NOTES ON THE RACING

Evening Star, Issue 21036, 25 February 1932, Page 4

NOTES ON THE RACING

[By St. Clair.]

Bad luck in the way of weather seriously affected the success of the first day'of the Gore Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, the gate receipts only amounting to £l7B 4s, as compared with £225 Is Cd on the same day last year. The course would have been in excellent order but for the rain overnight, and which continued in light showers most of the afternoon, making the track inclined to be greasy and slow. The racing was interesting, though several of the winners had something in reserve. Four first and two second favourites scored in the racing events, but in each of the trotting events outsiders won, and the big dividends they returned must have seriously affected the turnover on the total isator, which showed a decrease of £2,068 10s on the amount handled on the first day last year. During the afternoon several fines were inflicted by the starter. In the Longford Hack Handicap, J. L. Cotton, £B, for anticipating the start, and N, J. Dwyer £1 for disobedience; in the Racing Club Handicap W. G. Austin. £l, for taking the wrong place in the barrier, and in the Croydon Handicap, C. W. Brodie, £3, for breaking the barrier. _ In his evidence before the Judicial Commitee in the inquiry' into the interference near the finish of the Riversdale Trotting Handicap, W. Gallagher, driver of Erin’s Princess, admitted that he had touched Lady Direct, and for this breach of rule 188 Gallagher was fined £l.

THORNTON AGAIN,

Thornton, by Sntala—Yawn (£1144), was backed down to nearly.an eyenmonev price in the Gore High-weight Hack Race, with Silver Salver (£924), Sailing Homo (£45), and The Rector (£43i) next fancied. Ilia favourite led through the straight from Sailing Home and Rombeau, but on entering the back stretch The Rector ran up into second place, and Sailing Home and Rombeau were next, 1 ans being about fifteen lengths in the rear. At the far turn The Rector went up on the outside of Thornton, but before reaching the straight the hatter had drawn well clear, and was followed into the run home by Rombeau, Ihe Rector-, and Silver Salver. Ihornton maintained her advantage, and beat Rombeau by a length and a-half, Silver being the same distance ip

third, and The Rector and Sailing Home were next. ROYAL SCEPTIC ALL THE WAY. Royal Sceptic, by Roseuor—Bonnie Olive* (£208)), was made another nearly even-money chance in the Longford Hack Handicap, with Jack a Dandy (£131)), Slaemish (£114), and Palada (£6O) next fancied. The favourite was the smartest to jump out, and led along the back and round the far turn from Tray Bond, Ace of Hearts, and Jack a Dandy. Racing across the top he shook this trio off, and Milliner made a challenge at the homo turn, Ace of Hearts, Jack a Dandy, and Miss Rcdowa being well up next. In the run to tho post Royal Sceptic was going very easily, and beat Miss Redowa by two lengths. Palada, who finished well, was only a short nock away third, followed by Traylavah, Jack a Dandy, and Millmer’ A HOT FAVOURITE. Rod Sea, by Valkyrian—Whitianga, carried more than half the small pool (£246) invested on the Racing Club, with Money Mine slightly better backed than Night Rose. Money Mine led Night Rose, with tho favourite running about four lengths in the rear through tho straight. This order was not changed until after rounding the far turn, where Red Sea began, to close up the gap. She was on their quarters as they turned for home, and Money Mine weakening before reaching the distance post, Red Sea heat her stable mate home bv half a length, and Money Mine was two lengths further back. ONE FOR CENTRAL OTAGO.

