DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 11, 28 January 1937, Page 8

DIVOTS

Dug by "The Delver,; Don't forget ,that nominations for all events at the Woodville summer meeting, to be held on Saturday and Monday, February 20 and 22, are due by 8 o 'clock next Monday evening. • * « Custos will race as a gelding when he makes his next appearance -under colours. * » , » S. J. Reild, who has accepted an appointment as private trainer to Mr Frank Ormond, will take over his new duties on March 1 at Hastings, . ■ • ' • '. •' • r According tp a southern observer, twenty-three flat-foot starts took place during the Wellington fixture. The final field went away from a move-in des* patch, and it was one of the best starts of the meeting. • • The final event at Trentham last week, the Kelburn Handicap, saw the oniy five-figure pool on Saturday. The betting between win and place was rem&rkably even on this race, with the score £11,458 win and £11,432 place, «* * • According to a New Plymouth message Fersen was lame after the Wellington Cup and his charices of iaciug at the coming Taranaki meetings appear to be rather remote. • * • Only one mare was secured at the Westmere sale for the Elderslie Stud. This was the Hawke's Bay-bred Lotus Lily (Chief Ranger — Egvptian Flower) who had a foal to Beau Pere which died soon ai' ter birth. The rnare was then mated with Phaleron Bay, • • • Among his 'many Hawke's Bay friends, and racing folks in* particular, there will be widespread sympathy with the'* well-known starter, Mr R. H. Skipwith in the death of his wife, Mrs Ethel Jessie Skipwith, which occurred at her home in* Hamilton last week. The deceased lady was a daughter of the late ceased lady was a daughter of the late Mr Thooias Knight, of Palmerston North. • • • The three-year-old colt Dropped Catch, is now being trained by J. Lindsay at Riccarton. He was bred by Sir Charles CiifPord and got by Winning Hit from Robbie's Mistake, by Psychology — Lovelock, by Martian — Lovelorn, and so, on the dam's side, a close relative to Wotan. # #' ' Ponty is not the first Wellington Cup winner to be trained at Yaldhurst. In the days when it was the stronghold of the late R. J. Mason he saddled winners for Mr G. G. Stead's yellow jacket and black cap in the shape of Beresford (1888) Uniform (1898),", St. Michael (1902), Nightfall (1905), and Miss Mischief in 1911 for the late Mr J. D. Greenwood. . « • • • • The Grasper, a six-year-old gelding by Mercian King from Cetus, who was purchased by Mr A. S. Elworthy at Trentham last week, has joined D. O'Connor's stable at Riccarton. The Grasper is a winner on the flat, but it is with the intention of making a jumper of him that he was purchased by Mr Elworthy. He has been schooled but has not yet raced over obstacles. — Christchurch ' ' Press. ' ' • * • When the Australian® are after b yearling the money does not count, and consequently New Zealand owners drop jout in what they consider a hopeless chase. They come over with instructions to ' ' bring them home. ' ' During the meeting the writer met Mr. W. J. Smith, who was a liberal buyer at both saies. He paid 3300 guiueas for kBeau Pere, but that was not his limit Mr. Smith stated that he wanted tlie horse, and the money was a matter of minor consideration. Mr. Smith has a stud at Stone, New South Wales, of over 4000 acres on limestone cowntry. He is one of the richest men in Australia, with a hobby for the thoroughored, and does not mind stretching his purse strings to buy what he considers the best. — "SentineL"