SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1929, Page 5

SPORTING

FEILDING J.C.

CONCLUDING EVENTS. (Pei: Press Association.) FEILDING, December 2. Large fields lent interest to the second, day’s racing at the Feilding J.C. meeting. .The totalisator, handled £25,754, and for the meeting £53,012, as compared, with £ 41,391 last year. Concluding results were: — Rongotea Hack Handicap, one mile and a distance: —3 W. J. Woods Chopin 7.13 (H. Wiggins) 1; 12 Skyrider 7.3 car 7.12, 2; 1 My Own 8.0, car. 8.1, 3. Also started: 2 Masher 8.6, 6 Limosa 8.6, 7 Llyn Dhu 8.2, 5 Disrank 7.1, car. 7.11, 9 Singer 7.12, 11 Metellus 7.8, 8 The Mug 7.4, 10 Balloon 7.4, 4 Latakia 7.3, car. 7.3 i, 13 Kilorpll 7.0. Won by half a length; a clear length. Time 1.57 3-5. Colyton Handicap, six furlongs:—l J. M. Durie’s Raider 9.0 (J. Barry) 1; 4 Kaihoro 8.9 (L. J. Ellis) 2; 7 Gold Dawn 7.0, 3. ' Also started: 2 Havering 8.10, 3 Gold Cure 7.11, 8 Dobbin 7.7, 5 Llanore 7.2, 6 Hunting Boy 7.0, 9 'Callanmore 7.0 car. 7.3, 10 Second Thought 7.0. Won by a short head; one and a-quarter lengths. Time 1,15.

Nikau Hack Handicap, six furlongs: —5 A. T. Gatrell’s Accra 7.4 (R. Coveny) 1; 2 Knightlike 8.13, 2; 1 Limosa 7/8, 3. Also started: 3 Clarendon Bill, 6 Cuticle 7.10, 10 Green Acre 7.2, 4: Marica 7.7, 13 Some Acre 7.1, 12 potency 7.5, 14 Tapestry 7.0, 7 Rule Britannia 7.0 J, 11 Werata 7.0, 9 Pari 7.0, 8 Patearoa 7.0. Won by two lengths; half a length. Time 1.15 1-5. Empire Handicap, seven furlongs:— 5 A. Barlow’s Melissa 7.13 (C. Eastwood) 1; 2 Miss Ransom 7.8, 2; 8 Manly car. 8.4, 3. Won by half a length; a length. Time 1.29. TAKAPUNA MEETING. OUTSIDER’S WIN. AUCKLAND, December 2, The Takapuna Jockey Club’s Spring meeting concluded in fine weather. The totalisator took £33,022 10s, compared with £40,898 last year, the total for the two days being £75,522 10s compared with £68,841 10s last year. Concluding results: — St. Andrew’s Handicap, one mile

and one furlong:—l3 J. Williamson’s /Corinax 8.4, (R. W. McTavish) 1; 12 Hipo 7.2, 2; 8 The Lover 7.6, 3. Also ran: 6 True Blood 8.0, 1 Prince Vai 8.3, 2 Lady’s Boy 8.2, 4 Royal Doulton 5 Hyde Park 7.11, 3 Le Choucas, 7.5, 11 Flying Prince 7.3, 15 Transformer 7.2 J, 7 Eager Rose, 10 Flying Juliet, 14 Thursby 7.2, 9 Briar Root '7.1, 16 Tanagra 7.0. Corinax was hustled into the lead from the. start, and with McTavish, kebping him hard at it all the way, nothing else had a chance. He won by two lengths from another outsider in Hipo, which beat The Lover by three-quarters of a length. Lady’s Boy was fourth. Time 1.57 2-5. Rakino Handicap, five furlongs:—6 A. E. Watkins’ Hampton Park 7.10 (L. Manson) 1; 2 Sight Draft 7.12 2; 5 Biddy’s Boy 7.13, 3. Also started: 1 Orapai 8.9, 4 r i;remetus 8.8, and Thespis 7.4 (bracketed), 7 Oil King 8.2, 8 Full Measure 7.8, 10 Caviare, 3 Wild Time 7.2, 9 Bells of Shandon 7.0. Won by a heck; third. 11 lengths away. Wild Time was fourth. Time 1.4 4-5.. Pupuke Hack Handicap, one mile and a furlong:—3 J. H. T. and T. George’s Good Boy 9.1 (A. E. Ellis) 1; 1 Vali 9.5, 2; 5 Micrometer 8.10, 3. Also ran: 4. Alloy, 7 Dark Prince 7.7, 6 Brampton, 8 Tarrapeen 7.4, 2 Cybele 7.31. Won by three-quarters of a

length'; third 11 lengths away; Brampton was fourth. Time 1.58.

