RICCARTON'S RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 14

RICCARTON'S RECORD.

WON NEARLY 200 RACES

F. D. JONES LEADING TRAINER.

During the twelve months which ended on July 31, horses regularly trained «t Riccarton won 193 races and obtained in all 524 placings. The aggregate value of the races won was £20,100 10/, and the aggregate minor placings was £8342, giving a grand total of £34,442 10/. These successes have been gained on 26 New Zealand courses and at Randwick, in Sydney.

During the Beason 84 galloping events have been decided at Riccarton. Of these, 47 have been won by locaily-trained horses and 37 by visitors.

Away from Riccarton, the mast prolific hunting grounds have proved to be Wingatui, where 17 wins have been obtained. Trentham, for which the tally is 15, and Ashburton, where 14 successes have beeu gained.

The other courses on which Riccartontra'ined horses have been successful are: Motukarara 10 wins, Washdyke 10, Greymouth 8, Reefton 8, Hokitika 7, Geraldine 7, Oamaru 7, Marlborough 6, Ellerslie 5, Amberley 5, Rangiora 4, Waikouaiti 3, Westport 3, Waimato 3, Randwick 2, Tauhereniknu 2, Marton 2, Awapuni 2, Woodville 1, Dannevirke 1, Kurow 1, Wanganui 1, Nelson 1 and Masterton 1.

Twenty-six trainers have had a share in compiling the total of 193 wins. •

For most of the season, the leadership, so far as Riccarton is concerned, has seesawed between P. D. Jones and the brothers H. and A. Cutts. Chokebore Lodge looked like winning the duel six weeks ago, but successes by horses saddled up by Jones at Oamaru, Trentham and at the combined meeting at Riccarton turned the scale and Jones finished one win ahead, or, as golfers would have it, one up.

Representatives of F. D. Jones gained 19 wins and 63 placings, while those trained by H. and A." Cutts obtained 18 wins and 52 placings.

BETTER CLASS JUMPERS. The comparative failure of the New Zealand jumpers in Victoria so far this winter prompts the question: "Are our jumpers superior to those in the Dominion?" New Zealand was a stronghold of jumpers for many years, and she has sent up some great horses over jumps. T. R. George, the leading New Zealand trainer, who is in Melbourne* with Landmark, Make Up and Appledore, expresses the opinion that our jumpers are a class above those in New Zealand at present (says a Melbourne writer on July 20). He speaks highly of the condition for jumpers in Victoria. The hurdles h'ere are less formidable than those used on most courses in the Dominion. At Auckland the hurdles are much firmer than those used at Elemington. They are padded similarly to ours, but it is impossible for horses to knock them down. Three mile hurdle races are unknown in New Zealand, where races over obstacles are frequently for a mile and a half and a mile and three-quarters. The longest hurdle race is the Great Northern, at Auckland, which is over two miles and a half. George went on to say that the steeplechase course at Flemington is a"n ideal one. It is a more difficult course than that at Auckland, but, perhaps, not so severe as Ellerslie. Usually the track at Auckland is very heavy in the winter, arid this makes .the jumping more difficult. George' added that his horses did not do well after their arrival, and, in consequence, dfd not reproduce their best form. They are recovering nicely now and he hopes to win another race before returning home. He will remain here until the conclusion of the Australian meeting at Caulfield. ; '