RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 9

RACING AND TROTTING

RACING FIXTURES August 3—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 13, 15, 17 —Canterbury J.C. August 24—Pakuranga Hunt. August 29—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt C. at New Plymouth. August 31—Taranaki Hunt C. August 31—Otago Hunt C. TROTTING FIXTURES August 10. 14, 16—Metropolitan T.C. August 31—Auckland T.C. September 7—New Brighton T.C. September 21—Wellington T.C. October s—Methven T.C. October s—Thames T.C. October 12—New Brighton T.C. October 26, 28 —Greymouth T.C. October 28—Oamaru T.C. October 26. 28, .or October 26. 30— Auckland T.C. November 2—Wellington T.C. November 2 —lnvercargill T.C. November 12, 14, 15— N.Z. Metropolitan- T.C. November 28. 30—Forbury Park T.C. November 30. December 7—Waikato T.C.

TURF GOSSIP No Penalties Answer to Correspondent.—The winners of the Homeby Steeplechase, Longbeach Hurdles, and Brabazon Handicap, to be run on Saturday, will not incur penalties for the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdles, and Winter Cup respectively. The winner of the Grand National Steeplechase will not be penalised for the Grand National Hurdles. The weights for the minor events on the first day of the Grand National meeting will not be declared until Monday. Jumping at Riccarton There was no galloping at Riccarton yesterday, but some jumping provided interest for track watchers. Over Country Dauber (D. J. Burgess) was responsible for one of the fastest and cleanest displays seen over the inside steeplechase course this winter. He covered 10 fences, taking each in his stride, and completing the task with brilliant efforts over the stand double. Dauber is undoubtedly a brilliant steeplechaser, but may lack the ability to master the National journey. Slayer (T. Boyle) and Tommy Ruff (E. Baker) jumped five fences. The former naturally had to be kept back to his mate, and gave a faultless exhibition. Tommy Ruff showed decided improvement, and jumped faster and with more- confidence than at Washdyke. Waka (Baker) and Albar’ (L. Gough) set out for a round of the country, but the former slipped into the second fence, the sod wall, and although not leaving his feet, dislodged his rider; Albar completed his circuit satisfactorily, and should hot be troubled by the main country. He is the Mintleaf gelding included in the nominations _ for hunters’ events at the coming meetings, and is trained by M. B. Edwards for Mr V. Alborn. Waka was later remounted by .Baker and jumped a complete round carefully, but well. Over Hurdles Streamline (G. Ridgway), Colonel French (T. Boyle), and Lifeguard (J. Wadley) were to be companions over four hurdles, but Streamline failed to survive the first fence. He made a faulty jump and appeared to slip on landing, and went down on his knees. Ridgway was thrown heavily and was dazed for some time. The other two carried on without mishap. Streamline was soon caught, and half an hour later was jumped over four hurdles by Ridgway, who -escaped from his fall with some bruising. Spendthrift (Boyle) jumped two pony hurdles twice. A Big Field Although the number of acceptors in the Maiden Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday exceeds the safety number by one, there is not likely to be any necessity for the race ■ being run in two divisions, but there will be eight brackets, comprising Don’t Forget and

