SPORTING.

Shannon News, 27 October 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

HOROWHENUA NOMINATIONS TO-NIGHT.

On her running at Otaki and again at the Trentham meeting a few days ago, Enthusiasm is being tipped to go out favourite for the New Zealand Oaks.

Believe and the three-year-old filly Cairn, of E. Yuile’s Weraroa stable, will be nominated for the Horowhenua meeting. Both are looking wqll at present.

The improvements to* the local track are nearing completion in view of the approaching meeting. The new lavatories are finished, and seats are being placed on the outside stand, and a stairway erected for palrons on that portion of the grounds. The Horowhenua Club had decided to adhere to the £1 tote at. the coming meeting. it is to be regretted that a 10/ machine could not have been used, as it may mean all the difference to the tote turnover.

The local track is in fair order, and should be found at its best by the time the meeting comes round. Some of the one-day clubs up north are centralising their meetings and holding them on successive days. This is being found successful from a financial point of view, and should help in assisting them through the present stringent times.

Passenger has evidently not struck form yet, his performances in the jumping events at Trentham being very moderate displays. Gloaming’s gallop in the Champion Plate at Trentham on Monday was a good one. A considerable part of the journey was run in the face of a heavy gale, but in spite of that the champion got the mile and a-quarter in 2.6 1-5, and was not asked to, do nis best in the run to- the post. No less than 530 nominations have been received for the Hamilton Rawing Club’s meeting on November 10 and 11, an average of 33 horses per ra&e.

Foo Chow, a New Zealand Cup candidate, landed the Rangiora Cup the other day, and his win indicates that he is in form. It is worth noting that Royal Star, another Cub candidate, ran unplaced in the Rangiora Cup. Gloaming’s next appearance will he

in the Stead Cup at Riccaxton during the New Zealand Cup meeting. That good Otaki mare, Makere, landed a< double at the' Waipawa meeting on Monday. She scored in the big race, the Waipawa County Handicap of £2OO, one mile, in 1.44, and later on won the Railway Handicap of six furlongs in 1.17. Ivikini ran second and Correspondent third in each race. The efforts to save the Demosthenes mare Pente for stud purposes, after she had fractured her shoulder while working ,at Ellerslie, promised to he successful, but after she was released from the slings paralysis set in, and the mare was in such a bad way that it was decided to destroy her. Pente was owned by Messrs. T. Bryne and J. Gleeson and her loss is a serious financial one.

Trotting is evidently not losing any of its attractions. The Oamaru Trotting Club’s annual'meeting on Monday was held in heavy rain, but nevertheless the tote investments reached £22,460.

The investments at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting totalled £118,379 for the two days, a drop of £20,531 as compared with last year’s fixture.

HORSES’ THREE DEAD HEATS, An incident unparalleled in racing history marked the receni Rockhampton ,Jockey Club meeting. Bay Hart (D.O) and Sir Ross (8.3) dead heated in the Second Division. The owners (J. Devitt and R. J. Conn) decided to run off. The run off was originally intended to take place after the last race, but as the Club Handicap Was a walkover, it was agreed to .allow it to- take place immediately after that event. The two horses jumped off together. There was never more than a neck difference al ltliei way, and as they flashed past the post the judge was again unable to separate them. Conn was willing to, divide, but Bay Hart had been heavily backed from Macdifference all the way, and as they price averaged was short, the connections were anxious for a decision. A second run off was permitted. This time N. Marshall, on Bay. Hart, adopted different tactics. He allowed Sir Ross to take the lead, and 'although it meant surrendering the berth on the rails, there was the compensating advantage of having a pacemaker. Sir Ross had a length lead when they turned for home, but at the distance Marshall had Bay Hart up with him. Amidst tremendous excitement both horses charged at. the winning post once more locked together. With one stride to go it looked as though Bay Hart would triumph, but. Hockaday got a last kick from the grey, and to the accompaniment of cheers the dead htt 'signal was for the third time hoisted. Bay Hart’s connections were •still willing to put the question of supremacy to a further test on another day, hut in view of the stewards’ powers undei’ the rule of dead

heats, which entitles them to order a division, the owners again conferred 1 and mutually agreed to divide, a de- ( eislon that, was received with cheers by the great crowd which had as--' semhled outside the saddling paddock • awaiting the result.