TURF

Evening Star, Issue 19142, 8 January 1926, Page 9

TURF

[By St. Claih.] RACING FIXTURES. January 8 and 9.—-Cromwell J.C. January .12 and 18.—Vincent J.C. January 14 and 16.—-Thames J.C. January 16.—Wairio J.C. January 20, 22, and 23,—Wellington R.C. JiWttary 22 and 23.—Foxton R.C. January 23.—Bay of Islands R.C. January 26 and 28.—Wairoa R.C. January 27 and 28. —Pahiatua R.C. January 29 and 30.—Takapnna J.C. February 3.—Takapuna R.C. February 4 and 6.—Gisborne R.C. February 6 and B.—To Kuiti R.C. 'February 11 and 13.—Poverty Bay T.C. February 11 and 13.—Dunedin Cup Meeting. TROTTING FIXTURES. January 16.—Wellington C. January 22 and 23.—Invercargill T.C. January 28 and 30.—Forbury Park T C January 30. —Hawke’s Bay T.C. February 12.—Poverty Bay T.C. February 13.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. OWNERS’ REMINDERS. . Friday.—Racing at Cromwell. Saturday.—Racing at Cromwell. Monday.—Nominations close at 5 p.m. for Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting. Tuesday.—Acceptances close for the [Wairio Meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.—Acceptance for Vincent Meeting. Wednesday.—Handicaps for first day Invercargill Trotting Club duo. Wednesday.—Nominations close for the D.J.C. Chip Meeting. THE. SOUTHLAND CARNIVAL. Though the -weather for the JWyndham Meeting on New Year’s Day was overcast and no rain fell, and the two days of the Invercargill fixture 1 were ideal summer days, too hot, if anything, in the well-sheltered enclosures of the course. The racing at Wyndhara was interesting outside the Hurdle Race, in -which the field opposed to ’Frisco Mail was so poor that the public did not bet as they would have done in a two-dividend race and more evenly-matched field. A onedividend field in the Cup was mere bad luck for the club, but it was la good meeting, and should turn out with a handsome profit. The trotting events were well patronised, and in each race very warm favorites from Canterbury stables were well beaten. The principal feature of the meeting was the return to winning form of Baidowa, who at Invercargill three days afterwards demonstrated that it was no fluke by winning again in a most convincing manner over a mile. The Southland Racing Club’s New Year fixture is always a popular meeting with visitors, and this year it was no exception to the rule. Though the gate receipts showed a falling off each day, the attendance appeared to be as good as the previous year, and at times the lawn ■ and enclosures were almost uncomfortably crowded. Since the ex-Duncdinite, Mr W. T. Hazlett,) assumed the presidency of this club, which, by the way, was holding its first meeting as a metropolitan body, nearly twenty years ago, it has developed into the most important meeting held in the South Island at thi 1 holiday season. A few years ago the good stakes offered by this club largely caused the D.J.C. Committee to increase its stakes, and the Dunedin) Wyndham, and Invercargill circuit at holiday time is now a very popular one with both visiting owners and the public, A_ great deal of money has been spent by the Invercargill Club in mak- | ing its course a good one, and, though of an undulating nature, now presents a good racing surface. The pleasure of the meeting was marred somewhat by the unfair demonstrations made against Jack o’ Lantern when he won the Waikiwi Handicap the first day, and the starter on his return to the enclosure after the race. The unfair advantage secured by Jack o’ Lantern at the start by galloping into the bar- } rier was purely accidental, and the only ( error Mr APlvor can be charged with t Svas in allowing this unruly horse at j the barrier as much latitude as he did, i and not sending him hack to the bird- ' cage as he did with Cornflour at the j Minton Meeting. On the second day the judge’s placing of Paris in a dead heat with Corn Money was also questioned, but the finish was so close that only the man in the box could tell who won, though from most angles it certainly looked as if Paris just failed to reach Corn Money. A local visitor to the meeting informed me that on one occasion when he watched a race f.vn near the judge’s box he was struck ■with the amount of talk going on in the box as the horses neared the post, and says he can’t understand any man j being able to do good work under such ' conditions. The racing was good 1 throughout both days, the finishes re- ! fleeted credit upon the handicapper’s work, and the meeting was one of the most successful the club has held. There were many complaints regarding rough riding in the races, particularly in the Cup, but so long as our stipendiary steward contents himself with | watching the racing from the grand I stand this is likely to continue. An example wits made _ of the local horse- | man, A. E, Ellis, in the last race by i suspending him for two months. The | general opinion is that the sentence | was unduly severe, and not administered at the right time. REVENNA A CONSISTENT MARE. When Ravenna weighed for the Invercargill Cup last Saturday she was competing in her fiftieth race, and by winning it adied to her list of successes the most valuable she has yet won. Ravenna (by Solferino, from the Stepniak mare Droski) was not raced as a two-year-old, and only once, at the end of the season, as a three-year-old, and this no doubt helps her now in remaining as sound as she does. Her dam has been quite a gold mine to Air L. C. 'Hazlett, as everyone of her progeny racing have won stakes. For her size Ravenna can bo classed a good little one, and in fifty-one starts she has won eleven times, including a deadheat, and second on thirteen occasions. She has only finished out of a place in sixteen races, and has won for her breeder and owner £3,830 os in stakes. The following is the full list of her performances to date —At 3yn (5321-22). — D.J.C. Maiden Plate, of, 8.2, third M —At 4yrs (1922-23 J.—■ £ Oamac ; Trial Plate, M, 8.10, unplaced D.J.C. ” Trial Stakes, 7f, B.o}, second ... 40 D.J.C. Clarendon Handicap, fif, B.o|, unplcd Otago Hunt J.C. Handicap, 6f, 7.12 J, second D.J.C. Burnside Handicap, 6f, B.fi. unplaced D.J.C. Taihoa Handicap, 6f, 8.6, first ... 140 Waikouaiu Hawkesbury H’cp. 6f, 8.10. first 07$ 1 D.J.C Brighton Handicap, Im, 7.75, third 25 JJ.J.C Domain Handicap, fif, B.IJ, unplaced —At svrs (1925-34). £ D.J.C. Maungatua Handicap, 7f, 7.8, first 1571 D.J.C. Kaikofai Handicap, lm, 8.7. second 50* D.J.C. Federal Handicap, 6f. 7.0, third 40 D.J.C. Farewell Handicap, 7f, 7.2, unplaced S.R.C- Flying Handicap, fif, 7.3. unplacet 1 - S.R.C. Shorts Handicap, 6f, 6.10, first ... 225 D.J.C. Publicans’ Handicap, Gi, 7.0, third GO D.J.C. Flying Handicap, (if, 7.35, third ... 40 S.R.C. Flying Handicap, 6J. 7.6, second ... M S.R.C. Awarua Handicap, IJm, 7.0 J, third 25 Riverton Aparima Handicap, 6f, 7.12, second 25 Riverton Easter Handicap, 9t, 7.2, d.h. first 175 D.J.C. Provincial Handicap, IJm, 0.131, 3rd 35 D.J.C. King George Handicap, lm, 9.5, first 315 | .CUB3S

