RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22350, 28 May 1936, Page 5

RACING NOTES

[By St. Claw.] i

RACING. May 30. —Foxlon R.C. May 30, June 3, 6.—Auckland R.C. June 4, 6.—Otaki Maori R.C. June 6. —Ashburton County R.C, June 11, 13.—Hawke's Ray J.C. June 20, 23. Wanganui J.C. June 20, 23.—Napier Park R.C. June 20, 23, 24.—Dunedin J.C. Juno 23.—Opotiki J.C. June 27.—Oamaru J.C, July I.—Dannevirke Hunt C. July 7,9, 11.—Wellington R.C.

JOTTINGS. The running of the Great Northern Hurdles will bo broadcast at 2.5 on Saturday. The record field ever entered lor the V.R.C. Hurdles was back in 1881, when 103 horses were nominated. The largest entry for the V.R.C. Steeplechase was 81. Trisox has been nominated for the steeplechase on the Ashburton programme. The Smuggler was schooled over hurdles at Riccarton during the weekend, and he will not be jumped again before contesting the Great Northern Hurdles. The Smuggler is not to be rehandicapped in the Great Northern Hurdles fiir his victory in the Levels Hurdles at Timaru last Thursday, Mr F. J. M'Manemin having decided not to penalise him. Regular visits to Randwick are made by the Australian Jockey Club stipendiary ‘ stewards, with the object of judging the qualifications of apprentices who seek permission to ride in races. This is a plan which might be worth consideration in New Zealand. During the years of the Great War, 1913, 1916, 1917, and 1918, the Derby was run on the Newmarket course. All the other contests for this famous race have been decided on the Epsom course. A good judge of racing, and one who has seen, many contests for the Great Northern Hurdles, ventures the opinion that it is an even-money bet to name a horse that will complete the course.

Yesterday’s race was the 137th Derby, and during that long period there has been only one dead-beat declared, St. Gaticn and Harvester crossing the line together in 1884. In 1913 Craganour finished first, but was disqualified for boring, and the race was awarded to Aboyeur.

The success of Mahmoud in yesterday’s Derby will be very pleasing to the Elderslie Stud Company, as their recent imported sire, Solicitor General, is, like Blenheim, by Blandford. During the last eight years four of the winners of this race have been sons of Blandford, and one a grandson.

The time record for the Derby since the course was made exactly 12 furlongs is 2mm 34sec. and it is jointly held by Hyperion (1933) and Windsor Lad (1934). Until a few years ago the distance of this race was 12 furlongs and 29yds, but the 29yds was cut off by improving the turn at Tottenham Corner.

H.TT. Aga Khan entered eight foals for yesterday’s Derby, and Mahinoudks win'marked his third success in this race. In ]930 he scored his first success with Blenheim, hv Blandford, lie won last year with Bahrain, also by Blandford, and this year’s success would be the most pleasing of all to him, as Mahmoud is by Blenheim.

Sir .1. Hawley scored four successes with Tcddingto’n, Beadsman, Mnsjid, and Blue Gown, the second and third being consecutive victories. The late Duke of Westminster also scored four wins with Bend Or. Shotover, Ormonde, and Flying Fox. Lady James Douglas was the first lady to win the Derby. According to an Australian authority, trotting horses never die, they just fade away. Cupidon. winner of the first division of the President’s Unhopplcd Handicap at Harold Park, Sydney, recently. is IS years old. It was his first win for several seasons, though he had filled minor places during the present season. Tlio placings in ttic Farewell Handicap at the Waikato Meeting on Monday were: —Le Grand 1. High Tea 2, Hawthorn 3. Wotan. who finished unplaced was bracketed with the winner. In the Press Association message from Hamilton Wotan was given as the winner. x\t the annual meeting of the Levin Racing Clnh the report stated that, although £BB had been written off buildings fore depreciation, the club showed a net profit of £216 11s lOd, The extra day granted the club in June last was largely responsible for this. With no outstanding liabilities, the bank balance stands at £360. Mr W. 3’. Hnzlett has been on a brief trip to his home in Invercargill, but he will leave again this week on his way back to Melbourne. Though he has not been prominent in important events, he has won a few small races in Victoria lately. Two of his team, Chief Light and Frcnchie, have been shaping well in their education ns hurdlers. After controlling the racing columns of the ‘ Southland Times ’ for nearly 23 years, Mr Frank Mnssen is retiring. As “ Sir Modred ” he lias always been a very strong advocate for Southland hordes and courses, and ho has done his full share in the way of advertising the .southern province and its horses. Since Mr Mnssen first took up sporting journalism, nearly 40 years ago, lie has seen many changes in both racing and trotting in Southland, and the good work he lias put into his column has done much to bring about the general improvement. Nearly all his life ho has been a keen watcher of track work and an expert timer of gallops. Mr Mnssen’s retirement will lie regretted by a very large number of readers, 'and his numerous friends will join me in wishing him many happy, but less strenuous, clays in the haunts he has so long frequented.

TROTTING. May 30.—Canterbury Park T.C. June 13. —Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23. —Auckland T.C.

