THE TURF

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 209, 18 August 1927, Page 2

THE TURF

RACING FIXTURES. August 20—Pakuranga Hunt Club Sept. 3— N. Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. ?, B—Marton J.C. Sept 10—Otago Hunt Club. Sept 14 Dannevirke R.C. Sept. 24. 26 Napier Park R.C. Sept.• 24. 26- Avondale J.C. Sept. 29, 30—Geraldine R.C. Oct, I—Hawke’s1 —Hawke’s Bay J.C. DIVOTS. (Dug by “The Delver.”) To-morrow (Friday) nominations for the New Zealand Cup are due oy 8 p.m., and also acceptances for the Taranaki Hunt Club’s annual meeting by 9 p.m. Philanderer, the Gay Lad—lx)ve-a-Duck gelding in G. Reed,’s Riccarton stable, is to bo tried over hurdles. Judge’s Box has improved a lot since she commenced work again at Ellerslie under F. Gilchrist’s care, and is starting to put on condition very fast. She should be capable of paying her way in hack events around the country circuit during the season * » *

Stonewall, who ran second in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup of last season, is again included in the field for the event to be run-on Saturday.

Bright Dawn, who is now trained in the Te Awamutu, district, was a useful performer last season. The Day Comet gelding always appeared to be finishing on in his races, and although he has never vet won over a distance exceeding seven furlongs, he is likely to be a popular fancy if started in the Sylvia Park Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday next.

Nincompoop. Tarleton and Precious, the property of Mr J. McCormack. were offered at auction on Monday, but not one of the three realised the owner’s reserve. All will remain in J. Boyd’s Riccarton stable, and will probably race at the Gerladine Meeting next month. * • •

Mashoor. who hails from the Drury district, is a brother to Bahadur, although built on more solid lines than the latter gelding. He is rather big in condition at the present time, but looks a likely sort to make a useful jumper later on. Mashoor. who had his first race in the Carbine Plate at Ellerslie in June last, is to be ridden by T. Chaplin in his engagements at tijp Pakuranga Meeting next Saturday

Queen Arch raced at the Wellington Winter Meeting, finishing second to Nukumai in the Whyte Memorial Handicap, one mile. On the second day she was saddled up for the Parliamentary Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. but failed to show up. If she runs the same race as she did in the Whyte Memorial, and the pace is not too solid at the start. sDe might stay on over the extra quarter of a mile of the Jellicoe Handicap.

Sunny Loch’s effort in the Styx Hurdle Race on the concluding day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Meeting, says the Christchurch “Sun,” was a fine one, and the Sunny Lake gelding needs only ro stand up to nis work to win good races over the battens. A few seasons back he was a great galloper, and his future as a jumper looks bright. In his outing on Saturday last he exhibited plenty of ability to negotiate the hurdles, and it was only his backward condition that told against him over the last four furlongs.

Perhaps the most promising horse seen out at t|je Grand National Meeting, writes “Mascot.” was Beau Geste. He was nominated for the Winter Cup, but was allowed to forego his engagement in the bio- mile race, and his only outing at the meeting was in the Islington Handicap on the second day of the meeting, which was run over a mile and a-quarter course. In that event Beau Geste was always in a handy position, and up to a mile and a furlong he would have been the hardest to beat. He tired a little over the concluding furlong, but was well up in third place at the finish. Beau Geste is a bay gelding, five years of bv noniforin—Lady Jean 11. and »‘s now the property of the Australian sportswoman. Lady Fuller He is a good-looking horse, with a very strong formation, and over distances the full brother to Scion (winner of the New Zealand Cup and other races) should make a name for himself this season. * * • In connection with the Now Zea land Eclipse Stakes to be run on the second day of the Wanganui meeting the distance of the race will be about seven furlongs. As a matter of fact it will he somewhat over the seven furlongs.

The programme of the Avondale Jockey Club, just to hand, shows that $ drastic reduction has been made in the stakes for the two classics and one events, the entries for which close next year. Hitherto these races were each £l,OOO. but they are to be brought down to £750. The classics affected are the Avondale Stakes. 1928, Avondale Guineas. 1929, and the weight-for-age race, tin? All-Aged Stakes. 1929

At Wanganui on Tuesday the hunters Atone (Mr. I ni Higgle) and l-'ranleldt (Mr, J, H. McLean) were

schooled over the big fences. At the second obstacle (the first of the double), branfeldt overjumped and slipped, unseating his rider, who saved himself from falling cleverly. Eranfeldt was given another go at the obstacle with Atene and they went on to continue the round, both jumping well.

