TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1940, Page 9

TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Galloping MEETINGS TO COME. December 7, 9 —Woodville District. December 14—Otaki-Maori. December 14—Waipa. December 14—Hororata. December 21— Manawatu. December 26—-Waipukurau. December 26, 28 —Manawatu. December 26, 28 —Dunedin. December 26, 28—Taranaki. December 26, 30, January 1, 2— Auckland. December 28—Westland. Reminder: ' Nominations for all events at the Hokitika races, in. Christmas week, close with the-secretary at 8.30 p.m. on Monday. Improved: Gold Money Song is a greatly improved gelding whose promotion to open company should not prove a bar to further success. Beau Vite: The connections of Beau Vite are satisfied with his Auckland Cup weight, and the chances are he may race there during the holidays. Dual Engagements: This year it is possible to race both in the Manawatu and the Auckland Cup, and Old Bill and The Buzzer are two prominent candidates in both races. A Prospect: On the way Siglow ran on the second day at Feilding, there are good prospects of his winning a worth-while stake during the holiday meetings. Doubtful Starter:

It is reported from the north that Amigo, who has been allotted 9.2 in the Railway Handicap, to be run at Ellerslie, is a doubtful starter. The present intentions are to race this brilliant Beau Pere gelding at the Awapuni and Marton meetings during the holidays. Good Juvenile:

Premature was the outstanding two-year-old at Feilding, where many of the Koatanui youngsters have started on successful careers. Premature was expected to show this form earlier in the season, but it has taken a little time for her to settle down to the business. On her form last week-end she must be rated among the leading juveniles of the season to date.

Champion Dies: Godiva, the outstanding three-year-old filly in England this year, died about the middle of August. She won the New One Thousand Guineas and the New Oaks, and had been sent to Ireland. ' Shortly after arrival she met with an accident, which required an operation, but blood poisoning set in and it was impossible to save her. Godiva was by Hyperion from Carpet Slipper. She won five races worth £7,387.

A Problem: The behaviour of the two-year-old Route March in refusing to go straight and boring very badly at the finish of his races has his trainer, F. Smith, mystified, as in training on his home track he is most sedate and has never shown such tendency. Route March has won two of his last three starts, but, after outpacing his opponents early, he has nearly lost the two events owing to failure to keep a straight course and thus losing much ground. It is safe to say that only for boring he would have won the two races very easily.

RICCARTON NOTES. PLANS FOR HOLIDAY RACING. [special to “star.”] CHRISTCHURCH, December 7. The Riccarton tracks have once more become very hard, and many trainers are beginning to worry about getting their horses ready for holiday racing if the present dry weather should continue through this month. Several horses are showing the effects of racing and working on hard ground, and a fall of rain would be generally appreciated. The bulk of the work is now confined to the plough, which is kept in good order by artificial watering every night. Tentative arrangements have been made by most trainers for holiday travelling, and as has always been the case, the Riccarton tracks will be practically deserted during the festive period. A fairly strong team is booked to go to Ellerslie, and a few are booked for the Manawatu meeting, but the representation for both places, nevertheless, will not be as solid as in recent years. Although no decision has yet been announced regarding his engagement in the Auckland Cup, it can be taken for granted that Royal Chief will make the trip. He has a big weight in the Cup, but in his present order, it would be difficult to go past him. Beau Vite certainly seems to be well treated as compared with the Riccarton horse, but with reasonable luck during the running, Royal Chief will master the long journey better than his rival under their solid imposts. L. J. Ellis is to again ride Royal Chief, and A. E. Ellis has been engaged for Beau Vite in whatever races ne contests at the meeting. Both riders are to be at Awapuni on the first day, and L. J. will ride J. Tomkinson’s horses, Lockit, Synthetic and the two-year-old, Monetary. The only other horse from the south nominated for the Manawatu meeting is Settlement, who is now being trained by A. S. Ellis. The West Coast circuit will attract a large contingent of horses from Riccarton this year, as there are more horses in training at present qualified only as West Coast propositions than for many years past. The former Greymouth trainer, M. Conza, will have his usual big team, and this may include Roy Bun, who, although nominated for southern meetings, will no doubt tackle the Coast programmes. Other horses from this centre may include Aggravate, Night Shift, Rebel Chief, Miss Tasta, Muriet, Entail, Sham Raid, Raceaway, Radio Call, Monopoly, Papernilla, Jolly Time and Epic. The Dunedin, Oamaru, and Waikouaiti circuit will once more draw a big team from Riccarton. Some horses will probably race at Dunedin, and go south for the Wyndham and Southland meetings, but the majority will work northwards. Som

