SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1929, Page 6

SPORTING

FIXTURES.

Sept. 28. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. Oct. 2—Birchwood H.C. October 5. —Napier Park R.C. Oct. s—Kurow5 —Kurow R.C. Oct, s—Wellington T.C. Oct. s—Methven5 —Methven T. COct. 5-7—Auckland R. & Oct. 10-12 —Dunedin J. C. Oct. 12—Waikato T. C.

GERALDINE—FIRST DAY.

(Per Press Association.)

TIMARU, September 26

The weather was threatening for the first day’s racing of the Geraldine Racing Club’s annual meeting. but no rain fell until the lafet race and this did not affect the track. The attendance was large, and the totalisator handled £10,275, compared with £10,116 on the opening day last year. An inquiry was held into the alleged interference with Wingatuj in the Cup, but no action was taken. Concluding results were; Geraldine Trot, 1£ miles and 120 yards:—6 F. J. McCrenor’s Teremoa, .syrs, scr., (J. N. Clarke) 1; 1 Llewellyn, scr., 2; 9 Jeannette Locanda, scr, 3. Also started: 2 Headlight, 7 Du Maurier, 15 Wyuna, 4 Brook Pointer. 13 Little Victor, 14 Denver Princess, 5 Tama, 3 Lady Zephyr, all scr., 11 Golden Vale 12, 8 Locanda Lu, 12 Le Thorpe 72. Won by four lengths; fifty yards. Times 3.47 3-5, 3.48 4-5, 3.55. Squatters’ Handicap, 6 furlongs:—B G. Gerard’s Silver Coot 7.4 (R. Stratton) 1; 1 Arch Arrow 7.2, 2; 3 Bulolo 7.3, 3. Also started: 9 Rapier 9.12, 4 Money Order 8.10, 5 Aspiring 8.2, 2 Stealth 7.11, 1 Caterpillar 7.1, 2 First Raid 7.0. Won by a neck; three lengths. No time was telegraphed. Raukapuka Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs.—l W. Crossan’s Glenrowan, 8.1 (J. T. Andrews) 1; 3 Mount Boa 7.6, 2; 4 Sailing Home 7.0, 3. Also started: 2 Sea Raid 9.0, 5 Amourette 7.7,. 7 Solgele 7.11, 12 Topere 7.10, 10 Louise 7 10, 5 Revision 7.4, 8 Colonel Quex 7.1, 13 Fallow 7.1, 9 Royal Flower 7.1, 11 Quick Plunge 7.0. Won by half a length; a neck. Time 1.29 4-5. Orari Trot, 11 miles. —8 S. J. Thomas’s Royal Silk, 3yrs, scr., (Owner) 1; 4 Silver Sea 24j r ds 2; 9 Guy Denver scr., 3. Also started: 12 Du Maurier, 15 Island Lass, 2 Ulm, 1 Mac Locanda, 16 Brixton, 14 Doll Dance, 11 Alexis, 13 Happy Lass, 6 King’s Cup, 3 Grattan Queen, 7 Headlight, 5 Lady Zephyr, all scr., 6 Otaio Rose 36, 17 Golden Vale 12, 18 Great Epsom 48, 10 John Noble 72. Won by two lengths; three lengths. Times 3.1 1-5, 2.59 3-5, 3.2 1-5. Belfield Handicap, one mile. —2 J. Trengrove’s Narrative, 3yrs 7.5 (C. Eastwood) 1; 3 Membo 7.9, 2; 6 Chickwheat 7.7, 3. Also started: 1 Honeycomb 7.13, 7 Nincompoop 7.8, 5 Gold Brick 7.2, 4 Don Jose 7.2. Won by a short head; three lengths. Time 1.43.

NEW HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.

GREYMOUTH T.C. ATTITUDE.

From time to time of late paragraphs have been appeariAg in different papers commenting upon the attitude of the Greymouth Trotting Club in opposing the new system of handicapping and the conditions which have been attached to the races for the forthcoming meeting. Entertaining the view that these criticisms were probably made under a misapprehension, a “Star” reporter interviewed Mr P. C. Heaphy, secretary of the Club, and sought his views upon the position. “It is only fair to the Greymouth Trotting Club,” said Mr Heaphy, “to draw attention to the fact that, owing to the distances of the various races in its programme being different from those prescribed by the rules, the I Club was not bound by the new rules, and- could, had it so wished, have ignored them. However, instead of doing that, it has made certain limits to its various races, and a horse which by its performances is outside those limits is ineligible, but subject to those limitations, the Club intends to carry out the new rules.” With regard to the limitations, Mr Heaphy continued, they did not apply to performances of horses before August 1, 1929, the reason being that horses with performances before that date are handicapped according to those performances, as the limitation I of penalties applies only to performances subsequent to August 1, 1929. In making the limitations, the Club

was actuated by a desire to prevent one or two horses dominating a race, with the result of having very small fields. Mr Heaphy considered that an illustration would not be out of place, and he reviewed what had happened at the recent Earthquake Relief Meeting in Christchurch, at which in the Karamea Handicap, a 3.36 class event, Aleron went 3.22, Sonoma Laddie went 3.24 3-5, and El Direct 3.24. Next time these horses go out in a mile and a-half run they will be handicapped respectively at 3.31, 3.34, and 3.35. Now, assuming that the Greymouth Club had not prescribed certain limitations and these three .horses were nominated in the 3.36 class at Greymouth, would it be

