SPORTING.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 36, 19 November 1920, Page 7

SPORTING.

THE WINTON MEETING. FIRST DAY'S RACING. The Winton Club was lucky in getting a fine day on Wednesday. It certainly did not promise too well early in the morning and a shower about 10 o'clock did not improve matters., but twenty miles north of Invercargill it was a different climate, and under the sheltered conditions of the. pr.ettily situated course at Winton it was very pleasant, particularly for those who beat Bill James' tote for a bob or two. The members have got the right man in the right place with their president, Dr. Peter Gow. He had every department under his eye from the crowd at the gates to looking after visitors in his usual hospitable style. With Harry Pierce as secretary things moved along quite m,errily all day, and if a section of the crowd did get a little hostile towards the end of the day it was no fault of the executive. Gates over £680 and totalisator returns of £6247 on last year's returns treasurer Ered Moore will be able to pr,esent a very nice balance-sheet to the members on the first day's results, even though Marching Order didn't catch a race. The idea adopted of making one charge to the course was a success from the elub's point of view, but amongst the pat- i rons who are satisfied to watch their ' sport from an outside possy ' costing a couple of bob there was a hell j of a growl when they found they had to ! part up a dollar and a half. Anyhow the majority of them stayed outside after paying the extra money, apparently they are not used to the enclosure and preferred their old stand. There are a couple of matters that the executive should remedy before next meet.. ing. Widen the fences of the double in front and keep cleaner the accommodation in the ladies' conveniences The latter, I understand, were under consideration for renovation, but the cost was too great, but if the cluh desires the attendance of ladies at their meetings they must cater for them in a proper manner and hang the expense. Amongst those present I noticed Mr Gibbs, handicapper for the Gore Trotting Meeting and Wyndham Meeting, but I did not see anything of Mr Dunne, the South. land Club's handicapper. Surely the executive of the leading club in Southland can alford to pay his expenses to a meeting where at least 75 per cent. of the horses racing will also be nominated at the Southland meeting. Owners are entitled to some consideration, and the club who caters for them so well by giving big stakes should insist on their employees attending to their duties. Of course Mr Abbey Jones was there, and despite a good deal of adverse criticism his handicapping upset punters and produced some high-class racing. Racing commenced with the Trial and a hot pot in Brownie got well beaten by another Wingatui trained horse in Filigree, who won all the way. Frenchman, who was placed second, was certainly lucky to get second money by the way he was ridden, but still that did not seem to provide an excuse for putting the rider of Brownie on the mat. Digger Dwyer made no mistake about the Hokonui Trot and had the race won a mile from home with Seaward Spot, who on more than one occasion has shown a preference for this track. She was the hottest favourite to win all day. When "Put" Hogan without Bengeroop and Kilkee from the Cup the public quickly made Almoner favourite and thanks to a slow ran race -for a mile the Timaru owned horse won very easily from Twinkle, who led all the way to the straight. Eleus, if he was doing his best, is a long way from right yet, and Tin Soldier though tightened up since Gore wants another gallop or two. Corn Rigs was reported to have done quite a satisfactory trial for the Winton Stakes and his connections were as confident asj the public, but Bill Stone didn t

buy Mantna for nothing and fit as a fiddle she buried Corn Rigs at the finish and won nicely. There was only the two of them in it at the finish. Lady Blissful can go fast for a bit, but is dirty at the post and has yet to learn to stay. Bert Stiven's mare was made ahotshot for the Flying Handicap, Bert says the public were much more confident about Rokelaine than he was. Abbey Jones had taken a risx with old Buller, and the latter looking big and lusty cantered over the opposition at the finish. I think more than the average lot of this field were only out for fresh air. The steeplechase was spoiled by the number of accidents and Hogan's pair Dunmure and Palladio had the finish to themselves, the former winning fairly comfortably at the finish. Graftedla broke down when going well half a mile from home. The mile and a-half saddle trot wras a good thing for Count-ry Queen who returned the best divie of the day and won easily. Jimmy Duffy on Wild Qneen rode a wild race, and a few strides from the finish when Eppie Adair was -getting up alongside of him, he appeared to lean ovef and grab her reins, thus preventing her getting up. The crowd howled and hooted for an hour after wards, and the judicial committee eventually re\'ersed the placings, making Eppie Adair second and Wild Queen third and fined Jimmy twenty quid. As the club is giving him £15 for running third it means only a; . fine of a fiver, and if he was guilty the punishment is totally inadequate. But probably more will be heard of it so futher comment would be unfair. The Tradesmen's Handicap provided the best race of the day, though the leniently Hineamaru lost her chance through playin,g up at the barrier. Me'.tle Drift, Sartolite, Barley Rigs and Marching Order were almost in line at the finish and only the judge could say who had won. He was a very long time in hoisting the numbers and this gave the crowd cause to doubt his judgment, and again there was a howl. Most people thought that Barley Rigs had won, but it was Alex Macauley who was in the box on this occasion, and he is too well experienced to maka a mistake. I am inclined to accept his decision as correct, and have torn up my ticket on Barley Rigs. It was a little , after the advertised time when the last race finished and this delay was caused entirely by the playing up of some of the field at the barrier. Taken all through Bill Norman made quite an average fair job of the starting.