RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20118, 7 March 1929, Page 15

RACING NOTES

[By St. Glaze.]

GALLOPS March' 7.—Rangitikci E.C. March 8, 9.—Napier Park R.C. March 9.—Franklin R.C. March 13.—Otautau R.C. March 14.—Waitnalo R.C. March 16.—Opunake R.C. March 16, 18. —Wellington R.C. March 16,-18. —Ohineimui J.C. March 19, 20.—Southland E.C. March 20, 21.—Manawatu R.C. March 23.—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 23.—Hororata R.C. March 23, 25.—Westport J.C. March 23, 25.—Oatnaru

Assemble and Broadfieid were sent four furlongs along the back this morning, covering the distance in 52sec. It was a good gallop, and Broadfieid will be reserved for the Lawrence and Beaumont Meetings. Ark Royal galloped well this morning, and it looks as if he should catch a race cither at Invercargill or Riverton. L. J. Ellis has been engaged to ride Silver Paper in the Thompson Handicap. The nominations received for the Southland Autumn Meetings this month are good, and as usual the Wingatui stables are strongly represented. Pink Note and Tardy ivere sent over seven furlongs this morning. Both these horses arc well, and the latter has been very nicely treated in the principal handicap at Oamaru at the minimum. Sho stayed on so well at Gore that she must be given a good chance at Oamaru. The South Canterbury trainer, R. Townley, has now decided to try the trotter Nelson M'Kinney amongst the pacers, as he is an acceptor in the mile saddle event at the Tinyrru Trotting Club’s Meeting. It is a 2.19 class, and Nelson M’Kinney is on the limit. The trotter has a fine turn of speed, but lacks stamina. Some little time ago the Canterbury Owners and Breeders" Association wrote to the Auckland Trotting Club requesting it to provide a clock and time board in the dressing room for riders and owners, and the secretary has just received a reply to the effect that the club will have this done before the next meeting. Mr Chas. Christie has returned from Western Australia for a short visit. Ho speaks in most glowing terms of that State, and is going back again when he gets a good horse or two to take with him. He says horses must be good over there to win money, and most of the good ones hail from this dominion. Set Sail, who it was hoped would stand another preparation with the aid of Vnrez bandages, was definitely and finally thrown out of training yesterday, and will now he sent back to her owner’s farm for stud duties next season. The bandages failed badly in her case. The work at Wingatui this morning was all done on No. 1 grass track, which, owing to the light rain falling, appeared to be a little sljppery. A largo number of horses were worked, but only a few of them against the watch. A fellow who wished to buy a cheap hunter attended a horse sale and saw an animal which he thought would suit his purpose. “ How much? ” he asked. The deader with a shrewd look at the prospective purchaser, said glibly, “ A hundred guineas, sir.” “ Pooh, rot, man; I’ll give you thirty.” The dealer scratched his head. “ Well, sir,” he said, “ I’m not going to let a, little matter of seventy guineas stand between me and a sale. He’s yours.” The Waipa Racing Club has passed the following resolution: —“That the committee of the Waipa Racing Club offer its hearty congratulations to Mr Geo Paul on the occasion of the win of his horse Aussie in the James Hazleft Gold Cup, especially in view of the fact that Aussie was trained on the club’s course.” When So Ardent won the Newmarket Handicap last Saturday he made a new record for the race, carrying his 7st 41b in Imin lOjsec. The previous time record for this race was held by Quintas, who, in 1924, won with Bst in Imin llisec. Should the South Canterbury and Oamaru Jockey Clubs decide to put on a steeplechase meeting in June any northern visiting jumpers will have a good circuit of fixtures to race at. The sale of ladies’ tickets at the Dunedin Cup Meeting netted the club £268, just on 2,150 being sold. This source of revenue, only collected for the summer and autumn meetings up till now, looks like bringing in nearly £I.OOO a year extra money to the club, and it will improve as time goes on. Considering the many years the Dunedin Jockey Club has admitted ladies free to its course, the price of these tickets, 2s 6d each, is very reasonable. Mr L. G. Hill will represent the Dunedin Jockey Club, the Otago Hunt Club, and probably several other clubs in Otago at the conference arranged by the Sports’ Protection League, which will meet the Premier ami Minister of Internal Affairs at Wellington on the 15th inst.