Both Franfeldt and Atene are engaged at the Taranaki Hunt meeting and they should run well in their engagements, as they are good jumpers. Franfeldt had over. 15.0 in the saddle on Tuesday morning nd he cleared all his obstacles in fine style, with the exception mentioned

ELLERSLIE TRAINING NOTES.

With the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting to be held on Saturday, the Auckland ‘Star’s” track not£s for Tuesday morning will be of interest:—

The weather was fine for training work at Ellerslie this morning. No. 3 grass track was open for fast work, but was very heavy. No. 3 Grau. Sleepy Sol and Master Arch were companions over a round, which they ran in 152 3-5. Daddy’s Girl jumped off at the sixfurlong post and ran home in 1.31 2-5. Odin, who started at the seven furlong post, was picked up by The Lover at the five-furlong post, and he ran the full distance in 1.45 1-5. Salamander was sprinted three furlongs, and although not timed, went well. After Breakfast. There was little between Star Comet and Thursby over a round, which they covered in 1.53 3-5. Sir Archie, Town Guard and War Officer ran five furlongs, Welkne joining in at the four-furlong post, the fivefurlongs occupying 1.9. Sir Archie and Town Guard both went well Archeno and Vital sprinted three furlongs in 43sec. Festina Lente and Takarunga were associated over seven furlongs, which they ran in 1.43. Wyoming finished in front of Cullgio over six furlongs in 1-28 4-5. Mountain Guide and Double Mint were going better than Ponticus at the end of six furlongs in 1.28 4-5. Just John traversed a round alone in 1.37. He went nicely all the way. Desert Knight was in front of Master Noel, with King of the Air further back over a round in 1.59 1-5. Gold Acre ran five furlongs nicely in 1.13. Fair Abbey was going better than Levenside over seven furlongs, which they ran in 1.45. Serang was going nicely beside Royal March over four furlongs, which occupied 56 4-5. Valentino and a companion ran, three furlongs in 42 l-ssec-, the former being in front at the finish. There was not much between Killute and Charitaine over a round in 1.55. Killute appeared to be going better at the finish. Sea Comet did strong work over a mile and a quarter. Quinvardia beat Nassock over six furlongs in 1 36. Master Doon beat Golden Krist, which Kamehameha, who was left several lengths at the start, over seven furlongs in 1.42. This was the best of the morning over that distance. The Junipers. Rafferty (Tinker) jliniped the steeplechase fences on the fiat, and later Glenlight (Tinker) was given a similar task. Both jumped in bold style. Royal Bonus (Hastings) jumped two schooling hurdles, giving a great display. He was afterwards worked on the grass, but was not timed. Simplicitas (Sharkey) finished in front of Whakatoe (Rutherford) over four schooling hurdles. Mashoor (Chaplin) and Jack Lamont (Anderson) were companions in a schooling task over four hurdles, the former finishing in front. Both made faulty jumps at the first fence, but otherwise jumped safely, although they did not impress. LOST BY A HAIR’S LENGTH. It was but a trifling thing that made the difference of thousands of pounds to backers of Lintress at Canterbury (Sydney) in the Campsie Handicap on Monday wook last says the “Sun.” Lintress was beaten only a half neck, yet if he hadn’t possessed a long mane, that half neck verdict might have been the other way. Thus backers of the winner, The Danceiy had a hair-length escape. Lintress is a horse of largo proportions, and, like many of the Linacros has long hair in both mane and tail. This looks well, but on Monday it robbed Charlie Barden, his rider of the chance to administer the stroke of the whip that might have brought forth the winning effort. Grabbed the Mane. Lintress ran from the rear to take charge at the straight entrance, and there bis jockey assumed that the race was completely his. But suddenly Lintress began to loaf, and Barden went for his whip. In picking it up he grnpsed part of the long mane. This langleil for a second, and wrenching it free, the whip slipped from his grasp nml was thrown over the fence. It wns llien that Avrom and The Darner swooped down on Lintress

and, in a desperate finish, The Dancer got up in time to beat Lintress by the narrowest margin. The Jockey feels sure that a few cuts of the whip would have induced Lintress to gallop faster when he gained his lend, and he would have set up an advantage that the others could not have overtaken.

