RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23400, 6 August 1941, Page 9

RACING AND TROTTING

TURF GOSSIP

Jumpers at Riccarton A hard frost again restricted track work at Riccarton yesterday, and several horses were kept to the roads. .The inside of the trial grass was open, and although hard early, and slippery later in the morning, a good deal of useful work was done on it. Because the majority of horses on the scene were raced on Saturday, there was very little serious galloping, and time comparisons did not carry much value. The proceedings were made a little interesting by several jumping tasks. Flame Queen (M. Hollands) and Night Prince (I. Walther) were companions over four hurdles, both shaping well for novices. The former promises to make good soon. Merry Simon (P. Boyle) and Spendthrift (T. Boyle) finished together in front of Roy Bun (E. Jennings) after jumping six hurdles at a fast pace. Spendthrift was reported to have had a bleeding attack at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting, but the trouble ;,was confined to a tongue injury, and ■there is now nothing amiss with him. He is booked to contest the Grand ■National Hurdles, Merry Simon impressed by his work, and in his present order he can be expected to earn : further ' distinction next week. Roy Bun shaped exceptionally well with his more experienced companions. Noko (J. Strathern) and Made Money (H. Shannon) were to have -jumped four hurdles together, but -after blundering at the second. Made Money broke down after getting over the third, and appeared to be 1 a hopeless case on leaving the track. Noko completed his task without any mistakes. H' Green Boa (D. Hamill) and Fundy Bay (Preston) were seen to advantage in a bout over six hurdles, keeping together throughout, and finishing well clear of Petersham, who ran off at the fourth fence. Not Impressive Much interest was centred on The Dozer, who, ridden by A. E. Ellis, was sent out to jump six hurdles. He cleared the first with a brilliant jump, put got in too close to the second and* hitting hard behind, catapulted his rider from the saddle. Ellis, however, regained his feet after somersaulting twice, and was soon back in the saddle again. The Dozer then jumped the second fence again, and carried on over four more. His display was very patchy, and he seemed inclined to get in too closely. He is, however, said to be a smart and safe hurdler, and it was thought his mistakes were due to being alone, and to the strange hurdles. Ellis was satisfied with the horse’s showing, and is to ride him in the Grand National Hurdle Race. The Dozer is a likely starter in the Jumpers’ Flat Race on the first day, but Ellis will not be able to ride him, as he did not complete the required number of jumping races last season to qualify him for such races. Sale of Young Sire Cricket Bat has been sold by the trustees of Sir Charles Clifford’s Estate to Mr J. G. Donald, of Central Otago, and will do stud duty there this season. By Winning Hit from the Martian mare Equipment, Cricket Bat was a good performer, and since being put to the stud at Stonyhurst has produced some promising stock, including Willow Wood, who was also sold recently. Getting Right ’ Foxiana was yesterday reported to have improved greatly, and hopes are now entertained of racing him in the Jumpers’ Flat Race next Tuesday. His trainer, L. G. Morris, will probably not return to Riccarton until late in the week, as his father, Mr J. Morris, of Marton, is still seriously ill. New Zealand Cup '« The stake and conditions ■’or the New Zealand Cup, to be run in November, were fixed at the same as last year by the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club yesterday. The stake will be £2OOO, including a gold cup value £75. District Committee At the monthly meeting of the Canterbury District Committee yesterday, the following licences were recommended to be granted:—Trainer, D. J. O’Connor; jockey, W. L. Johnston; apprentice jockey, A. Johnston. The application of the Geraldine Racing Club to change the dates of its annual meeting from September 18 and 20 to September 25 and 27, was approved. Military at Riccarton The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club yesterday decided to send a letter to the Officer Commanding the Southern Military Command its appreciation of the manner in which Lieutenant-Colonel Stafford had studied the club’s interests while acting as camp commandant on the Riccarton racecourse. Withdrawn Great Quex was withdrawn from engagements at the Grand National meeting at 3.43 p.m. on Monday. Awapuni Candidates Bridegroom was out at Awapuni on Saturday morning showing little sign of the leg trouble which interrupted his Grand National preparation, He was •not required to work, but looks well enough to be jumped again this week. Chat was given another searching trial over the big fences. She gave a'faultless display over 11 fences, and her best jump was at the last. Apart from a doubtful near hind leg she looks to be iQ first-rate order for the National Steeplechase. Interesting Figures The amount of £8,724,094 invested on the totalisator at racing and trotting meetings in the Dominion last season has been exceeded only twice, according to official records. In the 1919-20 season, the total was £8,792,570, and in the following season the aggregate attained the record figure of £10,121,212. A sum in excess of £8,000,000 was handled also in the years 1921-22, 192425, and. 1925-26. The betting barometer was steady for the next four seasons, but there was a sharp decline in 193031 to £5,279,403, and in the next three years the aggregate was less than £4,000,000. The lowest total of the post-war years was. £3,678,251, in 193233. Auckland’s Share The powerful support given to the galloping sport in.the Auckland provincial district is clearly demonstrated when a comparison is made between its average stakes and investments, and those'for New Zealand as a whole. In the season just closed, there were 416 races in the Auckland district. Stakes, trophies and sweepstakes accounted for £141,898, showing an average stake a race of £341. Investments on the same contests totalled £2,545.925, giving an average turnover in betting of £6120. For the whole country, stakes, trophies and sweepstakes were £399,200, the mean in prize-money for 1816 events being just under £220, while the grand total of investments at galloping meetings, £6,303.800, showed an average a race of £3471. RACE WORTH £3500 AUCKLAND CUP THIS YEAR (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 5. The era of racing prosperty in the Dominion, particularly in the Auckland Province, is reflected in the decision of the committee of the Auckland Racing Club to increase the stake money for the next Auckland Cup at, Ellerslie on Boxing Day to £3500. Last ■ year . the cup was valued at £3OOO, and was won by the top-weight. Beau Vite (9-6).

