Trotting Notes

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 3

Trotting Notes

Broke Up Diviner, Crackajack and Swagger Jack broke up at' the start of me Washdyke Trot.

Hardy Oak The Nelson Derby colt Hardy Oak was made favourite for the Washdyke Trot, but failed to get amongst the money.

Lyrola The Wrack mare Lyrola paid over double figures when she finished third in the Washdyke Trot. Backmarkers

Silver Grattan was not far from the money in the Washdyke Trot, and Mirage also ran a fairly good race, but Irish Dusk was rather too superior at the handicap.

Irish Dusk When he won the Washdyke Trot, Irish Dusk paid a surprisingly good dividend in the face of recent, form. He led from end to end, and won with something in hand beyond his winning margin. Irish Dusk went 3 min 22 4issec frontf a 3m'in 43sec mark.

Trip to Addington: Arrangements have been made for the trip to Addington of F. J. Smith’s trio Nell Volo, Josedale Grattan anil Ironside, who are to leave early next month to fulfil engagements at the metropolitan meeting. All three are satisfying their trainer and the trip should be justified. Ironside has not been up long, but he has come to hand quickly and further evidence of his ability may again be shown.

Smith’s establishment is the scene of increased activity owing to the return for active training of many of his team who have recently enjoyed a spell. Myrtle Oro, Rama Direct and Llanvabon have returned to his stable.

F. J. SMITH’S FINE RECORD.

315 WINS IN NEW ZEALAND,

The 24 wins secured this season by F. J. Smith as trainer bring his total in New Zealand to 315, and the 22 winning drives raised his tally m the reinsmen’s section to 300. These totals extend over 11 seasons, making his training average 28i. and his driivng average, 27. Smith arrived from England at the beginning of the 1929-30 season, his sole charge being Linnett the Great, who accompanied him. He made his first appearance at the Waikato spring meeting of 1929, driving Linnett the Great, who was unplaced from 156 yards in the Introductory Handicap. Success came early, as in the succeeding race he drove First Flight to victory in the Frankton Handicap for McKendrick Brother 0 . That season, with limited opportunities, Smith trained five winners and drove six. The following season his respective figures were 13 and 18, and in the next term they were 16 and 18. By this time Smith had built up a fine team and in 1932-33 he reached the top of the list with 39 and 37, while the succeeding season he established his record of 51 and 52. In 1935- Smith was leading trainer with 40, but J. Bryce, Junr., drove 43 winners, or two more than the Auckland reinsman. Next season he again topped both lists with 38 and 37. For the five seasons, 1932-33 to 1936- Smith's training total was 195, an average of 39, and his driving total, 190, an average of 38. L'innett the Great Prbgeny. The first winner trained by Smith in the Dominion was Linnett the Great, who shortly after her arrival in Auckland was purchased by McKendrick Brothers. The daughter of McGregor the Great and The Linnett was a fine trotter and since going to the stud she has produced twice to Great Parrish and once to Ringtrue, al] being fillies. The first product was purchased by Smith and has produced a colt foal to Swordsman. The next, Linnett’s Pride, has visited the same horse, while the Ringtrue offspring, Princess Linnett, this term won three races for McKendrick Brothers.

During his career Smith has won many of the most important races on the trotting calendar, but three to elude him are the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, in which he was unlucky, with Chancellor and later with Sandusky, New Zealand Derby Stakes, ' and New Zealand Trotting Cup.

He won the Auckland Trotting Cup with King's Warrior, who was second on another occasion, and drove Worthy Light into second place when Roi L’Or established the race record of 415 2-5. With Chancellor and Bonniedene he won the Great Northern Trotting Derby, and scored four times in the Otahuhu Handicap, the winners being Mountain Dell, Kewpte's King, King’s Warrior, all by Blue Mountain King, and Wrecker. Success of Nell Volo. Worthy Light and Ironside were nis Adams Memorial Cup successes, the latter also scoring in the National Handicap at Addington. Worthy Light also won the President's Handicap. With Bonny Azure, Smith won the Hawera Trotting Cup and Waimate’ Plains Handicap, and Rayon D’Or gave him success in the Manawatu Cup. Sandusky " won the Champion Handicap at Epsom, where Nell Volo twice won the Rowe Trotting Cup. Nell Volo is one of the best trotters to race and has won numerous races. Other good stake earners were Littel Guy, Pegaway, Great Ballin, Carnui, Tumatakura, Jock Bingen, Mr Penalty, Carl Mack, Guid Hairst, Polly Pan, Rustle, Ganton, Lynworthy, Raider, War Paint, Modern Light. King’s Guide, Kewpie’s King, Swordsman, Jewel Pointer, Van Derby and Nervie’s Last. Although in the veteran stage when in the stable Jewel Pointer won the Champion Handicap in 2.40 1-5.

Smith drove the free-legged Nervie’s Last to a mile record of 2.4 at Epsom and Van Derby to a world’s grass record of 2.0 2-5.

Another good winner, although not trained by Smith, was Dan Direct, a roan horse he imported and sold to Messrs Newdick Brothers. Antonio Direct, also a roan, and a pacer of great possibilities, - died shortly after his arrival in Auckland.

One of Smith's greatest performances was on the first day of the Auckland spring meeting in •' 1936, when he won with Swordsman, Nervie’s Last, Spessiva, Polly Pan, Tollgate and Mountain Flight, the last five in successive races. He was second with King's Warrior and third with Frank Best in’ the remaining two races, truly a field day. Two seasons ago he started Crocus, Ironside and Nervie’s Last in the C. F. Mark Memorial and they filled the three places as named. Smith will have a large team for the coming season and one likely to take very high honours is the American horse, Josedale Grattan, who this term registered five wins, five seconds and a third in 14 starts. TROTTING FIXTURES August 10, 14, 16—Metropolitan T.C. August 31—Auckland T.C. September 7 —New Brighton T.C. September 21—Wellington T.C. October s—Methven5 —Methven T.C. October s—Thames T.C. October 12—New Brighton T.C. October 26, 28—Greymouth T.C. October 28 —Oamaru T.C. October 26, 28, or October 26. 30— Auckland T.C. November 2—Wellington T.C. November 2—lnvercargill T.C. November 12, 14, 15—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C November 28, 30 —Forbury Park T.C., November 30, December 7 —Waikato T.C. RACING FIXTURES August 3—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 13, 15, 17 —Canterbury J.C. August 24—Pakuranga Hunt. August 29 —Egmont-Wanganui H.C. August 31 —Taranaki H.C. August 31 —Otago H.C. September 5, 7—Wanganui J.C. September 14 —Ashburton County R.C. September 14, 16—Avondale J.C. September 19, 21—Geraldine R.C. September 21—Marton J.C. September 28—Foxton R.C. September 28. 30—Ohinemuri J'.C.