TURF

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6142, 28 July 1921, Page 5

TURF

GISBORNE RACING CLUB TO-DAY’ RACES..

PROSPECTS OF GOOD DAY’S SPORT.

The Gisborne Racing Club’s steeplechase meeting, to be opened on the Park racecourse to-day, promises to be one of the most, successful in the history of the club. The weather gives every promise of being fine, and on account of the mild winter; the course has never been in better order and will fully maintain its reputation of being the best winter course in New Zealand.

Good fields are a feature of the meeting, the acceptors in the various events being as follow:—Park Hurdles, 7 : Maiden Hack, 18; Flying Handicap--1 1; Gisborne Steeplechase, 7; Hack Flat, 15; Tramway Hack, 12; Winter Oats, 5. Included in the acceptors are a large number of Hawke’s Bay ,horses and several from Auckland, and interesting and close finishes are anticipated. There is a fairly large number of visitors in ~the town, including arrivals by the Tangaroa and the Arahura yesterday. The first race will commence at 11.30 a.m. Special trains will leave Gisborne at 11.5 and at noon, and a taxi service will be run from the' town.

Yesterday morning the final gallops took place, all the horses on ;he com e doing good work. To-day the racing should be interesting in all respects and the 'finishes should be exciting. In the Hurdles Crosswords, who has been doing good work ‘•atelv. should run a great race, though Dribble and Multifual are not to be despised. The Maiden Scurry must, as usual, prove a very open race, especially with a field of eighteen, in which. at present there appears likely to be few absentees. Much, of course, will depend on the draw. Amongst those who should catch the judge’s eye are two outsiders Awareka (who will be ridden by the apprentice T. Glover) and Fife mid Drum, and the two local two-year-olds Chaplin and Golden Light. Of the eleven acceptances in the Flying Handicap Esthonia, Sweet Corn, and Black Lace should run particularly well. Calculations may, however, he upset by Crowhurst. who arrived yesterday by the Arahtira. The gelding has won a lot of races in the north and northern scribes speak well of him, he may, however, be improved by a race.

The big event of the day, the Gisborne Steeplechase, should be a great race. Silent Dick, on his recent successes at Wellington last week, should run well if started, but Lady Sabretache and Gay Boy, particularly the latter, should keep him busy. 'Signature will be ridden by H. Turner. Of the fifteen candidates ;m the Hack Flat. Queens Up, Monte, and Ahura have been doing sterling work on the track. A surprise packet may, however, turn up in Steepholm or in Waterform.

Twelve horses have accepted for the Tramway Hack Steeplechase. Three of the top weights Con, Juan and Golden Glade mav pass the judge,s box in that order. This will be Con’s first, effort over big country. He has plenty of pace and steady jumping may assist him. Marconi, the veteran son of Soult cannot be expected to do wonders and it is doubtful if a good taco is left in the old fellow. The last race of the day is the Winter Oats. Both Prince Willonyx and Cleft should run well, but Patetonga, on his work recently, should not°be out of the running.

RACING NOTES.,

P. Conway will ride Mr W. Howard's entrants. ' Yesterday, Woden and Golden Gladt arrived by the Tangaroa from Napier, and Crowhurst by the Arahura from Auckland. Included in the Tangaroa s passengers from Napier yesterday were a number of Hawke’s Bay owners and trainers, and the following jockeys:— Tricklebank, Griffith, Rangi I lomp son, Dixon and Hunt.