Winning Wave (£218), Bine Mounts! in (£2Uii), Lady Direct (£194), and War Paint (£111) carried the best wagering on the Riversdale Harness Trot. Blue Mountain, Celeste, and Winning Wave were slow to go away. Lady Direct led over the first six furlongs from lied King) Gracile, John Appear, and Grey Girl. Racing along the back Grey Girl ran up into second place, and at the far turn joined Lady Direct. These two raced across the top just in front of Gracile, War Paint, Wave Soon, and Erin’s Princess. Lady Direct, Grey Girl, and War Paint turned into the straight abreast, with Erin’s Princess, Gracile, and Wave boon on their wheels. Grey Girl was beaten at the distance post, and a few strides further on Erin’s Princess challenged Lady Direct. Fifty yards from the post Erin’s Princess ran away from the whip and appeared to interfere with Lady Direct for a few strides, but was immediately pulled out again and beat Lady Direct to the post by half a length. War Paint was over a length away third, followed by Gracile, Grey Girl, Wave Soon, and John Appear, who were bunched and close up. The winner is by Erin’s King from a Rothschild mare. An objection by the stipendiary steward ’ against Erin’s Princess being declared the winner on account of having interfered with Lady Direct by boring in near the winning post was considered by the Judicial Committee. After hearing the evidence of A. M'Lellan, driver of Lady Direct, and W. J. Gallagher, driver of Erin’s Princess, the committee decided that no be taken regarding Gallagher’s driving, and that the judge’s placing stand. FIH,ST SONG FAILS , AGAIN. First Song (£251 J), Broughshane (by Some Boy 11. Soldier’s Chorus mare, £186), Rod Sunset (£944), and Glenham Lark (£56), were the best backed in the Novice Handicap. Broughshane began very smartly and led along the back from Glenham Lark, Dunmure, and First Song, who were racing in line. At the far turn Broughshane was two lengths clear of Glenham Lark, iind they ran into the straight in that order, with Anne Shakespeare, First Song, and Red Sunset next. Broughshane easily maintained his advantage to win by a length from Red Sunset, who finished very fast, and just got up in time to beat Glenham Lark by a short neck for second place. First Song, who had every chance at the homo turn, was a length away fourth, with Anno Shakespeare and Talkie next. RULING LIGHT EASILY. Ruling Light (by Chief Ruler —Simper, £259), Inevitable (£203), Crubenmore (£754) ,_ and Fair Exchange (£SO), carried most of the investments on the Croydon Handicap. Fair Exchange, Ruling Light, and Royal Duke were the leaders for a furlong, then First Money, who started from the “pen,” ran to the front, and at the far turn was six lengths clear from Crubenmore, and four lengths further back were Royal Duke and the favourite. The latter set out after the leaders racing across the top, and she passed Crubenmore at the entrance to the straight. First Money tired over the final furlong and Ruling Light got up to beat him by a length and a-half. Inevitable, who was one of the last into the straight, finished close up third, with Pair Exchange, Royal Duke, and Crubenmore next.

After the field, had gone about three furlongs, Hot Tea nearly fell, and would have done so but for cannoning into Inevitable. The latter, in recovering from the bump he received, collided with Fair Exchange. But for this interference, Inevitable, who was last to enter the straight, would have been closer to the winner. A BIG DIVIDEND.

All twenty-live wont to the post in the Electric Trotting Handicap, it being necessary to have three lines to accommodate the twenty-two on the limit. Review (£180)), Moscat (£154), Anthum (£127)), and Man o’ Franz (£SO), were the best fancied. Crescent Lee, Grand Match, Sunny Southland, and Fescue Bill lost their chances at the start. Chiming Wave began the best and led Pirecrest and Sergeant Dallas (by Waverley—Harold Rothschild marc) for nearly two furlongs, then Firecrest dropped out, and Sergeant Dallas went to the front. Rollicking Wave ran up into third place at the top of the straight, but could not reach Sergeant Dallas, who beat him homo by a length and a-half, with Chiming Wave a length further back third. Lady Voisin, Review, and Moscat were next. The winner returned a dividend approaching three-fourths of a century—the largest that has been paid in Otago or Southland since Wild Spur returned a three-figure one at 6amam three years ago. ' TOREADOR RETURNS TO FORM.

Leading Boy (£2591), Toreador (by Some Bov II. —Spanish Princess, £231), My Council (£1804), and Young Sentinel (£141), were the best backed in the Summer Hack Handicap. The favourite was started from the “ pen.” My Council was the first to show out, with Toreador and Young Sentinel next. After going a furlong Toreador went to the front from the favourite, Mv Council dropping back as if he could not handle the going. Toreador led Leading Boy and Stceton across the top and into the straight, where Consono showed up in next place. Leading Boy was done with at the distance,

and Toreador ran home a comfortable winner by a length and a-half from Consono, who finished fast over the last half-furlong and just got up in time to beat Steeton by a short head for second honours. Leading Boy and Spanish Maid were next, and My Council last.