In the 1921-22 season the cup was valued at £3500, and was won by Mr H, A. Knight’s Malaga, an outsider. No other race in New Zealand has been worth £3500.

"DICCARTON Property—We have Cash "Buyers for 2 .Properties within i mile of the C.J.C. Course, up to 5 acres land, dwelling, room for stables. Owners advise W. E. Simes and Co.. Manchester sd 9524

METROPOLITAN T.C.

ACCEPTANCES The following acceptances have been received for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting:— 11.30 a.m.—

INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, of £300; for trotters; 3min 49sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Amonos scr; Hatrack scr; Pirate’s Last scr; Shadeland scr; Walter Wrack scr; Within scr; Discord 12; Escalade 12; Vain Lad 12; Aristotle 24; Certissimus 24; Margin 24; Millisle 24; Allie Audubon 36; Native Huon 36; Pilot Peter 48. 12.10 p.m.— ADVANCE HANDICAP, of £300; 4min 40sec class; two miles.—Coquette scr; Distributor scr; Drumoak scr; Nationalist scr; Purina scr; Warship scr; Black Surprise 12; Blue Diamond 12; Hardy Oak 12; Turco 12; Wainoni Girl 12. 12.55 p.m.— QUEEN MARY HANDICAP, of £500; 4min 32sec class; two miles. —Bronze Eagle scr; Haughty scr; Superior Rank scr: Kilrea 12; Red Ranger 12; Three Tens 12; Worthy Need 12; Aspirant 24; Battlefield 24; Fremont 24; Jesse Owens 24; Tqorak 24. 1.40 p.m.— NATIONAL ALL AGE STAKES, of £500; one mile and a quarter.—Colonel Grattan 36; Fine Art 36: Huguenot 36; Great Jewel 36; Kenworthy 36; Frisco Boy 36; King Potts 36; Marlene 36; Nelson Eddy 36; Plutus 36; Southern’ Chief 36. 2.20 p.m.— AUGUST HANDICAP, of £650; 4mln 29sec class; two miles.—Accountant scr; Horsepower scr; Lightning Lady scr; Springfield Globe scr; Donald Dhu 12; Ferry Post 12; Molly Direct 12; Ned Worthy 12; Great Divide. 24; Peter Smith 24; Sandusky 36; Bayard 48; Dusky Sound 48. 3 p.m.— STEWARDS' HANDICAP, of £500; for trotters; 3min 44sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Biworthy scr; Grade Fields scr; Manna’s Son scr; Mohican scr; Mute scr; Parrish Guide scr; Reception scr; Tan John scr; Bush Laddie 24; Jenny Guy 24; Lament 36; Dark -Hazard 48; Gerfalcon 43. 3.40 p.m.— , , TRIAL HANDICAP, of £500; 4min 34 set class: two miles. —Acuity scr; Chatmos scr; Frisco Boy scr; Golden Mist scr; Grand Dame scr; Happy Locanda scr; Mankind scr; Mendel scr; Palomar scr; Waitakl Power scr; Adversity 12; Foremost Junior 12; Gold Bank 12; Hlllcrest 12; Mongolian 12; ‘Royal Surprise 12; Southern Smile 12; Special Edition 12; Stormtost 12. 4.25 p.m.— , . SELWYN HANDICAP, of £300; 4min 38sec class: two miles.—Glen Travis scr; Great Blaze scr; Kid Wolf scr; Philario scr; Trireme scr; Agility 12; Gold Pot 12; Happy Man 24; Slippery Sam 24; Clockwork 36; King's Jubilee 36; Pamelus 36; Pleasant Guy 36. TROTTING NOTES Acceptances for Addington The acceptances received for the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting are, with few exceptions, the original nominations, and not a defection from the original card has in any way weakened the fields in what promises to be one of the best meetings ever held at this season of the year. The fields are good, without being unwieldy. The class of horses engaged is above the average and the few withdrawals show the confidence of owners. In the opening ev£nt only one horse has not been paid up for and Great Mountain's absence does not weaken the field. In the Advance Handicap only April Direct, Battlevale, and Nightbeam have been withdrawn, and in the Queen Mary Handicap the only defections are Silver Guy and Cruiser, neither quite ready to meet -horses -of,.class. The withdrawals from the National Ail Age Stakes include Warform and Ronald Logan, the only horses redeiving a concession from the best racehorses in New Zealand. W. J. Doyle,,trainer of Warform, and J. B. Pringle,, who handles the four-year-old -■ - Ronald Logan, have exercised a wise discretion in forfeiting engagements, for neither horse could be expected to race against the proved pacers. Marsceres and Peter Smith are other withdrawals and neither is brilliant enough for this class. Lady Milne, Willowbank and Marsceres are the only withdrawals from the August Handicap, while a clear field of nominations is left in the Stewards’ Handicap. In the Trial Handicap the only withdrawal is Quest, while in the Selwyn Handicap there have been only four defections. The fields generally are the best ever paraded for an August meeting at Addington and horses, confined to their classes, should provide the best standard of racing. Certlssimus

