RICCARTON NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 8

RICCARTON NOTES

R. J. MACKIE TO RIDE HOWE Special to the Daily Times CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 26.

There were plenty of horses at the tracks this morning, but light tasks were the general order. Salmon Spear was galloped on in the Riccarton Handicap, which accounts for his absence from the acceptors for the second day. Fine Night has shown signs of soreness since he won the Apprentices’ Handicap last Saturday. L. J. Ellis has been engaged to ride Signal Officer in the Metropolitan Handicap. It is reported that R. J. Mackie, who rode Howe when he won the Riccarton Handicap, will have the mount on him again next Saturday. If this is correct it would point to Howe starting in the Metropolitan, as he is engaged for Red Pickle in the Jockey Club. Out of 128 horses that make up the list of acceptors for the second day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, 57 are includued that did not race last Saturday. Several horses figure in more than one race at Riccarton next Saturday. The Churchill Stakes field ‘may be reduced to four, as King’s Ransom has an alternative engagement in the Metropolitan Handicap, in which it is thought he will be

started. Howe is in the Metropolitan and the Jockey Club, and there seems an idea that he, too, will run in the Metropolitan. There are no definite plans yet for Indian Dawn, who is in the Metropolitan and Jockey Club, nor for Blue Hussar and Sedgemere, who are in the Suburban Handicap and Otaio Plate. The Canterbury Jockey Club has a big scheme of improvements in mind at Riccarton. The lawns are to be regraded by the formation of embankments, which will enable a large number of people to view the racing, while the small open stand in the outside enclosure will be removed. The work will be put in hand soon, with the idea of having everything ready for the Grand National Meeting in August.