—At Oyrs (K&1-25).-Chch. Hunt Brabaion Welter, 71, 9.13, second 24 C. Winter Cup, lm, 9.9, unplaced „ D. Flwlric Handicap, 61, 8.3}, first „ 210 D.j.C. Shorts Handicap, 61, 9.0, second ... 50 D.J.C. Federal Handicap, 61, 8.11, unplaced D.J.C. St. Andrew's H’p, lm, 7.13 J, unplaced D.J.C. Publicans’ Handicap, fit, 8.8, third 50 D.J.C. D.J.C. Handicap, IJm, 7.7 J, third ... SO Waimate Cup Handicap, IJm, 8.3, second _ 40 S.R.C. Southland Cup, IJm, 8.5, first „ 300 S.R.C. Awarua Handicap, IJm, 8.13, second SO R. Riverton Cup, IJm, 82), unplaced K.R.C. Faster Handicap, 91, B.s,'second ... 37} S. Timaru Cup, IJm, H.l, second 50 S.C.J.C. Autumn Handicap, Im, 8.8. unplaced D.I.C. Tradesmen’s Handicap. 6f, 8.7, second 60 D.I.C. Provincial Handicap, IJm, 8.(1}, second 80 D.J.C. King George H’cp, lm, 8.10, third 35 £3,036} -At 7yrs (1925-26). D.I.C. Mosgiel Handicap, IJm, 8.1, first ... 2SO D.J.C. Ranturlv Handicap, lm, 8.10, third 30 G.'k.C. Gore Cup, IJm, 8.10, first ... 195 C.J.C. X./.. Cup, 2m, 7.1, unplaced C.I.C. Metropolitan HVap, l}m, 7.9, unplaced C. Fcndaltnn HVap 11m, 8.3, unplaced D. Otago Handicap, IJm, 8.3. unplaced , SR.C. Invercargill Cup, IJm, 8.2, first ... 775 s[r.C. Southland HVap, IJm, 9.1, unplaced £1.280 —Summary.—

