RACING FIXTURES.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1926, Page 23

RACING FIXTURES.

November 24—Ashhurst-Ponangina R.C. November 27, December I—Takapuna J.C. November SO, December I—Feilding J.C. December i— Metbven R.C. December 4—Tauniarunui E.C.

Acceptances for the Feilding first day handicaps and forfeits for the Feilding Stakes are due on Monday, at 8.30 p.m., Nest Wednesday the Ashhurst-Pohan-gina Meeting will be held, and on Saturday the Takapuna Spring Meeting will commence.

Although Ciraabue by. his very decisive victory in the Welcome Stakes stands unchallenged aa the premier juvenile tc date, there are likely to be fresh opponents for him later who might be able to lender his colours. One of the most likely ofvthese is Damans, the Lomond—Pen Don, filly trained by W. Rayner for Mr. G. M. Currie. Damaris, owing to a slight leg Injury, was not trained seriously early in .the season, but she is likely to hold her- own with the very best later on. As a half-sister to Lysander and Motley she has close relationship to speed. She is a beautiful filly in appearance and one likely to develop into a magnificent specimen of the thoroughbred. She may have her first race at Feilding.. Civility is reported to be going well on the tracks at Wanganui, and is being discussed as a likely Feilding Cup candidate. The programme of the Eginont Racing Club's Summer Meeting, to be held on 2nd ami'3rd February, has made its appearance. The Egmont Cup carries a stake of>Boo soys, and the Nolan Gold Cup for hacks i« of 400 soys, including the trophy valued at 75 soys. The stakes are uniformly good throughout the two days. - Judging by Borne tickets, racecards, and other matter supplied by a New Zealand racing enthusiast recently returned from Canada and the United States, New Zealanders have their racing supplied under cheap and ideal conditions. At Saratoga it iost tf.6o dollars to obtain admission to ther grandstand and saddling paddock, or ■well over £2. There were six races, the ■first at 3 p.m. and the last at 5.30 p.m. Fields were very small, not surprising considering the meeting extended over 26 days. ' ' "Atnongs those nominated for the Villiers Stakes run at Randwick on 18th December are White Fang and CawnApparently the Press in Melbourne doss not carry the confidence of the' Victoria Racing Club, judging by the following from the "Australasian":—"Taken collectively the racing at the Melbourne Cup Meeting was remarkably good and most interesting. It. was fairly clean, although in one or two races more than one horse was" badly interfered with, and the stewards did not take any action. To us it is incomprehensible that the stewards continue to refuse to take the public into their confidence. It is said that they hold inquiries and ask jockeys for explanations ofT various happenings, but it is only on raw occasions that any report is issuea taHhe Press. - The V.R.C. Committee •vvoTild do well to give this matter serious consideration." . Racegoers in New Zealand m tne main have' to put -. up with only losimr their money. In Australia-■ _at times they add to their misery by the "financial loss being undertaken under uncomfortable conditions. Thus '"Cardigan" writes: "To say the least, it was a horrible day at Williamstown on the second day, when the. Williamstown Cup was decided. It was-steaming hot, and a gale from, the north made conditions anythingbut pleasant. To make it worse favourite* aid not run as well as backers expected, and, to add further to the troubles of long-suffering racegoers, / o plague of dragon-flies invaded the Rrandstfiud*" * - > AH interested' in -the crack ho'rseu .of the "day will be pleased to hear that the tr&iher, G. Price, is well satisfied with the1 present condition of Windbag. Th« blister applied'to the injured fetlock appears to have been of service, as the horse is-making good use of it in playing about down in his comfortable quarters at Newmarket. ■ .;■ . Mr. T. Hannan has placed his horses, Queen's Bow> Aneste, Becagi, and Kinjj Super, with the New Zealand trainer, R. D.'-'O'Dorineil, who has now decided to settle down'in Sydney. Racehorse doping is apparently as rife as ever in "Australia. It is a pity that those responsible cannot be brought to;l)Obk, for doping is a brutal practice and-:the culprits should 3uffer very Bevere punishment. The latest doping case, says th»;,"Sydney Sportsman," resulted in the agonising.death of a filly named Rejane. She had . shown some remarkably good trials/ and her youthful mentor, W. Laffan; of Randwick, set great store on the daughter of Featherstitch. On the previous afternoon Rejane had been frolicking"about the enclosure, and was in the best of spirits when placed in her box for the night. Next morning she was stretched lifeless on the floor. A veterinary surgeon was immediately "communicated with, and.a post-mortem examination' was held. It yas then discovered that her intestines yr'ere' badly burnt, and that there was enough "dope" in her to ftill a herd of horses.-. - -.•''. . / ■'

Battlement has resumed work again at Ric'carton, and no doubt if all goes \ve!l with him he will deputise for Limerick in" the Great Northern Derby. If ha strikes his best Australian form he will add to the interest in the race, and, what is more, make it a solidly run mile and a half instead of a five-furlong sprint affair as it was at Christchurch.

; The reports that Rivalry is to be retired appear to be rather premature. She is to go to the stud next season, but in tne\"x»eantime an attempt is to be made tff^get another race or two out of her. Young Lochinvar has gone home for a spell. The three-year-old had a strenuous spring campaign in Sydney and he deserves a rest. He should be a useful stakeearner when freshened up again.

The three-year-olds were disappointing in the Melbourne Cup, writes "Bilot." There was excuse for Limerick, ©wing to his foot trouble, and only that •o'.'many New Zealanders were among the earjjt investors oh the black gelding for the; Cup, Mr. H. A. Knight might not Lave started him. After the Derby neither he nor F. Jones flattered themselves that Limerick had any chance o£ success, but he did better than Kampion, who was settled after - going about a mile and a quarter. Limerick lasted for nearly three futlqngs further, and, if he is sound when bfctfraiea. over next year, has at least a chance of atoning for his recent failures.

'Al^houprh Naos did not win the Melbotfrne,, Cup, hia second gave Mr. Sol Green a fair race. He bought for nearly £700 a Half-share of the ticket that drew Naos in one of the £20,000 sweeps. Tho holder of the ticket waa Miss Strachan, a daughter of Dr. Strachan, of Melbourne. Second money was £6000, so the deal ■wai satisfactory to both. Only for hia interest'in the ticket Mr. Green might not'have started Naos for the Cup after hig poor showing in th« Hotham Handicap.