RACING NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 6

RACING NEWS

(SSI •.•VEDETTE.")

RACIKG tfIXTUBES. March B.—Franklin R.C. , March 15, 17.—Wellington R.C. March 15, 17.—Ohinemurl J.C. March 17.—Opunako R.C. March 20 VVaimate R.C. ' March 22.—Bay «* Plenty J.C. March 22, 24.—Oamaru J.C. March 26.—Opotikl J.C. March 26, 27.—Manawatu K.C. April 3, s.—Whangarcl H.C. April 3, 5. —South Canterbury J.C. xAprll 4, s.—Masterton R.C. April 11, 12.—Hawkes Bay J.C. April 11, 12.—Otautau R.C. April 12.—Hororata R.C. April 12, 14.—Wostport J.C. April 12, 14.—Waikato R.C. April 19.~Tuapeka Counly J.C. April 19, 21.—Walrarapa R.C. April 19, 21.— FeUding J.C. April 19, 21.—Auckland B.C. April 19, 21, 22.—Riverton R.C. April 21.—Beaumont B.C. April 21.—Waipukurau J.C. April 21 Kumara R.C. April 21; 22.—Canterbury J.C. April 23, 24.—Westland R.C. April 26, 28.—Greymoutli J.C. April 26, 30.—Avondate J.C. April 30.—Reefton J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES. March B.—Tlmaru T.C. March 12.—Manawatu T.C. March 15.—New Brighton T.C. March 15. 17.-UawKes Bay T.C. March 17. 18.—Nelson T.C. March 22.-Well!nstoD T.C. March 24.—South Otago T.C March 28.—Thames T.C. March 29.—Cheviot r.C. April s.—Marlborough T.C. April s.—Waikato T.C. April 10. 12.-Wanganul T.C. April 19, 23.—NZ Metropolitan rT.C. April 19, 81.—Hawera T.C. April 26.—TaraoaH T.C. April 26.—Ashburton T.C. Reminders. Acceptances for the first day of the Wellington Meeting close to-night, at 9 o'clock. First forfeits for the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes and Manawatu Stakes and general entries for the Manawatu Racing Club's Autumn Meeting are due to-night, at 9 o'clock. The Franklin Meeting. There will be a one-day meeting, of the Franklin Club to-morrow, when the fields mil be almost on a par with those, racing at Te Aroha last week-end. The principal event is the FBANKLIN HANDICAP, of 450 SOTS; , ono mile and a quarter. st lb 8t lb ■ . Boyal Doulton 9 2 King's Guard .. 7 0 Hyde Park .... 8 0 Le Choucas .. 70 Desert Glow .. 710 Mosaic T 0 Mithra 7 5 Sir Archer ..7 0 Transformer .. 7 1 King Emerald .70 Hyde Park has a handy weight to enable him to atone for some failures. Mithra is sticking on well in her races now, and may be prominent under 7.5. There is a good-class field in the sprint event, the i TUAKAU FLYING HANDICAP, Of 250 SOTS; six furlongs. . st lb st lb - Eaglet ' „-.... 9 0 Gemllght .... 7 4 Branson .... 8 5 Cynthia N. .. 7 3 Gold Money .. 8 3 Abbess , 7 S Lucy Boso ... 8 1 Tlnakoa 7 0 Valuo .7 6 Joy Germ .. 7 0 Eaglet may not be quite ready for this task, and Gold Money appears well placed at 5.3. Gemlight and Value may be the most difficult of the rest. In the minor events horses who appear well placed are:—Glena Bay and Wedding 1 March; Chromadyne and I'm Alone; Curia jong and On Top; Spring Abbey and Motere; Aggressive and Sir Mohd; Imperial Prince and Vali. Accidents at Te Aroha. It was unfortunate for the Te Aroha Club that Monday's racing should have produced a series of accidents, but there was nothing to show that they were in • any way attributable to defects in the course or the state o£ the going. The mishaps were undoubtedly the result of pure mischance, states the "Auckland Herald," and, although the shape of the club's track does not make it altogether suitable for racing large fields, the safety of the track cannot be impeached as a result of the falls. Jockeys riding at Te Aroha who attended the Bulls Meeting on Wednesday stated that H. Goldfinch, who' sustained the worst injuries, was in a very serious condition, and he was causing grave anxiety. The Skull Cap. ' While on the subject of racecourse accidents, J. Barry, who made a successful reappearance in the saddle at Bulls after being injured in an accident at New Plymouth several weeks ago, stated that undoubtedly his skull cap saved him from very serious injury. The regulation head T prear ■was literally cut to pieces, the tough fabric being gashed in several places. It is obvious that had the rider named been without the protection, he might not have ' escaped with his lfe. K. Voitre, the apprentice who was in^ j'ured in the same smash, was an onlooket at Bulls. He has one arm free, but the other is still being carried in a sling, arid it 17111 be a considerable time yet before lie is fit to ride. He has the great advantage of having youth on his side, and looks remarkably fit in himself. : Pouri's Win. Although he had not raced for about ten months, Pouri was quietly fancied by iiis connections for the Manawaru Hurdles at Te Aroha on Monday, and he realised •expectations by outstaying the opposition and winning narrowly. At one stage he was so far back that his prospects looked very doubtful, and it was only his stamina and Buperior class that enabled him to pull through. The performance indicated that this fine jumper is well forward, and, although he pulled up very sore, J. F. Tutchen is hopeful that Pouri will be in a position to,display further form at the autumn meetings. Rewarded. ; Considerable patience has been exercised with Aggressive, and, though she is now a four-year-old, she has done very little racing. The policy of allowing the daughter of Kilbroney to come along quietly now looks like bearing fruit, for she registered a promising effort in winning the VVaitoa Handicap at Te Aroha. On the second day she failed to reproduce the same dash when well backed for the Elstow Handicap, but some excuse is available for her failure to finish closer than seventh as -her rider lost one of his irons at the start, and could not do the filly justice. Probably a Surprise. The victory registered by Nadeanin the Australian Cup probably was not altogether expected, for, according to lists published when the last mail to hand left bydney, she figured well down the list JVadean had, however, previously placed o?l lmportant event t0 her credit, for on 30th December last she won the Port Adelaide Cup, of £2000 (one mile and threequarters and 72 yards), beating a field of ■21. In that race Nadean was one of the least backed of the field, and a dividend ot solid dimensions followed her victory Nadean was bred by her owner Mr h' Lewis, a well-known South Australian owner, Panola Who defeated Gay Ballerina in the nrst division of the Bourke Handicap jun on the same day, is a four-year-old sister to Vertigern. Unlucky Volimond. < Luck has not been altogether with Volimond this season, otherwise she would have a better record than she possesses. The daughter of Limond looked a certainty beaten when she finished third in the Wairakau Hack Handicap at Te. Aroha, says a northerner, for hi addition to getting none the best of the start she also ran into some trouble early, and it wag only by a fast-finishing run that she managed to get so close. Volimond was galloping over everything at the finish, and on this performance she should certainly be worth watching next time she is produced. Doing Well. The popular Auckland lightweight, H. Wi.Tgins, was in good form at Bulls on Wednesday, for he brought home the two principal winners. Balloon and Dobbin, in good style, and was second on Skyrider, out of five mounts. Few horsemen do more travelling or riding than the northerner, whose handy weight for. his experience and ability obtains him plenty o£ mounts. He will be riding at Napier Bark to-day, when his mounts inclndo Shrewd and Royal Duke in the two