' booked for the trip include Lord Midas, Master Flash, Lockheed, Force, Gay Parade, St. Cloud, Recollection,, Night Dress, Sham Boy, Doric Mist, Raeburn, Not Out, Calypso, Mungatoon, Sovereign Lady, Rue anji Muffler. Doria was nominated for the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie, and also for the Dunedin meeting, and it was thought likely that the latter trip would be decided on, as the filly is not a good traveller, and the journey to Auckland would be too severe for ■'her. The publication of the weights for the Railway Handicap may, however, cause a change in the plans, as the filly has been weighted at 7.2 against 7.7 allotted Don’t Forget, whom she beat a Wingatui over six furlongs, after giving him 141bs and a big start. Don’t Forget is to go north, and even if he does not start in the Railway Handicap, he is definitely booked to contest the Great Northern Derby, in which he will have the services of L. J. Ellis.

WHANGAREI R.C. . CUP TO THE DOZER. WHANGAREI, December 6. The Whangarei Racing Club’s Spring meeting opened in glorious, though hot, weather, and there was a large attendance. The totalisator handled £14,953, against £16,097 10/- last year, a decrease of £1144 10/-. Concluding results:— . Huanui Hack Hurdles, one mile and a half and 232 yards: 6/8 Master Appellant 9.0 (Maria) 1; 8/5 General Riske 2; 5/8 Fleur d’Or 3. Also started: 1/1 High Star, 3/4 Silver Eagle, 4/3 Chief Lap, 7/6 Pertinax, 9/9 Worthy King. Won by two lengths. Time 3.5. Whangarei Cup, one mile and a quarter: 1/2 The Dozer 8.1 (Cameron) 1; 3/3 Clipper 2; 5/4 Maioro 3. Also started: 4/5 Silver Quex, 2/1 Raratonga, 6/6 Saccone, 8/8 High Sea, 7/7 Hunting Bee. Won by three lengths. Time 2.5. Spring Plate, six furlongs: 1/1 Night Pilot 8.0 (Cameron) 1; 3/3 Softly 2; 2/2 Kaalooa 3. Also started: 5/5 King’s Flight, 10/9 Orient Dawn, 8/8 Bournemouth, 4/6 Hineiti, 9/9 Justina, 7/7 Acquest, 6/4 Tea Lass. Won by a neck. Time 1.14 3-5. Hikurangi Hack Handicap, seven furlongs and a half: 3/3 Corot 7.7 (Markwick) 1; 4/4 Venture 2; 6/6 Rey Lu. Also started: 2/2 Valdene, 1/1 Surpai, 7/7 Muscatine, 5/5 March By. Won by half a length. Time 1.34 4-5.

Manaia Handicap, six furlongs: 2/2 Grandora 8.4 (Mclnally) 1; 4/4 Trilliarch 2; 1/1 Noitaro 3. Also started: 5/5 Selwyn, 3/3 Happicoat, 6/5 High Delight. Won by a head. Time 1.14. Parahaki Handicap, one mile: 1/1 Tellsom 8.0 (G. C. Goulsb.ro) 1; 2/2 Namara 2; 3/3 Raratonga 3. Also started: 4/4 Glen Abb, 6/5 Poland, 5/6 LandcoUft. Won by a neck. Time 1.42 4-5.

Trotting MEETINGS TO COME. December 21—Reefton. December 26 —Ashburton. December 26—Gore. December 26, 27—Westport. December 27, 28, 31—Auckland. December 28—Winton. Below Form: Bill B. does not appear to have recovered his best form, and it may be at the holiday meetings that he will be more prominent. Speedy: Walter Moore appears to run his races in patches, but there is no doubt about his speed. Next season should see him stepping his way towards good company. Genuine Sort: Ronald Logan can be ticked off for high honours next season. He is one of the genuine sort with a smooth style of going. Overdue: Musketeer, who scored a belated success at the Waikato meeting, is a brother to Great Jewel. A few seasons ago, Musketeer won good races for F. J. Smith at two miles, but later suffered loss of form. Musketeer’s last success prior to his win on Saturday was in the President’s Handicap, at the Waikato Summer meeting in 1937.

Championship Race: According to the Trotting Calendar, Certissimus and Special Force, as well as other good three-year-olds are to meet in a special championship race at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, January 11. Both the trainer of Special Force, P. P. Gallagher, and of Certissimus, D. Teahen, are keen on the idea of a scratch race between the best three-year-olds. Other three-year-olds who may be invited to participate are Ronald Logan, Gold Chief, WalterMoore, Peter’s Find, Shadow Maid and Statuette, and the owners of other three-year-olds who may show improved form in the N.Z. Champion Stakes at Ashburton may also be considered.

