RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 11

RACING NOTES

[By Sx. Claie.O

RACING CLUBS October 24, 26.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 26, 23.—Wellington Racing Club. October; 28.—Waver ley Racing Club. October 28.—Waikato Hunt Club. Octoboi 28.—North Canterbury Racing Club. ' - L. " October 28.—Waipawa C. Racing; Club. October 28, 30.—Gore Racing .Club. : November 2.—Omarama Hack • Racing Club, _ . V" November 2. —Carterton Placing Club. November 2.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. , November 7, 9.—Whangarcr Racing Club. .November 9, 11, 13, 16.— Canterbury Jockey Club. . . November 16, 18.—Waikato Racing Club. November 20, 21.—Winton Racing Club. November 23.—Levin Racing Club. ■ November 23 25.—Te Kuiti Racing Club. i A RACE TO BE REMEMBERED THREE-HEAT RECORDS BROKEN. American/papers to hand this week contain particulars of what is generally, accepted as being one of the finest races for trotters over decided on the, Grand Circuit. The meeting* was at Syracuse, on August 30, and the event was the 2.5 trot for a purse of £6OO, The incidents leading np to the result were that in a field of five two leading -stables each had two starters.- , _ Commenting on the race, one writer says:—Hazleton (2.03) and Dewey M'Kinney (2.13), both from the Good Time stable, started with Hpllyrood Colin (2.3) and Guy Ozark (2.2 i) from Arden Homestead, entered and started in the event, with Sam Williams (2.13) making the fifth member of the field; Holyrood Colin’s mark of 2.3 being the slowest of the quintet so far as record goes The day was delightful and the track in its host condition, so that" the setting for a great contest was extremely good. Then there was the friendly rivalry between the friends and partisans of Hazleton and Dewey M'Kinney as to which one was the better trotter and could defeat the other This rivalry crept into the betting pavilion, with the result that no little small money was wagered. Carl Dill had been requisitioned from the half-mil© tracks to drive Dewey M'Kinuey against, his boss, Walter E. Cox, behind Hazleton, so one can see that everything was set for a gt and struggle, all friendly, but in deadly earnest nevertheless.

It was a foregone conclusion that Dewey M'Kinney would go to the front, and so he did, trotting extremely fast, the half in 1,2 and three-quarters in 1.32 HazletoTi had been second, bub subsequently Johnnie Thomas took Guy Ozark up to the place, and Sam William* ranged along to blanket Hazleton to such an extent that when Cox started with him just before the three-quarters ho had to go around both Ozark and Sara to get at Dewey M'Kinney; the result being that he had to go a long quarter, so that when he got to Dewey his steam had: evaporated and he hung, though it required manful driving by Dill to hold a good neck’s advantage to the wire in 2.1|, a new mark for Dewey M’Kinney, and the best trotting mile of the season, the last half having been done in 59i Just picture it in your memory as one of the groat contests of our times.

The question now was: Can Dewey M‘Kinney repeat? Can Carl Dill, the youthful Inclianaua reinsman, win the next heat? The breaks of the race suited Hazleton just right in the second heat, as he trailed Dewey too close for anyone to shut him off, Guy Ozark heirs outside second and third as the mile progressed at about the same rate as in the previous heat. But Guy Ozark, nor any of the others,' could keep up with the frightful clip the leaders were setting, so that Hazleton had clear sailing to get out and at Dewey M'Kinney from the threequarters home .They were soon fighting it out on common ground, with no apparent advantage until almost to the wire, when Hazleton, under the hardest sort of drive, the same being true of Dewey M'Kinney, Dewey broke Hazleton winning by part of his chubby length in 2.2, the last half being trotted in 59 \ It now looked certain that Hazleton would master his stable mate, there being just one card to be played, and with what effect wo were soon to see. When they were tuning up for the third heat Will Dickerson had Hollywood Colin in high for a fast getaway, and such it proved to be, as he ranged Colin alongside Dewey M‘Kinney, then took him to the lead, only to be passed by Dewey at about the three-eighths mark ; then Cox took Hazleton outside to keep Holyrood Colin from covering him up, and as Colin faltered Hazleton took up his relentless chase of Dewey by trailing him around the upper turn, giving battle from the three-quarters in. They waged a mighty strife for an eighth of a mile, and with Hazleton strung to_ his limit Dewey again slopped over in his stride. Hazleton winning in 2.2}, erasing all sorts of three-heat records in a race. His three heats, with the aid of Dewey M‘Kinney, averaged 2.2 1-12. To class it as a great trotting spectacle, one if tho greatest of all time, hardly does tho right justice, for it was a truly trotted and won race, that pleased a crowded grand stand more than all the other forms of entertainment offered before the grand stand during the entire week. JOTTINGS J. Ruttledge, with Pink Note, leaves for Wellington on Monday morning. Acceptances for the first day of the Gore Racing Club’s Spring Meeting close on Monday at 5 p.m. Amongst the victories in the saddle of the late J. M’Combe was the A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on Armlet. Limerick’s hitherto sound leg is the cause of his present trouble. It is considered that attempting to save the weaker limb the other lias gone under the extra strain. Both Oratrix and Concentrate will return to the dominion in time for the New Zealand Cup, and, according to a good judge who saw this pair racing in the Commonwealth, Concentrate should be one of the favourites in the big twomile handicap. The North Island horseman, T. Metcalf, has been commissioned to rido Amor in the New Zealand Clip. Other Cup engagements are:—F. Yoight, Rapier; B. H, Morris, Historic; IT. Goldfinch, Prince Humphrey; J. Barrv, Hoylake; A. Eastwood, Chicle; R. Coveny, Prickles (if started). Mr R. Miller paid 1,200 gs for Loquacious as a yearling, and for four and a-half firsts, _ five and a-half seconds, and two thirds she has returned him £8,233 10s in stakes and some good wagers. ■ A four-year-old filly, she has yet a good deal of usefulness in front of her before going to the stud.

