HOKITIKA PROSPECTS.

Grey River Argus, 27 December 1920, Page 4

HOKITIKA PROSPECTS.

(By "The Rooster.") '

Wcstland* Racing Club to-day and if the weather is fine a good day's sport is anticipated. The Goldsborough Handicap with 17 probable starters should be a good race .md if High Hools gets away well she and Castellan' should light out tho finish. Gold Problem looks like being prominent in the Provincial Handicap, but Sleepy Head is quite likely to salute the judge. It seems to be only one in the Pacific Hurdle— Master Boris. The horse, that finishes in front of Benefit in the Hokitika Handicap will wiu. If the going is heavy Chaeronia should stand a good chance. In the Hokitika Handicap Carnbrae looks to be well placed, but Tantalus should be hard. Mickey Free and Fabrisco Avill be handy at the finish of the High Weight Handicap. Woodrow has a light weight in th« Flying Handicap but Thostins is a likely customer. Benefit is a horse that should be heard of in the big race at Hokitika. They say Chaeronia js a good horse on a soft course, and may run well at Hojdtika to-ilay if there are moist conditions. Ahika is a horse t hat has several staunch followers. They say Hokitika horses should do their best on the local track, and with a fair start some o£ the northerners ought to show out in the sliortcr events. •Perrier is an aged horse, and his quality is not much known on the Coast yet. Braid looks well, though one foreleg was (lately swollw slightly, but the maTe should be .all right to-day. It is said Cheer Up was a little better than Benefit on a trial some little time ago. Eron *Boy has several fanciers at Hokitika. HOKITIKA RACING NOTES. *■ .j. Jil (By "Furlong.") , Hokitika is full of visitors and ii has been lutrd to iind boxes to accommodate the visiting horses. The well-known and popular horseman Len Hagcrty has arrived. He is under engagement to ride War Tux in his hurdle events. There will be hardly a race in. which, this horseman v^iil not have a mount. Vie Lee is here again this time with Messrs Donnellan and Shannahan. He will have the mounts en Benefit and Sleepy Head. Both these horses should be comfortable rides. Mr J. J. O 'Regan is once again amongst us and has brought Ladify to carry his colours. F. Higgott has arrived with Pervier, Gold Problem, Bestir, and Ladify. Roy Manson will ride all four horses in their engagamonts when the weights are suitable.. Racing on the Coast is incrensing in lcfiT»s and bounds. Last CJHstmnp we had snvon hor?os to contest tlio first race of tho meeting. This year there aTO seventeen.. We looked with pride upon the twelve horses that lined vv for tho .Tublice Cup, and hay frrand it spumed, and what *> race.. This vpot will see more. Thwc will probably to 15 out of the 17 acceptors' start in +h<s Go^ebnronjrh -HnndiVap. As they start right in front of the TotaHsator everyone will have a good view of the «tf>rt. It would be well to remember that the race is timed to staTt at 12.30 p.m. so one wiTl have to be punctual to witness this event. Three of our local horses figure, in the acceptances. Lady Middleton, Tantalus and Xanthos. It would not surprise us to see the local sports land the race. On Christma q morning horses were working on the track from 4 o'clock: Mickey Free^, Carnbrae, Kolyma, Wood row were all given solid work, Mickey Free probably showing up best of the lot. Persian Prince gave a really good exhibition of jumping, and did not make one mistake. He was'ridden by Humphreys. Benefit and Sleepy Head were given a good round, the first named should sa'nte the Judge on tho first day. Mr Jas. Barr had Irish Elegance at work. If she kas good as old Jeannot then she will pay exes. Out of the field of 17 acceptors for Mie Croldsbn-nvngh Handicap. Laflv Midflirfrm or Cheer Up should provide the five furlosgs Gold Problem should be

our iirsfc choice with Tyson next. ±'or tiic I'uuilio JctuiUics tuoro arc stjven runners, -suuticai will probably uc reserved' for the big handicap. Master Boris and Persian Prince will see this race out. Hokitika Handicap.— The six acceptors will line up. benefit with. 8.3 will prove a hard nut to crack, but if the going is hard Ladify will be there. Benefit or Ladify should produce the winner. , - For the Christmas Handicap there ar e nine acceptors . Carnbrae should bo the hardest to beat. Tantalus if reserved for this event will be one of the hardest to dispose of. High Weight Handicap.— There are fourteen acceptors. Ahika should be hard and Bomb should stand a Rood. chance.l ' ''^^ Flying Handicap.— There are thirteen acceptors. The top weight Braid with 9.3 in tlie saddle should account, for the opposition. Tyson will see out a fast five furlongs'