THE-TURF

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 300, 13 September 1921, Page 7

THE-TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS By Glencoe. Uncommonly largo acceptances have been received for some of the events on the Pakuranga Hunt Club's programme, set down for decision on Saturday next, and in one event over forty horses are carded to appear, as their ownera have paid the acceptance fee, it is only fair to assume that they are expected to start, and the question then arises: Is the course safe for a field of • forty horses? It is high time that the authorities dealt with this question. Something will have to be done to limit the size of the fields. One way to bring this about in handicaps, at tiny rate, would be to bar horses that are handicapped nt the minimum. Tho Manawatu Hunt .Club will hold its race meeting on Saturday next. The club is most unfortunate in its selection of date, as it clashes with, the Springbok Test match, but as the meeting is to bo held at Feilding, it was thought advisable to race on the half-holiday there. At Marton, when Tatton Park fell at the brush obstacle in front of the stand, in the Hack Steeplechase, and rolled over the lower portion of his rider’s (A. M'Donnld) body and legs, it was thought that the popular Marton pilot was seriously injured, but when the field pateed him he got up and walked to the saddling paddock, slightly lame. Later in the afternoon? he rode Omahu to victory in the Rangitikei Steeplechase,. and the manner in which he handled his mount was duly recognised. . Some of the crosscountry riders are made of "tough material," M'Donald being among the number. G. Jonee, who passed through Palmerston North yesterday, says that his team is doing well., Mermin has become a sluggish worker, and it is owner’s intention to give him a run in the Flying Handicap at Avondale to sharpen him up for his race in the Guineas. H. M'Sweeney made a remarkable recovery on Gay Boy at one of the fences in the Rangitikei Steeplechase, and both his feet were on' the same side of the saddle at the. time, and M'Sweeney was on his mount’s neck. Gay Boy afterwards jumped better, but the accident took a lot of "go" out of him. The Rangitikei Hunt Club was very fortunate in the weather for its meeting on Saturday, when the going was ■perfect. There was an increase of 662000 on the totalisator return as compared with the July meeting. The new system increasing the allowance to apprentice riders isibecoming very popular with owners and trainers. This was, particularly noticeable at Marton, where tho youngsters’ services were freely availed of, but none of them succeeded in riding a winner. ■ Tolerance got a bad passage in the Electric Handicap at Marton, and this seems to have L>een well noted, for over a furlong further on Saturday the Boniforni gelding was backed down to a short price, and he won the concluding event comfortably. A small return was also given by Royal Gift, who scored in the Bracelet, in which he was handled by the crack amateur, J. Morris. ‘Sir Roseberry stripped very well at Marton, but he failed to fill a place in the Hack Hurdles. The Opaki gelding gallops so well on the flat that his owner may be tempted to give him a race or two amongst the hacks before he is again, asked to jump fences. Entries for both tho Napier- and Hastings spring meetings close on Friday next at 8 p.m. Owners are reminded that acceptances for the Otaki meeting close on Friday next at 8 p.m. Bitters is doing plenty of solid work at Trentham, and is beginning to show some form. He is under orders to race at the Otald meeting this month. It is more .than likely that the locallytrained Canyon, who has been at Greenmeadows for some time past, will shortly return to her old quarters at C. Pritchard’s Trentham stables. - War March, winner of the Hunters Flat Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday is a well-bred five-year-old horse by Martin from Two Step. He used to carry the. colours of Air. A. B. Williams, who gave 500gns. for him as a yearling, but he did not race up to expectations, and as a three-year-old was sold for a small sum to a southern buyer. Saturday’s success was the first to the credit ofi the bay horse. A new publication has made its appearance in Australia in the shape of the "Turf Record and Racing Calendar." It comes from the office of the Sydney "Referee," the intention being to provide each month a record of racing in the principal States of the Commonwealth. The calendar should be invaluable to students of form, not only in Australia, but also to' many New Zealand sportsmen, who take on interest in Australian events. , A Press Association message from Sydney states that Richmond Main has been scratched for all his Australian Jockey Club engagements.