reasonable to suppose that the owners of horses in the same race would go to the expense of accepting and bringing their’horses from different parts of New Zealand to compete against those horses, knowing that they would have to meet them at from 9 to 10 seconds worse than if they had been handicapped on their actual performances? No owner whose horse had gone to the limit of his speed and was asked to give these horses, with such recent performances 9 or 10 seconds, would think of accepting, and the secretary emphasised the point that it was to guard against this that the limitations were imposed. Although a horse may, by reason of a performance on the first day be prevented from starting in the same class of race on the second day, it could be re-nominated in a tighter class and still not be handicapped up to his best performance. .For instance, supposing a horse in the Introductory Handicap, which is a 3.48 class, went 3.36, he would be ineligible for the Tradesmen’s Handicap on the second day, but could be re-nominated for the Cobden Handicap, where he would be handicapped according to what is prescribed in the new system.

TRACK AND STABLE NOTES The Reefton horse, Robert Guy, a candidate for the Methven Cup to-mor-row week, raced disappointingly at the Christchurch Earthquake meeting, but as his previous work had been very satisfactory it is probable that he may soon reassure his supporters. The youngster by Guy Parrish-Mind-ful, which Mr. C. Heaphy is handling

locally is well-grown and has so impressed all by its resemblance to. its sire that it may have a very bright future.

Ramon Novarro, one of C. J. Noble’s team at Reefton, will probably be given a spell as an enlarged foreleg is not responding well to treatment. The same mentor has Flying Kate in preparation for the Greymouth meeting but she is said to be carrying too much condition to be pleasing at the present stage.

It is possible that J. Washington, who intends to bring three-year-old Reylet to Greymouth next month, will also include Daphne de Oro as a challenge to A. Hendriksen’s successes in the fast races in the past two years/ The mare who seeks N.Z. Cup honours, is able to gather speed very rapidly and the Victoria Park half-mile course should suit hei’ well. The Reefton-owned Arrowsmith gelding Smithereens, was started on 25 Occasions last season for four thirds, five seconds, four wins, and. finished up the season by dead-heating with Modern in the Farewell Handicap at the Marlborough Autumn meeting. He is in work again and is looking fit. Wreath of Myrtle is being handled by Mr. Jack Menzies at Westport, and it is reported that he has the five-year-old son of ' Leighton from Europa in good fettle. He has started in 20 races in the past two seasons for three third placings so that a win would doubtless be welcome.

The aged Solferino gelding Booster, is to race on the Coast and is now in charge of the Westport mentor E. Kingan. He is a good horse and can be reckoned on to be somewhere near the head of the cards. Others in the team are Deluge, the Absurd gelding who won the County Handicap at the Westland Racing Club’s Autumn, meeting, Fair Go, a three-year-old son of Arrowsmith, and Ardfinnan. Moorland, an aged son of Psychology from d’Oro, and his two-year-old full sister are being handled by Bill Simpson at Westport and the youngster is said to be a promising filly. Pink Coat is now registered as racing in the joint interests of the South Canterbury sportsmen Messrs Donald Grant, Tom Seaton and J. Morrison. His easy .win at Ashburton with a considerable impost will rank him amongst the leaders in public support for the Great Northern Guineas. The Valkyrian-Whin Rock four-year-old Ravine, is a small horse but built well, and the Coaster is being prepared for further racing.

H. Goldfinch with 11 wins and L. G. Morris with 10, head the winning jockeys’ list so far this season, followed by A. McDonald, 8. The Methven Trotting Club has attracted no less than 275 nominations for the eight races to be decided tomorrow week, the average being over 34 per race.

By winning with Jackie Logan at Ashburton last Saturday, R. B. Berry joined W- J- Tomkinson, F. G. Holmes and W. Hughes at the head of the winning drivers’ and trainers’ list, with four wins apiece. A horse named Ulm raced unsuccessfully in the Orari Trot at Geraldine yesterday and was backed down to a second favourite. The superstitious may have believed him to be a flier. R. B. Plaxico has not had much luck for some time, and a majority thought that it was his turn to gain a win with Llewellyn yesterday at Geraldine, but the four-year-old colt by Guy Axworthy —Milady Anne disappointed when he was pipped by Teremoa. However Plaxico has a good string in Danny Boy, and the American-bred Royal Iroquis, Addie Guy, Grattan Queen and the same Llewellyn, and he is due to land something at Methven to-morrow week.

Kick Off created a good impression at Wanganui and although carrying more weight in the Spring Handicap at Hastings to-morrow that should not worry him a great deal. Queen’s Choice has a handy weight in the same event and, although reported to be improving, the mile and a quarter may prove too far for him. Recent racing by Simba, a good winner at Wanganui, should give him a good backing in the Nursery Handicap at Hastings to-morrow, in spite of giving away 111 b to those next to him. Wedded and Ruby’s Step both had fairly good records last season to entitle them to consideration.

Delude who raced second to Peshwa at the Hawkes Bay Hunt Club meeting and followed it by winning the Glengarry Handicap at Dannevirke should have a big following in the Tomoana Hurdles to-morrow with Alaric and Hard Gold also in demand. A promising-looking two-year-old by Matchglow to Matchlight, was registered locally yesterday, by Mr T. L. Bennett.