trade after heavy rain..

A thick drizzle continued throughout Saturday and there was water lying for about half the length of the home straight, also near the far turn. There were also small lakes in lower parts of the car parks. Much of the water drained away yesterday, and the Ashburton secretary (Mr J. B. Nicol!) said last evening that with fine weather today the track would offer safe if easy footing tomorrow. Most of the Wingatui horses brought north on Friday for the meeting have remained at Ashburton. The apprentice, J. R Dowling, is in charge of Irrepressible, Strategy, and Yearly, member* of D. P. Wilson's team. Dowling will ride Irrepressible and Strategy in their engagements tomorrow. J. Didham has stayed at Ashburton with Aroair and Relation, form runners for his Wingatui stable in minor races tomorrow. They will be ridden by the apprentice, E. J. Didham. who rode with success in Australia earlier this season. Back at Wlngatoi Gay Mood, top weight and early favourite for the hurdles, has also remained at Ashburton, but Sydtrev was taken back to Wingatui. Sydtrev’s trainer, J. W. Pankhurst, Mid last evening that a start for The Unicorn gelding was still a possibility. . A decision will be made this morning, when Pankhurst gets in touch with the owners, Messrs A. and A. J. Smiley. Barney has been scratched for the steeples and if Sydtrev drops out this will be a two-dividend race. Reclaim was a doubtful starter earlier last week because of soreness in a leg but

he worked over a mile at Riccarton on Saturday without being troubled in any way. No rider had been engaged for Reclaim last evening. He is trained by G. H. Murfitt jun, and is a stablemate of Hopeful, Jamie, Pitch, and Breaker, which null be ridden by the stable apprentice, R. McDonald. Little Ann was scratched on Friday for the Trial Stakes, allowing Talkative to re-enter the field. The re-entry clause ceased to operate after 5 p.m. on Friday, so Kay and Magonza will be unable to start even if there are more scratchings. The Blenheim-owned and trained Silenus has been scratched for the Apprentices’ Hack Handicap. Fair Polly has also dropped out of this field. The Wingatui jockey, R. J. Skelton, who rode two winners at Invereargill on Saturday, will ride at Ashburton tomorrow. He has been engaged for Naval Recruit in the Lauriston Handicap and Clean Heart in the Coldstream Handicap.