OVERWHELMING VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 129, 2 June 1945, Page 12

OVERWHELMING VOTE

QUESTION OF LICENSING

For a period during the war the Wanganui Jockey Club was compelled to race afield, first at Awapuni and later at Marton. Prior to re-entering upon possession of the course various improvements were carried.out, the racing track being altered so .is to allow for a longer straight. Permanent steeplechase fences were also erected, and these were put to the test at the Patriotic Meeting today. Some years ago the Wanganui J.C. purchased a piece of land with a view to transferring the course • there, but the scheme was not proceeded with owing to lgck of funds. Unfortunately, the club is unable to arrange for win-and-place betting at its meetings, and the 75-25 per cent, system has gone out of' favour with racegoers/ Judged by the result of a referendum conducted; by the Wanganui Electors', Association recently residents are becoming racing minded, for a vote takjen on the question of licensing bookmakers was overwhelmingly in favour. Votes were collected from 2000 houses and: a " postal vote covered another 1000 houses, the result being 2586 votes in favour and 379 against. : , Long History. —The Wanganui Steeplechase was first run in 1875, the year the Grand National Steeplechase came into beinsf, but the Great Northern Steeplechase did not figure

till ten years later. Two horses have won the Wanganui Steeples three times, Riotous scoring in 1934, 1935, and 1939. Clarion Call -won in 1937 and 11)38, but was missing in 1939, the year that Riotous registered his final effort. However, he won in 1940. <

Taken Time. —Honest Sal, winner of ■the Elloughton Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday, took time to win her way out of the hack ranks, but her effort at her second tilt in the open grade suggests that she might well go much further in the game. She is an elder sister to that grand performer of a few years back, Macedoine, both being by Salmagundi from the Paladin mare Honest Maid. The dam did not go far during her racing days, although late in her career she won the Wairio Cup, Fowle, Memorial at Clifden, and the Otautau Cup, three distance races. There is good staying blood in the family, for Honest -Maid was from Honesty, by Martian—Success, by The Officer—Content, by Dreadnought—Lullaby, by Apremont —Hammock (imp.). Surprise Favourite.—The six-year-old Philamor gelding Amorlad was a surprise favourite for the principal handicap at Washdyke for he had had only one race since returning from a spell, and that was over seven furlongs at Invercargill last month. He began slowly and was at the rear for the major portion of the journey, but finished, on for fifth. Last October he won over 11 furlongs at Washdyke and then came on to Trentham •to add the Wainui Handicap,, 1 mile, so he may be on the way to; recovering that form. He is from Scarlet Lady, a daughter of Balboa and the Pallas | —Redstart mare. Red Pal, and has undoubted ability in bad ground. ■ Long Awaited. —Although he won his first race as a three-year-old at Riverton over two years ago. it was not till last week that Boolamskee carried his winning account further, in the Levels Hurdles at Washdyke. However, the manner in which he scored indicates that he will build a x-ecord for himself in, this-branch of the game. He was bought at the Trentham Sales in 1941 for 75 guineas- after having been passed in at 60 guineas, so he may yet prove himself a cheap buy. He is by Baffles from the Hunting Song mare Velcoe, dam earlier of Katesbridge, who showed fleeting glimpses of good form ;On this circuit. Boolamskee is Gaelic for "big noise," and he may yet live up to the name. Incorrect;— When he won the Claremont Hack Handicap at Timaru last Saturday Whitley demonstrated that the report to the effect that he could not handle bad ground was not correct. Although he has always show" speed, his first win did not come till the Ashburton Meeting on May 5, but he made it two on end on Saturday. He is by that sire of speedsters, Theio, from the Iliad—Bravado mare Odavarb, the dam being a., half-sister to Orakau, one of the fancied candidates for the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie today. , . . , Improving.—Last July Bowmore won his division of the Maiden Stakes at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting quite attractively, but the Kinnoull four-year-oltl gelding has had. to be content with minor placings in his rather limited racing this term. However, his second in the hack sprint at Washdyke rather suggests that he is on the up grade. Big. Stake-winner.—Rated as the best stayer in Sydney, Craigie, a five-year-old son of Chatham, has won in less than six months £12,000. His principal successes came in the Tattersall's Club Handicap, the Sydney Cup, and A.J.C. Plate. . Expensive.—lslay Downs has not,won a race since 1941, but attempts are being made by J. Thistleton to bring the Gustavo gelding back to form over I country. However, his showings in Southland recently have not been anything to enjthuse over. Attractively Bred. —Winner of the Handicap Hurdles at the MartonAshhurst Meeting, Red Glare is bred on attractive lines. His sire, Rocket, is a son.of' Day Comet from the Au.tumnus' mare Top Score, and his dam, Martianess. was got by Diacquenod from the Martian mare Martianette, the grandam being a daughter oi! Equitas. Riding: Short.—-The Dunedin writer "Sentinel" comments that when Jacksonville won at Oamaru his rider rode with a shorter leather than anyone seen on top of a jumper since S. Henderson won the Grand National Steeplechase on Beau Cavalier in 1927 If a horse ridden in this manner "chests", a stout fence the rider is liable to be shot out of the saddle. In Taranaki.—The eight-year-old Shambles'gelding Scarteen was recently bought by Mr. W: O. Williams, vicepresident of the Egmont Racing Club, and he had his first race in this island at Egmont Meeting. He. is from the Ciarenceux mare Quality, thus being a half-brother to that good performer of a few years back. Vintage, winner of the Wellington Cup with 9 9 Unfortunately, Scarteen has not proved himself of equal calibre, and it is his new owner's intention to try hiSn aSs aarie mTSck.-Last June the Colossus gelding Old Red, who was then a member of F. McHugh's team at Marton, won the Maiden Race at the Wanganui Winter Meeting, held on the Marton course. Now in L. Knapp's team at Awapuni, Old Red was having his* fifth start for the- current term when lie won the hack sprint at Marlon recently. Like so many of the progeny of Colossus, he handles win-, tpr "ground we'll, nnd he has the further' recommendation that he is from Catherine of Avagon, the dam being a half-sister by Royal Divorce to Aratulla (dam of Phalaria and Ai-co), Old Surrey Hunting Lore, and Foxiana. He is no doubt-destined'for'jumping. '