FOURTH HORSE FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 13

FOURTH HORSE FIRST

SOME WANGANUI HISTORY

Spectators who attended the Wanganui Jockey Club's Winter Meeting of 1900 had their full share of sensations, for the big cross-country event on the opening clny, the Wanganui SteeplcI chase, was full of incident (writes 1 "Kestrel"). Eight contestants started, I but the first three horses lo pass the I judge were later disqualified, the ] fourth and fifth horses securing the leading honours. The records show that the starters in the race were Black Dust and The Guard (bracketed). Light. Tataramoa, Cuckoo, and Claymore. The finish was of no interest to Cuckoo, who fell and was killed. Black Dust finished first and was followed past the post by Tataramoa and Claymore, with Scallywag fourth and Whangaroa fifth. As the three placed horses had taken, the wrong course the stewards awarded first place to Scallywag and the second place to Whangaroa. j Scallywag raced in Mr. H. D. Morrison's colours and was ridden at 9.8 by D. Hands. F. Cochrane was on Whangaroa, who carried 11.0. and was owned by Mr. T. Scott. The dividend associated with Scallywag's successful placing was just short of double fig'ures —certainly a pleasant surprise for those backers who at one stage had given up all hope of receiving any return for their investments, especially as there was no second dividend. In passing, It may be mentioned that Tataramoa made amends by winning the Grandstand Steeplechase on the second day, and Scallywag wor. the Final Steeplechase. Mr. J. Bull that day won the Hunters' Hurdles with Amethyst, and Mr. G. M. Currie, later to achieve fame as studmaster of Koatanui, provided the winner of the First Hack Hurdle in Whelu. who was ridden by W. Higgins. Perhaps patrons at the 1936 meeting may not be provided with the thrills of nearly four decades ago, but there are sure to be many present who will recall the incidents of the 1900 meeting- : ...

It would be scarcely fair to pass over mention of Scallywag without recalling a couple of his later efforts. Two years after the incident of the disqualification of the placed horses, Scallywag ran home first in the Grandstand Steeplechase and also carried off the Final Steeplechase again. Back he came to Wanganui the following year, to repeat his Grandstand Steeplechase win, this time carrying 11.6 to victory, but on the second day of the meeting he had to strike his colours to Awahuri in the Wanganui Steeplechase. Certainly Scallywag's record in connection with steeplechase events on the 'Wanganui course deserves a little more than mere passing mention. SILK SOX MAY NOT RUN (Special from "Hurry On.") NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. Though still on the heavy side after the recent rain the tracks at New Plymouth were in quite good order for training operations yesterday morning when the horses with engagements at Wanganui were given their final trials. All the galloping took place on the course proper with the flags out fully 30 feet.

H. Dulieu worked his team early. Sporting Song was sent once round, moving in free style. He appears to have gone the right way since returning from Ellerslie. Silk Sox was inclined to be sluggish when doing strong pace work on the inside. Dulieu states that Sportina Song will probably be his representative in the Century Hurdles, but Silk Sox will also be taken down to race on the second day. Bantry and Bon Sante covered a circuit at an easy three-quarter pace. Bantry is a little sore, but the trouble may not prove serious. Meritor occupied lmin 22 l-ssec for six furlongs, the last half-mile taking 56Jsec. He did not appear to be putting much dash into his work at the finish. •■-• -'- 'v^Script atoned for his poor display on Tuesday by running half a mile in Kood style in 52 3-ssec. If caught in the right mood he might run well at Wanganui. . Tahurangi appeared to be going slightly better than High Test at the end of half a mile in 53sec. Both finished strongly. Tahurangi has shown a lot of improvement in his work during the last few days, and may run a good race in the Empire Handicap tomorrow. Davistock finished just in front of Calshot and Glenvane at the conclusion of a mile in lmin 54sec. They ran the first half-mile in 55sec, and were all going comfortably at the finish. Davistock had the inside running, and displayed more dash than he did on Tuesday. Glenvane's effort was a good one for a hurdler, and Calshot was going nicely at the end.

C. THOMSON ON TANGLED (Special to the "Evening Post.") FALMERSTON N., This Day. The course proper, with the flags near the outside fence, was available for "fast" work at Awapuni yesterday, but the going was dead and the horses were digging in quite a way. Times were taken, but they were very slow. Among those to gallop were Prince Reno (B. Browne) and Tail Light (W. J Broughton), and they were together over a mile, which they cut out in 2min ljsec, the first five furlongs being run in lmin 17£ sec. Tenacre (W. E. Pine) and Balbus IC. Robinson) put five furlongs behind in lmin ,47sec. Bazaine OR. Feasey). alone, broke 56sec for halt a mile. HapiSy Hunting (W. J. Broughton and Dawning Light (G TatteraaU) were companions over half a mile, being clocked to run the last three in /ore e s C t Glow (G. Tattersall) and Tangled (L. H. Jones) hopped away short of the winning-post and were timed to run a mile in 2min ssec. C. Thomson has been engaged to nde Tangled and Sporting Song at Wanganui A. McDonald will be at Wanganui and he will ride Manawatu. Bodyline left for Napier yesterday, and Dungarvan, who was given pace work yesterday, goes to Wanganui today. TRIUNE AND VELOCIPEDE The Auckland visitors Triune and Velocipede were among the first arrivals i'or the Wanganui Meeting, and they are expected to race well in thenengagements during the next few days. Triune is engaged tomorrow in the Borough Hack Handicap, in which he is topweight with 9.11. He is a good beginner and the turning track and short straight at Wanganui should suit him admirably. Velocipede is not engaged tomorrow and his mission will be the Connolly Handicap, to be run on Tuesday. This horse beat a strong field in the President's Handicap at the Waikato Meeting last month, and if he repeats that form in the Connolly Handicap he will keep the opposition busy.

EXPENDITURE AND INCOME Among the items on the expenditure side of the New Zealand Racing Conference general account for the year ended May 31, the principal are £3317 Is lid in the stipendiary stewards' account and £3591 3s lid in the racecourse inspectors' account. Salaries of the stipendiary stewards amounted to £1965 8s 4d and those of the' inspectors aggregated £2541 ss. Expenses amounted to £1910 12s. The principal sources of income were £1475 8s for registration fees of various kinds, £7088 19s in levies from racing clubs, £840 0s 9d from the Trotting Conference, and £825 from broadcasting fees. The excess oC income for the financial year was £811 4s lOd.

No horse at Ellerslie. has wintered better than Caliente, who is looking a picture at present, says a northern writer. She has not been asked to do any work of a. strenuous nature in recent weeks, but indications point to her being at, her best when set a preparation for spring racing.