RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 12

RACING AND TROTTING

LATEST NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR

RACING FIXTURES September 18—Ashburton County R.C, September 18. 20—Avondale J.C. September 23, 25—Geraldine R.C. September 25—Foxton R.C. September 25—Marton J.C. October 2—Otaki Maori R.C. October 2—Kurow J.C. October 2, 4—Taumarunui R.C. October 7, 9 —Dunedin J.C. October 9—Hawke's Bay J.C. October 9, 11—Auckland R.C. October 14, 16—South Canterbury J.C. October 14, 16—Masterton R.C. October 16, 18 —Avondale J.C. October 21, 23, 25—Wellington R.C. October 23, 25—Gore R.C. October 25—North Canterbury R.C. October 25—Waverley R.C. October 25—Waikato Hunt Club. October 25 —Waipawa County R.C. October 29, 30—Poverty Bay Turf C. October 30—Banks Peninsula R.C. October 30—Rangitikei R.C. TROTTING FIXTURES October 2—Methven T.C. October 9—New Brighton T.C. October 16—Waikato T.C. . October 16, 18—Westport T.C. October 23, 25—Auckland T.C. October 23, 25—Greymouth T.C. October 25—Oamaru T.C. October 30—Wellington T.C. October 30—Invercargill T.C. October 30—Thames T.C. TILRF GOSSIP Reminders Acceptances for the Ashburton County Racing Club's spring meeting will close at 8 p.m. to-day. Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club's spring meeting will close at 5 p.m. on Friday. Early Morning Work The summer time-table for training hours at Riccarton will be brought in on Thursday, when the gates will open at 5 a.m., but it is not likely that many trainers will make use of the change until next month, when daylight saving will again be in operation. An Off Day There was no galloping at Riccarton yesterday, and the only jumping was done by Royal Grafton, who, ridden by J. Murfitt, went over four hurdles at a sound pace. Most of the horses engaged at Ashburton on Saturday will be given fast work this morning, and others will probably wait for the usual barrier practice at the five-furlong post to-morrow. Another Trial Riptide has made a reappearance on the tracks at Riccarton, in the charge of his owner-trainer, H. Kearns. He has just come in from a long spell necessitated by a mishap at Riccarton last year. A Valued Servant J. McCarthy, who was seriously injured in a motor accident on the Yaldhurst road on Sunday morning, has been J. B. Pearson's head man for the last 20 years, and is well known in racing circles throughout the South Island. Improvements at Riccarton The course proper at Riccarton for about 40 feet from the rails has been top-dressed with lime this year. The surface of this track is still in its original state, and the only treatment that has been necessary to keep the -sole of grass in order has been topdressing every few years. It is probable that the Riccarton course is the only one in New Zealand that has not had its native pasture disturbed, and this accounts for the wonderful condition of the ground even in the worst of seasons. Another work that has recently been undertaken is thn addition of a frame to the jockeys' semaphore opposite the main stands. This has been done to permit of thp riders of two races beinj; displayed at the one time. Record Time The success of Lough Neagh in the Tramway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday was made more meritorious by his breaking the existing Australian and New Zealand record for seven furlongs. This was previously held by Turbine, who ran the distance at Randwick in lmin 23isec. and Lough Neagh recorded lmin 23sec. The New Zealand record is held by Finora, whose time, lmin 24sec, was the best in both Australia and New Zealand until Turbine beat it. It has not often happened that a nine-year-old gelding has shattered records, and Lough Neagh's remarkable figures are certain to stand for a long time. At Invercargill The latest additions to F. W. Ellis'n team are Coxcomb and Pesetas, owned by Mr J. L. Hazlett. of Oreti. Qo» comb. by Philamor-Egotism, has developed into a particularly fine type of four-year-old and evidently been well cared for during the winter. Pesetas is a four-year-old gelding by Paper Money from Kilris, bred by Mr W. Baxter, of Christchurch. He has only started once, but is a likely looking galloper. Both horses were formerly trained at Riccarton. A Successful Family The arrival of a Phaleron Bay Ally ,at the Grange Stud, Westmere, last week, has interesting associations, for ' this youngster is well related. His dam is owned by Mr F. Armstrong, whose colt, Francis Drake, is a member of the team F. Davis has taken to Sydney for the spring racing campaign. Cherry Pie is a brown mare by Elysian from Cherry Blossom (a Winter Cup winner) by San Fran. She has already given the turf those good performers Chief Cook, Cherry Queen, Cherry King, and Jack Horner, and her two-year-old progeny has been named Cherrypicker. Two of the latest mares to arrive on a visit to Phaleron Bay are Civility (Elysian— Civilisation) and Degage (Kilbroney— Miss de Val), the dam of Gladium and Liane. Improved Legislation The Brisbane Amateur Turf Club made an actual profit from its racing transactions last season of £29,884, mainly as a result, to quote the chairman of the club (Mr T. M. Ahem), of "the recent legislation and to its administration." In expressing the club's desire to give as much as possible in prizes, Mr Ahem stated that next year the Doomben Newmarket Handicap would be worth £3OOO, and that the Doomben Cup, of a mile and a quarter, would carry £2OOO. In addition it was hoped to run one or two £IOOO races at Albion Park. The club gave away £48,395 in prize ' money, while its receipts were £96,432, including gate takings at £38,976, bookmakers' fees at £18,631. nominations and acceptances £9532, and totalisator percentages £18,496. The main items of expenditure other than prize money were £12,000 to the vendors, and salaries and wages £9IOO. Debatable Subject Whether Phar Lap was a better racehc/se than Carbine is a subject that will be debated among racing men for many years (writes "Chiron" in the "Australasian"). It is one of those

