TO-DAY'S RACING NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 July 1937, Page 13

TO-DAY'S RACING NEWS

Galloping MEETINGS TO COME

July 17—Hawke’s Bay Hunt. July 17 —Waimate Hunt. July 24 —Rangitikei Hunt. July 24 —South Canterbury Hunt. July 29, 31—Poverty Bay. July 31—Christchurch Hunt. August 10, 12, 14—Canterbury. October 30 —Wellington. October 30—Invercargill. October 30—Thames.

Plans Changed: Arrangements made, io return t Riccarton last night with Wino and Ponty were cancelled when t-ie former failed to get a run on Thursday Wino had a. sound gallop behind the field on Thursday, and is to start to-day.

No Risks: T Miracle and his brother Lockit leturned Io Riccarton on Thursday. The former failed badly in the heavy going on Tuesday, and as it was not considered advisable to take a risk of racing Lockit, it was , decided to cancel all remaining engagements.

Will he Considered: ; Concertpitch will be one of the elect 'for the Winter Cup if started. He won ' the Great Easter Handicap, seven furlongs, at Riccarton last Easter, and subsequently won the Coronation Cup, one mile and a-quarter, at Ashburton, beating Queen of Song and Ponty.

Record-priced Yearling: Miss Dorothy Paget’s 15.000-gtunea Golden Hair colt was to have made his debut in the Somerville Stakes at Newmarket recently, but. although withdrawn, he was paraded in Hie paddock before the race. Meyrick Good wrote of him in Sporting Life: “Although not a big ’tin, he is an attractive racy-looking youngster, and Frank Butters had him looking well.”

Dominion’s Oldest Jockey: Mr G. Fraser, who celebrated his ninety-sixth birthday at Palmerston North on Monday, claims to be New Zealand’s oldest ex-jockey. He won his first race at Nelson in ISGO on Opera, owned by Mr Edward Stafford, who for a time represented Timaru in Parliament. Air Fraser states that on one occasion he rode against the late Archbishop Redwood, whose father (Mr Henry Redwood) was at one time New Zealandjjfw leading owner. T ■ A Satisfied Owner: Santoft was . the July Steeplechase before the weights appeared, and his next appearance will bo in the Grand National Steeplechase. His trainer, F. Trilford, had a successful meeting, as Rebel Alate won a race and ran second in another, while the stable horseman, R. Register, in addition to riding Santoft, secured a last minute ride on Chang on Thursday, and rode another excellent race. Coast Protest: The Oamaru Jockey Club applied to yesterday’s conference for a change of its winter meeting date from July 2 to April 30. This date was originally applied for by the South Canterbury Jockey Club, but in the face of a. protest by the Reefton Jockey Club, which races on April 30. the application was refused. This protest was ■ again made yesterday by the West / Coast delegate, Mr T. E. Coates, ana without further discussion the Oamaru application was thrown out.

Stud Chances Limited: Balboa was sold as a. yearling to Mr T. H. Lowry for 30 guineas. He ran fairly well as a two-year-old, but first came into prominence when he unexpectedly beat Reputation in the New Zealand Derby. Reputation beat him in. the Great Northern. Derby, while he was beaten by Merry Roe and Warstep in the Islington Plato. Next year he won the Auckland Cup. Balboa did not have many chances at the stud, hut he sired many hardy horses, a number ol them from halfbred mares. In the Winter Cup:

Royal Gallant, a southern representative in the Winter Cup. has been racing consistently this Winter, and though he does not appeal greatly in the big mile event, his prospects of winning some of the money at Riccarton look good. An eight-year-old gelding, bred in Australia,, Royal Gallant is by Top Gallant from Princess Mary, by Bend Or from Saint Mary, by Hermit from Adelaide, by Young Melbourne. Princess Mary was a half-sister to the Oaks winner La Sagesse, and' the family has a good record in classic races.

Bred Right Way: Rainier, who opened his winning account at the Whangarei meeting last April, has been in regular work since then, though he has not appeared in public. He is wintering well and is more solid-looking than formerly, despite the fact that he is still growing. By Vaals from Ti Tree, a daughter' of Tea. Tray and Taiamai, there is every prospect that Rainier will eventually develop into a smart performer.

Poing Satisfactorily: Since racing at the Great Northern meeting nothing of a strenuous nature has been required of Kiltowyn. However, he is doing the work allotted him in a satisfactory manner and looks an improved horse in every respect. Judged by his condition and the way in which he is thriving on his preparation, Kiltowyn will be quite capable of holding his own against the pick of the handicap horses next season.