JOTTINGS. Dancing Days is improving. She will win a sprint race before long. Mr George Kain has two useful marcs in Receipt and Full Swings Moratorium was one of the disappointments of tho holiday racing. Pink Note failed to stay six furlongs at the Invercargill meeting. Ravenna’s win in the Invercargill Cup was one of tho easiest ever scored bv that game little maro. 'Both Listening Post and Tommy Dodd have been nominated for tho Wellington Gup. Sot Sail has boon nominated for the sprint races at the Wellington meeting this month.

First Acre ran his best race in the open sprint at Invercargill on Monday when ho beat all but Set Sail. Sot Sail's running on Monday showed how unlucky she was to miss in tho Federal Handicap on Boxing Day. Two maiden hurdlers won at Invercargill in Happy Warrior and Coastguard. Each should improve with more experience. Jack o’ Lantern is very fast. He is one of the horses whose names should bo added to the “schooling list.” Tione looked big when raced at Invercargill. Ho finished well on the second day, and a win for Roseday’s brother should not be far away. ) Mr H. B. Lusk, haiulicapper to the Dunedin Jockey Club, was a visitor to the Southland and ’Wyndham meetings. Tho cx-Invcrcargill trainer, P. T. Hogan, now at Washdykc, was present at 'the Southland meeting as an onlooker. The trotting races at the Invercargill meeting attracted big fields—a good sign for the trotting meeting to bo held on 22nd and 23rd inst . Air L. O. Hazlett was indisposed during the New Year racing and did not see his horses run at Invercargill nor Wyndham. ' Dazzling Light is not ready yet, hut she raced soundly in the Invercargill Cup, and stayed out in front for about seven furlongs. .Los Ambus can’t stay out ton furlongs, and his run over a mile on tho second day at the Invercargill meeting was disappointing. Tarleton ran fairly well at Invercargill, aild had ho been reserved for the mile instead of starting in tho ten furlong race on Monday ho might have been returned a winner. Both All Stylo and Corn Money ran themselves out of hack Hasses at the Invercargill meeting. The former has been nominated for tho Wellington meeting. . O. Emerson performed the hat trick ” twice during tho holidays, once on the first day at Wingatui and again on the concluding clay at the Invercargill meeting. . . ... Epigram won the two principal trotting events on the Invercargill programme, but he was nowhere at Windham, where it is alleged his hopples were not right. Eaton Bells was lucky not to meet Ret Sail, and Baldowa got a had run in tho Flying Handicap on Saturday. But for these two horses’ bad luck she would not have won tho race. None of Mountain Lion’s subsequent clforts were as good as his race in tho Otago Handicap. He is apparently not seasoned enough yet. Air H. F. iS'lcoll’s team of trotters were very costly to punters at the Invercargill and Wyndham Race and Winton Trotting Alcetings. [Ho failed to secure any stake money with them. The taxation in connection with the Auckland Racing Carnival, without the amusement tax, is estimated at £15,000. , , The sum of £605,248 10s was handled by tho Auckland Racing and Trotting Clubs at their Christmas and New Year meetings, a decrease of £28,716. At the 1920-21 carnival the total investments were £724,572 10s. That season holds the record for Ellerslio and Alexandra Park.

