DIVOTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 146, 5 June 1936, Page 2

DIVOTS

(Dug by “The Delver.”) Don’t forget that this (Friday) evening nominations for Napier Park close at 8 p.m. and for Wanganui at 9 p.m. Norns de Cours. The Canterbury Jockey Club committee has decided to support the Auckland Racing Club’s remit at the racing conference next month, that the use of assumed names again be allowed, One Entry. Only the South Canterbury mare Queen of Song was nominated with the Canterbury Jockey Club for important spring handicaps in Victoria. Sne was put in the Melbourne, Caulfield, Williamstown and Moonee Valley Cups; also the Toorak Handicap and Caulfield Consolation Handicap. * * * Eight-stone Minimum. Although clubs are given the option of excluding the principal flat race each day from tho provision of the 8.0 minimum which operates during June, July, and August, the Canterbury Jockey Club has decided that all such events at tho Grand National fixture shall be run with the minimum at ».u, * -x- ■» Exact Distance. Fur some years past tho distance of the Grand National Hurdles has been staled as about two miles and a-half, but as the race is started from the nine-furlong post the journey is only a little short of two miles and five furlongs. The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club has decided to have the distance properly indicated after Inking Hu- necessary rn'ieuremonls.

In Reserve. Grateful, after his success at Te Rapa, was taken on to Ellerslie for the Great Northern meeting, but he has not yet started. On Tuesday he put up a good gallop over half a mile, and if he is produced to-morrow ho will not lack for friends. He looks well, and the tact that he will be a fresh horse will be something in his favour. Ho is an acceptor for the York Handicap, one mile, and his last success was over inis distance. Likely to Improve. Horowheuua tailed to show up prominently in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday, but, says the Auckland “Star,” as this was his first race for some time the run is likely to do him a lot of good. Last season he contested the Cornwall Handicap and was unplaced, but on the last day ho came out and won the York Handicap on a very heavy track. If the weathei changes and there is sufficient rain to make the track soft Horowhenua might again show to advantage in the York Handicap. • « Old-time Rider Passes. Another link with racing in New Zealand iu earlier days was brokeu with the death at Shannon last week of Mr W. (“Bill”) Butler. The late Mr Butler, who was 72 years old, was a prominent horseman in his day, among his most notable successes being his win on Welcome Jack in the last Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap in 1882, the race taking the name of the New Zealand Cup the following year. After bis retirement from the saddle Mr Butler trained for a time' at Wanganui. He is survived by his widow and three daughters. * * » Three Wins on End? Allegretto has come into prominence as a steeplechaser by accounting for the Melville Hack Steeplechase at Te Rapa recently and winning the Greenlane Steeplechase at Ellerslie last Saturday. In the latter event he was always near the front and, taking charge the last time, led over the hill and into the straight. Once over the last fence Diamond headed him, but Allegretto stayed on too well and got the decision by two lengths and a-half. Allegretto is engaged in the Tamaki •Steeplechase to-morrow and, if he runs up to his first day’s form, he should again bo in tho picture. * * * The Cornwall Winner. Onewhetu put up an impressive performance to win the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie last Saturday in record time for the race. He jumped away well and was eased into fourth place as they raced along the back, and he maintained that position to tho turn. Ho then came through on the rails and went on to beat Pakanui decisively. Onewhetu is iu the York Handicap tomorrow and, a northern writer says, it would not surprise to see him lead the field home again. Other horses that have won the Cornwall Handicap have accounted for the York Handicap in previous years. * * • Unfortunate. The connections of Windsor Lad were rather unfortunate that his success in the Hack and Hun I cis' Steeplechase at To Awamutu recently debarred him fi'.iiii competing in .hunters’ events at the Great Northern meeting, and his first appearance at the fixture will be in the Tamaki Steeplechase to-morrow. Ho won easily at Te Awamutu, jumping well throughout, while he showed more than average pace for a. ’chaser aud was sticking on well at tho end, Wind- ' sor Lad has been schooled at Ellerslie twice since his arrival and he jumped the country excellently. He comes from a good jumping family and is a halfbrother to Capstar, who won a number of jumping races in the Auckland province some years ago.

A Prolific Matron. F. D. Jones, the Riccarton trainer, will bo receiving this week from the Elderslie Stud, on behalf of a new client, a rising three-year-old by Shambles from the well-known mare Brayton, who has produced some good horses, including Historic, Tarleton, and Affirm. He was the property of the late Miss Boyle, who purchased him as a yearling from Mr J. O’Brien. Brayton was 21 years of age -when she produced this gelding. In the next season, 1934, she produced to Roydon, and that year terminated her stud career. Her record during her 19 years at the stud Is as follows:—1915, Bonnetter; 1918, Royal Box; 1920, Tarleton; 1921, Affirm; 1922, Judge’s Box; 1923, Mervette; 1924, Historic; 1926, filly to Leighton; 1928, filly to Paper Money; 1933, colt to Sharjbles, and 1934 to Roydon. She missed in 1916, 1919, 1925, 1927, .1930, 1931, and 1932, produced a dead colt in 1917, and in 1929 she slipped a. foal to Tea Tray. '