TROTTING CLUBS October 26, 28.—Greymouth T.C. October 26. 28.—Auckland T.C., October 28. —Oamaru T.C. October 28.—Northland T.C, November 2.—Wellington T.C, November 12, 14, 15.—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. November 20, ,-23.—Otahulm T.C. November 28, 30.—Forbury Fade T.C. December 6, 7.—Nelson T.C. : December 14.—New Brighton T.C. December 26.—Ashburton T.C. ‘ December 26.—Gore T.C. December 26, 27.—Westport T.C.' ■ December 26, 28.—South-Wairarapn T.C., December 27, 28, 31.—Auckland, T.C. ' December 28.—Wintou T.C.

The Metropolitan Handicap seems to have been a bit unlucky for New Zealand horses during the last three years, Limerick was beaten by Murillo in 1927, and, last season Ofatnx was second to Jocelyn. Last week .Nightmarch had to go under.to Loquacious. Limerick carried 9.5, Ofatrix 7.12, and Nightmarch 9.12. Red Heckle has practically recovered from the attack of kidney trouble which affected him at Wingatui. F. Christmas has decided, however, to cancel his proposed trip to Trenthara, but he hopes to have the four-year-old at his best for the Riccarton carnival next month. The introduction of the totalisator seems to have had a remarkable effect on racing in England. ‘ Sporting Life ’ says: “The introduction or the totalisator and , reduced charges of admission were responsible for a profit of £1,20U at the recent Bath Meeting, against a loss of £250 on the corresponding fixture last year.” The New Zealand ‘Referee’ reports that R. B. Plaxico’s contract with Mr J. R. M‘Kenzie lias run out, and it is understood he will be returning to the States towards the end of-the year. Report has it that the American reinsman is to be married shortly after reaching Iris own country. At Riccarton on Thursday morning the 1 Press ’ reports that Chide was restricted to useful work on the plough. An offer of 3,000 gs was yesterday turned down for this gelding, who is now the local favourite for the New Zealand Cup, in which he will be ridden by A. Eastwood. It is reported that L. G. Morris broke a collarbone when a horse he was schooling at Marten fell with him on Thursday. This will put Morris out of commission at the Wellington Meeting, and, unless it is a slight fracture, the New Zealand Cup Meeting also. The programme for the Christmas Meeting on December 26. 27, and 28 of the Manawatu Racing Club has been published. The club is offering £6,400 over the three-day fixture. The > principal event on the opening day is the Manawatu Cup, of £BOO. It is now stated that the sum offered for the three-year-old Phar Lap prior to the New Zealand gelding registering his win in the A.J.C. Derby was £12,000. • As before remarked, the gelding being under lease prevented a sale, had the owner been willing to entertain the offer. Mr Ken Austin, the bloodstock salesman, announced last week in Sydney that he had sent a cable to New Zealand asking for a price 'to__be placed' upon the imported stallion Night Raid, sire of Phar Lap and Nightmarch. The reply was to the effect that no money would buy him. When Mr A. P. Wade, a former owner of Night Raid, tried to repurchase the horse recently, he was asked 12,000 gs and certain contingencies. „ .

