Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 195, 26 March 1904, Page 19

Turf Topics

By the 'Old 'Un."

THE Horowhenua annual races were most enjoyable, and the course and appointments were much admired by visitors. The fast times put up at the meeting astonished a number of expert racing men. When Tirole finished the Cup, the watch denoted 2min 6-^sec (an Australasian record). Mr. W. Eolmes, Tj role's trainer, smiled in a somewhat incredulous manner, and compared watches with Mr. J. Prosser, the Ponrua mentor, after which it was a case of smiles all round. The murder was out when the weight adjuster enquired how far from the rails the track had been measured and received the reply of eight feet. That accounted for the milk in. the cocoanut, as two feet from the rails is the proper distance to measure a course. The difference in distance when measured two feet out as compared with eight feet out would make somewhere between eighty and ninety yards in a course one mile in circumference , consequently, Tirole only galloped one mile and 350 yds instead of a mile and a quarter. Mr. Prosser, the Porirua trainer, considers the Horowhenua course a capital one. He also quietly remarked that whenever he wants to sell a racer he will first try and win a race on the Horowhenua couise; the fast time it will be credited with should speedily insure a customer turnme up. Position ran a mile there in lmm 42 2-sthsec. Prosser had never prey ously got him to do within ssec of that time elsewhere. Mr. D. Thompson's gelding, The Guesser, made his debut as a hurdle racer at Horowhenua. Ahck Hall piloted him, and his mount jumped real well, and looked all over a winner three furlongs from home. After that either he or Aleck tired, and the pair followed the field home. The Guesser should make a useful hurdler. Witn more practice, Seawood would be of no use to him, and Seaweed is a fair horse. The Sanfoin party gave the bookies a bit of a knock over the Park Stakes, The Catesby — Fay horse was thrown in at 6st 111b, and won from end to end. The dividend of £5 15s should repay his party for their patience. Sanfoin does not score often, but when he does the dividend is usually a good one. Trainers with silent tongues are comuig very much into favour, especially with owners who like a good nunt. W. Davis, the trainer, who has struck terror into the hearts of the pencillers, made a further raid on their banking accounts last week, this time with that hitherto no-account animal, Sergius. The full-brother to Ostiak has been racing for two seasons without winning. Davis, however, took him to Stratford, and, with the aid of Geo. Price, caught the judge's eye in the Borough Stakes. The dividend of £3 11s was less than was expected from such a poor performer. Red Gauntlet, Starshoot, Ghoorka, Full Cry, Bulawayo, Kremlin Brave Heart, Lee Enfield, Sychem, and De La Rey are sound enough to get through a preparation to enable them to run forward m the big events, and should piovide the winning double. The Porirua stable started a horse in each flat race of the Horowhenua meeting and scored three wins, two seconds, and two thirds. It is noticeable that when other weight^adjusters than the C.J.C. man allots the poundage, Prosser's charges run much more prominertlv. After all, it may be a mere coincidence. The stable have promised the officials of the Otaki Club thumping entries. This is probably on account of the course being adjacent to Porirua.

There aie a lot ot unsound hoi set, and "has beensv ' in the C.J.C. Easter and Autumn Handicaps. Lady Lillian, Grand Rapids, Vladmni, Pampeio. Welbeck, Field Batteiy, Rawiri, Windwhistle, Muskburn, Bill Peikuis, Cense and Blue, aie all moie or less unsound, an,d may not see the po&t. The appeaiance of the C.J.C. Eastei and Autumn Handicaps, seveial days before their due date, took backers by surprise. They were not long in getting to work, however, and the local metalhcians were quickly swamped witl' w res inquiring the odds against Martia'i and Grand Rapids for the double, Eastei and Autumn, and befoie the handicaps had been published six hours a'l the available odds had been snapped up. The pair aie tiained in the Yaldhurst stable. Maitian 's a daik horse. The popular sporting doctor, who races as "Mr. P. Somes," scoied a couple of well-deserved wins with his beautifully-bred filly Possibility, at Napier Park, last week. The filly, whose dam Hme te Po, was bv the Australian horse, Carlyon, from Namoa, a mare raced by Mr. Gollan, easily secured the Sapling Stakes, and also the two-year-old handicap on the second day. Possibility was- purchased at a bloodhorse fair at Palmerston North last May, for 65 guineas. She was one of three sold on behalf of Mr. Douglas. The other pair are still ma.dens.