Ngatapinga Handicap, seven furlongs.—l G. Glenn’s Refresher 7.101 (H. Goldfinch) 1; 3 Mithra 8.2, 2; 7 Gemlight 7.7, 3. Also ran: 2 Lucky Rose .'8.9, 6 Town Bird 7.8, 8 Master Doon, 5 Respirator, 4 Storm Fiend 7.7. Won by two lengths; a neck. Respirator was fourth. Time 1.29 3-5.

NOTES ON THE RACING.

(Special to “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 2. Vallar and Refresher were the defections from the Cautley Handicap, for which Leitrim was installed a good favourite, the next best supported being Polyxena and Macroom. Leitrim W as first out from the barrier from Macroom, Polyxena and Takutama. Leitrim still had charge as they raced along the pack, his nearest attendant being Takutama, with Polyxena, Volimond, Macroom and Crimestor following. Across the top Leitrim, Takutama and Volimond were together in front, with Polyxena next to this bunch and then Macroom and Crimestor. Leitrim led into the straight from Takuiama, Polyxena, Macroom, Volimond and Crimestor, while Leitrim went on to win comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Polyxena, who beat Macroom by a length. Takutama was fourth, then came Volimond and Crimestor. With Mithra and Respirator out, there were sixteen starters in the big race of the day, the St. Andrew’s Handicap. Prince Vai carried the most money (£1393), while Lady’s Boy was second favourite with £728, and. Le Choucas (£522) third choice. Corinax went out 13th favourite, and paid a handsome double figure dividend. When the field passed the stands for the first time The Lover was in front, just clear of Corinax, with Flying Prince, Lady’s Boy, Hipo, Thursby, Briar Root, Flying Juliet, True Blood and Le Choucas following. Along the back Corinax and The Lover were together a length in front of Flying Prince and Lady’s Boy also together, with Briar Root just in behind them, and then came Hipo, Thursby, Le Choucas, Flying Juliet, Eager Rose, Prince Vai and Transformer. Crossing the top Corinax had charge, with The Lover close up, while behind The Loyer raced Flying Prince, Briar Root, Thursby, . Lady’s Boy, Eager Rose, Hipo, Le Choucas and Prince Vai Corinax was first to turn for home froni Prince Vai, who had come through fast, followed by The Lover, Royal Doulton, Lady’s Boy, Flying Prince, Le Choucas and Hipo. The last-named made a great effort but failed to catch Corinax, who won by two lengths. Hipo was three-quarters of a length iii front of the The Lover, who was followed by Lady’s Boy, Royal Doulton, True Blood, Eager Rose, Le Choucas Prince Vai and Flying Prince. TAUMARUNUI RE-HANDICAP. AUCKLAND, December 3. For his win at Takapuna yesterday Glena Bay has been re-handicapped from 7;0 to 7.10 in - the Taumarunui

Cup, and from 8.11 to 9.4 in the Owhango Jlandicap at the same meeting. i. , CANTERBURY NOTES. (Special to ‘‘Star.’’) CHRISTCHURCH, December 2. Greatly needed rain has left, the Riccar'toh tracks in nice order again, enabling trainers to put work into their charges that will be racing during the holiday season. After a lengthy retirement Gold Mint has been taken in hand by H. Nurse. Though as yet he is decidedly backward, Gold Mint may be given an outing at Ashburton next Saturday, which should help, him for his holiday engagements, which may be made on the West Coast.

Rapier is amongst the regular workers at Riccarton, hut so far has not been asked to do more than sprinting tasks. Though looking in robust health, it is doubtful if Greyspear’s son will stand up to another solid preparation.

Meprisant will not be included in Murray Aynsley’s team for Ellerslie, as he has been slightly amiss since the’ Cup meeting. There is nothing seriously wrong with the three-year-old, and he may be seen out at Wingatui.

