RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21716, 10 May 1934, Page 5

RACING NOTES

[By St, Cl.uh.]

RACING. May 12. —Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12.—Southland R.C. May 19. —Rangitikei R.C. May 19. —Ashburton O.R.C. March 19, 21. —Te Kuiti R.C. May 26.—South Canterbury J.C. June 2, 4. —Otaki Maori R.C. Tune 2,4, s.—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland R.C. June 9. —Foxton R.C. June 14, 16. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 16.—South Canterbury J.C,

THE SOUTHLAND STEEPLECHASE. The field of ten that has boon paid up for in the .Southland Steeplechase to-morrow shows that there are more jumping horses about than was the case this time last .year, when only _ four horses started iu this race. Quinopal has recently changed trainers, and was in very light condition when he ran at Riverton six weeks ago. West Dome ran so badly at the Otautau Meeting a fortnight ago that it was surprising to see his name amongst the acceptors. Umtali has improved a lot since he raced at Riverton, and should be one of the hardest horses to heat tomorrow’s race. Neither Trench Fleet nor Calham has been seen out this winter, and may not be ready. Dunmure is an improving steeplechaser, and won a double at Riverton. He has already qualified over the Invercargill country, and though ho fell at a small fence at Otautau last month is a good jumper. He will probably start favourite. Cultivator and Andy will be bracketed, and each is a safe juniper. Over two miles, and in soft going, both are possibilities. Ecclefechan looked the fittest horse in the field when he started at Otautau a fortnight ago, but no line on his form could be obtained as he ran off early. Father O’Flynn, who will carry "the president’s colours, jumped very badly at Otautau, and on his form that meeting can be counted out in looking for the winner. Dunraure, Umtali, and the Andy-Cultivator bracket should make an interesting contest. THE HAROLD LO6AN-WALLA WALLA MATCH. Walla Walla, though beaten by half a length over a flying mile yesterday, was not disgraced. He has recently been suffering from a slight cold, and his owner was not able to give him as much fast work as he wished to. This, no doubt, was the reason of Walla Walla failing over the last half-furlong. When Harold Logan followed him into the run homo Walla Walla had nearly two lengths lead, and it looked odds on that he would win. Harold Logan put in a wonderful burst of speed, and reached him in less than 100yds, but then went to a skip. M. Holmes, however, got him back to his gait very smartly, and the New Zealand champion, finishing with his ears pricked, .won by the narrow margin already mentioned. The track was heavy next the rails, and both horses raced about 30ft out, where the going was firmer, but still dead and patchy. Considering the state of the track and the , extra ground they covered, the time, 2min 13’ l-ssec, was a good performance. The sectional times were : First furlong 15 4-ssec, three furlongs 46 3-ssec, half-mile Imin 3 3-ssec, five furlongs Imin 22 2-ssec, six furlongs Imin 39 3-ssec, and the last half-mile Imin 9 3-ssec. OAMARU TROTS. Saturday promises to be a red-letter day in the sport of trotting so far as iNorth Otago is concerned, as an excellent programme of racing has been arranged for patrons of the sport, and following the recent rains, which have been light in Oamaru compared with the downfalls further north and south, the racecourse is looking a picture, and the six-furlong trotting track has never been in better order. The new stewards’ stand has now been completed, and will make a splendid addition to this well-appointed racecourse. Special interest attaches- to the Invitation Race, commencing at 1.20, between Walla Walla, Harold Logan, Roi I’Or, and Red Shadow. These horses have been quartered at Oamaru since the Forbury Meeting, and great interest is being taken in their workouts during the interval. The distance is a mile and a-quarter, and this will he the deciding contest between the champions over the three distances, Walla Walla having won the mile and Harold Logan the mile and a-half. The other contestants in the race tfre also worthy of special mention, as Red Shadow finished ahead of Harold Logan on the second day at Auckland, and on the second day at Christchurch Roi FOr put up a performance that has seldom been beaten. In the President’s Handicap, Worthy Queen, the champion trotter, will compete against the pacers. Those who were unable to attend at Forbury owing to the postponement on account of the wet weather last Saturday will have their last opportunity, of seeing the champions, Walla Walla and Harold Logan, in action against each other at Oamaru, and with good fields in the other seven races it is anticipated that the day’s sport will attract a record crowd for the Oamaru course. JOTTINGS. The first race at Invercargill to-mor-row is timed to start at 11.35. Palermo will he seen making his first attempt over a mile and a-quarter in the Southland Cup to-morrow. Old Black Duke will relish both the going and the impost (7st) that ho lias to carry at Invercargill to-morrow afternoon. In the small field engaged in tiie Stewart Island Hack Race to-morrow Island Linnet will probably he chosen favourite, with Honest Maid and Thornton next in demand. All Humbug will feel the effects of 9.3 in dead going on the Invercargill track to-morrow, and both Water Bower and Master Anomaly should heat him in the Flying Handicap. If Valiska could only he induced to run np to his track form he would hold a royal chance in the Trial Handicap at Invercargill. Golden Lap and Bom pax will probably also be well fancied. A visitor from Invercargill informed the writer this morning that races could have been held there any day this week, and with a high glass the prospects for fine weather for the Southland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting this week-end were good. The following taxes will have to he paid in connection with the Forbury ! Bark Trotting Club’s Meeting;— ; Totalise tor tax £l,lßl 15 4 Dividend tax 1,148 11 0 Stakes lax 137 10 0 Amusement tax ... 68 13 4 £2,536 9 8 Toreador won the Clifdcn Handicap at the Otautau Meeting last month so easily ikal ho jg aure Jq h§ PJje pi: hhe

