RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21993, 1 April 1935, Page 12

RACING NOTES

May I.—Eeefton J.C. May 4, 6.—Hawke’s Bay J, C. May 4, 6.—Egxnont J.C. May 4, 6.—Westland E.C. May 6.—Dunedin J.C.. . TROTTING. April 3,—Manawatu T.G. April 6.—Wanganui T.C. . April 13.—Wanganui T.O. April 13.—Ashburton T.O. April 17.—Rotorua T.C. April 20, 22.—Hawera T.C. April ?0. 24.—N.Z. Metropolitan TO. April 27.—Taranaki T.C. Abril 27.—Methven T.C. May 2, 4.—Forbury Park T.C. May 4.—Cambridge T.G. . May 11.—Waikato T.C. May 11.—Oamaru T.C.

RACING. April 4.—Waimato R.C. April 6, B.—Dargaville R.C. April 6.—South Canterbury J.C. April 9, 10.—Pahiatua R.C. April 11, 13.—Whangarei R.C. April 13.—Otautau R.C. April 13.—Taranaki T.C. April 13, 15.—Westport J.C. April 20.—Tuapeka J.C. April 20, 22.—Wairarapa J.C. April 20, 22.—Feilding J.C. April 20. 22.—Auckland R.C. April 20, 22, 23.—Riverton R.C. . April 22.—Beaumont R.C. April 22.—Waipukurau J.C. April, 22.—Kumara R.C.April 22, 23.—Canterbury J.C. April 24, 27. —Greymouth J.C. April 27.—Marton J.C.' April 27, 29.—Avondale J.C. JOTTINGS. Acceptances for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting close to-day at 8 p.m. Mr C. E. Hassall, who will declare the handicaps for the first day of the Riverton Meeting on Wednesday, was present at the Birchwood Hunt fixture on Saturday. When Bam Door fell at the first fence in the.Turi Steeplechase he gave his rider, J. L. Perkins, a nasty fall, and Perkins was removed to the Southland Hospital suffering from concussion.

Black Banner is an improving young steeplechaser with ach race he contests. He is ono of the most promising of the Southland brigade of jump ers engaged in the hack steeplechases at Riverton. Toreador won the President’s Handicap on Saturday in a very convincing manner. He won this race last year with 111 b more than he had on Saturday. Toreador will do his racing at Easter time at the Lawrence and Beaumont meetings.

Possum was in a bad way after the Clifden Meeting, where, in'addition to striking himself, he also strained a tendon, and it is extremely doubtful if he will be a starter at the Riverton Meeting. Signaller looked well enough when paraded for the President’s Handicap on Saturday, but ran a very poor race, finishing last. It is reported that M. Kirwan has been engaged to ride this horse in the Riverton Cup. Two of the races at Invercargill on Saturday were won by extreme outsiders, Little Pal in the first race and Towing in the last. . In the list of nominations published for the Tuapeka County Jockey Club’s Meeting the names of Dazzling Eyes, Dissemble, and Last Dance were omitted from the Trial Hack Handicap, and Last Dance from the Wetherstone Handicap. It is not often that all the owners in a race are fined for having their horses late in arriving in the bird cage, but this happened at Invercargill, when the stipendiary steward fined all the owners who had horses engaged in the Gardner Memorial Steeplechase £1 for this offence.

Quinopal completed the course in the Turi Steeplechase on Saturday, but finished a long way behind the placed horses, and was very distressed on pulling up. He is very big in condition, and it does not look ns if his trainer will be able to have him nearly at his best for the Riverton Meeting. Paris’s appearance in the bird cage prior to taking part in the Turi Steeplechase on Saturday belled the fact that he is now nearly thirteen years old. The old fellow looked fresh and well, and his owner expected him to run well, but unfortunately he got into the mix-up at the initial fence and fell.

Dunmure was the only odds-on price winner at Tnvercargillon Saturday, and his performance in the Turi Steeplechase was an outstanding one. The pace was solid all the way, and the exhibition of jumping he gave was • excellent. At the present time Dunmure stands out as the best amongst the cross-country horses in Southland, and will be hard to beat at Riccarton.

When The Smuggler contested the President’s Handicap on Saturday he was making his first public appearance since he raced at Riccarton last November. He looked on the big side but was sound and was*well in the picture for seven furlongs. With another race - at Otautau next week he should be ready for the Riverton Meeting. The Smuggler won the Riverton Cup two years

ago, and last Easter he was successful in the Great Autumn Handicap. Red Lance made his debut in a crosscountry race at Invercargill on Saturday, and for a novice shaped well. Ho jumped cleanly but carefully, and was allowed to drift in the early making his task of catching Dun mure and French Fleet in the last mile almost an impossible one. With more schooling Red Lance looks like developing into' a useful steeplechaser, and he has been engaged in the hack steeplechases at Riverton.

, Towing, who is a full brother, to Venite, created a surprise when he won the Kennels’ Hack Handicap on Saturday, as earlier in the day he had failed in the Hunters’ Flat Handicap run over half a mile further. The course had improved during the interval, but probably that had not so much to do with Towing’s improvement in form as the 31£Ib off his back, in, the'Second race. Towing has raced .consistently, though with indifferent luck, during the past year, but always under welter , weights,, and Saturday’s race showed that he is not up to carrying weight. Towing, who is a good jumper, is engaged, in the hack steeplechase at Riverton this month.

When at the Birchwood Meeting, Mr A. D. M'lvdr explained to the writer the reason why he did not attend the recent Oamaru meeting to fulfil his duties as starter. Mr M‘lvor holds a letter from the secretary, of-the Oamaru Club appointing him for the spring meeting held last'September, but the only communication he has* received since was the receipt of tickets for the recent meeting. Mr M‘lyor • acknowledged these tickets, thanking the clulfc for past employment, and wishing success for future meetings. -Mr Smith admitted at last month’s meeting that he had not advised Mr MTvbr of his appointment, and the latter’s explanation shows that nov blame could be attached to him for not being present. For a period last season French Fleet shaped very badly in his races, falling in race after race, and it appeared as if he had lost all favour. 'ln the Tuifi Steeplechase on Saturday he was ridden by F, Voight. andigaVe an excellent exhibition of .’ jumping. He was the only other starter in the race capable of keeping-Dunmure at his best, and it was only lack of condition, that found him wanting over the last two furlongs in a fast-run race. The official time supplied was 4min 0 4-sseo for the “ about two miles.” Considering the heavy state of the going it is most unlikely that both the time and distance are correct; and the latter was probably well short of the two miles. Still it was a good “performance on French Fleet’s part. Parasang carried too much condition for the opposition in the Gardner. Memorial Steeplechase on Saturday, and though his winning margin was only half a length from Black Banner, this could have been .wider had hi* rider wished. Parasang had two lives during the race, and was very nearly down on landing over the sod wall about a mile from home. He did not have much pace on at the time, out when Peart got him back on‘to his feet he sent him:along; .and Parasang’* jumping improved. Black Banner landed a full length in front of him over the last fence, which, he hit slightly; hut Parasang had no difficulty in running up to him 100yds from the post. The Riverton country should not trouble this horse, and, judging by the way. he finished over two and a-quarter miles, he should see out the longer courses at. that meet? ing all right. - - '