Another two of Aynsley’s charges in The Geisha and Spoon are also on the easy list. Pink Coat has been turned out till the autumn to give him a chance of throwing off the lameness that has been troubling him of late. He was withdrawn from all Auckland engagements on Saturday. A recent recruit to the hurdling brigade at Riccarton is Danthonia, who has been shaping well in his early schooling tasks.

F. Christmas has Discordia, Garvary and Zeuxis in nice trim for their trip to the West Coast at the end of this month. The last named has been jumping particularly well in his schooling tasks, and should make good amongst the poor lot of hurdlers that usually attend the Coast meetings. Though Yoma’s name figures amongst the entrants for the chief event at Ashburton, there is little chance of his being on hand, as he has returned to the North Island. Dutch Money is being kept up to the collar, and may be seen out in the Moreton Handicap at Ashburton. Even with 9.1 against her name she will have to be reckoned with. “SUNNY JlM’’ COFFROTH. SPORTSMAN, INTERVIEWED. (Special to “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 2. One of the best known sportsmen of the United States is aboard the Malolo in the cheery person of Mr J. W. Coffroth, President and General Manager of the Tijuana Jockey Club, and now heavily interested in a new racing track across the Mexican bord-

“Sunny Jim” Coffroth he is called by his friends and the reason is not far to seek, for he is of the type that makes friends quicjcly and wears a perrennial smile. Starting life as a reporter on a Sporting newspaper, Mr Coffroth climbed to a position of eminence second to none in the boxing world. Indeed, the late Mr Tex Rickard was his successor. As a journalist Mr Coffroth was associated in his “cub” days with the late Mi- W. W. Naughton, said to be remembered in San Francisco to-day as the greatest sporting writer of his time. Mr Naughton was born in Auckland in a little house overlooking the sawmill near the Freeman’s Bay waterfront. Naughton’s father was at one time Commissioner of Police in New Zealand.

Mr Coffroth sat alongside Naughton at the Press bench on St. ‘Patrick’s Day, 1897, when “Bob” Fitzsimmons, who grew up at Timaru, beat Corbett in a great battle for the world championship. In later yeans Fitzsimmons was to fight three bouts for Mr Cofroth, his affair with Jim Jeffries in 1902, when he lost in seven rounds, his defeat of George Gardner for the light-heavyweight championship a year later, and his fight with Philadelphia Jack, when he lost the title. “Our laws are so peculiar and liable to such rapid and revolutionary changes that I gave up the boxing game in California when the legislature passed' enactments forbidding the 20 round bout,” said Mi’ Coffroth, who confessed that “the game was hard” and he had no intention of returning to the promotion of fights. To-day his chief interest is centred in horse racing. The most richly endowed race in the world bears his name, the classic Coffroth race, which is run on St. Patrick’s Day, was inaugurated with a stake of 4,000 dollars (£800) in 1917 when it was won by Sasin. This year’s winner, Golden Quince, earned for his owner the princely stake of 97,700 dollars while the trainer received 5000 dollars and the jockey another 5000 dollars, the total stake being 107,700 dollars. The next richest race in the United States is the Futurity, run annually at Belmont Park, but the stake is below the 100,000 dollar mark.. The Kentucky Derby, at one time the most generously endowed race, is now away down the list with only 52,000 dollars waiting for the .winner. The Coffroth classic is run at Tijuana, but as Mr Coffroth has created a great new course at Agua Caliente, in Mexico just across the border, south of Los Angeles, it will be transferred to the new track. The Tijuana track is one of the most famous racecourses’ in the world, but since the State of California has banned horse-racing it has been necessary to replace it on the more liberal minded side of the border. It would not be long before the total!sator was adopted in .Mexico and the United States, said Mr Coffroth, who praised the efficiency of the ma.chine which he had seen in operation at Flemington and Caulfield in Melbourne and at Randwick in Sydney. The machine at Rand wick was one of the most wonderful things he had seen.

“We conduct horse-racing on a commercial basis rather than for sport,” confessed Mi' Coffroth, who said that in his own country the promoters of races were frankly out. for profits. At the same time they provided every facility for their patrons, although the courses were not as beautiful as those he had seen in this part of the world. There was only one racecourse in the United States to compare with Caulfield and Randwick. It was at Saratoga, New York, where the Hopeful, a race with a stake of 65,000 odd dollars, attracted annually a huge gathering. Mr Coffroth does not deal in horses by reason of his large interest in the promotion of races.