NOTES AND COMMENTS

principal events'.' On Saturday he will be at the. Franklin Meeting. . The Riding Question. An oldrtimer, writing to the Auckland "Herald," has something more to say on the riding problem, an acute one to-day. Amongst other things, he states: ". . There is one feature of the subject that appears to have been overlooked by most writers. I refer to the daDgerous practice, which is almbst universal, viz., the crossing of the reins over the horse's neck, which, in the event of any mistake by the horse, throws all the weight forward on to his neck, which, added to the pull from the bridle, makes his recovery almost an impossible result. The neck is the most vulnerable part of the horse, as notice, while' .fighting, how they spar for a neck hold; which, once obtained, quickly forces the opponent to his knees. This is easily demonstrated by placing your hand forcibly across the neck while your horse is in motion. It is plainly evident from a study of the photos of casualties where the trouble comes, in, and in too many cases the riders are seriously injured. With a longer- stirrup, also a longer hold of the: rein, the riders would be thrown further out if unseated, which they should never be, unless their horse comes down,'and not always then. By a reasonable, length of stirrup I mean similar to that : used by the contemporaries from H. French's and R. J. Mason's time to that of Percy : Johnson, G-.,Hickey, and K. Heatori. v- In conclusion I would venture- the opinion that, if the boys were compelled to ride' With a longer stirrup until they could' satisfy a mentor qualified to' judge that they had acquired a decent pair of hands, and had passed an .examination to that .effect, the accidents would be greatly lessened. In most professions we have to pass examinations and require certificates. Why not in this one, where.' so much money and life are endangered? This is not written as a condemnation of the riders, but is intended to help them, as I consider they do very well to accomplish what they do under such absurd' conditions. : I will venture the statement that the daddy of the lot learnt to ride under a trainer who could ride in his time."