Whipharid, Game Bird and Haughty Lad, Hurry Girl and Jolly Time, Lockheed and Muffler, Noko and Pleading, Snow Elf and Stock Exchange, and Welsh Fusilier and Wild Coon. The Maiden Stakes is the only race on the programme with bracketed horses. Variety of Ages The ages of the'horses remaining in the Grand National Steeplechase are as follows; Padishah, 11 years; Clarion Call, 10 years; Erination, 11 years; Slayer, 8 years: Ballybritp 10 years; Chat, 7 years; Gold Wren, 12 years: Nightbound, 9 years; Trisox, 13 years; Dauber, 7 years; Gay Boa, 9 years; Flashlight, 10 years; Makoi, 8 years; Lactose, 9 years; and Golden Glow, 9 years. Many Newcomers 'Several little-known horses will contest the Maiden Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday. Ann Mie is a four-year-old by Robespierre from Wym-wym, and is owned and trained by Mr R. Sutherland; Circular Note is a six-year-old gelding by Paper Money from Sister Radius and is trained by F. Trilford for Mrs R. C. Thornton; Foreclosure is a five-year-old horse by Robespierre from The Closure, and is trained by R. Register for Mr L. F. Harrington: Gentility is a four-year-old filly by Paladin from Hauteur, and is owned by Mr D. Grant and trained by D. Cotton; Ham Way is a four-year-old by Iliad from Entreaty, and is trained by J. Young for Mr W. S. Aitken; My Ship ,is a four-year-old filly by Iliad from Princess Argosy, and is trained by F. Roberts for Mr J. M. Samson; Camphor, in the same stable, is, a three-year-old filly by Iliad from Cymene, and is owned by Mr H. D. Greenwood; Game Bird is a three-year-old gelding,by Friday Night from Honour’s Lass, and is owned by Mr J. Munro, for whom he is trained by F. Christmas; Haughty Lad is a three-year-old brother to Haughty Winner, and is trained at Chokebore for the Clifford Estate: Hurry Girl is a three-year-old filly by Defoe from Lady Camp, and is trained by S. Barr for Mr A. Syme; Jolly Time, is a three-year-old filly by Paper Money from Mudlark, and is owned and trailed by Mr R. Adamson; Muffler is a three-year-old gelding by Myosotis from Muff, and is trained by H. Davies for Mr G. Murray-Aynsley; Pleading is a three-year colt by Solicitor General from Eulalie, and is trained for Mr G. R. Macdonald at Chokebore; Snow Elf is a three-year filly by. Tidal from Freeze, and is trained by W. Cameron for Mrs L. Cox; Stock Exchange is a three-year gelding by Myosotis from Bourse, and is trained by E. Parker for Mr A. M. Branch; and Welsh Fusilier is a three-year colt by Lord Warden from Pleasant Memory, and is owned and trained by A. McMullan. Unfortunate Rider B. H. Morris, who finished second in the winning riders’ list with 54 points, will have to miss the Grand National meeting owing to breaking a collarbone at Marton last week. Black Thread will now be ridden in the Brabazon Handicap on Saturday by W. Broughton, and in the Winter Cup by W. Jenkins. Returned to Owners Kriemhild and her two-year-year-old brother have left H. Dulieu's stable, and they have been taken over by their owners, the Smith brothers, who stated at Marton that there was every possibility that Kriemhild would. be retired to the stud. Still on Deck Judging by the race Erination ran in the High-weight at Rotorua on Saturday there cannot be much wrong with him. When he fell at the second-last fence in the Great Northern Hurdles on June 1 and came in bleeding at the nose, it was thought that he had broken his nose, but apparently the injury was only superficial. Erination is one of the acceptors for the Grand National Steeplechase, in which he ran second last August. The Season’s Leaders H. Dulieu (New Plymouth) and W. J. Broughton (Palmerston North) are the winners respectively in their professions for the 1939-4-0 season, jOsl closed. Dulieu has trained 51 winners and Broughton has ridden 59. The Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday actually comes into the season just closed, though it is held after July 31, but neither Dulieu nor Broughton can be displaced from their premierships, though they could add to their record. * Suspicion on Riders Strong exception is taken by Mr N. Simpson, secretary of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association, to published remarks of the Hon. J. McLeod, • M.L.C., in which he referred to*“particularly clever riding by prominent jockeys.’ Although'Mr McLeod did not say outright that there was a ‘‘ramp’’ going on, he proceeded to cast suspicion on every prominent rider in the. spoxt, stated Mr Simpson. His expression of opinion was in direct conflict with the published reports of stipendiary stewards and rececourse inspectors, who during the last couple of years had indicated that the conduct of racing in New Zealand was on a higher plane than ever before. These men reported that foul riding was a thing of the past, that the behaviour of licence holders was good, and that racecourses were being kept free from undesirable persons. , , . ... Mr Simpson concluded by saying that it anpeared that a number of promi- ■ nent riders were, to use Mr McLeod s Words, “to have their wings clipped very considerably.” and to receive condiponal licences. In other words, they were to be dealt with on susnicion and without trial. It would be interesting to learn just who were to be the victims of ihese Nazi methods. Thoroughbred Anniversary The ages of all thoroughbred horses in New Zealand will be advanced one year as from to-day. A Surprise Reward In a paragraph in this column on Monday regarding, the grey hunter Tommy Ruff, it was stated that Mrs J. H Grigg, the gelding's owner, had offered E. Baker, the rider, a little extra on the usual riding fee providea he got the horse round safely. This might have made it appear as if the rider was offered some encouragement to complete the course no matter what the circumstances might be, but no such arrangement was made. Mrs Grigg ‘gave Baker a reward for the manner in which he rode her horse, and he had no knowledge of any gift until after the race.

