SPORTING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 May 1928, Page 6

SPORTING

SEASON’S FIXTURES.

RACING

June 2, 4 —Otaki Maori Racing Club. June 2,4, 6 —Auckland Racing Club. June 2,4, 6 —Dunedin Jockey Club. June 16 —Napier Park Racing Club. June 22, 23 —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club June 26 —Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 7 —Ashburton. County Racing Club. July 10, 12, 14—Wellington Racing Club July 10 —Waimate District Hunt Club. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club. Jbly 26, 28—Gisborne Club. J : uly 28 —Christchurch Hunt Club. TROTTING. May 'l9—Oamaru Trotting Club. June 2, 4 —Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 4—Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. June 23, 27 —Auckland Trotting Club. AUGKLAND M EE3IIN G. JEHVOIS HANDICAP IN TWO DIVISIONS. [by TELEGRAPH—PKESS ASSOCIATION. 1 AUCKLAND, May 28. The Jervois Handicap, one mile, at Auckland, will be run in two divisions, treated as separate races, as follows :- — First division: Waltzer 9.13, Respirator 9.3, Speechless 8.11, Auriculas 8.9, Orchus 8.4, Appellant, Catapult, Storm Fiend, Lord Abbey, Template, Parfait - Amour, Miss Myrtle, Sunny Morn, Te Waka, Viburnum, Good Boy, Blue Spear, Tidal, Kildeer 8.0. The second division is : Modest Boy 9.11, Billikins 8.11, Taurimu S.lO, Restaurant 8.4, Quinsilia 8.1, Wyoming, Marble King, Miss New Zealand, KilItrte, Kelso, O’scarj Brampton, Arikitoa, Syndicate, Still Jim, Royal Trek, Moa Hall, Mountain Guide 8.0. VICTORIAN EVENTS, (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.') MELBOURNE, May 23. The following handicaps are announced : Grand National Hurdles, Pildin is top weight with 11.7; Lochella, 9.6. For the Steeples, Glenrobert is top weight with 12.12; Lochello, 10.5.

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Maecenas.”) With the acceptances for the Auckland and Otaki meetings to unravel, followers of racing will have plenty to exercise their minds for a few days. * * * * The Auckland lightweight, J. Cammick, who has had a good deal of success of late, has been engaged to ridi3 the Australian-bred Gorin ax in the Cornwall Handicap, which event comes lip for decision at Eilerslie next Saturday. In the past Corinax has* not shown good form at Eilerslie. which race track is right-handed. * * * * The Trentham-trained jCaitkin has done well etince .showing good form at the Marlborough meeting, .held at Trent hit m last month. He is engaged at the Auckland meeting, but will have ttfi do better than ever to win. * * * *

With, the Morris brothers'.' R. Reed, J. Barry. no ; t to mention other promising riders, at the Otaki meeting, owners will have a good choice. ■* * * *

As a. lot of rain has fallen of late, the EHhfslie and Otaki race track are certain. to be very heavy. Thus betters Will be wise, if fluey select reputable “mud!arks.” for Saturday's .racing. * * * *

Should Perle de Leon run prominently in the Great Northern Hurdles on Saturday next, he will carry a. “mint” of money in the. Great Northern Steeplechase on the'following Monday, even in spite of the disadvantage of never pre•viouslv contesting a steeplechase. ! V* • * * - *

Unless, something unforeseen happens, the annual meeting of the Te Kiulti Racing Club will be held at EiUersli© on June 30 and July 2. * * * *

As Comical was allowed to drop out of the Great Northern Hurdles, but was accepted for in the Great Northern Steeplechase, it would appear that liis trainer was convinced that the gelding will yet. “make good” at steeple elm sing. * > * * *

By no .stieitch of imagination can the Great Northern Hurdle race, field be described as first doss. Wedding March and Archibald are both good hurdlers, but the fact of Brigadier Bill being third in handicap, is proof that the other .acceptors fall below what one would expect to find', in this, our richest hurdle .race. * *■ * *

As Glendowie has n.ot been raced for a considerable time, we may be sure that the connections of the gelding are satisfied as to his- condition. It is known that Glendowie has been hunted of late, and a.s be is to be raced in the Hunt Club Hurdles on Saturday, he should strip well for the Great Northern Steeplechase, which comps for decision on Monday next. **■»**