The opening event at Addingto.' on Saturday, the Introductory Handicap, is expected to provide a match between Certissimu":, now four years old, and the great little trotter, Allie Audubon, the latter conceding 12 yards to last season’s champion three-year-old. Certissimus has not left the mark as smartly as some of his admirers could wish and has usually had to cover extra ground. His driver, D. Teahan, can afford to take no risks with Allie I udubon, a genuine little race mare and a real stayer. Certissimus is a champion for his age, but he may not be so handy in a big field as the little mare.

Improvers The Advance Handicap, with a short limit of 12 yards in the handicap, will find Nationalist, Drumoak, Black Surprise and Turco in the picture throughout, and a more evenly balanced field it would be hard to find. Turco is a brilliant pacer, but Nationalist and Drumoak are good stayers and may have to be reckoned with in the final stages. Bronze Eagle and Haughty Bronze Eagle. Haughty, and Superior Rank are on the limit of the Queen Mary Handicap, and with an even start the former pair should have the race to themselves. Bronze Eagle and Haughty look like reaching Cup company, but in this race reinsmanship may play a big part. Kilrea, on 12 yards, will be driven by R. B. Berry, and here may be the danger for the limit horses. Aspirant, on 24 yards, is the proposition for most early backers, but Bronze Eagle and Haughty should be backed with confidence. A Free for All

The All Age Stakes, with the withdrawal of Warform and Ronald Logan, has become a Free for All from the 36 yards mark. Nelson Eddy may be the best of these but Fine Art would only have to find track conditions to suit him to win. Marlene and Great Jewel will be considered out, if at his best and track conditions to suit, Fine Art may lead the field at the finish. A Reputation Springfield Globe has already earned a reputation that his New. Zealand performances do not justify, but his test will come in the August Handicap, 4min 29sec class. He may be a great pacer but in this race he will find bright pacers in Ferry Post, Molly Direct, Ned Worthy, Great Divide and Peter Smith. A Big Fie.d The Trial Handicap, 4min 34sec class, is a comparatively slow class race for Addington and the big field will not assist backers. Chatmos has proved brilliant in his work, but the Oamarutrained Golden Mist may be the favourite. Hillcrest, from Auckland, Mankind, Adversity and Frisco Boy will add to the problem. Glen Travis Appeals The grey gelding, Glen Travis, trained at New Brighton by G. Cameron, is a more genuine racehorse than many imagine and off the limit of the Selwyn Handicap over two miles he will have a rare chance. Kid Wolf may race well but if Glen Travis is to be beaten it may be by Gold Pot or Clockwork,

