RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22271, 24 February 1936, Page 11

RACING NOTES

RACING. February 26.—Opunake R.C. February 26, 27. —Gore R.C. February 28, 29.—Marlborough R.C. February 29. March 2,—Te Aroha J.C. March 4.—Rangitikei R.C. March 5, 7. —Napier Park R.C. March 7.—Banks Peninsula R.C. March 13, 14.—Cromwell J.C. March 14, 17—Ohinemuri J.C. March 14, 16, 17.—Wellington R.C.

REMINDER FOR OWNERS, Nominations for approaching meetings close as under: — Wellington Racing Club—February 2G bromweil Jockey Club—February 28, 8 p.m. , Wyndham Trotting Club—February 28, 5 p.m. Oamaru Jockey Club—March 3, 8. Roxburgh Trotting Club.—March 7, Birchwood Hunt —March 10, 7 p.m. C.J.C. Easter and Autumn Handicaps—March 13, 8 p.m. JOTTINGS. Handicaps for the first day of the. Invercargill Trotting Club’s Meeting are not due until Friday morning. It is reported that the Southland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting showed a surplus of round about £1,300. The Riccarton horsemen —A. E. Ellis, A. Messervy, and J. W. Jenningswere at the Winton Meeting last week. Jennings rode two winners and the other two each scored once. Great Shot appears to have lost all form, and was the first horse beaten in the Jubilee Cup on Friday. Thiough Trivet he was badly handicapped in being asked to give her 11b. F. Voight has made a great improvement in Ecclefechan since he has had charge of him, and this Panraure gelding looks like getting some, good stake money during the next few months. The alterations to the totahsator house on the Invercargill course have now been completed, and two lullsized machines will be installed tor next week’s meeting of the Invercargill Trotting Club. There are no fewer than 156 horses nominated for next week’s meeting or the Invercargill Trotting Club. The 380 nominations received show an average increase of six horses per race. Dunmure was only produced on the opening day of the Winton Meeting. He looks in nice order to commence the steeplechasing season, but was uot sufficiently forward to show his true form on Friday. It is bad luck for Mr Hanley that he' should lose the services of such a promising mare as Shillelagh Wood at this stage. She was very lame after the steeplechase on Saturday, and may require a lengthy spell. The following are the rehandicaps tor the first day of the Gore Meeting:— Racing Chib Handicap: M'Heath 7.9, EAwood 7.4. Croydon Handicap: Loohlaggan 9.6. Summer Handicap: M'Heath 10.7. ' The fact that Violenta has not been rehandicapped shows that this filly has been scratched for all engagements at the Gore Meeting, and is to be reserved for the Wellington -Meeting next month. The programme of the Southland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting, to be held next May, was drafted on Friday night, and the stakes have been increased to £l,OlO. The programme consists of a hurdle race and steeplechase, two open and two hack races, and two light harness events. Tauramai will not do any more rac mg this season. His trainer informed the writer at the Winton Meeting that, last year’s Dunedin Cup winner has not broken down, and works quite soundly until the pressure is put on. He cannot locate the trouble, and the horse is to go into the paddock for a long spell. Mr W. Grieve, vice-president of the Southland Racing Club, officiated as judge on the first day of the Winton Meeting, but, having a previous business engagement, was not able to act on Saturdav, and the ex-starter, A. D. M‘lvor, took his place. Both officials were prompt in their decisions, and they were well received.

With several placed performances to his credit, it was not surprising to find Wynwood made a short-priced favourite for the C. D. Moore Stakes on Saturday. Western Song led him along the hack and halfway across the top. Western Song was just in front of Moneyless and Ashawiy, with the favourite close up in behind them. About two furlongs from home Wynwood dropped back, losing a couple of lengths, and he was still fourth turn-

[By Sx. Claik.]

TROTTING. March 6, 7. —Invercargill TJ3. March 7.—Wellington T.C. March 14. —Timani T.C. March 18.—Wyndham T.C, March 21.—Taranaki T.C. March 23.—Roxburgh T.CMarch 28.—Wanganui T.C. March 28.—Cheviot T.C. April 4.—Wanganui T.C. April 11, 13.—Hawera T.C. April 11, 14.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.O,

