WINTER RACING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 June 1928, Page 8

WINTER RACING

SEASON’S FIXTURES. RACING 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 19—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 26, 28—Gisborne Rawing Club. July 28—Christchurch Hunt Club. TROTTING. May 19—Oamaru Trotting Club. June 2, 4—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 4—Hawke’s Bay Trotting Club. June 23, 27—Auckland Trotting Club. NOTES AND~COMMENTS

4By “Maecenas.”) To-morrow the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Gluib wall hold their annual meeting. , The winter meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club is set down for Friday and Saturday next. **' * * *

Roy Reed! failed to get any closer to T. Green for the jockey championship, as the result of his efforts at the Napier Park meeting last week.

Dike the, Marlborough, meeting held recently at Trentham, the Te Ivuiti meeting to be held, at Mlerelie has failed to draw the class or numbers ex- 1 pected. dubs cannot expect to secure Metropolitan fields if only prepared to offer country club stake money. * * * .* *

It is common knowledge that the Te Kaiiti Racing ClLub have been financially embarressed for some time. Their annual meeting for this year is to be held at ElUerslie oh Saturday and Monday next. All country clubs that have been privileged to hold meetings at Ellerslie have made a lot of money thereby, and there is no reason to suppose that the Te Kuiti meeting will be anything but successful, so this unlucky club should be able to start next season with a credit balance. *****

After RJadiate’s impressive display at the Wanganui meeting last month, it came as a surprise not to find him at the Great Northern meeting, competing in the minor steeplechases for which events more money was given in prizes than most of the large clubs can offer for their chief steeplechase. That a splendid chance was missed with Radiate in not going to Ellerslie in place of Otaki was demonstrated at Napier on Saturday last, when he gave even a better display than at Wanganui. While Radiate may not be a first class chaser he is better than the big majority of horses being raced over country in the Dominion to-day. *****

Although off the scene for about eight months Royal Lineage finished a close fourth at Napier Park last Saturday. This performance is worth remembering in view of future races. Royal Lineage is distinctly promising. *****

Very badly handled, Mixed Heather had Puwhero doing his best at Wanganui, so it was not surprising to find liim winning the Napier Steeplechase last .Saturday, when favoured with W. H. Bowden in the saddle. While the victory wasi robbed of much merit through Puwhero falling, the fact cannot be overlooked that Mixed Heather was very close to Puwhero when that gelding fell, and the extra, distance un • covered at the time would not favour Puwhero. ****>«■

After an absence of just on a year and a 'half from the .race track, Argue Was produced at the last Egmont meeting. 'He had only been in work a few weeks and. was very big in condition. Despite these disadvantages Argue showed a bold front till well in the straight, a.nd then tired. With the advantages of races and seasoning, one would expect Argue to run prominently against the moderate lot that opposed him at Napier last Saturday, seeing that the event was run over a five furlong course, but he never once flatterfed hits big army of supporters, and evidently is a very moderate sort. * * * * * *

Is Glendowie the m akings of a chain‘pion? His performances certainly point to his attaining that honour. In the bast many of our best steeplechasers nave come from the ranks of the hunter class, and one is safe in stating that no chaser of the past has bettered his record, While few liave equalled in a limited time. A fine clever jumper, endowed with more pace than the average steeplechaser, favoured with great courage, Glendowie should be capable of emulating the deeds of a Coalition, although not built oa the massive* (or “carry”) lines of that great chaser, Glendowie has plenty of size. ♦ *•*■**

WliarnclilFe, who may turn out a high class' steeplechaser, was given bis first lesson over liiccarton fences last Thursday. Those who witnessed the display say that the gelding jumped well, hut 'was over careful. As Whameliffe was a great stayer over hurdles (possibly the best in the Dominion last year) he should make his presence felt in steeplechases, if he takes kindly to the big (fences, and as he is a generous sort (it is likely he will jump well. At present it is intended to race Whameliffe in a steeplechase at Ashburton on 'June 30, and if lie performs satisfactory he will take his place in the Wellington steeplechase next month. * * * ■* *

While jumpers like Waimai, Beau Cavalier and Puwhero give- pleasure to 'onlookers and their fencing is very spectacular, it is not the style that goes to •make great steeplechasers. While the fencing of Coalition, Kiatere, Haydn, “Mutiny and many others lacked the brilliancy of the first three, it is the correct style and is less likely to get a horse into bother. After witnessing the erratic but bold jumping of Beau Cavalier on the third day of the recent “Auckland meeting, in. which event he eventually fell, after having mo.re than tone “life,” it is indeed surprising that “he encompassed the Tticcarton course, with its high and formidable fences, to tvin the last Grand National Steeplechase. . Possibly an experienced rider like S. Henderson makes all the dift'erfehce to the tear-away Beau Cavalier.