RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21977, 29 December 1936, Page 10

RACING AND TROTTING

LATEST NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR

RACING FIXTURES December 29—Westland R.C." December 29—Manawatu R.C. December 29, Jan. 1, 2 (1937) Auckland R.C. January I—Waiau R.C. January I—Waikouaiti R.C. January I—Wyndham R.C. January 1, 2—Stratford R.C. January 1, 2—Marton J.C. January 1. 2 —Hawke's Bay J.C. January 1, 2—Wairarapa R.C. January 1, 2—Greymouth R.C. January 2—Oamaru J.C. , January 2, 4—Southland R.C. ,£.'., January 7. 9—Reefton J.C. January 8, 9 —Vincent J.C. January 13—Clifden R.C. January 16—Wairio J.C. January 20, 22, 23—Wellington R.C. January 21. 23—Thames J.C. January 22—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. January 28, 30—Wanganui J.C. January 29. 30—Takapuna J.C, at Ellerslie. TROTTING FIXTURES December 30, 31—Auckland T.C. December 29—Winton TC. December 29—Westland T.C. December 30—Westland T.C. January 1, 2—Canterbury Park T.C. January 4. s—Greymouth T.C. January B—Reefton T.C. January 9—Cambridge T.C. January 16—Timaru T.C. • January 23 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. January 28, 30—Forbury Park T.C. January 30, February I—Nelson T.C. February 4, 6—Wellington T.C. February 13— Canterbury Park T.C. February 20—New Brighton T.C. February 20, 24—Auckland T.C. February 26—Marlborough T.C. February 27—Kaikoura T.C. February 27—Roxburgh T.C. TURF GOSSIP An Unfortunate Club The Dunedin Jockey Club was undoubtedly unfortunate with its summer meeting this year. The attendance on Saturday, although good, was seriously affected by the prevailing epidemic, the absence of visitors from outside districts being especially noticeable; and yesterday a steady drizzle which set in at daylight caused many changes of plans and the assemblage was the smallest seen at Wingatui for many years. The totalisator turnover, however, was remarkably good; but the club, instead of making a substantial profit, as seemed likely, will suffer a loss over the meeting. Fortunately the only mishap yesterday was a fall by Gambler's Luck when running in behind the leaders turning for home in the Fernhill Handicap, There were four horses following him at the time, but all escaped. The rider of Gambler's Luck, H Powell, got off with a shaking. Before the racing started, Mr N. McLean, stipendiary steward, called all the riders together and lectured them on the necessity of exercising every care on the changed going, and this no doubt had a good deal to do with the satisfactory racing which was seen. Coming: On Silver Jest showed further improvement in the hurdle event at Wingatui yesterday, giving a much better display throughout. He suffered from lameness when raced on the flat, but since being put to hurdling he has been quite sound and will now be •«pt at that branch. Encouraging: Form Radio Star, a half-sister by Robespierre to Great Star, will soon win ices for F. Shaw's Wingatui stable. :he has furnished into a well-propor- \ oned filly, and is likely to do well ■ -.ter over a distance of ground. '.oo Severe Top Row was set a severe task for .- two-year-old in being asked to .carry r.9ona heavy track at Wingatui .yes- ■ Fortunately his rider wisely .id not knock him about when he realised that pursuit of! the .winner, "eony Rose, was hopeless; but at the J -rnie time there have been many cases <l promising juveniles like Top Row having their careers seriously affected by such ordeals. lot Right Silver Bond, by Pink Coat from Victory Bond, did not appear.very St when paraded at Wingatui yesfrrfav and his effort was not very Swistve He looks like a high-class Ser and will be seen to advanta'ge before long. Lightened Up . ... Ron Trav was injured through strikin? a oost on the first day at Winga£f but was considered well enough S'bT proXed again yesterday. He had lightened up**»» fag*! a g* w ™ was once more done with a long way from home. A Class Horse Davolo gave one of his best efforts at Wingatui yesterday. When he was well back over the first half-mile t was thought that his ill-luck was; s ,U following him, and even turning for home Ws task seemed almost hopeless, but he overtook the pacemaker, Travenna over the last furlong and won going away. There is no doubt that So is at his best just now.and he will again race with distinction before returning Ijome. Another Black Mark Polydora again tailed the field at Wingatui yesterday, until the post was in sight, and then quickly improved her position. She probably shaped sufficiently well to encourage her owners to carry on with her; but she is a disheartening proposition. Not Produced Vintage, Tunneller, Willie Win, and Orange Bud were all withdrawn from yesterday's engagements at Wingatui because of the unfavourable track, and Mrs J. Campbell had only Gaysome to represent her. Gaysome was going well when the straight was reached; but she had the inside running, where the going was bad, and was unable to hit out in the finishing effort as well as she did on Saturday. She is to race at Waikouaiti and Oamaru this week, and will then probably be given a gpell, as her owner, Mrs M. A. Fox, will be leaving on a trip to Singapore early next month. Willie Win has not done well on the trip, and his New Year performance is indefinite.

