NOTES ON THE MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 20374, 4 January 1930, Page 8

NOTES ON THE MEETING

[By St. Clair.]

The weather was fine, but windy, for tho concluding day of the Southland Racing Club's Summer Meeting, when again there was a very large attendance. The course had dried up a lot since the previous day, and was in excellent order. The racing was interesting, and tho principal event, the Southland Handicap, was one of the best races ever seen on the course. Mr M'lvor's starting was good, but he showed leniency to certain unruly horses that was not good for the other horses in the barrier. Gayoma won the hurdles by being better handled than Antrim Boy, who was set too fast a pace with his heavyweight up. Suncross won the Roslyn Trot well, but was placed second owing to unintentional interference with Sunshade about 150yds from the post. Meadow Lark outclassed the opposition in tho Shorts Handicap. Salmo Salar was badly placed until three furJongs from home in the Summer Hack

Handicap, and then ho made the remainder of the field look very cheap. Glare, though raised a stone in weight, was made a good favourite in the Southland Handicap, and it was only the vigorous horsemanship displayed by Emerson that got him home, for he looked to bo badly pocketed going to the home turn. Ho was easily the best stayer in the race, and this helped him. Rosy' Morn won the Nursery Handicap from end to end, and scored the first win for Mr J. M. Samson during his absence in the old country. Dry Area made a brave attempt to win the Rosedalo Handicap from end to end, but tired in the straight, and Inevitable scored well under his big weight Lucky Light had scarcely passed the winning post in the Pinal Handicap before the crowd both on the lawn and in the outside enclosures commenced a hostile demonstration against the owner, Mr W. T. Hazlett, president of the club, and her rider-trainer, F. J. M'Kay. There was great intensity for several minutes until one of the members of the Judicial Committee ordered that the inquiry flag should be hoisted. Mr Hazlett being chairman of that committee, only the other members (Messrs \V. Grieve, acting-chairman, J. B. Thomson, Eric At. Russell, and Dr Garfield Crawford) heard the case. After an hour and twenty minutes it was announced that “in view of the evidence submitted it was unanimously resolved that the owner and rider’s explanations be accepted. The evidence disclosed that the horse was substantially backed by both owner and trainer on both days.” Even thon(6iss p.m.) the crowd was about the birdcage, but in the meantime the police had been reinforced, and were well distributed amongst the crowd, and barring the hooting and counting out of the owner they were quite orderly. They were evidently waiting for Mr Hazlett to leave the stewards’ stand, and his appearance was the signal for another angry outburst. Under a police escort he crossed the lawn to get to his car, in which some m'embers of his family were waiting for him. The road by which he left the course was also patrolled at least at one point by the police. The running of Luckv Light at the Invercargill Meeting has been accepted by the Judicial Committee as all right, but by the several thousands who saw the races there will always remain a very large proportion who do not agree with its decision. * * * * In the small field of five Maungamoe was sent out about £SO better favourite than Antrim Boy in the Gladstone Hurdles, this pair being much better backed than Dubious. Gayoma, Dubious, and Maungamoe were together over the first half-mile, but at the stand fence ’Antrim Boy ran up, and, with the favourite, led into the back stretch, Gayoma hitting the hurdle near the five-furlong post and losing a lot of ground. At a gap in the second last, hurdle- Antrim Boy gained two lengths from Maungamoe, and led him ' into the straight, where Gayoma had run up into third place. The latter was on terms with Muangamoe at the last hurdle, and in the run home caught the tiring Antrim Bov and beat him by half a length. The favourite was a length further back, and Dubious a poor fourth.

Suncross was selected as a good thing for the Roslyn Harness Trot, being nearly £350 better hacked thqn Cathedral Spire, who was next fancied, with Maybird, iHushabye, and Black Friar the best supported of the others. All went away well, but Meteor and Red Chimes led out from Knight Commander, Black Friar, and Streak at the end of seven furlongs. Passing the stand Erin’s Advance took charge from Streak and Sunshade, with the favourite making up her handicap well. Going ahf.ig the back Erin’s Advance was showing the Way to Streak, Sunshade, and Sunbell. At the far turn Erin’s Chance was just in front of Sunbell and Sunshade, and racing across the top the favourite ran into fourth place. The latter ranged alongside of Sunshade and Sunbell at the turn into the straight, and at the distance post appeared to go across Sunshade and interfere with the latter’s _ chance. In the run homo the favourite beat Sunshade by a length and a-quarter. Sunbell was two lengths away third, and then followed Maybird, Erin’s Advance, Meteor, Black Friar, and Streak. An objection was lodged bv the stipendiary steward to Suncross being declared the winner on the grounds that she crossed Sunshade in the straight was considered by the Judicial Committee, and it was decided that the crossing by Suncross effectively interfered with Sunshade’s winning chance, and the committee reversed the positions of the first two horses, as A. M'Lennan admitted the interference, but sqid it was beyond his control. His explanation was accepted, and no further action taken.

