MANAWATU RACES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1939, Page 11

MANAWATU RACES

MEETING OPENS ON SATURDAY. Excellent sport is promised at the Christmas meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club, to be held at the Awapuni Racecourse next Saturday. Tuesday and Wednesday. Good fields have entered for the various events. Soldiers in uniform will be admitted free. The first race is timed to start at 12.15 p.m.

Returning to Form. 'Wardress, who is engaged in the Burnside Handicap on Saturday with 9.4. is apparently returning to the good form she showed at the early spring meetings, as on Saturday morning at Riccarton she ran six furlongs easily in Imin 16 2-ssecs. Striking Out Well. St Cloud, who has 7.10 in the Milburn Handicap on Saturday, has been showing improved form at Riccarton lately, and on Saturday morning was hard held over five furlongs in 63 1-5 sec. She will only require to race up to her recent track form to be returned a winner on the holiday circuit. Disappointing Three-year-olds. The two three-year-olds, Three Tens and Imperial Jade, were expected to show up in their races at Washdyke on Saturday, but neither got into the money. Their running would make it appear as if the three-year-old pacers this season are not as good as usual at this time of the year.

Our Jean Will be Fancied. Our Jean’s success over six and flhalf furlongs at Te Awamutu on Saturday will bring her into favour for the Railway Handicap at Auckland, in which she now has 8.2. She is a three-year-old filly by Vaals from Big Bertha, a mare by Rameo, and, through her dam. Kairamarama, traces back to Yatendon. Three-year-olds’ Success. Three-year-olds were successful in the chief events at the Waipa Racing Club’s Summer meeting at Te Awamutu on Saturday, Gladynev winning the Cup from Balinavar and King Rey and Our Jean the Flying Handicap from Brazen Bold, the outsider of the field, who paid double figures for a place, and Gamos. No fewer than 10 candidates for the Auckland Cup were runners in the Te Awamutu Cup, but the form did not appear very illuminating as a guide to the prospects in the two-mile contest, as the running of several was a good deal below their best. The most forward showings were made by Balinavar, King Rey and The Cardinal, the last-named gaining friends as a result of a strong finishing effort.

Matinee Meeting Cancelled. A decision not to hold the usual matinee meeting at Epsom on January 20, in view of the fact that lhe Wanganui Trotting Club’s summer meeting was to be held that day, was arrived at by the executive of the Auckland Trotting Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association recently, when Mr C. Cowan presided over a large attendance. Members expressed regret that an alteration in the date was necessary, but agreed that under the circumstances it was unavoidable. After lengthy discussion, February 3 was selected as a tentative date. Exception was taken to the action of the Cambridge Trotting Club in calling for entries prior to the Auckland carnival for its summer meeting on January 13. It was decided to forward a request asking for an alteration to either December 30 or January 5. The question of the penalties imposed on maiden winners at Hamilton and the disparity in the reassessments of Francisco and Josedale Grattan in the 4.38 class was discussed. The secretary explained that the penalties were allotted under conditions not shown in the rules of the handicapping system, but which were in the possession of the handicapper, who was not responsible. as the majority considered, for the position. Members were of lhe opinion that a conference of representatives of the various associations, supported by the clubs, would give strength to any requests from the Auckland organisation for fuller details of the handicapping system.

FIXTURES. December 23, 26, 27 —Manawatu December 26—Waipukurau. December 26 —Westland. December 26, 27 —Dunedin. December 26, 27 —Taranaki. December 26, 28, January 1, 2—Auckland. December 30, January 1— Wairarapa. December 30, January I—Greymouth.1—Greymouth. December 30, January I—Hawke’s Bay. 1940— January I—Waikouaiti.1 —Waikouaiti. January I—Wyndham.1—Wyndham. January 1, 2—Stratford. January 1, 2-—Marton. January 2, 3 —Southland.