FOE MAIDEN HUNTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 6

FOE MAIDEN HUNTERS

RIDDIFORD STEEPLECHASE

The Riddiford , Steeplechase .at Marton tomorrow contains its usual exclusive conditions, which, if they' do nothing-.else, must keep the-public money off the totalisator, and while the club continues so to restrict'its opening event it can hardly hope to start ofF its day with any worthwhile pool. " Such conditions had a-value once when hunting was more the vogue than it. is nonr, but it. mightVbe better for the cliib' if it were- to-drop them in future years,--'-as; racing-isr becoming more and more- a', business whatever form it .takes. ~.,■■:;. :■"■,■,: -.'■'--'.y.'. -'./:".- .-..'-;-.■;'... .The conditions for the race'State:—"For, qualified hunters"'who have, never,1 won a race at a ;totaKsator race- meeting ;and who are not trained by -a licensed trainer.: to^be''riddeii; by menibefs' of''an affiliated"; hunt club to the; New. Zealand .Hunts Association.' . ■; ;■ Professional: riders barred." Other hunt.'■ clubs;-;(still' have, r.aces under similar though 'hardly so" stringent .conditions, ,but such races are'passing, 'because ;they . \are .not .helpful to: clubs anxious to 'make their meetings as. financially .successful as can be. -.' > .The Rangitikei Club also- retains two gentlemen' riders' events on; its programme of -seven races, whereas one would now seem to •bs : amply' sufiieierit.- Such r races are not at ill 'good .spectacles frbm the public's point of view, . and they .notoriously attract little general betting. Moreover the professional jockey requires his share of consideration too, as. he depends entirely on racing for his livelihood, and he is finding-it very hard at present (especially the: hurdle horseman) to. make a reasonable' living out'of the few Tides he can obtain. . ■';. ■■"'■■ -.'■•_ ... -.■'.'"■■■■ ,' Naturally : the quality ' of tomorrow's Riddiford Steeplechase field is very poor. Three or ,four,.o±';;the. acceptors have had a-few previous rices in some department during their career, but they ihave shown practically nothing in the way of form. No Humbug; looks to be the likeliest of them. At Marton in the. spring this four-year-old daughter of Humbug ran a fair second to Henry of Navarre over hurdles, but she was in^ receipt of over two stone at. a time, prior to the winner's patch of excellent form. . The Marton country is easy, as .No Humbug, with her hunting experience this winter,-should not be troubled with it. Taneka recently had a race at the Dannevirke Hunt- Meeting. 'Star Acre, and War Eagle; are; unsuccessful, '.performers on , the fiat : who been turned "• to hunting. ; War : Eagle has. once or twice made a showing-in-inaiden events, his best effort'having, been- : a; second; to Salt Spray at' a -Marton fifteen 'months - ago, so >he: may ;be ..likeliest ,:prospect.outside of NpjiHumbiig; in^ihis ci'ace.Jit '.;'.•' The :rest' of the: field /comprises" littleknown or quiteuhknown quantities. Wakalaua .-is,: a seven-year-old son of Warplane owned by Mr. E. H., Duncan, of Hunterville. ' lllawarra as: a. six-year-old gelding \vithput a pedigree owned by Mr. S. Connors! Grbydpn is a five-year old gelding by Warplane from an-Advance mare, and he is-owned by; Mr. S; Varley. Hone Wherb; is -a nine-year-old gelding by All Red owned by Mr. J. Taylor, of Te Horo. The- eight-year-old Gasbag—Sweet Flower gelding, who is owned by Mr. E. A. Watkins,, of AYaverley, has-been.named Flower Bag, but no particulars: are;-available about: his half-brother by Daniloff' who is also included in the acceptance^ ' .