Dubious and a maiden performer named Conductor, by Tractor, were companions in an interesting schooling task at Wingatui this morning. They commenced at the stand double and finished together over it, after putting in an excellent round. Conductor, who is a very smart jumper, was hunted last season with the Otago hounds by Miss Greenslade. He outjumped Dubious at several of the fences, and finished on terms with him. Though Pink Note has been nicely handicapped with Bst slb in the Thompson Handicap, it is not likely that he will make the trip to Trentham next week. The North Island course has never been a lucky one for Mr Ainge, and in all probability Pink Note will be given a race in the Southland Cup, to be run on the 20th inst., and then in the Great Autumn Handicap. This Paper Money gelding is very well at present, and has thrived on the racing he has had_ during the past ten weeks. In estimating his

TROTS March 9.—-Timaru T.C. March 13.—Wyndham T.C. March 15.—Manawatu T.C. March 16.—New Brighton T.C. March 23.—Thames T.C. REMINDERS March B.—Acceptances Oamaru Meeting, 8 p.m. March B.—Nominations Lawrence Meeting (10 p m.), March B.—Nominations for South Otago Trotting Meeting (9 p.m.) March B.—Nominations Beaumont Meeting (10 p.m.). March 11.—Nominations Riverton Meeting (6 p.m.).

chances either at Invercargill or Ric carton punters can discount the form he showed, at Gore a fortnight ago as not right. Mention of Machine Gun, who was the champion sprinter of New Zealand, reminds me of an amusing episode which happened when the New Zealander, in charge of D. J. Price, was located at the Royal Hotel, Lower Raudwick, during an A.J.C. Spring Meeting, says a writer in the ‘ Australasian.’ Now, like many other racehorses, Machine Gun detested music, and on this occasion be had a stable companion of similar antipathies in Medallist, a horse trained by Bill Gerrard. Consequently, when an itinerant German band made its appearance in front of the hotel one day, Price and Gerrard were greatly perturbed to find their horses prancing around their loose-boxes .in great excitement. Rising to the occasion, Gerrard, with solemn mien and a catch in his voice that would have softened the heart of Hindenburg, informed the bandmaster that he had been requested by the landlady to ask the musicians to refrain from playing in the vicinity of the hotel that day as a dear friend of hers was lying inside dead. The tender-hearted bandsmen were greatly concerned at the sad news, and Gerrard had hard work to prevent him rushing into the hotel to personally condole with the landlady. As the bandsmen were moving off curious neighbours asked them why they had so suddenly discontinued playing and, of course, were greatly astonished on hearing the reason. But not half as surprised as the landlady when later in the day a continuous stream of acquaintances called to offer condolences and learn the identity of the dead friend. By some means the bandsmen discovered that they had been “spoofed,” and when they paid the hotel a visit several days later the “ brasses ” blew their loudest and the man with the big drum banged away as if it were Gerrard’s head he was hammering. Machine Gun and Medallist were excitedly walking around their boxes in lathers of sweat, so, making the best of a bad job, Gerrard and Price offered the bandsmen 10s to “ cry quits,” and close the performance; an offer they accepted rather ungraciously.

MR SAMSON FAREWELLED.

"Mr J. M. Samson, who, accompanied by his wife and daughter, leaves Dunedin next Friday en route for England, was entertained by _ a few sporting friends at -the Excelsior Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, who_ met to speed the parting guest on his way. About twenty-five were present, Mr B. S. Irwin being in the chair, and _ apologies were read from Messrs 0. Wise (Oaraaru), W. F. James, and J. Richardson,' who were out of town. In proposing the health of Mr Samson, Mr Irwin referred to the guest as one of the largest and best owners of horses in training in the dominion. No one had ever been able to ask a question about the running of bis horses, and his departure from the dominion, if only for a year, would mean a great loss to the racing clubs in the dominion, and Otago in particular. The OAvner who nominates a horse in every race at a meeting was the sportsman they could ill afford to lose, even for a very short period. As a member of the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club Mr Samson was leaving behind him a monument in the fine buildings and appointments that would stand for all time, and he most sincerely wished Mr Samson an enjoyable trip "and a speedy return to the town that would miss him every day that ho Avas away. Amongst others that supported the toast Avcre Messrs R. M. Greenslade, W. Quirk, G. j Barton, J. A. Ainge, W. Crossan, G. Wilhelmson, and J. Trengrove. The chairman then presented Mr Samson with a gold card case, suitably inscribed, a gold-mounted racecard case, and a gold-mounted handbag for Mrs Samson. Mr Samson, in responding, thanked those present for the kindly things they had said of him, and for the very handsome presents. He raced for the pleasure of the sport, and it was_ indeed pleasing to know that his actions on the turf had Avon him so many friends.