LOSS TO SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 15

LOSS TO SPORT

DEATH OF MR. M. J. HANNON

(By Telegraph.) \ (Special to the "Evening Post.") DUNEDIN, This Day. The light-harness sport and the Oamaru Trotting Club have lost a strong advocate in administration by the death of Mr. M. J. Hannon at Oamaru. TT For twenty-four years Mr. Hannon had been a steward of the Oamaru Trotting Club, and during the past seventeen years of that period had filled the position of president. He was also actively engaged m the sport for many years, having raced anumber of good horses, including Albert Cling» winner of the New Brighton Derby nx 1918, and the Free-for-All at Adding ton in 1921, Embracer, winner of the Champion Stakes at Adding ton. Boa Wilkes, winner of the Trotting Stakes at Forbury Park, and Brentloc. He was a member of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and his intimate knowledge of the sport made him • valued member. SMITH'S GOOD YEAR TWENTY-TWO VICTORIES (By "Ariki Toa.") With the completion of the trottinf season in the Auckland Province a perusal of the records reveals that tna Takanini trainer F. J- Smith heads the list of winning trainers with 22 successes, Crocus, whose winnings total £915 for five firsts and two placings, being the biggest contributor to the £4680 credited to the stable. •the Australian-bred Nervie's Last, who raced consistently but without much luck, won two races, and his earnings amounted to £640, or just £180 more than King's Warrior, who was closely pressed by Bexley Girl with £455. Cavan Chief (£400), Ironside (£360), and Musketeer (£340) were also good money-spinners for Smith. The well-known sportswoman Mrs. C. E. McGregor received £1410 as the result of successes by pacers carrying her colours. Gold Dredge, Bronze Queen, Gay Sister, and Lady Potts all got on the winning list, Bronze Queen with £380 making the best return. However, Gay Sister was purchased only in February last and in the interim has won the Thames Trotting Cup and the Autumn Handicap at the Waikato Meeting, contributing £370. Mrs. McGregor is fortunate in the that her horses are all on comparatively loose marks, and her colours should be seen to further advantage next season. The Takanini mentor C. H. Goodali enjoyed a successful season with Colleen Murphy. Kewpie's King. Fernbrook Lass, Worthy Song, Militia, and Gay Sister, the last-named having previously been trained by him when owned by Mr. E. E. Cressey. Tha stable total was £725. The stakes distributed in the province during the seventeen days' racing amounted to £29,900, this being an increase of £6160 over the total for the previous year. Takanini representatives collected £7000, Epsom £6330, Waikato £5770, and Mangere £5200. Visiting horses received £5600. CHANGE OF STABLES De Soto, who formerly was trained by the veteran T. Logan, has been secured by a patron of V. Leeming's stable, and he has already entered tha latter's establishment. Last season the chestnut gelding vvaa one of the Dominion's most outstanding performers until he broke down, and during the present term he has been successful over sprint distances only, winning the Weston Handicap at Timaru, and the New Zealand Cup Trial at Hutt Park. One of his best efforts was to finish fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, as it was achieved under difficulties. Again on, the middle day he was responsible for a pleasing performance as he again met with serious interference on tha journey. A failure at the New Brighton Meeting earlier in the year earned him a term of disqualification, this resulting in his missing the Auckland Trotting Cup and also the important events at the Inter-Dominion Championships. Hia most recent outing was in the InterState Handicap at Ashburton, but ha ran poorly and never threatened danger. De Soto has been more or less troubled with unsoundness throughout his career, and an attack of lameness upon his return to the birdcage after racing has often suggested that his days were numbered, but like Oliver Twist he always came up for more. For some time he has shown a tendency to feel the effects of a preparation, but he is one of the gamest horses in commission, and it is to be hoped that his connections succeed with him in the ensuing season. In the Whyte Handicap at Trentham last year Ponty and Enge ran a deadheat for the honours.' Both horses are engaged in the race again this year, and each has been raised in tha weights exactly 71b, Ponty now having 9,0 and Enge 8.4. In the interim Ponty, has won two races, including the C.J.C. Great Easter, and Enge has won threa races, including the W.R.C. Parliamentary Handicap on the second day last year and the Woodstock Stakes very easily at Te Rapa on Saturday.