RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 5

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. October 3. —Kurow J.G. October 3.—Otaki Maori Racing Club. October 3, s.—Taumarunui Racing Club (at Paeroa). October 8, 10. —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 10.—Dannevirke Racing Club (at Waipukurau). October 10, 12.—Auckland Racing Club. October 16, 17.—Masterton Racing Club. October 17.—South Canterbury Jockey Club.

October 17, 19.—Dargaville Racing Club (at Avondale). October 22. 24, 26.—Wellington Racing Club. October 24, 26.—Gore Racing Club. October 26.—Waverley , Racing Club. Octbbcr 26.—Waipawa County Racing Club (at Hastings). October 26.—North Canterbury Jockey Club.

CARELESS RIDING In New Zealand it has become the .habit of stipendiary stewards to watch the racing from the stands when only one is present at a race meeting, and they pay quite a loj of unnecessary attention to the weighing in and out. Clubs nowadays appoint capable and experienced men as clerks of the scales, and the tone of racing might be well improved if stipendiary stewards viewed tire racing from different portions of the course. There was one race in particular at the recent Geraldine Meeting in which the riding of one of the horses should have been questioned. It is not always the owner or trainer that is behind the pulling of a horse, and to clear their names in cases like the one under notice they would appreciate an inquiry being held. Tito apparent pulling of a horse by a rider is not always a wilful or deliberate act. Errors of judgment are occasionally made by the best of riders, and they are generally the first to recognise their mistakes. There are not nearly as many horses pulled up in races as the bulk of racegoers are inclined to think, but from the indifferent handling of some horses their backers are quite justified in thinking they have not been -workers. It is approaching the bend for home and the top of the straight that many mistakes are made, and if our stipendiary stewards were located so that they could get a much closer view than they can obtain from the stand, much of the careless and rough riding that spoils so many of our races nowadays could be checked. JOTTINGS Friday will be an important day for owners and trainers, as in addition to acceptances closing for the first day of the local spring meeting, the first payment for the New Zealand Cup is also due, and nominations for the open handicaps and Canterbury Cup to be run at lliccarton in November will also close. Next week nominations for the Gore and South , Canterbury Jockey Clubs’ Spring Meetings close on Monday,” and the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday. Forty-two horses remain in the A.J.C. Derby and 48 in the Epsom Handicap, to be run on Saturday, but final acceptances are due to-morrow.

Considering the poor lists of nominations received the acceptances for the Kurow Meeting to be held next Saturday are very satisfactory, and the club should have" a good meeting.

Caretaker Ruthven has made an excellent job of fixing up the track at Wingatui, and a few days of to-day’s wind and sunshine will make it a fast course for next week’s meeting.

An American colt by Real Frisco from Lady Bountiful arrived in New Zealand last week on consignment to Mr F. Wallis, jun., of Gore.

Sunny Morn is not likely to start in the New Zealand Trotting Cup this vear. He is on the sale list, and it is said to be likely that he will go to Australia.

The first race at Kurow on Saturday is timed to start at 12.30 p.m., and there will be 35-minute intervals between the events.

The acceptance of Polydora in the Kurow Cup, to be run next Saturday, indicates that this mare will be on hand for the hurdle races at Wingatui next week.

As Southdown was paid up for in the Kurow Cup last evening, it does„ not look as if the soreness he is reported to have displayed after racing at Ashburton is serious.

New Zealand Cup entrants who have already won this season are Silver Ring, Wino, Velocipede, Fersen, Carfex, Rona Bay, Queen Dorothy, Boomerang, Shy, Youssipof (over hurdles), and llavolo.

War Buoy and Gafnble have disappointed in their races this season, and neither has raced up to his best. M. B. Edwards reports, however, that they have done well lately, and he expects them to be at their best for November.

Prostration has come to hand more readily than anticipated this spring, says a northern writer, and is likely to play, a part in the racing leading up to the New Zealand Cup Meeting. He may have his first start in the open seven at Otaki next Saturday.