TROTTING NOTES

Methven Trotting: Club At a meeting of the committee of the Methven Trotting Club, over which Mr T. Harrison presided, it was decided that trotting events at the next race meeting be for horses unhoppled or halfhoppled, the latter provision being made at the last meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. It was decided to give £l4lO at the meeting to be held on October 5, the programme being as follows;—Drayton Handicap, of £l4O, for trotters, 3min 49sec class, one mile and a half; Westwood Handicap, ,of £l4O. 3min ssec class, one mile and a quarter; Methven Cup, of £360, 4min 38sec class, two miles; Avonmore Handicap, of £155, 3min 44sec rate for a mile and a half, 12 furlongs and a half; Mount Harding Handicap, of £145, 3min Isec class, one mile and a quarter; Riverbank Handicap Trot, of £l5O. 3min 45sec class, one mile and a half; S. G. Holmes Memorial Handicap, of £2OO. 2min 52sec class, one mile' and a quarter: Mount Hutt Hqndican (in saddle), of £l5O. 2min 21sec to the mile rate, eight furlongs and a half. Trophy to Winner A dressing-case valued at 25 guineas will be awarded the owner of the winner of the Methven Cup. to be decided on October 5. This has been presented by Mr T. E. James, of Wellington. In Saddle Included in the Methven Trotting Club's programme for October 5 is the Mount Hutt Handicap, of £l5O, for saddle horses that can do 2min 21sec for a mile. The Methven Club is one of the few left that realises its responsibilities ,in the encouragement of the utility horse, for while harness horses may play their part in the case of emergency it is the all-rounder that is most necessary. The leading clubs appear to have lost sight of the claims of horses that can carry weight and it will be a better day for the sport when mile and a half and two mile saddle races are made compulsory on all programmes. Possibly at some meetings the small fields for saddle races have not justified the. inclusion of these races, but finance should not over-rule all other considerations in the sport of trotting. For the Red Cross The Red Cross funds in Otago are being built up in a raffle for a yearling colt by Sandydale and it is understood that the lucky winner of the raffle will be offered £IOO for the youngster. Sandydale is a well-bred stallion and is by Abbedale, one of the outstanding sires in, America. During the last season Abbedale was represented by some great horses in Her Ladyship, Imin 56£ sec, and the three-year-olds. Top Hat and Swingtime. the latter of whom was undefeated in 18 starts. The raffle is one that should appeal to all. A Prospect The Southland pacer. Gold Bank, won the All Aged Stakes at the Ashburton Trotting Club's meeting m June, and if his running then can be taken as a reliable guide he should have little difficulty in winning the Queen Mary Handicap, at Addington. In his winning effort, Gold Bank fairly outclassed a field that included Pot Luck 4min 23sec, Sandusky 4min 29sec. Lightning Lady 4min 28sec, Dusky Sound 4min 29sec, Horse Power 4mm 28sec, Renown’s Best 4min 28sec, Marsceres 4min 25sec> and Plutus 4mm 2b sec. Gold Bank is still Handicapped on 4min 32sec over two miles and must be a consideration. AH Aged Stakes form, however, may not work out quite correctly and newcomers in Nelson Eddy, Loyal Rey, Ringtrue, Carver Doone, and’ Josedale Grattan may keep the Southland pacer fully extended.