HORSES AND PROSPECTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 August 1926, Page 3

HORSES AND PROSPECTS.

(By Maecenas.) As usual, Taranaki stables are well represented at the Marton Jockey Club’s coming meeting. Amongst a number of other promising horses engaged in the Trial Plate at this meeting is Helen. This filly showed pace last season, but was unlucky at times. This week’s Hunt Club meetings in Taranaki will serve as dress rehearsals for the more important meetings to follow, and, even if the best horses are not yet forward enough to win, they will receive much beneiit from the racing. This week will be an important one for our hunting friends, as the EgmontWanganui Hunt Club’s meeting takes place on Wednesday and the North Taranaki Hunt Club races on Saturday next. Birkenel-la was recently under offer to an Otago owner at 500 guineas and a contingency of 200 guineas, but as the won id-bo buyer subsequently purchased another horse Birkenella will probably return north again. Last year remarkably large fields raced at the spring meeting of the Marton Jockey Chib, but, judging by this year’s nomination list, next rnonth’-s gathering will not have such a number of competitors. Possibly more rain falls in Taranaki during the late winter and early spring than in most provinces of this Dominion; but, despite this so-called drawback, our horses generally run prominently in early spring engagements, and, from what one hears, this season will be no exception. Reports from the South state that Listening Post may be taken to Australia, with a. view of racing in hurdle races at the big spring carnivals. If sent across, such a promising performer should at-least pay expenses. With the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting over, steeplechase performers in the main will he spelled for a few months. While no “Redleaps” were unearthed during the past jumping season, the performances of Peter Maxwell and Kawini in steeplechases suggests- that the pair niay show even better form in the future.

Twelve months ago it was- freely reported that the English mare- Glentruin had finished racing, but she made her appearance later and showed much of her old-time brilliancy in her races. Recently Glentruin was again put into work after a few weeks’ -spell. In commenting on McCarten’s riding a Sydney writer says: •'■'One thing that cannot be urged against the New Zealander is -that he covers more ground, than is necessary in a race. He believes in sticking to the rails, evidently being of the opinion that he is Jess likely to lose a race by attempting to oome through than by going around his field. During his stay in Sydney McCarten will command mounts outside of Jones’s stable.”

The Victoria Racing Club was considering the advisability of allotting places to twelve bookmakers next to the rails that divide the members’ stand from the betting ring. One member stated that such positions should be granted by tender, lie adding that a certain bookmaker was prepared to pay £SOO a- day for such positions Judging by the offer made, bookmaking must he a 'lucrative business at the big meetings in Australia Although many of our best horses will be racing in Australia- in tlio spring, there is still material enough in this Dominion to provide splendid racing. In fact, the early three-year-old races should he particularly interesting, and with Lycander, Commendation, Sea-town, Lady Desmond, Rascal and others, we should! have quite as ■strong a. class- as in most years. And, moreover, no performer appears fo -stand out much above his likely opponents. That some members of racing clubs at times are absurdly conservative cannot be denied, mid the following is an indication of such unreasonableness. At the annual meeting of the Victorian Racing Club Mr. H. L. Rudd suggested' that, for the benefit of the occupants of the members’ stand at Flemington the winning post, except for the' Newmarket Handicap, should he moved, hut such did not meet with the approval of the chairman, Mr. L. K. S. Mackinnon, who replied as follows: “You want the winning post shifted. So far as this committee is concerned, the position of the winning; post will not- he altered. The public has to he considered as well as members of the club. You refer to members as being the backbone of the club, hut where would we be without the support of the general public.”

AUSTRALIAN RA.CIN G. EVENTS AT EOSEiHILL. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, Aug. 21. The Rbsehill races were run in wintry weather. The principal results are : Three-year-old Handicap, seven furlongs.—Oimon 1, Yalsisien 2, Subdivision 3. There -was eighteen starters, including Reonui. Oinvon ran to the front .round the turn and won comfortably by lour lengths, while Valsisieu beat Subdivision by s» length for isecond place. Reonui was fourth. Time, 1.201. R.Oksehill Handicap, one mile and aquarter.—Mountain Prince IStar Stranger 2, Mingelo 3. Sixteen isburted. Star Stranger made a run at the distance, but was not good enough and Mountain Prince beat him by two lengths. Time, 2.6. Oarlingford. Mile.—Limerick 1, Qu&ntart 2, Lucy Thrice 3. Nineteen started. Onward led into the straight but Quantarb challenged at the distance, and after a splendid duel over the last furlong Limerick won by half a neck. Time, 1.40.

OR,AND NATIONAL HURDLES ADELAIDE, Aug. 21. The Grand National Hurdle Race resulted :—Bay Pistol 1, Golden Fox 2, My Greek 3. Eighteen starters. THE ADELAIDE GUINEAS. ADELAIDE, Aug. 21.. The Adelaide Guineas, one nvile. resulted :—Wolosia 1. Pindenda, 3, Loaning 3. Thirteen starters. Won by six lengths. Time, 1.421. RIAHEPOTO RE-TTANDTOAPPED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. Rahepoto has been re-handicapped for the Spring Handicap at 0.0.