The ‘ Press ’ states that Silver Jest gave two very poor performances at the Geraldine Meeting, and it would appear that his new owner, Mr 11. Mee, will find difficulty in getting a return of his outlay from this gelding in the near future.

Horses with two engagements at the Kurow Meeting include Royal Gallant, Ada, Toreador, Polygraph, Brevity, Rousseau, Last Dance (in three), Silver Lark, Pink Paper, Stratosphere, Silver Slipper, and Dracula.

In the Orepuki Novice Stakes, run over six furlongs on the opening day of the Riverton Meeting last April, Stolen March and Fog Peak each carried 7,4, the former winning comfortably by two lengths. In the Taioraa Handicap to be run next week they each have 7.7.

Ihe totalisator turnover at last week’s meeting ol the Geraldine Racing Club was the highest at Oraii for over 10 years, the last previous occasion on which £20,000-was exceeded being hi 1925 when £21,883 was put thiou£n. The records tor the course are £15,94G for one dav (in 1920) and £29,633 10s for a meeting (1921).

October 28. —Waikato Hunt Club. October 29, 31.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 31.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. October 31.—Rangitikei Racing Club. November 5, 7.—Whangarei Racing Club. November 7.—Hawke’s Bay Racing Club. November 7,9, 11, 14. —Canterbury Jockey Club. TROTTING. October 3. —Melhven T.C. October 10.—New Brighton T.C. October 17. —Waikato T.C. October 24, 26. —Auckland T.C. October 24, 26.—Greymouth T.C. October 26.—Manawatu T.C. October 26.—Oamaru T.C. October 31.—Wellington T.C. November 10, 12, 13/—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C.

In Gold Rod’s favour is the manner in which he settles down early m a race. M. M'Carten has said he could ride the colt with a thread, and that he will always settle down when and where he wants him.

At the annual meeting of the Wyndham Trotting Club Mr H. Hayes made a recommendation that the committee go into the system of betting with a view to reverting to the single pool, either 75 and 25 per cent., or 70, 20, and 10 per cent. The chairman said the club was progressive and had adopted the win and place, although the committee was not unanimous on the matter. The recommendation would be considered in due time.

Francis Drake, a full-brother to Admiral Drake, was backed down to a short price in the Juvenile Handicap, but after having every chance in the running he was outstayed in the dash home by the second favourite, Greenwich, who beat him by a short head. It was thus a further victory for the hllies in the two-year-old races this season, but Francis Drake; is one colt who should not be Jong in having a turn on the winners’ list.

A Christchurch report states that Southdown, the New Zealand Cup candidate in A. M'Aulay’s stable, is sore, and has had to be eased in his work. The trouble started after a sprint earlier last week, but it is not of a serious nature, and Southdown should bo back on the tracks again this week. Mr J. M. Samson’s gelding is looking brighter than he has done for some time past, and the form he showed at Ashburton encourages the view that he should soon win a race.

When Wild Career beat Epic two lengths in the Raukapuka Handicap at Geraldine last Thursday the former gave Epic 121 b. In the Electric Handicap to be run on Thursday of next week they both have 7.7, and if started in this race it looks as if the three-year-old will be racing out of his class. Epic is also engaged in the Taioma Buck Handicap, in which he has 8.1, but on Geraldine form seven furlongs appears to be too far for him.

When Greek Gold won the Stewards’ Handicap at Trentham last July he carried 8.11 (Bst minimum) and beat a high-class field. On the second day he finished close up third under 9.4 to Dungarvan 9.10 and Adalene 8.13 over seven furlongs. With only 8.2 in the Electric Handicap to be run over six furlongs on Thursday of next week Greek Gold appears to hold a royal chance.

