RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27074, 24 June 1953, Page 4

RACING AND TROTTING

FORM AT HASTINGS VALUELESS

COMMENT ON OPENING DAY OF MEETING

“It is unlikely that any attention will be paid to the form shown on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting on Saturday,” says the "Dominion.” commenting on the incident at Hastings, when the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club decided to continue its programme, in spite of representations by the New Zealand Jockeys* Association.

"As far as the flat events were concerned, it was a travesty of racing, most of the jockeys who failed to get to the front in the early stages contenting themselves with a safe ride,” the newspaper says. "Horses which could handle the conditions had a big advantage. Those which could not might as well have remained in their boxes.

“It was a most unfortunate day for all concerned, and the interests of everyone might have been better served had the meeting been postponed till Monday,” says the article. "However, the decision to proceed was made in good faith, and the racing, such as it was, was staged without serious accident.

"But it was racing in name only. The ground was treacherous for steeplechases, and flat events, with the sole exception of the Heretaunga Handicap, the second leg of the double, degenerated into dull processions. In some of the hack events the fields were strung out oyer a furlong after the leaders had travelled less than half a mile. This made the form valueless as a guide to the future. "The jockeys who decided to ride could not be blamed for the state of affairs," says the "Dominion.” “Their calling Is a hazardous one, and for most weeks of the year their income-earning opportunities are restricted to a day a week. Self-pre-servation is a predominating instinct, and fair-minded people would hesitate to criticise those riders who adopted the safety-first tactics on Saturday.’

Programme Changed A change has been made this year to the programme for the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting, which will be held on July 18. The Teschemaker Hunt Cup. which in recent years has been a minor race restricted to amateur riders, has been restored to its original place as one of the principal events. It is open only to qualified hunters. The Pareora Steeplechase is for hacks and hunters. Amateur horsemen are not specially catered for.

SCHOOLING AT RICCARTON

GOOD EFFORT BY MONEY LENDER

DETENTION ALSO JUMPS WELL

Money Lender and Detention, which are both engaged in the steeplechase at Washdyke on Saturday, and will then race at the Wellington winter meeting, schooled over eight of the trial steeplechase fences at Riccarton yesterday. Their effort was the most interesting feature of the training.

Honours of the trial were with the experienced Money Lender, but Detention. which has not yet raced over country, gave an encouraging display when he warmed to his work.

Money Lender, ridden by H. J. Ford, soon established a good lead. Detention (G. W. Mein) lost ground at the first three fences. Detention made up some ground on the flat, and held it by jumping faster towards the finish, but Money Lender landed over the last fence with a clear lead.

M. J. Wadley has Money Lender in good order. The Winmore gelding went close to winning the Otago Steeplechase. However, when he appeared to have an excellent winning chance in the steeplechase on the second day of the Dunedin winter meeting, he got his tongue over the bit. Ryelahd (G. W. Mein) showed to advantage in his run over four hurdles with Rebel Flight (W. J. Thomson) and Black Wealth (W. Barr). Black Wealth jumped extravagantly, but his pace on the flat carried him up to the other two at the last flight. Ryeland should be at his best for the Wellington winter meeting, where he was twice placed as a hack hurdler last year. He was a fair seventh in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday. Washdyke Trials Because the outside of the course proper could not be rolled since it had been last used, Washdyke candidates used the No. 7 grass, which was slow. Danger Point (C. C. Stokes) was joined by Scotch Gift (T. J. Smith) for the last four of six furlongs. Scotch Gift finished a length in front. Danger Point’s time for the six furlongs was Imin 21sec. The *ast half-mile was run in 53 l-ssec and the final three furlongs in 38 4-ssec. Danger Point has a chance to atone for his Ashburton failure in the Elloughton Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. He will be ridden by E. G. Low, for whom he has run some of his best races. Low was Danger Point’s rider when the Booby Trap gelding won this race last year. Blackfellow (C. McDonald) beat Balveine (A. J. Stokes) by half a length over six\furlongs and recorded Imin 24 3-ssec for the distance, 55 l-ssec for the last half-mile, and 40 l-ssec for the- final three furlongs. Blackfellow is booked to race next at Trentham. At his last start he narrowly and rather luckily beat Balveine at Wingatui. Balveine is engaged in the Kingsdown Hack Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. No risks have been taken with him in the weights for the Te Aro Hack Handicap on the first day of the Wellington winter meetihg. Though he has won only one race, he is 221 b above the minimum, 41b above Blackfellow. Teko (F. H. Skelton) sprinted three furlongs in 30 l-ssec. A wide barrier draw will not help this, two-year-old in the Onihi Handicap at Washdyke. Profane (F. H. Skelton) and Morse Code (R. McSeveny) were on terms at the end of six furlongs in Imin 23 2-ssec, the last three in 40 3-ssec.

