NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 7

NEWS AND VIEWS

|By OnsKKVEit. ] ,

Yasda Scratched. Yasda was scratched at 8.20 p.m. yesterday for the Winter Oats Handicap at the Wellington winter meeting on Saturday, Celebrated Trainer Retires.

Acting on medical advice, the celebrated English trainer, Fred Darling, has decided to retire at the end of the current season. He ranks as one of the greatest trainers in the history of racing. Ho has prepared winners of IS) classic races, including seven Derbies. Darling will spend the next two years in Kenya, during which time he may make occasional trips to England.

Trotting Club in Sound Position. After setting aside a taxation reserve of £10.360, a profit of £9.099 is shown for the year by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. The record amount of £98,900 was distributed in stakes, while £85,742 was paid in taxes. The annual report states that the club is in a very sound position, and possesses assets, exclusive of buildings and property, to the value of £85,319. The reserve fund for stand buildings has reached £41:833. Engaged at Manawatu Meeting. Tenor Royal is down to make his first appearance, since . joining W. J. YxcDowell’s stable, at the Manawatu Hunt meeting on Saturday in the Hautere Handicap. While trained at Wingatui by A. E. Didham, the Royal Chief gelding showed promise by beating Salmon Spear in a hack race at the Dunedin Christmas meeting. He later suffered from internal trouble, and had to be eased up before being sent north. Tenor Royal is a good galloper, and he should not be hard to place in the North Island once he regains form. Returning to Trentham. Miss (Rita Jackson returned to Wanganui with her horses after the first day of the Wanganui meeting, but she will have Ella Shields and Sari on hand again on Saturday to contest the two hack races on the third day of the Wellington riieeting. Whereas Ella Shields lightened up a bit after her hard race on the first day ;■ Sari is reported to be looking well, and both liorses are expected to bo at their best again this week. These two horses will be accompanied to the Grand National meeting by Lambro, who has not started sipce the Hawke’s Bay meeting. A Progressive Club. Final arrangements for the installation of photo-finish equipment were made at a meeting of the committee of tho Gore (Racing Club last week. The committee has also decided to go on with the purchase and erection of the Grey starting barrier. A fiv«v strand barrier, it has been used extensively in Australia and other countries, and has proved 1 most satisfactory. The Gore club is one of the most progressive in the Dominion, and is deserving of strong support from owners and trainers. A large sum of money is being spent on the track itself, and improved facilities for the public are also receiving attention. Tne cluh ir one of the few m New Zealand with n levy of only £1 for acceptances in all races, which is greatly appreciated by owners at a time, when other expenses are exceedingly high. . '