TRACK AND STABLE NOTES ’ Nominations fop the Westport Trotting Club’s meeting on December 26 and 27 close to-morrow evening. When Duellona was unplaced in the Takapuna Plate bn Saturday, A. Tinker was in the saddle, but Hector Gray rode her yesterday when she won the Stanley Handicap. Danthonia, formerly trained by the North Canterbury mentor E. Redmond, is being schooled over hurdles at Riccarton and is reported to be giving promise of developing into a hurdler. ] Kate Logan has raced into second place on three occasions this season! and was third once. She is meeting a number of young and improving pacers and through her placed performances she is working herself on to a tighter mark. i The Raider was the only horse to win a double at the Feilding meeting, while Chopin after being second to Make Up in the mile and a distance event on Saturday won over the same journey yesterday. Solgele has two wins to his credit this season and will be a competitor in the sprint event at Ashburton on Saturday. So far, W. McDonald is undecided whether to take Solgele to the south or to the Coast for holiday raCin &'- . 1. * Another who is uncertain about nis movements during the holidays is R. Longley, who recently purchased the hurdler Heisler. Danny Boy, winner of the saddle events at the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meeting in October, is reported to have improved a good deal during the last few months. He scored a narrow victory in the Brighton Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday and showed that he is useful up to a mile and a-half. Hector Gray rode three winners at the Takapuna meeting in Leitrim, Lady Quex and Duellona, and Orapai and Mithra into second places. Gay Arrow, Red Heckle, Grand Song and Aladdin, members of F. Christinas’ string are being spelled and it is reported that they will not be taken in hand again for some time. It has also been announced that Christmas contemplates doing his holiday racing on the Coast. Gold Mint, engaged to race at Ashburton on Saturday, has not carried silk since last New Year’s Day when he ran third in the Second Highweight Handicap at Omoto. Some time ago he rejoined H. Nurse’s team and was given useful work without being asked to do any fast gallops. As a result he is big and well and may be one to come over to the Coast during the holiday carnival. Nelson’s Prince, 'winner of the Suburban Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday, has failed to improve as much as was expected. A powerful trotter, he showed a. great deal of speed at Greymouth but stopped badly at the end of the races. Now that he has earned, a stake for Mr. J. Deyell he may show that his stamina has improved and that he is capable of winning more races. Merry Cry is the name bestowed upon a two-year-old brother to Hunting Cry. The youngster is one of the team of W. Griffith at Hastings. The South Canterbury trainer E. J. Ellis has purchased a useful sort in Last Mark, a four-year-old brother to Anomaly by King Mark from Hoy. The St. Andrews’ Handicap at Takapuna yesterday was one in which punters were very much at sea. Qorinax romped home as thirteenth favourite in a field of 17 and was followed by the twelfth favourite Hipo. The winner won the Auckland Cup a year ago but since that success had started on 11 occasions for seconds in the Foley at’Avondale and at Te Rapa in the Autumn, where he also ran third in the Storey Memorial Cup. Hipo has an even less attractive record as despite efforts in the Waikato aiid at WhangarSl, he had not been in the money since winning the Mcßae Handicap at the Egmont R.C. meeting in May. The news that Peter Bingen will go to Perth in March to contest the Western Australian championship contests known as the Australasian championships, will be well received by trotting enthusiasts throughout New Zealand. Two of these campaigns have been held before and both were won by New Zealand-bred horses, Great Hope and Taraire. Reasonable, a stable mate to the dual Derby winner, Phar Lap, who was bought cheaply as a yearling last autumn, for 105 guineas, scored a victory in the Stansmore Two-year-old Stakes, run at Caulfield on November 16. Reasonable is a chestnut gelding by Treclare out of the New Zealandbred mare Reason, who is by Absiird.

Prior to mounting Karapoti in the Ruakura Stake's at Te Rapa, H. Gray was warned to be on his guard, as the two-year-old was considered to. be rathei' flighty. Karapoti was very docile in the preliminary, and Gray looked on the warning as a joke, but when about to line up at the tapes, Karapoti whipped round so fast that he caught Gray unawares, and he was unseated. The King’s Cup, now one of the important events of the Australian turf, will be decided next yeai’ in Adelaide — it was run in Brisbane this year—and the Committee of the South Australian Jockey Club has fixed the day ,as May 17—the last day of the Adelaide Cup meeting.