June 21. 23.—Napier Park R.C, June 23.—Ashburton G.R.C. June 30.—Oamaru J.C. TROTTING. May 12.—Oamaru T.G. May 12, 14.—Waikato T.G. May 19.—Wellington T.C. June 24.—Canterbury Park T.C. June 24.—Hawke’s Bay T.G. June 9.—Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23.—Auckland T.C.

best fancied candidates Cor the Southland Cup to-morrow. He will have an apprentice's allowance off the 7.S he lias been allotted, and it ho is seriously troubled at the finish it is likely to be by cither Palermo or Palmary. In the absence of Mr W. Rudkin, who was called out of town on business, Mr T. Fogg officiated as judge at Forbury Park yesterday, and in Mr Townsend’s unavoidable absence Mr H. .harden acted in his stead as timekeeper. Both officials gave every satisfaction in their temporary posts. The biggest field of the afternoon is likely to go to the post for the Roslyn Hack Handicap to-morrow, and the South Canterbury-owned mare Brown Pearl, who will have the advantage of a 51b allowance, is likely to be selected favourite. Double Shot and Garnish are the others that may trouble her at the end of seven furlongs. Several of the horses engaged in the New River Harness Trot at Invercargill to-morrow have recent winning form to recommend them, and Peter Mitchell finished fifth in the Royal Handicap at Forbury Park yesterday. He is likely to do better on a grass track. Bright Voyage, Mishap, and Hard Times are a trio likely to carry solid support. The day’s racing at Invercargill tomorrow will he concluded with the Tradesmen’s Handicap, and if Water Power and Signaller are reserved for it they are likely to ho made favourites. Red Boa won so well at the Riverton Meeting that he cannot be left out of calculations, and what beats him will win. The outstanding performance at 1‘ orbnry Park yesterday was the wonderful race run by Dundee in the Royal Handicap. Before he could be persuaded to leave the mark he must have stood the limit horses up at least 120yds, and at the end of seven furlongs he was up with the leader. This great burst of speed left him with nothing in reserve at the finish, and he failed over the last furlong, but struggled on to gain third money, and returned his backers less than one-third of their original investment on him. , The Waikato-owned Luminary, wm> has been off the scene for some considerable time, is in. work again at Tc Rapa. On Thursday morning this horse was schooled over a round of the steeplechase fences at Te Rapa and gave a first-rate jumping display. _ A few seasons ago Luminary proved himself a good performer over hurdles, amonc his successes being the Brighton Hurdles at Ellerslie in 1932. If Luminary trains on satisfactorily he will be seen out in minor steeplechase events this winter. The Day Comet gelding is a reliable jumper, and with a bit of experience should pay bis way over the big fences. What a crowded ten minutes of glorious life the Grand National is (writes G. Ward Price, in the ‘ Daily Mail ’). No wonder four miles of special trains brought 50,000 _ people from all over Britain to see it. No wonder an American millionaire flew to England from the Dutch East Indies so as to he here in time, or that a transatlantic liner in the Mersey deferred her sailing so that her passengers might sec this splendid English race. There can only he one Grand National more exciting than this one, and that will be next year’s, if Golden Miller runs again. The following is the list of winning owners at the Forbury Park Trotting Olnh’s Meeting:—C. P. Cameron £250, L. F. Berkett £215, E. F. C. Hinds £l5O, M. C. MTigue £145, H. M. Allan £135. G. Morris £135, G. F. Clarke £l3O, J. Brvce £125. D. R. Revell £l2O, C. M. Archer and D. MacFarlanc £llO, H. W. Browne £lO5. -1. P. M'Kendrv £lO5, A. Ferguson £IOO, C. Davey £IOO. F. J. Smith £IOO. W. .11. Hamilton £IOO. L. S. Martin £IOO, H. G. Lvncli £IOO, T. Palmer £IOO, L. C. and W. Morrison £3O, B. Grice £25, C. S. Donald £25. F. _A. Loffhagen £2O, Mrs W. Mackenzie £2O, F. L. Price £2O. J. C. Burke £2O, D. M'Kenzie £2O, 51. J. M'Teigue £2O, A. Robertson £2O. -1. Black £2O, .1. Hunter £lO. E. J. Eathorne £lO. J. B. M'Murray £lO, W. G. Mills £lO, M. J. Forde £lO. A. D. Cooper £lO, Mrs K, Oldfield £lO. C. J. Meade £5, A. C. Blackler £5, W. T. Lowe £5; total, £2,750. The caretaker at Forbury Park yesterday received many congratulations upon the good work he and his assistants had done to get the track as good as it was when the day’s racing commenced He had’had a very anxious time during the wet weather since the opening of the meeting, and his work did not finish with the close of theracing. The car paddock was very sodden, and after the last race many oars were not able to get out under their own power. With the aid of 'his assistants, the clerk of the course, several policemen, and a traffic inspector, the caretaker organised a “ breakdown gang ” that helped a large number of drivers to get their cars out of the grounds, and many expressions of “ thank you ” were given these willing workers. Mi ss Dorothy Paget, owner of the Grand National winner. Golden Miller, is twenty-eight, and has achieved a spectacular success on the turf after only a tow years as a racehorse owner. When only twenty-four she sprang into prominence by running her fleet of racing motor cars and retaining some of tho best drivers at Brooklands. She failed, however, to win any important event, although she was reputed to Have spent £40.000 on the venture. When she turned her attention to racehorses, however, success was almost immediate. She startled the racing world two years ago, when most owners were cutting down their studs, by spending £20,000 on bloodstock. Last December she paid S,2oogs for a five-year-old marc, Salome. One of her best-known horses. Tuppence. cost £0,930, but so far he has won only £393.