THE TURF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 45, 2 December 1938, Page 2

THE TURF.

ASHBURTON SUMMER MEETING.

BAROMETER CONTROVERSY. (l\y “Torpedo.”) One or two sporting writers ill the daily Press have written condemning, by innuendo and otherwise, the working of the totalisator barometer, at the Summer meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting last Saturday. On the face of it, the criticism may appear to he justified, but had the matter been thoroughly looked into it would have been found that it was the investing public that was erratic, and not the barometer. In the second race the barometer certainly did appear to go all of a “dither.” For’instance, L. J. Ellis’s mount, Real Lady, opened up as a favourite on the place machine. Within ten minutes she was paying over double figures to win, and for sometime so remained. Then she dropped down to under events, and finally finished up second favourite on the place machine. All very mysterious to those not behind the scenes. The secretary of the Ashburton Racing Club (Mr J. B. Nicoll) has kindly placed at the disposal of the writer the recording charts for the investments throughout the day, and these, upon investigation, clearly show that at all times the barometer was a clear indication of the progress of the betting. Any sudden rise or fall in the order of favouritism was due to the vagaries of the betting public, and not of the barometer. Mr .Nicoll informed “Torpedo” that the Club’s indicator recordings are open for inspection by anyone after all meetings. The betting public patronising meetings of the local club can rest assured that the totalisator barometer gives a true and accurate record' of the state of the betting at the time of vision, and may thus be always taken as a safe guide of progressive favouritism. Tufts of Turf. Lady trainers are in the boom, and El inarch brought further laurels to the fair sex in this connection. The gelding is trained at Rakaia by his owner, Miss 0. Stewart. * Marolia will be worth watching next time out. He finished gamely in the Apprentices Hack, and was unlucky to strike such a good one as Elmarch. Keen Sight is one of the best youngsters to carry the Clifford chequers, and had the Lagmhor Plate won at any stage of the race. Improvident is an improving youngster out of W. H. Higgins’s marc Misgovern. The latter was a goodi performer in her day.

R. Donald drove a heady race with Sure Potts, and horsemanship gained the victory. Palomar Was coming on at the end, but neither he nor Lady Vasclyne had a chance with the winner.

When a horse that is a horse at all finds three stone off his back he must think that he has grown wings., Such a orie was The Sandwiehman. After a wonderful race with ten stone odd up at Riccarton he was allowed to go out the rank outsider of the Tinwald Handicap and scored brilliantly. Those who follow these notes from week to week would benefit as he was ticked off as a good proposition in the pre-races review.

Toro Jvourtt showed that his Riccarton win was no duke by following it up with one here. Paddy Webb must find this pradi more remunerative than'’his Ministerial portfolio. Miss Bluff bluffed them all.

Flashlight is fast regaining form, but the writer does not like a ’.chaser competing on the flat. They get so as they want to jump their own shadows.

Lady Leigh did not show up to advantage in the Wakanui, hut Cocksure simply romped home. What a price for Palomar to pay for winning the last race! He was giving away three seconds to start in the race, and had run a great race earlier in the day. Kilrea was unlucky to strike a spot, of bother at the outset, but Grice’s mare would have had the hardest part to do to beat Palomar even with a good getaway.

Optimistic punters will be looking for Brighton tomorrow to provide the Christmas goose, but 90 per cent, of them will only have plum duff.

NEW BRIGHTON TROTS.

TO-MORROW’S FIXTURE. Tlio Summer meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club will bo held to-morrow when exceptionally large fields have been accepted for. An added attraction will be the appearance of the champion Lawn Derby in the Mace Memorial, and! it is the intention of the horse’s owner to send him out to boat the world’s record for a two-mile event upon a grass track. The following horses, on form, should run prominently in their respective engagements :—• Trial Handicap—Shadeland, Escaldo, Paddy’s Harvest. Improvers’ Handicap—Quest, Jesse Owens, Llewellyn’s Pet. Mace Memorial: Big Author, Isabel Derby, Evicus. Wainoni Handicap—M a zaire, Wailtari Jack, Plymouth. Bowhill Handicap Nell Grattan, Fremont, Zincali. Saltaire Handicap—Guy Hugo, Blue Logan, Gyrate. New Brighton Handicaji—lvy Peterson, Jcevus, Twenty Grand. The Fields. 12.30 p.m.— Trial Handicap, of £200; unhoppled trotters; 3.43 class; 1J miles.—Chudleigh, Diana Wild, Escalado, Francis

Worthy, Ivilmorick, Lady Ede, Paddy’s Harvest, Tiny Guy scr, Gaynor, Indian Scout, Mother’s Boy 12, Gentleman Joe, Ohincmutu, Premier, Shadeland 24, Bon Chance, Renegade, Sphinx MO, Syntax, Tommy Guy IS, Billy Sundy 72, Timworthy 108. 1.10 p.m.— Improvers’ Handicap, of £2OO ; 3.Ml class; 1£ miles.—Cruiser, Glenastle, Hidden Charm, Jesse Owens, Llewellyn’s Pet, Sentiment, Wee Potts ser, Colonel Axworthy, Ace High, Evora, Norham Ltd.v, Quest 12, Precious Metal 24, Oversight, Royal Grattan, Waitemata 36, Jovial IS. 1.55 p.m.— Mace Memorial Handicap, of £500; 4.27 class; two miles.—Big Author, Blair Athol, Gallant Knight, Isabel Derby ser, Bonny Azure, Evicus, Renown’s Best, Rey Spec, War Buoy 12, Ironside, King’s Play, Plutus 24, Harold Logan 48, Lucky Jack 00, Lawn Derby 72.

‘2.10 p.m.— Lawn Derby’s attempt on record

2.50 p.m.— Wainoni Handicap, of £200; 3.0 class; miles.—Black Marble, Cnrageen, Chieftainess, Flying Helen, Gay Lady, Gentleman Joe, Lady Slipper, Loyal Avis, Mazaire, Nelson Eddy, Plymouth, Rhinegold, Waikari Jack scr, Jambo, Llewellyn’s Pet 12, King's Drive, Otaua, Our Fay, Palomar 24, Refund 48.

3.30 p.m.— Bowhill Handicap, of £300; 435 class; two miles.—Lightning Lady, Marlene, Morewa, Nell Grattan, 7incali scr, Dark Hazard, Fremont 2i, Horse Power, Waipahi 48. 4.10 p.m.— Saltaire Handicap, of £300; unhoppled trotters; 3.32 class; one mile and a half —Guy Hugo, Indolent, Reward, Sister Mary, Survivor scr, Aircraft, Blue Logan, Gyrate, Sonoma King 12 yds bhd, Little Reta, Royal Romance 36, Canton 48, Great Admiral 60. 4.50 p.m.— New Brighton Handicap, of £225; 3.28 class; one mile and a half —Aristotle (T.), Golden Moness, Ivy Peterson, Moana Tama, Sago King, Three Bells, Trevor de Oro scr, Connenora, Southern Chief, Twenty Grand 12vds bhd, Icevus, Treasure Bond 24. 5.30 p.m. —

Electric Handicap (in saddle), of £175; 2.16 class; one mile—Cavan Chief, Heather Queen Racketeer, Social Pest scr, Lynwood, Reno, Waitaki Rower 12yds bhd, Waipahi 30.