Nightmarch is engaged in events on each day of the Y.R.C. Spring Meetins at Flemington next month. The following is a list of the races in winch his name appeal's:—Melbourne Stakes of £1.500 (weight-for-age, Tim), Melbourne Cup of £IO,OOO (two miles), Linlithgow Stakes of *11,500 (weight-for-age, one mile), and C. B. Fisher Plate of £1,500 (weight-for-age, 11m). New Zealanders who returned by the Ulimaroa yesterday were greatly shocked to learn of the death of J. M'Comhc (says Wednesday’s ‘Dominion ’). M'Comhe had received visits from several of them just prior to departure, and, although very ill, had expressed the hope that he would soon be following them home again. Deceased was able to witness some of the racing at Band wick from a bed on the verandah of Maurice M'Carten’s house overlooking the course. It is stated that prior to the opening of the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting on the sth hist. Mr A. Louisson, the owner of Nightmarch, was asked to name a price at which he would sell the brown horse. His owner named IO.OOOgs. adding a certain proviso with regard to the training of the horse_. The wouid-be buyers were, it is said, quite prepared* to buy Nightmarch. but the proviso as laid down proved a bar to business, and the negotiations were broken off

asked to name a price at which he would sell the brown horse. His owner named IO.OOOgs. adding a certain proviso with regard to the training of the horse_. The wouid-be buyers were, it is said, quite prepared* to buy Nightmarch. but the proviso as laid down proved a bar to business, and the negotiations were broken off The best price about the EpsomMetropolitan double was 500 to 1. The early lists quoted 400 to 1, and later the price was increased to 600 to 1, as it was considered that the missions of the horses were the reverse from what was ultimately decided. On the declaration of first acceptances the price dropped to 330 to .1, and, when Nightrnarch was supported for the mile race, to 80 to 1, firming again to 40 to 1 before the day of the race. On race day a very short price about the pair was accepted. First Acre is among those entered for the Auckland Cup. and as the result of his efforts at the recent A.J.C. Meeting at Randwick he has to be considered, for he won the Squatters’ Handicap, in good style in the smart time of 2.4-j, and on Saturday was just beaten by half a head in the Waverley Handicap, Ifjm, after being prominent all the way. In October, 1027, Battlement won the Waverley Handicap, and in doing_ so created a track record for Randwick, which has not since been equalled In the following December he finished third to Rapier and Count Cavour in the Auckland Cup. The geniality of the Australian race crowd is eternally amazing. Considering the heat and boisterous wind of Metropolitan Day a little petulance would not have seemed out of order. The freshness of tho new Randwick frock was sadly wrecked by the pressure of the throngs sheltering in tho stands. Collars flagged and then collapsed entirely in the heat. There seemed no escape whatever from that ill-bred wind, which played clumsy games with every hat on the course. Yet, winning or losing, the crowd retained its hereditary sense of humour. The one objectionable type was he who introduced the subject pf_ politics-—a faux pas of the first magnitude. Mr Bateman might make pretty work of a cartoon depicting “The man who mentioned arbitration at Randwick,” suggests an Australian contemporary. “I have made very frequent visits to Australia during the past twenty years,” Mr Greenwood said to a

‘Press’ writer on his return from a visit to Australia this week; “in fact, I have hardly missed a trip to Sydney yearly. Some of those visits have been very successful, and some nob quite so successful. This year the _ principal information I have gained is as to the superiority of the Now Zealand horse over tho Australian. It is being gradually brought home to me that New Zealand, is going to bo the thoroughbred breeding ground in the Southern Hemisphere. Consequently, I don’t think that my trips to Australia during tho past twenty years have been absolutely fruitless. It is not only for my own personal benefit that those trips have been made; they have been of considerable value to me ; but I, amongst others, have been instrumental to some extent in showing the superiority of tho horse grown and grassed in this country. I am quite sure that the Australians are fast beginning to realise that such is tho case, and that a very largo trade in thoroughbreds between Now Zealand and Australia is possible in tho future.” Chide is now a pronounced first favourite for tho New _ Zealand _ Cup (says a Christchurch writer). If it was known that Nightmarch was coming back from Sydney for the race he would not oust him from being the public’s first choice. Chide has now won something like half a dozen races on end. He has not been entered at the North Canterbury Meeting, but he may be for tho big handicap at tho Banks Peninsula fixture on November 2. His form has been decidedly good. If he has not beaten any good class horses, ho has disposed of those that were pitted against him with ease, and invariably he has been running on at the finish of his races, each and ally of them. He will bo ridden in the New Zealand Cup by A. Eastwood, who is a capable enough horseman, but who lacks strength to hold such a big lumbering gelding together and at the same time hunt him along. It may not be necessary to hunt the Palodin gelding along to get him first past the post in the New Zealand Cup, but the field promises to be particularly high class, and high-class horses are never beaten without a struggle. Wore A. Eastwood possessed of the bodily strength of such horsemen as were “ Tod ” Hewitt, Rowley Hatch, and Sid Reid in their youth, then Chide would look an absolute certainty for the Cup, but he isn’t, so something may heat the chestnut in the run home down the straight.