TROTTING ASSOCIATION INQUIRIES CONSIDERED • CHRISTCHURCH, December 7. At the monthly meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, last evening, there was present:— Messrs H. W. Kitchingham (president), J. R. McKenzie, H. C. Harley, S. W. Kelly, and B. McCarthy. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club reported that it had disqualified G. S. Smith, driver of Captain Bolt in the Dominion Handicap on the first day of the November meeting, for three months, for interference with Millisle. After reviewing the evidence taken at the club’s inquiry, the board decided to endorse the disqualification. C. S. Donald asked that Smith be allowed to work in his stable and take horses to the races. The. board decided to grant the application so far as the stable work was concerned, but permission for Smith to go on a racecourse during the period of his disqualification was not given. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club reported that O. E. Hooper, driver of Chatmos, had been fined £5 for interference in the Victoria Handicap and this action was endorsed. An inquiry into the running of Dark Hazard in the Holmwood Handicap, held by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, resulted > in the club accepting the explanation

of the driver, and this finding was endorsed by the board. The board considered whether or not Dark Hazard’s I erratic barrier manners did not qualify him for the schooling list, but it was decided not to impose any penalty. The Forbury Park Trotting Club reported that it had held an inquiry into alleged interference by J. B. Pringle, driver of Reception, with Hatrack in the Dominion Handicap, without taking any action, the driver’s explanation being accepted. It was decided to write to the club stating that though the board endorsed the club’s action in this case, it was of the opinion that in future cases of this type the club should impose a penalty on the driver.

FORBURY JUDGING CLUB DISCUSSES POSITION DUNEDIN, December 6. After the third race on the second day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s recent meeting the attention of the judge (Mr. A. O. Wellwood, of Christchurch), who had up to then had an assistant with him in the box, was drawn to the fact that he could not have an assistant. Mr. Wellwood thereupon declined to act further, Mr. J. Stevens’taking the position. When the question of appointing a judge for the Summer meeting came up at a meeting of the Club, last evening, the chairman (Mr. B. S. Irwin) said that in connection with the necessity that had arisen to appoint a judge, he had seen quite a lot in the newspapers about what had occurred. He did not understand it. Either the people who wrote to the newspapers did not know the rules of trotting, or they did not know how to understand them. The club had never had a rule applicable to their judge. The position was governed by the Rules of Trotting. The chairman quoted the rule bearing on the point, and said that rule 391 provided that a race should be judged by a duly-appointed judge, or his dulyauthorised substitute. There was no such thing as a judge’s assistant, and there never had been in racing in New Zealand or anywhere else. The late Mr. W. Rudkin, who had at one time acted as their judge, would not allow anybody in the judge’s box with him. Their next judge had asked for permission for someone to note down the placing as given him by the judge. The judge at their recent meeting, Mr. Wellwood, had, he understood from one of their stewards, taken a pressman into the box with him, and this pressman had placed the third and fourth horses as they

passed the winning post. If this was not a breach of the rules he did not know what was. There was only one person who could judge, and no one else had a right to be in the box. Mr. A. H. Todd: It is a pity that the breach was not noticed earlier in the meeting. The chairman said that Mr. Wellwood had stated after the third race on the second day that he would not judge without an assistant, and he had declined to act further. If Christchurch did not know the rules, that was nothing to them. The chairman said he did not desire to cast any reflection on anybody. Mr. Wellwood was the soul of honour. If clubs in the north allowed judges to have assistant judges they were acting illegally: The argument really resolved itself into the point that a judge could himself appoint somebody else. “Did they ever hear such nonsense?” asked the chairman. When Mr. Wellwood had left the box Mr. J. Stevens had been appointed to the position. H. H. Halliday said that Mr. Wellwood had let the club down by leaving the box. Fortunately, a substitute had been available. He thought the matter should be reported to the Trotting Association. The secretary said that the stipendiary steward would report the case to the association. Mr. J. Richardson moved that Mr. J. Stevens be appointed judge for the remainder of the season, and the motion was carried unanimously. It was decided to pay Mr. Wellwood 11-16ths of the remuneration payable to the judge and 5-16ths to Mr. Stevens.

The chairman said that the club was not legally bound, to pay Mr. Wellwood anything, as he had contracted to act for the meeting.