SPORTING

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 125, 30 May 1944, Page 3

SPORTING

KLLERSLIE DIVISIONS - The Jervois Handicap at the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting next Saturday has been divided and will be run as two separate races, with divisions in each, the fields being: FIRST JERVOIS HANDICAP, £600; 7 furlongs.

are:—ll.lo a.m., First Jervois Handicap: 12.0, Greenlane Steeplechase; 12.45, Second Jervois Handicap; 1.30, Great Northern Hurdles; 2.15, Cornwall Handicap; 3.05, Great Northern Steeplechase; 3.45, Hunt Club Cup; 4.30, Members’ Handicap, GAINSBOROUGH RETIRED Gainsborough, triple crown and Gold Cup winner of 1918, and one of the world’s most famous sires, has finished his stud career at the age of 29 years, and will end his days at the Harewood Stud, Newbury. I-Ie commenced stud duties in 1920, and his progeny have won nearly 1 £350,000 in stakes. Two of his sons, 1 Gainscourt and Lelghon, came to New Zealand, and other male descendants through Solario and Hyperion (sons of Gainsborough) to come to the Dominion are Vermeer, St. Boswells, Chatsworth, Neptune and Felous. WON TWO YEARS AGO The announcement that A. Jenkins will ride Dozie Boy in the Great Northern Steeplechase recalls that this combination succeeded over the difficult Ellerslie course in the same race two years ago. On that occasion Dozie Boy carried 9.12 and this year he has 10.5. Dozie Boy is the veteran of this year's field, as he is rising 13 years, but he has not had as much racing as might be imagined, for he did not make his debut till October, 1939, as a seven-year-old. Though old in years he has been racing only for five seasons.—Star. MANAWATU WINTER MEETING Weights for the jSlanawatu winter meeting are due to appear on Thursday morning. OFFICIAL STATEMENT WANTED The apparent failure of the Minister of Internal Affairs to work in with the Ministers of Transport and Railways over the question of racing at the present time is evidently the background for a remit by the Southland District Clubs (Gore Racing Club) which will come up for discussion at the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Racing confere*The remit states: “That the conference presses the Government for an official statement of its attitude towards racing under present conditions, particularly with regard to country clubs which are suffering from antagonistic attitudes adopted by some Government Departments." INCREASED EARNINGS At present a horse loses hack status if It wins a race to the value of £250 of more to the winner or races to the collective value of £SOO. The Canterbury Jockey Club in a remit to the New Zealand Racing Conference, asks that the amounts bo increased to £3OO and £6OO. DEATH OF WELL-KNOWN STEEPLECHASE RIDER One of the most competent and m;..-;t fearles riders over steeplechase fences and hurdles, ,Mr. William Higgins, was found dead in liis bed in Wanganui on Friday morning (states the Chronicle). He was a contemporary of that school of horsemen which included Alex Hall, Frank Bind, Percy Johnston, Bill Naylor and Jack Cameron, to mention only a few. Born in Auckland in 1870, Higgins was employed in the factory of Mr. J. McChesney, Marton, but soon tired of the furniture trade and ran away to join the stable of Dan Thurston at Marton, where he soon made good, winning his first race when 1(3 years of age. Though he had his fair share of successes on the flat, it was in hurdle races and steeplechases that he was best known. Back in 1893 he won the Wanganui Steeplechase on Empire, and four years later he again won that race on Bradshaw. A list of the winners he had ridden would be found to be a most comprehensive affair, but it would include the 1906 Grand National Steeplechase winner, Fhaetonis, for Sir John Buckley, and the A.R.C. Winter Steeplechase on Canongate. He rode a number of winners for Mr. G. M. Currie, of the ICoatanui Stud, including Fretwork in the Nailer Steeplechase in 1908. On one occasion Higgins scooped the pool at a meeting at Foxton, winning on the flat and over the battens. He made two trips to Australia, on one occasion with Dart, on whom he had won seven races in succession in New Zealand. On another occasion he broke some bones in a foot but next day was in the saddle at the Turakina races, winning the jumping double, and followed that up within a week by winning two races over obstacles at Foxton.

When he retired from riding just over 30 years ago he had the record of never being suspended, nor had he had his riding questioned by the stewards.

First Division. Second Division. Gunman 9 6 i orlush 8 3 Altess 8 9 Victory Song 8 5 Marittoto 8 5 Kadina 8 4 Century 8 4 Dumbo 8 Foxrose 8 0 Haydulc 8 0 Bronze Met*r i 0 Beryl Fox 8 0 Beau Dink 8 0 Te Kiwi 8 0 Mollie Bon 8 0 Golden Pay 8 0 Hard Bock 8 0 Kinnaird S 0 Winstake 8 0 Treasure Lord Luck 8 0 Island 8 0 Roianui 8 n Lady Nenagh 8 Ross 8 0 Boyce 8 0 Saludos S 0 Sir Dink Whirlwind Star s 0 The Pied Piper 8 0 Autolad 8 0 ■SECOND JEBVOIS HANDICAP, £600 7 furlongs. First Division. Second Division. Pink Shell 8 18 Grey Salute S 11 Good Bay S 10 Bournemouth 10 Victory Lass 8 5 Belle Kenarde 8 4 Irish Fox 8 Autosmile 8 0 Liglitment 8 0 Beaucoup 8 0 Bettermuslc 8 Ernada 8 0 Chat Money S 0 Foxbun 8 0 Odvaals 8 0 Good Armour 8 Justora 8 0 Korotangi 8 0 Travelling- Stai 8 Pale Moon S Lorna Fox S 0 Bichelieu 8 0 Raphael 8 0 Roman Duke S 0 Reorapa 8 0 Sir Fox 8 .0 Sweet Veloc S 0 Vindicator 8 0 Willow Wood 8 0 Starting- times for the respective events