Frenchman did not show up well in any of the three hurdle races ho started in during tho holidays. It was certainly not lack of condition that caused the Danube gelding to run badly, for AUK ay had him looking just about as well ;is hands could make him. ’Frisco Mail had a vgry easy win in the hurdle race at Wyndham, and was backed clown to exactly the same price in the second hurdle race at Invercargill, but tho 411 b he was conceding Coastguard was just beyond him, after getting on terms with the latter at the last hurdle. One of the surprises of Monday’s racing was tho forward running ot Beauty Light in tho Southland Kamircap. It looks as if he has-been given a great chance in tho Wairio Cup with 8.4.

After seeing the Invercargill Cup run last Saturday I am of the. opinion it was extremely bad luck for Mr A. G. Hill that his trainer missed with the nomination of Mantna. It was fngt the race that would have suited her, ami I think would have been certain to finish first or second bad she been sound enough to start. His owner has been asked to put a price on Tommy Dodd several times lately, and prior to the Invercargill Cup was offered £1.200 for him. but he would not sell. Tommy Dodd just failed to see tho mile and a-quarter out in that race, but on Alonday over the same distance nothing had_a chance with him over the last two furlongs.

Lava, The Cheat, Monoxide, and Happy Hays, who raced at Waikouaiti on New Year’s Day, wore brought south on Saturday for Monday’s racing, and, considering the amount of travelling and racing they were given during the holidays, they ran quite as well as could be expected. Lava showed up well in the Final Handicap, and the hiilb overweight she carried more than represented the difference by which she was beaten.

Soltoe, always a smart beginner, has now learned to stay on better, and in both open sprint races at Invercargill

meeting ho was running on well. For a long time Pankhnrst had a great deal of trouble with Soltoe’s teeth. He has now got them, right, and it is quite probable Soltoe will stay on much better as the season progresses. Ho is a little on the small side to cany weight well. Mr T. B. MMntyro, who sold Coastguard after ho won the hurdle race _on Monday, does not like the jumping game, and would never allow Fuller to be raced over hurdles. Ho was the ideal of a jumper. Coastguard’s dam, Seekashore, by Castashore, was a good stayer and a. very useful mare on the turf. She comes from jumping blood, and Coastguard inherits both jumping ability and stamina.. Ho should improve a lot as a hurdler, and if the price reported is correct Mr Rnthven has secured a very cheap horse. Baldowa. who showed such good form at both Wyndham and Invercargill meetings, has been engaged in the Wellington Cup. His veteran trainer, George Hope, received many congratulations upon the splendid condition he has the son of Balboa and Bedowa in. Few horses would have gone on as gamely as ho did after getting the bump'he received from Warhavcn just before reaching the half-mile post in the Final Handicap. There is no doubt about Baldowa’s pace and ability to sec out a strongly-run ten furlongs, but the Wellington Cup is a hard race to win.

1st 2ml 3rd Unplaced. Stakes. At Svr? A ft t 0 xj 35 At 4yr> 2 2 I 4 327J At Svrs ... 4 :? S 2 1,1824 At Hvr* ... 2 h 3 r. I,036| At "y rs - J» 0 1 ft 1,280 u 13 11 16 £3,830*