Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 247, 9 June 1932, Page 2

Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Full Measure is gping to take high rank as a hurdler, judged on his two displays at Ellerslie last week. He has a lot of pace an4 he sticks on over hur.dles lnpeh better than he did on the flat. He is a fast jumper and if his owper decides to trip south later on he should pick up a valuable hurdle race. For his first run over the hill at Ellerslie, Apache performed very promisingly in the Green Lane Steeplechase last Friday, although he was only a moderate fourth. In his schooling prior to the Auckland meeting the far south jumper had gone over the fences on the flat only, so it will be seen that Apache may have to be considered if he is raced over the hill again the final day at Ellerslie. In the autumn, Trowbridge, a novice jumper, had gone a couple of good races in hack hurdle contests. He ran his best race at Ellerslie on Saturday, when he beat all but Full Measure, and he was taking on something pretty good in the Ellerslie gelding. Trowbridge is a brother to Wiltshire, so it is not surprising that he can jump, and he should be placed to wiri a hack hurdle race without much difficulty. Silvermine has turned sour at the barrier. He was badly left the first day at Ellerslie, but this was probahh more the fault of the starter than the horse, for it was turned square on ■ to the tapes when they were let go. On the second day he drew number two position, but the starter put him on the extreme outside with a hurdle separating him from the other horses. Silvermine ran two great races under difficulties, although it is hard to recommend- him in future until he gets over his waywardness. Another horse that is getting bad at the start is Arikira, who for a long time refused to line up at Ellerslie on Saturday. He was finally left flatfooted and raced in the rear throughout. Another horse to get left on Saturday was Lord Val in the hack mile, for he, too, was left standing. On the first day Lord Val met with a lot of interference in the straight when making a good run that might have carried him into the money, SlC that so far it has been his unluclcy meeting. Fernden is one of the disappointments of the Auckland winter meeting to date. He fenced badly the first day, the big -field that he was nnable to get clear of apparently bothering him and leaving him unsighted a. some of his fences. To get third under the circumstances was a good effort. On the second day he was started in the open hurdles, but the second fence proved his undoing, for he took ofr too soon and although he made a great leap he caught the top rail or the downward Zoom and toppled over. Fernden was brought out again in the hack hurdles, but he was sixth at the finish, never getting into the firing line. It was surprising that Arcade was allowed to go out at odds of considerably over twenty to one in the Penrose Hurdles last Friday, for he followed up two promising efforts at Te Kuiti by running third to Paddon and High Commissioner at Te Rapa a fev days earlier. Five furlongs from honie on Friday Arcade seemed to have one chance, Buckley's but he put

in a phenomenal run over the last ! half-mile and won easily, exhibiting rare stamina. He was going very ! strongly- on the second day and was \ just within range of Full Measure : at the second to last fence, when he fell. Two very speedy hacks won the • divisions of the Jervois Handicap at . Ellerslie the first day, these being ' Puss Moth and Royal Gallant. The former spreadeagled his field and was made a hot favourite the second day, whereas Royal Gallant was again at double figures. The latter just beat Puss Moth on the post, but he won the race at the start, for he began smartly from number six position at the barrier, whereas Puss Moth was right out at 23. The latter showed a lot of early pace too and quiekly ran round to he in the lead at the end of a couple of furlongs, but this told its tale at the finish. Successful Broadcast On occasions the Auckland Racing Club has been regarded as a most conr servative body, but that it is not above going out of its way to study the requirements of racegoers was demonstrated at Ellerslie during the first and second days of the winter meeting there. At the autumn meeting of the A.R.C. a local broadcasting apparatus was installed for the purpose of having the many races described for the benefit of those who were unable to follow the races closely and identify the horses competing. Lessons were learned from the preliminary broadcast, with the result that for the current Auckland winter meeting the mechanics and the seeretary of the A.'R.C., Mr. W. S. Sp.ence, were able to provid'e listeners inside the racecourse with firstclass descriptions of every race, starting from the moment of the barrier release till the horses were about 100 yards from the winning post. The broadcaster, a local sporting journalist, was able to give a thrilling descriptive account of the contests, both the Great Norheri) Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase lending themselves admirably for a lively account and the announcer made the most of it. Many southern cluhs have tried this local broadcast, with more or less success, mostly less. The Canterbury J.oclcey Club tried it out at its Cup meeting two and a half years ago, while it has also been put on by the Marton Jockey Club and Wanganui Trotting Club, but the experiments were only partly successful, the apparatus in these instances failing to get away from the "car ;e T tonal qualities that so harass the aar-drums. Apparently the machines and loudspeakers have been improved considerably, for the result at Ellerslie was remarkably clear and the tone devoid of harshness or "canning." It is understood that the officials of the Auckland Racing Club were very i impressed with the potentialities of the local broadcasting of the races and that there is every prospect of the idea being extended to cover the various enclosures at Ellerslie for future meetings. The furnishing of a description of the races to club patrons. is a commendable move and one that wfil be appreciated by the sporting public. It is very necessary on the larger courses, such as Ellerslie, Trentham and Riccarton, particularly the two latter courses, where even with glasses it is difficult at times to pick up he horses in running.