While the field for the Great- Northern Hurdle race will lack the. Quality of many of its predecessors, that for the Great Northern Steeplechase looks well up to the standard of former yeansi. a pleasing feature of the acceptance list being the number of aspirants for high honours at .stoepleciia.siing, and many will be surprised should some of the younger brigade not develop into good erosjs-coun try pe.rfermers. * * * * *

Taranaki istables are well, represenlted in tbi? Otakj acceptances, and no doubt will win 1 their share of prize money, but races' will be harder to win at this riieetino than has been the case- at some Otaki meetings in the past. *****

Gieyseirland, who figures m the Hunt Oliib Hurdles -at the coming; meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, -jis a member of Miss; G. Maher’s team, and is owned by Mr F. Armstrong. This gelding lias been successful in point (to point rapes, and at the late iruedting of the Hawke’s Bay jockey Club ran a creditable fourth to stablemate Penens in a, hurdle race, beating Braeman and Mixed Heather, both of whom ran well iust after at Wanganui. * * ■» * *

After an absence of iust over a, year, Star Shell appears as an acceptor for the hurdle race on the first day of the' Otaki meeting. "When weft. Star Shell is capable of running a torrid twelve furlongs over jumps, but seeing how long he has been off the public race tracks; it would be unwise to .support Jiihi on Saturday next.

As S. Henderson is not available for Beau Cavalier, there was. some speoufataon a.s to who would ride the champion ’ohaser in his Great Northern engagements. it is now given out that Beau Cavalier will he ridden at Ellers,l ip by the Waikato hoiseman J. S. Mcßae. •**,**

A sensation- was caused in Brisbane racing circles recently when it was made public that th/3 three stipendiary stewards of the Queensland Turf Club had received notice of their dismissal. The three, officials concerned were appointed in 1924. During .their tenure of office these .stewards have been subject to a lot of criticism, most of which has emanated from the Brisbane Press. It is expected that applications, will be called for the vacant positions, each of •which is l worth £6OO a year, with an additional £IOO added to the chairman's salary. *****

Usually the acceptances for the Great Northern Hurdle® and Steeplechase disclose competitors with the dual engagement, and this year’s list reveals several engaged in both events. It is a recognised fact that the hurdles at E-IWslie are placed more upright fedhurdle races than ii® the ca.se on any other course in this Dominion, and the runners have to jump the advertised height of 3ft 6in. While hurdle races prove a tost it is also, a- fact that the steeplechase course of the Great Northern Steeplechase presents no. very great or difficult fences. Thus, if a horse wins the hurdle race he is usually much in demand for the Steeplechase. * -V ■* * *

The recent sale of Wharncliffe from •Mr Lewis, of Ashburton, to Mr J. S. Barrett, is very interesting reading. During the past couple of seasons Mr Barrett raced Charlatan in steeplechases but. did not have the same success with that gelding a.s he has had with his flat racers. Count Cavour and Satrap, but in Wham el iff/3 Mr Barrett has acquired a. jumper that may get to the very top as a steeplechaser. A wonderful stayer, and an excellent jumper. Wharnciiffe possesses the main qualifications that go to make a great ’chaser. White Who rnoliffe has perf orme d remark ab 1 y well in hurdle races, he has only once competed in a steeplechase. This was at the South Canterbury meeting belt last month. ' In the event AVha.mcliffc finished best of all competitors in third position, and had the event been a little further, he must have won. Many were looking to Wharncliffe competing in the Otago Steeplechase, which event is due to be run on Saturday next, but on bis changing hand® he was allowed to drop out of the race, mentioned, so w© may sc© ■fclic in action in 'fob© Wellington Steeplechase, to he run early next month. ««■***

“The North Island owned gelding Hymestrason was not accented for at the Dunedin meeting (which opens on Saturday next), but the Wellington-owned and Trentham-trained pair, Black Mint and Roval Game, both appear as acceptors for the southern fixture. Black Mint looked well, hut did not race. veil at Wanganui. This is not .surprising when one considers his height (1/ hands) on the small circular can use at Wanganui, but he made well at Wmgatui "Roval Game is very well just now, and he should at least pay expenses on the trip. As Trainer A. Goodman will not be going South, the pair will lie in charge of H. Pritchard.