July 18. —Hawke’s Bay Hunt C. July 18.—Waimate Hunt C. July 22.—Kangitikei Hunt C. July 23, 25.—Poverty Bay Hunt C. July 25.—South Canterbury Hunt C. July 25.—Manawatu R.C. August 11; 12, 15.—Grand National Meet-

Rasonli, who broke his hack in the Waikato Steeplechase, and had to bo destroyed, was an aged gelding by Bernard .from Gipsy's Warning, and was strongly fancied for the Great Northern Steeplechase. He was a line hurdler before being tried at steeplechasing, and he showed promise of being well above the average as a ’chaser, winning the Kginont Steeplechase very easily at his first attempt over country. The loss of Rasouli is a severe misfortune for Mr H. Elworthy and his trainer, D. O’Connor.

A. S. Ellis is not having the best of luck with his jumpers to date this winter. Nooturnus is only just completing a recovery from a poisoned leg contracted at Easter, and may be taken to Dunedin for the second and third days of next month’s meeting. Giggleswick, who rnu a fair race on the first day at Washdyke last week, was very lame the next day, and, it was not possible to start him on Saturday.

The veteran Billy Boy, now in his twelfth year, registered a coinplete surprise in winning the Waikato Steeplechase and paying over a third of a century on the straight-out machine. It was his first success since he won the Wellington Steeplechase in 1934, and was well received, even though he was an outsider. A factor in his success was his clean and clever fencing, which enabled him to wrest the honours from the consistent Forest Glow, who has run five successive seconds since winning at Paeroa. Billy Boy has 10.4 in the Great Northern Steeplechase to be run next Wednesday,

The jumper Scotch Nation made a fine attempt to win the President’s Handicap at the Waikato Meeting last Saturday from end to end, and it was only after a hard struggle that lie was defeated by the consistent and improving Velocipede, who has been racing very well. Velocipede has never looked better than at present, and ran right up to his best form. Scotch Nation recorded a sound performance, and in consequence is likely to retain his position as favourite for the Great Northern Hurdles (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). He looks fit, and it should not be for lack of condition if he fails to race prominently next Saturday. Korero finished attractively for third and Delrain made a good showing for fourth. Onewhetu did not have the best of f luck in running and failed to do as well as anticipated. Hprowhenua, who covered a good deal of ground, indicated that he may not lie Tong in returning to form. Con Fuoeo was finishing strongly after being checked.

According to reports the racing and trotting owners and trainers have at last come to a common understanding regarding the standardisation of training fees, and it is understood that a conference representative of the different centres in New Zealand will be held to discuss the matter. Possibly the meeting will be held in Wellington in July, but the question of the standardisation of training fees is one that will need mature consideration. So many trainers and owners have so many different training arrangements that it appears almost hopeless to expect a set standard without driving many men—the backbone of the sport—away from their particular hobby. It is a matter that requires very delicate handling, and different views must be considered. However, there is tittle prospect of a remit embodying tho idea being brought before conference this year.

Streamline is to make his reappearance in the hurdle event at Ashburton on Saturday of next week, and as he will be bracketed with Wexford Bridge the pair will carry solid support. Wexford Bridge shaped at the recent Ashburton and Washdyke meetings as if he would soon come right with racing experience, while Streamline has given some excellent displays since he won brush hurdle events at Riccarton at Easter. In his last task at Riccarton he jumped five hurdles without the semblance of a mistake. His stablemate, Punchestown, has also done well since he had a few days’ respite following a slight cut in one of his hind legs. He negotiated 10 of the steeplechase fences on Monday and gave a faultless display at a sound pace throughout. Both were ridden hv H. Turner. Punchestown is an unlikely visitor to the Dunedin Meeting, says the ‘ Press,’ owing to the probability of soft trabks there, and his first appearance for the season will he at Trentham in July.

Stories are being circulated in trotting circles that two good types of Now Zealand trotters have been offered to trotting trainers for “ ringing in ” in Victoria, writes “ Direct ” in the Melbourne ‘ Globe.’ One wellknown trainer-driver told me that he had flatly rejected an offer made to him some time ago. The suggestion of a “ ring in ” raises the question 'of its possibility in Victoria. Considering the little to be gained financially, such an underhand coup may be put aside as most improbable. The only safe place where the betting would satisfy perpetrators of such a [dan is Ascot. Of course, there are a few unbalanced people in any community who would do almost anything, no matter how small the reward. This type of person might even go into the country with a “ ringtail.” As a matter of fact, more than one keen trotting supporter in the counfry has expressed suspicion regarding the bona tides of one or two winners in remote districts during the current season, but this is mere conjecture. It would he hard to conceive of anyone so foolish as to run the risk of disqualification and possibly gaol for so small a monetary return as a successful “ ring in ” in the country would yield. It might be more profitable at Ascot, hut at this course the Victorian Trotting and Racing Association has framed an almost watertight set of regulations concerning registrations. descriptions of horses, transfers from other States, etc. Sir Gilbert Dyett, since he became secretary of the Victoria Trotting and Racing Association some years ago. has delved closely into tiie chances of such a happening on his course, and some of the reforms he initiated in regard to the registration and description of trotters have been copied by the galloping authorities.