SPORTING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10357, 19 April 1930, Page 4

SPORTING.

FIXTURES. April 19.—Tuapeka County J.C. April 19, 21.—Walrarapa R.C. April 19, 21.—Fellding J.C. April 19, 21.—Auckland R.C. April 19, 21, 22.—Riverton R.C. April 21.—Beaumont. April 21.—Waipukurau. April 21.—Kumara. April 21, 22.—Canterbury. April, 23, 24.—Westland. April 26, 28.—Greymouth. April, 26, 30.—Avondale. April 30. —Reefton. RAC ING IN BUJiMAH. Jockeys who returned to Sydney from the East a few days ago were F. Huxley, A. Orrell (who was riding in New Zealand a few years ago with more or less success), and N. Wood. Huxley intends taking out a jockey's license and living in Sydney Orrell, who had been riding in Burmah, was accompanied by his wife and daughter, and will remain in Australia for four months. ■‘Wo are home for a change,’ he staled, "and to make arrangements for our daughter’s schooling. Yes, 1 had a good deal of success during the. past two seasons,” he said in answer to an obvious inquiry. “1 rode the winner of six of the eight cups, and was third in a seventh. They.were each run over one and ahalf miles. Of course, thci horses are not of the class that one ndes here. For the greater part they mere ponies, some of them orlv 12 hands high. Every Saturday is race day, and large crowds attend the meetings. Backers patronise straightout and place totes, while the lookmakers, working alongside the machine, get the bigger money. The Burmese are great gamblers, so the turnover is pretty large. -The native riders arc not very accomplished horsemen —.they arc what would be termed over here as rough-house or slather-and-whack jockeys. They rush all the way, and after the start you often find one of them under your mount’s neck. The racecourses arc excellent and the appointments good, the going being the same as at Randwick, the right way round. J. ride as a sort of free-lance over there, and 1 have good engagements, thus securing many of the best of the horses. Living is fairly high, so that one needs to ear n a substantial &uir. during the season.” Orrell ,who says he can get to yst 1 ilb, hopes to do some riding in Australia before his return. NOTES. There is every prospect that Nancy Lee, Golden Pennant, and Squadron will be found racing in the winter (says “Calendar in the Opotiki Herald). The latter is to be given a course of schooling and put over the hurdles. If conformation and size go for anything, the chestnut gelding should make good. Good progress is being maintained in laying-out the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s new f course at Herriesvillc. The work in progress really amounts to an improvement and extension of the old course, and when completed should improve the standard of racing by attracting the best handicap horses in the province to the club’s annual two days’ fixture. The new course will measure about yti chains with a straight of 475 yards. Provision is also made for a straight run of similar length along the back stretch, which w-ill also be: filled and raised. Sraight runs will be possible for the starting of tall races from the seven, six ancj five furlongs posts.