From Various Sources

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 4

From Various Sources

The Marton and Oamaru Jockey Club’s meetings will be held to-morrow and the Wellington winter meeting will be held at Trentham on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week. Weights for the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club’s annual meeting are due to appear next Monday, and acceptances will close on Monday, July 11. Mrs. J. A. W. Talbot, joint owner with her daughter, Mrs. G. B. Miller, of Mid-day Sun, winner of the Derby last year, died at her home at Lypiatt Park, Stroud, Gloucester, last month. Mid-day Sun was the first horse to win the Derby at Epsom in the colours of a woman owner.

Rival Hit, who broke his pelvis when he fell on the road at Kandwick recently, is stated by his trainer, B. Payten, to be making such a good recovery that he will probably resume racing in the late spring. He is already doing gentle exercise. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club showed a profit of £425 3s lOd on the season’s operations after allowing for depreciation and setting aside an amount towards a reserve for building a new stand. The Government’s “cut” was £21,195 8s 3d, as against £39,775 paid out in stakes.

Several of the visiting contingent have already arrived on the scene for the Marton Jockey Club’s winter meeting, which will be held to-morrow. On Wednesday Paul Robeson, Philemup, King Mestor, Sinking Fund and Senacre arrived at Marton and they are quartered at the racecourse boxes. WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE COURSE TWENTY-TWO OBSTACLES The Wellington Steeplechase will be run next Tuesday and the following comment about the course and the fences should prove of interest. The ground runs alongside the outside of the course proper, except in the straight, -where the two meet. It is laid out entirely on flat ground, and where it does not coincide with the course proper has a beautiful sole of couch grass that provides excellent footing no matter how bad the weather might be. The stretches between the fences are probably as fine as on any steeplechase course in the Dominion or Australia. It is run over a distance of three and a quarter miles, thus being half a mile shorter than the Great Northern Steeplechase, and a quarter of a mile shorter than the Grand National. The starting point is roughly five furlongs from the winning post, and two complete circuits make the full course. In all there are twenty-two obstacles to be negotiated, and details of them are as under:—

First Jump.—Boarded fence, canvas paddod top, 3ft. high, with a 2ft. ditch in front, about Ift. from the base. Set at an angle of about 75 degrees; top not padded. About three-quarters of a furlong from the starting point. Second Jump. —Brush hurdle, 4ft. 9in. high and about Ift. 9in. through at the top. Situated less than a furlong irom the initial fence.

Third Jump. —Boarded fence with canvas padded top, 3ft. 2in. high, and set at an angle of about 75 degrees. Light brush fence Ift. 6in. high in front and about 2ft. 6in. from base. Situated just before turn into straight Fourth Jump. —Brush hurdle, 4ft. 9iu. high and about Ift. 9in. through at top. Situated short distance past false rail, but on outside of track.

Fifth Jump.—First of stand double, brush hurdle, 4ft. Sin. high, and about lft. Sin. through at top.

Sixth Jump.—Second of stand double, similar fence to first double. These two obstacles are about 60 yards apart.

Seventh Jump.—Brush hurdle, identical to other brushes. Situated near mile post just before horses make turn into the back stretch, where the next three obstacles are of permanent construction.

Eighth Jump.—Sod wail, 3ft. Binhigh, 2ft. 9in. through at top, and sft through at base. Dirt front and grassed top. Ditch 3ft. wide immediately in front. Situated near seven furlongs post.

Ninth Jump.—Heavy boarded fence, with canvas padded top, 3ft. sin. high. Set at angle of about 45 degrees. Ditch 2ft. wide in front, about Ift. from base and about 4ft. 6in. from line dropped vertically from top of fence. Near old six furlongs post, and the last fence on the first circuit. Tenth to Eighteenth Jumps.—Same as from first to ninth jumps. Nineteenth Jump.—Same as first jump. Twentieth Jump.—Same as second jump. Twenty-first Jump.—Same as third jump. Twenty-second Jump.—Same as fourth jump, leaving a run home of something over a furlong.