Lost All Form ■' To date, Southdown does not appear to have made any improvement by his change from Riccarton to Mosgiel. and, judging by his two races at Wingatui, it will be some time before he will make up the leeway. A Profitable Purchase McHeath won £240 in stakes at Wingatui. In addition, his new owner collected his purchase price from the totalisator on the first day, and the Lord Quex gelding paid another good dividend yesterday. It will not be surprising to find the Riccarton castoff winning some big southern handicaps before the season closes. A Rough Passage Convivial was a victim of misfortune in her race at Wingatui yesterday She was under a strong pull on the 'rails just behind the leaders turning for home, and was kept to the fence in the hope of an opening presenting itself. This did not eventuate and she was pulled to the outside of Rebel Lad, who was then in front cl her In the meantime, Rousseau and High Glee ranged up on the outside of this pair, and Rousseau appeared to come in, resulting in Convivial be:ng suddenly sent back and narrowly missin" a fall. This was the end of her chance, which up to that stage looked very hopeful. No doubt, if her rider had taken his mount from the rails earlier, instead of expecting the leaders to open out, she would have taken a serious part in the finish. His First Win Rousseau had his first win when he beat some good hacks in the Farewell Handicap at Wingatui yesterday. A high opinion has always been held of him by his trainer, who has given him very little racing. Rousseau was bred by his owner, the dam, Keldee, being a sister to Songbird, a most successful sire in the south. Meetings Postponed Owing to wet weather, the Westport Trotting and Westland Racing Clubs meetings, which were to have been held yesterday, have been postponed until to-day. TROTTING NOTES Canterbury Park Trotting Club The Canterbury Park Trotting Club s meeting, which will commence on Friday, promises to provide one of the most successful fixtures held by the club since it moved its headquarters from Sockburn to Addington. Increased stakes and restricted limits have encouraged solid support from owners, and the acceptances are as good as could be wished for. The defection of New Derby from the pnnHnal event does not weaken the field, fo? sincTcoming to New Zealand the form Sf the Australian pacer has not been impressive. Evicus, War Buoj, and Tempest, who filled the places in the Ashburton Cup, will .asain meet in a hot contest, and with Graham Direct, Cloudy Range and War Buoy again engaged, last Saturday's form may be upset. The supporting events will all attract good fields and exci - ing racing may be expected. The first race will start at 12.15 p.m. Record Totalisator Figures Before Saturday's meeting the biggest sum put through the totalisator at the Ashburton Trotting Clubs summer meeting was £26.976, which was handled on boxing Day. 1920. On several occasions the meeting has been held in wet weather, and totalisator business naturally slumped. For the last 10 years the figures are as follows: £ s.

Eddie Tolan disappointed his supporters at the Gore meeting on Saturday by stopping on the mark, but he may make amends at Winton to-day. Of this brilliant pacer, the Southland correspondent of "The Press" writes:— Eddie Tolan has only to move away correctly and any race in his class will be all over, if the black stallion's form at Gore in October is any indication of his ability. It was a brilliant display he gave to win on the second day, after losing fully 100 yards through not striking his hopples. Half a mile from home he still was a long way from the leaders, but when Cosgrove asked him for an effort he paced round the field crossing the top, and the race was won when he reached the straight. Only a good horse could have done what Eddie Tolan did. A strongly-built black stallion and a beautiful pacer, this son of Grattan Loyal is inclined to bobble on the mark, but Cosgrove has improved his starting, and he has him in excellent order for immediate engagements. He is the class of horse capable of defeating useful and proved two-milers in the Winton Cup. WEST.PORT TROTS POSTPONED UNTIL TO-DAY [THE PRESS Special Service.] WESTPORT, December 28. In view of the heavy rain on Sunday night and this morning, the Westport Trotting Club Stewards' Committee decided at a meeting to-day to postpone the second day of the present meeting until to-morrow. WAIKOUAITI REHANDICAPS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TBLEGEAM.) DUNEDIN, December 28. Rehandicaps for the Waikouaiti Racing Club's meeting are as follows: High-weight Handicap—Petersham 9-4 Waikouaiti Cup—Davolo 8-9 Qrbell Hack—Rebel Lad 9-4. OAMARU REHANDICAPS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) DUNEDIN, December 28. Rehandicaps for the Oamaru Jockey Club's meeting are as follows: High-weight Handicap—Petersham 9-5 President's Handicap—Davolo 9-1, Rebel Lad 7-10. Waitaki Hack Handicap—Rebel Lad 9-9 Farewell Hack Handicap—Petersham 7-11. WYNDHAM REHANDICAPS (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 28. Rehandicaps for the Wyndham Racing Club's meeting are as follows: Wyndham Cup—Tunneller 9-3. Mimihau Hack—Stolen March 9-4. President's Handicap—Knockfin 9-9. High-weight Handicap—Rousseau 9-11.

1927 mm 20,256 10 1928 20,410 10 1929 tm '' 24.331 0 1930 «i« 20,385 10 1931 . ) 17,198 10 1932 15,233 10 1933 15,282 10 1934 17,203 0 1935 21,751 0 1936 31,739 0 Smart Southland Pacer