NEW ELLERSLIE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 May 1927, Page 9

NEW ELLERSLIE

IN THEMAKING COURSE IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRESS TRACK IN FIRST-CLASS ORDER The improvements to the Ellerslie course are now well under way, and it is hoped that the next race for the Great Northern Derby, on New Year’s Day, will be started from the new track at the mile and a-half post, a short run out bringing them on the present course. At this part of the reconstruction of the track the grass has already cultivated a good sole, and with seasonal weather in the interim there is every prospect that the Derby will be started from the new post. With the new lay-out of the course proper beyond the present five-fur-long barrier and the two furlongs, the bend which has to be negotiated preparatory to entering the straight will be considerably enlarged, so that the turn will be made much easier. The excavations being made from the cutting into the foot of the hill provides for a bigger sweep, and furthermore, one of its greatest advantages will be to extend the course by half a furlong, so that when completed it will be nine and a-half furlongs. ENLARGING THE COURSE This will of course bring the mile barrier, at present situated in an alley and out of view of a large proportion of stand patrons, further out, and enable the starts to be seen by everybody. It will be some time, however, before these improvements are completed. The work now going on is but part of a big scheme which, when finished in the not-far-distant future, will almost make Ellerslie a new course. A walk round the track recently showed that the turf is almost back to its normal state after the cutting up it received during the progress of the Avondale meeting, striking evidence that the racecourse manager, Mr. A. J. Hill, and his staff are well aware of the necessity of presenting local and visiting trainers for the winter meeting with going equal to anything found on other courses. It is hard to realise that only a fortnight ago Ellerslie was raced upon in very heavy rain.

MARLBOROUGH RESULTS

BUOYANT AND BRONSTELL SCORE BLENHEIM, Friday. The Marlborough Racing Club’s meeting was opened to-day in beautiful weather arid before a large attendance. The course was a trifle hard. The totalisator handled £8,851, against £10,499 on the corresponding day last year. Additional results: BEAVER HACK HANDICAP, 6 fur.— 4 Arrowboy, 7.7 (S. Wilson), 1; 3 Polonaise, 7.13, 2; 2 Erin-go-Bragh, 7.9, 3. Also started: 1 Carrigallon, 9.0; 5 Imitation, 8.12. Won by one and a-half lengths, with two and a-half lengths separating second and third. Time, 1.15. AUTUMN HANDICAP, 6 fur.—2 Buoyant, 8.3 (R. J. Mackie), 1; 1 Deluge, 8.13, 2; 3 Gleninnis, 7.11, 3. Also started: 5 Corn Rigs, 7.5; 4 Anthonie, 7.0. Won by two lengths. Time, 1.14 2-5. WITHER TROT, 1J miles. —2 Item, 24 yds bhd (P. H. Green), 1; 3 Castle Chimes, 24yds, 2; 1 Wakefield, limit, 3. Also started: 16 Halloween, 10 Future, limit; 6 Ballin’s Pride, limit, and Lu n sdale, 24yds (bracketed); 8 Audubon Mac, 12yds, and Great Wilkes, 12yds (bracketed); 11 Country Life, 12yds; 5 Tracey Boy, 4 George the Fourth, 12 Velocity, 18 Proud Joyce, 24yds; 13 Grey Thorpe, 7 Vlkota, 36yds; 9 All Fours, 48yds, and Lincoln Huon, 60yds (bracketed); 15 Dillon’s Pride, 17 Hope Dillon, 14 Lottie Advance, 60yds. Won by a length. Time, 2.57 4-5. OPAWA HACK HANDICAP, 7 fur.—l Bronstell, 9.3 (R. J. Mackie), 1; 2 Lady Passenger, 8.5, 2; 3 Gourmet, 8.5, 3. Also started: 7 Imitation, 9.6; 5 The Tank, 8.4; 4 Hokioi, 8.3; 6 Silver Cord, 7.11. Won by a short head, with two and a-half lengths between second and third. Time, 1.28 2-5. SOLDIERS’ HANDICAP, 7 fur.—4 Printemps, 8.10 (R. J. Mackie), 1; 3 Anthonie, 7.11, 2; 1 Riverna, 7.13, 3. Also started: 2 Corn Rigs, 8.10; 5 Tyne, 7.11. Won by one and a-half lengths. Time, 1.28 3-5. first-mentioned were under heavy pressure. Ngawati had them beaten nearing the post, but Decoy Bird came with a late run and got up just in time to dead-heat with him. First Acre was three lengths back third, a head in front of Rascal. Licinius was fifth. Additional results: HAWKE'S BAY STAKES Of £400; for all ages; weight-for-age, with penalties; 6£ fur. 2 CIMABUE, 2yrs, by Leighton— Delight, 8.2, R. Reed 1 4 GREAT CHARTER, 7.3, Tito .. 2 I—SHIRLEY, 9.12, F. Waddell .... 3 Also started: 3 Grand Knight, 9.10. Won by a clear length, with three lengths between second and third. Time, 1.19 4-5. HAWKE'S BAY CUP Of 450sovs; 1J miles. 1— RAPINE (A. B. Williams), b g, aged, by Martian—Pineta, 10.7, R. Reed 1 2 COHESION (F. T. Hall), bg, aged, 7.2, W. Davis 2 2—MERRY DAY (L. Clare), br m, aged, 7.7, P. Burgess 3 Also started: 3 Clarinda 8.7, 6 Royal Divorce 8.7, 4 Perle de Leon 7.8, 5 Novar 7.8, 8 Mah Jong 7.2, 7 Addlepate 7.0. Three-quarters of a length; three lengths. Time, 2.33 3-5. POUKAWA HANDICAP Of 140sovs; 6 fur. 1— HATHOR, 9.1, R. Reed • 5 SIR KAY, 7.5, E. Tuohey * 2 GRAND NATIONAL, 7.13, R. McTavish 3 •Dead heat. Also started: 3 Superb King 8.6, 2 Kalos 8.0, 4 Inner Harbour 7.9, 8 Moepai 7.8, 7 Eloquent 7.3, 6 Tan 7.2, 12 Clavers 7.0, 10 Heather Blend 7.0, 11 Tanagra 7.0, 9 Tameterangi 7.0. Grand National was four lengths behind first pair. Time, 1.15. AUTUMN HANDICAP Of 140sovs; 1 mile, 1 fur. 4—BEN NAN EE, 7.10, J. Barry .... 1 7—GOOD SPORT, 7.12, P. Mcllroy .. 2 2 VERTIGERN, 8.10, B. Morris .... 3 Also started: 6 Scotch Mixture 8.11, 3 Queen’s Choice 8.8, 5 Bonhomme 8.1, 1 Starboard Light 7.11, 8 Othon 7.3, 9 Serenade 7.10, 10 Carniola 7-0. Length. Time, 1.55 3-5. PORANGAHAU HANDICAP Of 190sovs; 6 fur. 6 NGAWATI, 7.6, H. Wiggins .... • 3 DECOY BIRD, 7.6, R. Gilmore .. • I—FIRST ACRE, 8.12, R. Reed .... 3 •Dead heat. Also started: 5 Peneus 8.10, 4 Licinius 8.5, 2 Rascal 7.13, 8 Huikai 7.2, 7 Welkne 7.0. First Acre .was close up. Time. 1.14.