Rin Tin Tin was the only' withdrawal from the Shorts Handicap, and Meadow Lark was sent out nearly a £IOO better favourite than Jack a Dandy, Quantum, Blue Metal, and Caterpillar" being the next fancied. Francolin was the first to show but, and led along the back from Royal Saxon and Caterpillar. Rounding the far turn Caterpillar ran into second place, and racing for the turn into the straight Francolin and Caterpillar were just in front of Jack a Dandy and Royal Saxon. Once in the straight Francolin and Caterpillar retired, and Jack a Dandy, Royal Saxon, and the favourite took up the running. Over the last half-furlong Meadow Lark finished the best, and beat Jack a Dandy by throe parts of a length. Royal Saxon was half a length away third, a head in front of Blue Metal, Caterpillar, and Battle Flag, who finished fast from a long way back.

Impertinence, Academy, and Sea Gay were withdrawn from the Summer Handicap, and Abbeville and Salmo Salar earned nearly half the money invested on the race, the former being about £75 the better fancied. Battle Maid, Coupling, and Dumblane were the next best backed. Insolence was the first to break a good lino. Battle Maid stumbled as the barrier rose, and at the end of a furlong was showing' the way to the favourite and Flying Binge. RoundingHho far turn Salmo Salar was one of the* last. Abbeville, Flying Binge, and Coupling were the first into the dip, and racing for the home turn Salmo Salar was nest. Then Abbeville led Salmo Salar into the straight, where Dumblane showed up. Abbeville was well beaten halfway down the straight, and Salmo Salar won comfortably by half a length from Dumblane, who beat the favourite by a length and a-half. Takaka, Insolence, and Vinegrove were next.

Taboo was withdrawn from the Southland Handicap, and Glare was sent out a very solid favourite, nearly £250 better backed than Celerity 11., Night Lad and Latin Quarter being the best

fancied of the others. Latin Quarter and Night Lad led King Balboa through and out of the straight, and at the mile post Night Lad was about a neck in front, of Latin Quarter, with King Balboa and Glare next, Circulation lying last. Racing along the back NigbJ, Lad and Latin Quarter were two lengths clear of Glare and King Balboa, and they raced to the far turn and into the dip in that order. Racing to the homo turn Circulation made a good run and got up -on the inside of the favourite, and for a few strides it looked as if the latter was pocketed. Night Lad and Latin Quarter led into the straight from Circulation and Glare. Night Lad was the first to drop out, and Latin Quarter was in charge halfway down the running, when Glare challenged him and won by a long neck from Latin Quarter. Queen Balboa was a short length away third, followed by Circulation, Night Lad, King Balboa, and Wingatei, with Celerity 11. again last. * * « *

Compensation was again made an odds-on chance in the Nursery Handicap, for two-year-olds, with Water Power and Rosy Morn the best fancied of the others. The latter began the smartest, and was three lengths in front or Charmaine and Shirader at the homo turn. Rosy Morn stayed on better than in many of her previous races, and won by five lengths from Compensation, who beat Charmaine by a length. Water Power was a neck away fourth.

In the Robedale Handicap Wise Choice and Coupling were withdrawn, and Inevitable was made a much better favourite than Full Fling, with High Speed, Night Attire, and Positive next fancied. Night Attire gave a lot of trouble at the start, but the field was in good line when the tapes went up. Dry Area, Miss Rcdowa, and Inevitable were the .first to show out, and the former quickly ran out four lengths infront of Miss Redowa and Inevitable, with Traho, at the head of a bunch, next. Dry Area was five lengths in front of Inevitable and Miss Redowa racing across the top, and led the favourite and Full Fling into the straight. At the distance Dry Area was beginning to stop, and Invitable caught him opposite the lawn stand, and won by a length. Full Fling was four lengths away third, followed by Traho’ Attractive Lady’ Night Attire, and High Speed.

A good field of a dozen-started in the Final Handicap, for which Glenrowan was made over £2OO bettor favourite than Lucky Light, Money Mine, or Tcheka (who were fairly evenly backed), and Royal Saxon. Red Racer and Taboo were also .well supported. Lucky Light, Coomassie, and Red Boa held up the start for nearly a quarter of an hour,. and when the barrier was released Royal Saxon, Red Sea, and Glenrowan led out and into the back stretch. ! These three led along the back, where Lucky Light dropped back last. Royal Saxon was still in charge at the far turn, where Glenrowan, Red Boa, and Red Sea (who got a bad bump) were next, at the head of a bunched field. Lucky Light made a great run across the top, and was first inlo the straight from Royal Saxon, Money Mine ,lled Sea, and Coomassie. In the run down the straight Lucky Light won comfortably by a length from Red Sea, who finished very fast and cut Money Mine out of third money by three-quarters of a length. Royal Saxon, Glenrowan, and Coomassie were next.