TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Fine Exampie to Sportsmen DONATIONS BY MESSRS J. It McKENZIE AND T. H. LOWRY GIFTS FOR BENEFIT OF SOLDIERS (BY “THE GRAFTER.”) Two well-known sportsmen, Mr J. R. McKenzie and Mr T. H. Lowry, representing trotting and racing, have set a fine example by making substantial donations on behalf of soldiers. During the war of 1914-18 sportsmen and racing bodies were very large contributors to the various patriotic funds raised on behalf of the soldiers, and the announcement that Mr McKenzie has made a donation of £lOO,OOO for the benefit of soldiers and deserving charities places that sportsman in the forefront of public-spirited men in the Dominion. This is not Mr McKenzie’s first big contribution by any means; and the example he has set is a most praiseworthy one at the present time. Mr McKenzie represents the light harness sport as an owner, breeder, and administrator.

Mr T. H. Lowry, who was also a big contributor to the funds which provided comforts for our soldiers in the earlier war, was quickly into the field again this time, and many returned men still have pleasant memories of good hours spent in the “Lowry” huts. Mr Lowry, too, is a breeder and owner, and a valued member of the executive of the Racing Conference, and he announced his gift of £lO,OOO for patriotic purposes early in the present war so that the first of our soldiers overseas would have the benefit of his generosity.

Great Easter Prospects. One of the early fancied candidates for the Great Easter Handicap is Not Out. a three-year-old gelding by Winning Hit from Dutch Money, owned by Mr George Gould and trained by F. A. Roberts at. Riccarton. Last, season he raced as a colt, and ran unplaced in five starts, but this season, out of 11 starts, he has only finished out of the money twice. He opened his winning account at; the New Zealand Cup Meeting in the Strowan Plate, carrying 8.0 and beating Yogi 8.0, Mosgiel 8.7. and 25 others in lmin 12 l-ssec. On the last day of that meeting Not Out 8.1 was beaten by Raeburn 8.12 and Night Pal 8.2, in the Seymour Handicap. 7 furlongs. in lmin 25 2-ssec. At Ashburton, carrying 8.2. he won over seven furlongs in lmin 25 l-ssec and at Wingatui on December 27. with 8.7. was beaten by a neck, by Royal Style in lmin 29 sec. At the Wellington Cup fixture, with 7.11. he beat Hearth 7.8, Meadow 7.11. and 13 others over seven furlongs in lmin 261 sec, and on the second day. with 9.0, beat Chief Lord 8.2, Wings of Song "8.12, and a dozen others in the Camp Handicap, seven furlongs, in lmin 12?.see, His next and third consecutive win was scored at Riccarton last month when, under 9.4. he beat Crack o' Dawn 7.7. Passenger 7.7, and 10 others in the Post Handicap in lmin 2G 4-ssec. Though all these successes were scored in hack company, Not Out won very convincingly on each occasion, and has a very good finishing run.

During the past two decades four-year-olds have been successful eight times in the Great Easter Handicap, and his success in his first race in open company at Motukarara last Saturday shows Not Out to be well. He will probably be ridden at Riccarton by M. Billington. who has been associated with him in most of his successes. Density’s Sensation Time. Density dashed over half a mile in the sensational time of 46 3-ssec on the outside of the course proper at .Riccarton the other morning. It is doubtful whether that time has ever been bettered in a training gallop on the course. She was ridden by A. Messervey, and while the track provided fast, going the light north-east wind did not help the horses running over half a mile.

Density, which is much stronger than at this time last year, the result of treatment Tor blood trouble, is engaged in the Railway Handicap on the first day at Trentham. In the past she has often shown great speed, but did not run on. D. E. Cotton should not have long to wait for a winning turn with her now. A Record Mile. The time, lmin 34Jsec, recorded for a mile by Amiable at Flemington on Saturday was three-quarters of a second inside the Australian and New Zealand record held jointly by Ajax, Peter Pan, Ramdin, and Sarcherie. Amiable was bred in Masterton by her owner, Mr W. R. Kemball. The dam, Agreeable, was bred by Mr T. H. Lowry and is by Psychology from imported Woodham by Sunstar, and Amiable is the only one of her progeny to reach any class. Out of Action. As he has not made a complete recovery from his ailment, Cheddington’s preparation lor the Great Northern Champagne Slakes is to be discontinued and it is unlikely that he will race again tins season. By Phaleron Bay from Silver Rule, and trained by F. Davis for Mr W. H. Gaisl'ord. Cheddington showed great promise in the Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie at Christmas, when he was narrowly beaten by Lou Rosa, and it is unfortunate that all has not gone well with him. Not for Trentham. Willie Win was restricted to trotting exercise when he turned out the other morning at Riccarton. He was nominated for the distance handicap on the second day at Trentham. but will not make the trip, and an effort is to be made to get him right for the Easter meeting at Riccarton. Early Education. Included in the yearlings recently broken in and ridden at Riccarton is the colt by Foxbridge from Rose Latour, bought by Mr H. D. Greenwood for 700 guineas at Trentham. He is a solidly built youngster and should develop into an attractive two-year-old. Mr E. Hay's two yearlings, one by. Solicitor General from Princess Doreen, dam of Doria, and the other by Man’s Pal from Vennachar, dam of Scratchmere Scar, are being put through their initial education by T. H. Gillett. The former was bred by Mr Hay and the Man’s Pal colt was purchased for 230 guineas at Trentham.

For the Stud. Counterblast ran her last race at the recent Banks Peninsula meeting. She had been a difficult mare to keep in racing order, and of late had developed respiratory trouble, so it was decided last week to retire her to lhe stud. Horseman Injured. The former well-known horseman. E. Shaw, is at present an inmate of Christchurch Hospital, suffering from a fractured log, caused by a fall from Dividend, when schooling at Riccarton. Dividend took oil' too far at one of the hurdles and crashed heavily falling on Shaw. Dividend was in a bad way later, evidently suffering from an injury to his neck. Shaw had not ridden in races for some years past, but returned to the game a few months back and hoped to have a jockey’s licence in time to ride Dividend at Riccarton next month. Concertpitch to Rest. Concertpitch broke down badly during a working gallop at Riccarton yesterday and was withdrawn from all engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn meeting at 9.40 a.m. Concertpitch, after his win in the Craven Plate at Riccarton last month, had gone the right way. and his prospects of winning his third Great Easter Handicap were highly assessed. It is now probable that he will have to undergo another lengthy spell. I