RACING.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1928, Page 6

RACING.

A.J.C. SPRING MEETING. LIMERICK BEATEN. (Australian Press Association). SYDNEY, October 3. The Australian Jockey Club’s spring meeting was continued at Kandwick to-day in cool, but boisterous weather. The attendance was 29,500. Light overnight rain put tlie track in excellent order. The surprise feature of the day’s racing was the running of Limerick ■in the Craven Plate. The New Zealander led tlie field into the straight, but when tackled, lie failed to produce liis customary smart finish. He managed to struggle into fourth' place. The champion was later discovered to be suffering from an acute split heel. Ho was therefore withdrawn from the Randwiek Plate on Saturday. His trainer, F. D. Jones, stated that probably an early return will be made by Limerick to New Zealand. Suburban Handicap.—Nepean 1, Spruiker >2, Enerique 3. Won by a neck. Time 1.39 a-. Members’ Handicap.—Yodelist 1, Baverwrack 2, The Dimmer 3. Won by one and half lengths. Time 2.51. Sydney Handicap.—Statesman I, Octember 2y Vallino 3. Won by one and a-qmuter lengths: Time 2.35. Second Hurdles.—Piratic •1, Triplex 2, Sir Honour 3. Won by two lengths. Time 4.28. . Craven Plate. —Amounts 1, Fourth Hand 2,; Prince Humphrey 3. Won by one andja-half lengths') Time 2.6;). Gimcrack Stakes.—Afalnina • ly Violin Bow 2, Gay Ballerina b; • Won by one and a-half .• lengths.t Time 1.2. ' LIMERICK RETURNING- HOME. WELLINGTON, October 3. Wireless information from Sydney to-night quotes F. D. Jones, the trainer of Limerick, as stating that tlie Limond gelding is suffering from a badly split heel, and lie will return home by the boat leaving on Friday, without doing any more racing. Ihc announcer also stated that Limei ick started favourite in the Craven Plate and alter disputing the lead for a. mile he,failed to come,on in the straight. Amounis secured a good run on the rails and• tvon easily. J. Munro rode Amounis and E. Bartle was on Prince (Humphrey-. Limerick finished fourth. rVA gale, blew at Randwiek -.all day ,End the’ weather was c-old, the ladies turning out in fur coats instead oftheir spring frocks. .

ft l LIMERICK’S: CONDITION. A ; , • SYDNEY, Oct. 4. Limerick’s heel revealed blood after the Craven Plate. Jones states the 'trouble has not extended to the frog, and is hardly as serious as two years ago. Limerick will have three days rest and a dose of physic, Then if able to igallop satisfactorily, possibly he will be sent to Melbourne for the Victorian carnival, but certainly not for the Caulfield meeting. ' .

NEW STARTING BARRIER. ’. WONDERFUL U.SW INVENTION. a ' LONDON, del 3, .« Sporting Life .describes a new racecourse barrier,. the. invention Aof an American trainer, J. AY. May. It promises to eliminate ragged unequal starts. Tice contrivance is a stall gate whereby the horses are placed in stalls before the harrier, but immediately the barrier is lifted, the stall instantly disappears into the ground. The field not only starts aligned, but pushing, twisting and turning are eliminated. It is practically impossible for the horses to he left at the post. Twenty horses can be started in fifty feet of track. It is only 'necessary th/it the horses be taught to stand in jXe stalls. The stalls:'are m'ado .of the finest- steel, half an inch thick. Tlie one lever controls both tlie barrier and the stalls.