RACING FIXTURES August 12, 14. 16—Canterbury J.C. August 23—Pakuranga Hunt Club. August 28—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club (at New Plymouth). August 30—Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. 4, 6—Wanganui J.C. Sept. 6—Otago Hunt Club. Sept. 13—Ashburton County R.C. Sept. 13—Carterton R.C. Sept. 13. 15—Avondale J.C. Sept. 18, 20—Geraldine R.C. Sept. 20—Marton J.C. Sept. 20. 22—Poverty Bay Turf C. (at Te Aroha). Sept. 27—Foxton R.C. Sept. 27. 29 -Ohinemuri J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES August 9. 13, 15— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. August 30—Auckland T.C. September 6—New Brighton T.C. September 13. 17—Wanganui T.C. September 18, 20—Wellington T.C.

NATIONAL FAT STOCK SHOW ■ ♦ — EXCELLENT BEEF DISPLAY The National Fat Stock Show conducted by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, in conjunction with the Canterbury stock firms, as part of the National market was held at the Addington saleyards yesterday. The show was introduced some years ago with the object of encouraging an improvement in the type of fat stock entered for the National market, and it has steadily increased in importance and in the patronage of fatteners. The stock are all offered for disposal at the National market on the day following. Yesterday's entry was the best to date, the total of fat cattle entered being 57, and of pigs 15. The pigs will be judged to-day. The quality of the cattle yesterday was of the usual' high standard, and as in former years the popular Aberdeen-Angus breed dominated the prize list. In former years Mr T. H. Wilkinson, of Spotswood, scored heavily with his exhibits of this breed, and he maintained his successes yesterday, taking three of the five classes, In addition to minor awards. The Central Otago cattle, which were a feature of the last show, were a good lot, but not up to the standard of last season, and all the main awards went to Canterbury exhibits. The championship of the show, however, went to an outstanding type of the Shorthorn breed, a Shorthorn heifer shown by J. E. Thacker (Okain’s Bay). The following are the details:— Class I.—Bullock, any age. First £5, second £3, third £1 (10 entries).—G. and H. Reid, Rotherham (Hereford), 1 and c; A. Sharp, Halswell (Aberdeen-Angus), 2 and hj c; Turnbull and Vickery, Invercargill (Shorthorm), 3Class 2—Steer, not over three years. Prizes, £5, £3, and £1 (14 entries).—T. H. Wilkinson, Spotswood (AberdeenAngus), 1; A. Gillanders, Domett (Shorthorn cross), 2; A. Carruthers, Middlemarch (Aberdeen-Angus), 3; estate late R. Gould, Rotherham (Aberdeen-Angus), v hj c: A. E. Birdling, ■ Birdling’s Flat (Shorthorn cross), hj c: D. D. Gillanders, Domett, c. Class 3—Three steers, two-three years. Prizes, £5, £3, and £1 (seven entries).— T. H. Wilkinson (Aberdeen-Angus), 1 and 2; A. Carruthers (Aberdeen-Angus), 3; estate R. Gould (Aberdeen-Angus), v hj c and c; G. and H. Reid (Aberdeen-Angus), he. ( Steer, not over two years on June 1, most suitable for chilled-beef trade (14 entries).—T. H. Wilkinson (AberdeenAngus), 1, hj c, and c; Guildford Estate. Port Levy (Shorthorn cross), 2; Te Kaawa Estate, Port Levy (Shorthorn cross), 3; G. and H. Reid (Aberdeen-Angus), v hj c. Class s—Heifer, not over three years. Prizes, £5, £3, and £1 (12 entries).—J. E. Thacker, Okain’s Bay (Shorthorn cross), 1 and 2; A. Gillanders, Domett (Hereford cross), 3; T. W. Hughes. Rangiora, v hj c; Mrs R. C. Todbunter, Methven • (Shorthorn), c. The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Breeders’ Association’s special prize of £3 3s for the best entry in pen of three steers of Aber-deen-Angus or by an Aberdeen-Angus sire, and a prize of £3 3s to the best Aberdeen-Angus steer or steer by an Aber-deen-Angus sire was won by T. H. Wilkinson. Tire Shorthorn Society’s first prize of £4 4s and a second prize of £2 2s for the best Shorthorn, male or female, not over 36 months old on June 1, 1941, sired by a bull registered with the society was won by J. E. Thacker.