in°; for home. Once in the straight Western Song stopped very quickly, and Wynwood had the race in safe keeping halfway down the straight. He won easily by two lengths from Bond, who heat Moneyless by three-quarters of a length. Fireguard ran another disappointing race, and finished fourth. When Western Song returned to the enclosure he showed signs of having been galloped on behind, and this probr ably was the cause of him stopping so badly in the run home. W. Cosgrove, who had won both of the trotting races the previous day, provided a good favourite for the Oreti Harness Handicap in Belle Grattan, but her backers received i very poor run for their money, as she failed to go away at the start. The best fancied of the others were Harold Guy and Embark. Master Lee ai d Embark were the smartest of the limit horses to begin, and they led over the early stages. At the end of half a mile Embark was showing the way to Mishap, Guywin, Tritoma,. Monty Chimes, and Master Lee. Embark and Mishap gradually drew away from Guywin and Tritoma, and turning for home Embark was just in front of Mishap, with Guywin, Tritoma, and Erin’s Star next. Embark beat Mishap to the post, with Guywin two lengths away third, well clear of Erin’s Star and Tritoma. The winner stepped round about, a 2min 16scc gait, which made the task set the back markers a very difficult one. The Soldier Members’ Memorial Handicap saw Valarth made over £IOO better favourite than Trivet, but the backers of these two horses got very poor runs for their money. The start was a “ snap ” one, and Trivet was slowest to jump out. Her rider was content to allow her to run at the tail of the field until nearing the winning post, when she made a dash arid just beat Broken Rule for fourth place. Broken Rule and Sailing Home led over the first three furlongs, then the favouvite headed Sailing Home. As the field approached the far turn Broken Rule was about a length and a-half in front of Sailing Home, Valarth, and Beam, who were racing abreast. Once round the turn Beam ran to the front, and was followed into the straight by Broken Rule, the favourite under strong restraint, and Sailing Home. Beam stayed on to win nicely by a length from Sailing Home, who beat Valarth half a length. It was a very feeble effort on the part of the favourite.

Violenta, who was only meeting Amelita on 81b worse terms for *a four lengths beating the previous day, was made a good favourite for the Awarua Hack Handicap, carrying £23 more on the win machine than Amelita, only these two being well backed. ■ Again beginning .very smartly Violenta was quickly clear of her field and was never seriously challenged. She won by three lengths from the improving Coat of Arms, ■ who got up to beat Clara Bow by a short half-length. Henry Dawson and Wynwood were next Both Amelita and Wall Street were slow to find their feet and were never prominent.

The Gerrard Memorial Steeplechase, a race named after one of the best amateur riders ever produced in Southland, attracted six starters, and a most interesting finish. After her brilliant display at the Clifden Meeting three weeks earlier Shillelagh Wood was sent out a short-priced favourite, and carried more than twice the support accorded either Parasang or Ecclefechan, who were next in demand. Shillelagh Wood appeared to be sore when doing her preliminary, and did not _ show nearly as much dash in her jumping as at the Clifden Meeting. She led for over a mile then hit the log fence very hard and dropped out of the contest. Red Lance and Ecclefechan were then left in charge and the race became a match between this pair. Red Lance had had a life at the sod wall the first time round, but afterwards jumped well, and when Ecclefechan joined him over half a mile from home they jumped the remaining fences together. Red Lance, the more seasoned of the pair, stayed on tho better and won by half a length. Shillelagh was a furlong and a-lialf away third and lame on pulling up. Parasang and Black Banner went at the first fence as if the race were a half-mile flutter, and the former ran off the next, the first fence

of the stand double, carrying Black Banner with him. Lochlaggan, who started a short- ■ priced favourite for the Stewards’ Purse Handicap, made light weight of her 9.1 Allowing Silk Paper to make play over the first half-mile Lochlaggati then drew_ up to her. and leading into the . straight ivon easily by a length from Wall Street in Imin 12 3-sscc, which constitutes a new record for the distance on Southland courses. Wall Street does not appear to be able to begin smartly, and considering the start he handed away at the jump out from the barrier did well to finish so close up. Silk Paper finished badly and was five lengths away third, while the previous day's winner, Penelope, was a bad last. The latter has not been penalised in her nice on the first day of the Gore Meeting. Out of the 22 starters in the Dash Saddle Handicap the. bracketed pair Carver Doone and Norma Grattan, were slightly better fancied than Creep, with Pacha next fancied. The last-named fell at the end of two furlongs, and Pola Negri fell over her, giving her rider, A. E. Didham, a nasty'shaking. Master Garry, Norma Grattan, Worthy Cairo, and Walter Gay soon drew clear, and at the end of five furlongs Norma Grattan and Worthy Claire began to draw away from the others. Norma Grattan was just clear of Worthy Claire at the far turn, and gradually drew out to beat Worthy Claire by four lengths. Creep was 10 lengths further back third, and Night Voyage next, and the rest of the field spread over a furlong and abalf. The winner went round about a 2.16 gait, and gave the local trainer, W. Cosgrove, his third win at the meeting. M'Heath, who had the services of A. E. Ellis in the saddle for the Jubilee Farewell Handicap, was made a much better favourite than either Ocean Singer or Island Linnet, and he justified the confidence placed in him by winning very easily in the good time of Imin 40 l-sseo. He was led over the first five and a-half furlongs by Henry Dawson and Dazzling eyes, but then ran past, and beat the unlucky Island Linnet by three lengths, with Dazzling Eyes a similar distance away third. Ocean Singer, who finished next, got the worst of a snap start, and tailed the field most of the way. The winner’s performance was in marked contrast to the form he showed in the mile and a-quarter race on the first day, despite the fact that he had 181 b more on his back on Saturday.