It made a big monetary difference to many punters, for Lintress was backed down to second favouritism in a solid betting race.

TWO-YEAR-OLD WINNERS. The list of leading two-year-old stake-earners last season is as follovVS, the name of the sire being shown in parentheses:— Gascony (King John) 3,385 Agrion (Limo’nd) 2 320 Cimabue (Leighton) Laughing Prince (Quantock) 1,fi70 Eulalie (Absurdd) 1,230 High Finance (Paper Money) LlOO Paganelli (Lord Quex) 1,050 In the Shade (Australian Sun) 'BBO Thaw (Limond) 845 Paleta (Leighton) I 815 Jericho (Archery) 752 Covent Garden (Absurdd) .... 6SO Royal Ceres (Flying King) .. 605 Melissa (Absurd) 655 Doree (Lucullus) 648 Silvermino .Catmint) 565 Ark Royal (Kilboroney) .... 557 Silver Coot (Paper Money) .. 525 Arrow Lnd (Arrowsmith) .... 510 Ruanui (Limond 470 Ti Tree (Tea Tray) 460 Cosmetic (Leighton) . 1 455 RACING AT BELMONT. NEW ZEALANDER '8 COMPARI SONS. An interesting letter has been received by the Christ-rliur* l ’ rom Mr G. D. Greenwood, who attended the races nt America’s innous racecourse, Belmont Park. He states as follows:— Racing in America is very different in may respects from tho same "port in England and the colonies, and 1 was very fortunate to be able 10 attend a big meeting at the leading course of this wonderful country. Belmont Park, the Randwick of America, situated on Long Island about tin hour's journey from Central New York, is a lovely race tract in a picturesque park of about 100 acres. The ornamental trees, well laid out garden and comfortable, well-built, old world club house surrounded by neatly kept garden aclornod with fish ponds, stately trees and ornamental flower patches offer a lovely quiet retreat for those fortunate members who lead the sport in the States. The race track is a sand one, nnd is well laid out and maintained in good order. There is also a steeplechase course on tM grass outside of the racing track with well trimmed brush fences, about 3ft 6in high, and one water jump with fence in front. The straight six furlong track is wide good and efficient, and gives a good view of the races. The longer distances are run on an equally good track of a long oval form also. Il- is free from bad turns nnd with an efli"ient, straight to finish. Good Building. The buildings are well kept, and the stands and enclosures easily accommodate the 85,000 who attended the races on Anzac Day. Seven events were carded for decision, including one two-year-old handicap, five furlongs for maidens; one steeplechase, two miles; one mile handicap which was the chief race of the day, worth £l5OO, and other popular handicaps. There were no weight-for-age events. The stands are very strictly divided ,also the lawns in front of them, which are rather small, and on that day uncomofrtably crowded. By the courtesy of the secretary, Mr Fitzgerald, I was taken out into the centre of the course to see the mile race, and also the following event, and so had the greatest opportunity of seeing a really notable race at famed Belmont. Compared With Randwick:. There are numerous and marked differences in the conduct of the meeting between Randwick and Belmont. Belmont has not bookmakers nor betting machines, but the gambling is done by handing your wager to quiet, well-dressed gentlemen who are wellknown to the racing public. They fill the place of the Australian bookmaker. I am sure it will surprise racing men in Australasia to be told that all races are started with a flying start. The fields are lined up about 50 yards behind the official strating-post.and from there the starteer dispatches them in line, which they are supposed to keep till after passing the real starting-post. A flag steward, or assistant starter, is placed 40 or 50 yards in front of the official startingpole, and the start is not effective till his flag is drooped. I have endeavoured to give this starting business tho prominence it deserves, because it affects all records of comparsions of race times between the United States and British-bred horses to the detriment of the latter by one to 11 seconds.

Races in America are run for 18 to 20 consecutive days at each course. No wonder everyone is sick and tired of them ,and how the horses stand up to ft is a mystery.