questions which can never be settled with satisfaction to the protagonists of either horse. The majority of the old hands, who knew both horses and the conditions under which they raced, rate Carbine higher than they do Phar Lap, but the generation which did not know Carbine, but which did see Phar Lap win his races, cannot believe that there was ever a greater racehorse on the Australian turf. Yet I know several men of long experience and sound judgment who assert that, had Manfred been differently handled, he probably would have been rated higher than Phar Lap. That I know will be regarded as the rankest heresy by the Phar Lap supporters. English Classic Decided The most interesting aspect of the result of the English St. Leger Stakes, won last week by Chulmleigh—apart from the almost inevitable element of surprise with which the decisions of English classic races have been invested of late years—is that Singapore, the sire of Chulmleigh, won the event for Lord Glanely in 1930, and that Rose of England, the dam of Chulmleigh, won the Oaks for his lordship in the same year. Thus, two classic winners of the same age have been mated to produce another. Chulmleigh raced three times as a two-year-old, running a poor third in the Whitsuntide Foal Stakes at Manchester at his first start. Like Singapore, who did not start in the Derby, last week's winner was not discussed in the latest English newspapers to hand as a St. Leger possibility. At four years, Singapore won the Doncaster Cup, 2{ miles, by four lengths, and he was beaten in the Ascot Gold Cup by Trimdon, who also won that race in the following year. Chulmleigh is one of his first crop of foals and his first classic winner. Fairway, the sire of Fair Copy, won the St. Leger for Lord Derby in 1928 and Solario, sire of Midday Sun. scored in 1925 for the late Sir John Rutherford. Judge at Auckland From eight applicants, the committee cf the Auckland Racing Club has appointed Mr E. V. Sutherland judge for its spring meeting. Mr L. Alderton was appointed assistant judge. On the resignation of Mr R. B. Lusk, to whom he had been assistant for two years as judge of the Auckland Racing Club, Mr Sutherland was appointed his successor for the Great Northern Carnival in June, and also for the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. TROTTING NOTES Reminders Acceptances for two trotting events to be decided at the Ashburton County Racing Club's meeting next Saturday will close to-day at 8 p.m. Nominations for the Methven Trotting Club's spring meeting will close on Thursday. A Speedy Trotter Todd Lonzia, for some time under the care of M. Clare at Forbury Park, is now trained at Ashburton by J. Behrns, who has a big job in front of him to win a race with a very brilliant trotter. A race against the pacers is all the connexions of Todd Lonzia can hope for, for horses of his class are not catered for in New Zealand at present. Trotters less brilliant than Todd Lonzia, however, have won against the pacers; but their successes have been few and far between. An Unprofitable Trip Dark Hazard's trip to Hutt Park was not a profitable one, for in two starts the gelding failed to run into a place. He may develop into a trotter: but there should be plenty of opportunities for him at the pacing gait. Death of Popular Sportsman Mr J. Leslie, whose death occurred on Saturday, was one of the bestknown trotting officials in Canterbury, and had a longer record of service than most men connected with the sport. For several years he was president of the Canterbury Park Club, and of late had been a member of the judicial committee. In the early days of trotting he owned a number of horses, including Electrocute, a trotter that raced for a number of years and won many races. In America Grattan-at-Law. the sire of Bing Crosby, in E. J. Smith's stable, is coming to the fore as a sire in America, and latest exchanges credit his stock with having won a number of races, including four events at the Lawrenceburg meeting on July 31. The Cup Horses now eligible for the New Zealand Cud include Pot Luck, Lucky Jack, Reporter, Gamble, Tempest, Bingen Palm, Glenrossie, on scratch; King's Warrior, Bonny Azure, Graham Direct, Cloudy Range. Rey Spec, Rollo, Evicus, War Buoy, Willow Wave, and Worthy Light, on 12 yards; Blue Mountain. De Soto, and Satin King, on 24 yards; Grand Mogul, on 36 yards; Red Shadow, on 48 yards; and Indianapolis and Roi l'Or, on 72 yards. This makes a field of 24, and excludes any Australian horses that may be nominated or New Zealand horses that may qualify before the closing of nominations. On the Move Few trainers show the same keenness for trotting as does B. J. Mackle, of Kaikoura, who last year travelled as far north as Auckland and was present at most of the minor North Island meetings. Of late he has been doing a good deal of travelling, and he brought Listowel to race at the New Brighton meeting. Within three days of the finish of this fixture he had returned to Christchurch with Winnie Parrish after having taken Listowel back tc Kaikoura. Mackle went on to Wellington; but a second in the opening event on Saturday -was his only reward. Both trotters, however, will be afforded further opportunities as the season advances, and they should pay their way. A Dunedin Owner Iraq, owned by the Dunedin sportsman, Mr J. Richardson, has shown a welcome return to form since the season opened, and a second and a third placing so early in the season compares favourably with his eight unplaced performances last year. Mr Richardson recently added to his team the Australian gelding New Ideal, who showed great speed when trained at Addington. The change of climate from Tasmania and a heavy fall during training so affected New Ideal that a long spell was found necessary, and it was during this spell that Mr Richardson purchased him. New Ideal is a very speedy pacer, and in his new quarters he should pay expenses. Australian Facers Great interest was being shown in Australia in the Harold Park Handicap, which was to have been run last week, for in a field of eight the two cracks, Lawn Derby and Wirra Walla, were to have met over a mile and a half, the former being handicapped on 84 yards, and Wirra Walla on 72 yards. A Sydney writer had the following:— "What should be one of the greatest tests of speed between two pacers will be witnessed at Harold Park when, in a small field, Wirra Walla and Lawn Derby will clash in the mile and a half handicap. They have met before, but never have they been so evenly handicapped. Since Walla Walla's retirement, Lawn Derby has been looked on as the best pacer of Australia, and he is entitled to that distinction, as he is still called on to give his rival 12 yards start. No other pacer in Australia has performed as Lawn Derby has in such a short space of time. He is a real unhoppled champion. Foaled in 1930, Lawn Derby has proved himself both with and without hopples. His Derformance at the