Trentham Trip Abandoned: It was intended to take Armacourt to Trentham for the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter but the trip was abandoned owing to the illhealth of her owner, Mr C. Bishop. The daughter of Grandcourt is being kept going v at Ellerslie by H. Nesbit, but is unlikely to race again until the Spring. During the present season Armacourt earned stake money exceeding £750, and has therefore paid her way handsomely. RACING CONFERENCE PRESIDENT RE-ELECTED WELLINGTON, July 9. The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand metropolitan and district racing clubs was held today. Mr. J. S. McLeod (president) was in the chair. All officers of the conference were re-elected as' follow- — President: Mr. J. S. McLeod. Vice-president: Mr. T. H. Lowry. Executive Committee: Mr. L. W. JNelson (Auckland), Mr. D. E. Wank-

Ivn (Canterbury), Air. A. C. Hanlon (Dunedin), Mr. T. E. Coates (Greymouth), Air. G. D. Beatson (Hawke’s Bay), Mr. W. T. Hazlett (Southland), the Hon. J. AlcLeod (Taranaki). Mr. J. H. Perrett (Wanganui), and Mr. C. W. Tringham (Wellington). DATES OF RACE MEETINGS The following recommendations of dates of South Island meetings were approved: — Otago Hunt Club: August 28 in lieu of September 4. Ashburton County Racing Club: November 27 in lieu of December 4. Oamaru Jockey Club: January 3. Marlborough Racing Club: .May 14 and 16 in lieu of March 17 and 19 or March 10 and 12. South Canterbury Jockey Club: October 14 and 1G in lieu of April 30 and October IG.

Amberley Racing Club: May 7 in lieu of April 30. Waimate Hunt Club: July 1G in lieu of July 23.

South Canterbury Hunt Club: July 23 in lieu of July 30. It was decided that the Auckland Racing Club and Dunedin Jockey Club be granted June 4 for a one-day meeting and June 9 and 11 for a two-days meeting, and that both these clubs be granted permission to hold five race meetings during the year. Applications by the Geraldine Racing Club, Marlborough Racing Chib. Riverton Racing Club, Banks Peninsula, and Waikouaiti Racing Clubs for extra days of racing were not granted, as no spare permits were available.

A recommendation by the executive committee that the limits of stake earnings defining hacks be raised to £250 for one race or a total of £5OO was carried. The present figures, £2OO and £4OO respectively, have been in force since racing clubs found it necessary to reduce the stakes. A remit by the Canterbury Jockey Club that no hurdle race shall be run over a distance of less than a mile and three-quarters, instead of a mile and a-half was rejected on the voices. Under the present Rules of Racing an apprentice rider is not allowed to use whip or spur in a race, but. this rule was deleted by a motion which was passed. A remit by the Canterbury Jockey Club that whip only but not spur be allowed was first carried, but a motion from Hawke’s Bay that both be allowed was adopted. SEVEN STONE MINIMUM Twelve months ago, on the suggestion of the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Racing Conference recommended to all District Committees and clubs that in approving or framing the conditions of all handicap flat races, a minimum weight of not less than 7.7 be prescribed. By a motion passed at the conference to-day, this recommendation was rescinded, which means that the seven stone minimum is automatically reinstated. A motion moved by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club that it shall be the .duty of every starter to adopt standing" starts was carried on the voices. The opinion was expressed that most of the delays in getting fields away were caused by unruly and uneducated horses, and it was considered that the universal adoption of standing starts would minimise this trouble. For many years, stake money offered for races has been described as sovs.. but as sovereigns are now out of use it was decided that in future the pound sign be substituted. A proposal by the Oamaru Jockey Club and Waimate District Hunt Club that the Conference be recommended to employ only qualified starters to act at all race meetings, such officials to be permanently employed by /the Conference and clubs to be charg'ed a fee for such services, met with no support, and it was ruled out on the voices.

The Wellington Racing Club’s remit that nominations for all clubs and. where possible. acceptances shall close at 5 p.m. was lost on the voices. It was held that such a general rule would not be favourable to country clubs.

Trotting MEETINGS TO COME

August 7, 11, 13—Metropolitan. August 28 —Auckland. September 4—New Brighton. September 11—Wellington. October 2—Methven. October 9—New Brighton. October IG—Waikato. October IG, 18—Westport. October 23, 25—Auckland. October 23, 25—Greymouth. October 25—Oamaru.

Franz Derby:

Few trotters in the Dominion have made such rapid strides as Franz Derby, which won her first race as a novice at Hamilton 13 months ago. A series of successes, mainly at Hutt Park, has earned her a 3.32 line, making rare her opportunities in the North Island. She will probably do her next racing at. Addington, where she registered 3.21 1-5 for second at the Easter meeting.

King’s Play: One of the finest prospects over two miles next season may prove to be King’s Play, who this season has won four races. His form has been of the highest class, and it does not trouble him what the distance is. as he can both sprint and stay. A tendency to break has ruined his chances on several occasions, but even so. he has been one of the outstanding performers. He has covered two miles in 4.25 2-5, and this is one of the best times registered over the distance, apart from the Auckland summer meeting, when the going was very fast. Now that the opportunities for King’s Play are fewer in Auckland he will probably be sent south to compete against the better class horses, and he will disappoint if he fails to hold his own.

Auckland Trainer’s Success: The Takanini trainer F. J. Smith has concluded another successful season with 40 firsts, 32 seconds and 19 thirds, the horses’ earnings being £6320 exclusive of trophies. With the exception of Musketeer, who won one race for S. Matthews, and Levity, who was ridden by R. Coleman, Smith drove the stable winners. Nervie’s Last, with five firsts, four seconds and two thirds, headed the list with £lO9O, closely followed by King’s Warrior, whose two wins, three seconds and two thirds netted £1045. Seventeen different horses from the stable won races during the season.