The Surgeon was not started on the second day of the Geraldine Meeting after finishing third to. Monipere and Davolo on the first day. At Ashburton he carried 9.0, and was only beaten a short head by Rona Bay in the Ashburton Handicap. With 7.10 in the Mosgiel Handicap he should be worth following, as some of his best performances have been recorded on the Wingatui course.

Last spring Viking ran a good mile in the Dunedin Guineas, finishing within half a length of Greek Shepherd, who was beaten >by Kidnoull. Viking looks a much more solid horse now than a year ago, and is nicely handicapped in the October Handicap at 8.11. He may require a race to sharpen him up, and if so is likely to find Queen Dorothy the hardest to beat.

The progeny of Chief Ruler, sire of Gold Rod, the favourite for the A.J.C. Derby, have had a rather remarkable run of success in the Avondale Stakes. The first of his winners was Supremacy in 1928, one of Chief Ruler’s second crop, and then came a sequence with I’rincess Doreen, Whenuakura, and Galilee in 1932, 1933, and 1934 respectively. Last year’s, winner, Stretto, though by Hunting Song, was out of a Chief Ruler mare, The Begum, who is a full sister to Supremacy ; and this year Aiwni has given the sire his fifth success in the 10 years in which his stock were available to contest the race.

It may or may not be the irony of fate, but it is always the good horses which break down. Habboni is very lame, and he will have to be spelled for about six months, says the ‘ StarSun,’ Christchurch. This is bad luck for his owner, Mr E. W. Spencer, and his trainer, C. C. M'Carthy, as Rabboni was one of the most promising two-year-olds in work at Riccarton. The suspensory ligament in his near foreleg was badly jarred, and at present he is’ standing on three legs. M'Carthy will have to rely on Screamer in two-year-old races in,the meantime, but the grey does not take the eye like the chestnut colt did.

In reviewing the handicaps for the New Zealand Cup the Christchurch ‘Press’ says: “ Que?n of Song was not handicapped for last year’s cup, but two months later she won the Wellington Cup with 7.1 (should be 7.6), and with other successes, including the Invercargill Cup and Great Autumn Handicap, she lias now been assessed at 8.8. She is also in Australia, but has received an invitation to return after completing her Sydney programme. Tauramai had 8.7 last year, and has 8.6 this year, but has been off the scene for a long time, and'his reappearance will have to be awaited to form any opinion regarding him. Greek Shepherd has 8.5 or 91b less than weight for age. Ho is not likely to asked to undergo a cup preparation, and can be struck out in the meantime.”

Billy Boy, after his winter racing, is now enjoying a well-earned rest° at Trentham, says the ‘ Evening Post,’ but is not to go into retirement yet. He is to be brought back into work during the summer, and. all going well, will be on hand to contest his sixth Grand National Steeplechase next year. As far as can he recalled, no horse has ever yet run in six Grand Nationals. Billy Boy’s owner-trainer, B. W. A. Lewis, says that the old champion never looked so well after his winter racing as

he did this year. He is now romping about the paddock as fresh'almost as a two-year-old, and is as sound as a bell. His 12 years rest lightly on him. It would not be without precedent for a 13-year-old to win the Grand National, as Paritutu and Snowfall were each of that age when they succeeded.

Dismal Desmonds of the turf are to be heard descanting on the deplorable condition of racing in the Dominion, and declaring that bookmakers the only means of salvation (says the Timaru ‘Herald’). It is interesting to compare the stakes given at the principal provincial fixtures in the South Island just 40 years ago. when bookmakers were operating with those of last season when the country was just emerging from a deep slump. In contemplating the appended figures, it is necessary to remember that in this island racing now has to face very strong opposition from trotting, which in quite a number of places has a stronger hold than the galloping sport. The amounts given below are for the principal event of the season at the courses named:—

1896. 1936. £ £ Riverton 36 550 Waikouaiti ... 25 375 Wyndham 35 300 Invercargill ... 40 350 Gore 55 175 Winton 40 155 Oamarn 60 225 Geraldine 40 160 K u row 35 115 Timaru ... * 100 200