previous Easter Show, when he broke the mile record, reducing it from 2min 6in to 2min 3 l-ssec, shows his ability. "Lately Lawn Derby has not been getting in the money because he has been faced with an impossible task in his races. Now it looks a match race between himself and Wirra Walla. The latter is the greatest of the Walla Walla progeny. A fine stamp of horse, he is racing better now than ever before, and has been successful in winning the principal distance event at the last three trotting meetings. He met Lawn Derby only a fortnight ago when he was successful, but is tackling Mr Mackenney's champion on different terms this time. Wirra Walla has improved with every outing, and there's no telling what heights he will attain. If he can again beat Lawn Derby then he takes on the mantle of his famous sire as Australia's best pacer. On both horses' form to date it looks as if Lawn Derby will come out on top, but the race is going to be a thriller. It will probably be the last time these two will be seen in action for some time. It is definitely stated that it will be Wirra Walla's last outing before he serves a season at the stud. While Lawn Derby will shortly leave for New Zealand." IN AUSTRALIA PROMINENT SPRING CANDIDATES (UJTITBD PBZSI ASSOCIATION—COPTBIORT.} SYDNEY, September 13. Gold Rod's complete defeat in the Tramway Handicap at Tattersall's meeting on Saturday so disorganised* the Epsom Handicap position that even this morning it had not settled down. No excuse is possible for Gold Rod. He is in perfect order to-day. He probably was disinclined to race with the field. Prittle Prattle, on account of filling second position in the Tramway Handicap, will come right into . the Epsom Handicap calculations. The Chanter finished well in the Chelmsford Stakes, and is also more in demandTalking is being kept safe until he runs at Rosehill next Saturday. The Metropolitan horses, Mala, Silver Standard, Old Rowley, Sir Regent, and Gay Knight, all impressed at Randwick. The Metropolitan is regarded as more open than usual. Lynch Law will not run in the Derby, which, nevertheless, has one of the best fields of recent years, with the Victorians, Ajax, Hua, and Avenger, dominating the position, also the New Zealander, Courtcraft, by creating a favourable impression on the tracks. J. Fryer's Musketoon gelding, Pantoon, won the Maiden Handicap at the Moonee Valley meeting on Saturday.