Galloped Strongly Ptarmigan CP. Hill) galloped strongly in the straight to beat Surprise Ending (B. Gordon) by half a length, with Aglow (F. H. Skelton) three lengths further back, in their run over five furlongs. Ptarmigan, which was behind the other two at the start, recorded Imin ssec, the last half-mile in 52sec and the final three furlongs in 38 3-ssec. It was a smart effort by this two-year-old Moorcock filly, an acceptor for the Opihi Handicap at Washdyke. She has been spelled since she last raced. ♦ Instinctive (M. O’Brien) was not hurried over three furlongs. He recorded 43 3-ssec. Karanda (B. Moore) and Corolight. (G. Walsh) ended their five-furlong gallop on terms in Imin 7 3-ssec, the last three in 40 4-ssec. Corolight’s saddle slipped forward during the gallop. Trustworthy (H. W. Hibberd) appeared to be galloping easily three-quarters of a length in front of Argonaut (D. J. Thistoll) at the end of six furlongs in imin 21 2-ssec, the last three in 41 2-ssec. Trustworthy has not yet raced up to the standard of some of his trials. .Finance (B. Hillis) and Spar (B. Lake) were three lengths clear of Ballast (R. Forward) after running seven furlongs in Imin 37 4-ssec, the last three in 39 l-ssec.

Finance will have his first race after a spell at Washdyke on Saturday. He will be unable to run in the principal races at Trentham, because he has not won a race worth £4OO to the winner. Pukka Sahib (I. McClure) and Poilu (P. Hill) ended a five-furlong gallop on terms in Imin 8 2-ssec, the last three in 42 Pukka Sahib has speed, but has not bpen racing solidly. He will have another chance in the Kingsdown Hack H"'-'di can at Washdyke. ' Hickory Stick (R. L. Gibson) drew up near the post to beat Te Pahi (A. Eastwood) by a neck in their run over five furlongs. They recorded Imin 8 4-ssec for the distance and 41 3-ssec for the last three furlongs. Te Pahi. a half-brnther to the good winner. Te Kooti, will have the second race of his career at Wash dyke on Saturday. He is a ommising youngster. r Sarada IC. C. Stokes drew ub to- be on terms with Epaulette (D. Tallott) ending five furlongs in Imin 8, 3-ssec, the last three in 40 4-ssee. Sarada is a useful galloper, but can show his real ability onlv on firm going. Cautaln Flint (N. A. Demusey) sprinted home fmrn the three furlongs in 40 2-ssec. This two-year-old son of Treasury Hunt furnished nicely during a suell after* his soring racing. He may make his next appearance at Rangiora on July 4.

HAWKE’S BAY BRACKETS

(New Zealand Press Association) HASTINGS, June 23. Brackets for the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday are:— Pakowhai Hack Hurdles: Brenin Aur and Eastern Appeal. , _ Frimley Trial: Braze and v»astle Queen. Chetowaik and Te Hama, Cloudless and Gold Chief, Lord Melbar and Lucky Duke, Paper Hunt and Serento, Serrate and Waioeka, Young Scholar and Brown Pixie Correctly and Crimson Flash, Fiction and Flying Gilpin, Horowia and Just Jo, Lady Solent and Merioneth, Merry Gilpin and Mimso, Park Avenue and Queensway, Renette and Scoop, Silver Plate and So Quite, Sybille and Trianon, Truth and Zita, Devonmore and Diecast, Full Rate and Kalaboob, Loyalist and Light Acre, Lucerne and Shahrad, Tully and Dollar Grand, Lady Briton and La Lena, Miss Beulah and Triple Royal. June Steeplechase: Broiemint and The Savelock Handicap: Energetic and Fir Bolgs, Gallant Man and Lord Balloch, Parisian Lad and Puketoi, Saxton and Warsong. Trial Final Hack Handicap: Northcliffe and Pandit.

INTERNATIONAL RACES IN U.S.

The Atlantic City Racing Association has decided to run three international classic races at Atlantic City. New Jersey, in September. The main event will be the United Nations Handicap, a sweepstake with 50,000 dollars added, nine furlongs and a half, to be run on September 26. The American-bred Stakes and Foreign Bred Stakes, each with 25,000 dollars added money, and run over nine furlongs, will be contested 10 days before. The American-Bred Stakes is open to three-year-olds and upward foaled within the United States. The Foreign-Bred Stakes is for three-year-olds and upward foaled outside the United States. The first four placed in each of these races will qualify for the United Nations Handicap.