RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 13

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. NEW Zeala-STD. May 17—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 23. —South Canterbury Jockey Club. June 8, 4—Otaki Racing Club. June 3, 5. —Auckland Racing Club. June 8. 5, 7 —Dunedin Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW Zemasd. Juno BGreat Northern Hurdle Race. June 3—Otago Steeplechase. June s—Great Northern Steeplechase. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Hamilton."—Waimai was taken to Australia and finished third in the Y.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase in 1917.' J.H.W.—Soult .was imported to New Zea land in 1890. Tha records all agree tnat accepted as the best horse aired by Soult. "Inquirer."—Explorer was ridden by Stan. Reid when he won three hurdle races at the Ellerslie summer meeting in 1921-22. The steeplechase you refer to was the A.R.C. Autumn Steeplechase last year, won by Explorer. NOTES BY PHAETON. i THE GREAT NORTHERN MEETING. The jumping season may be said to have i commenced in earnest, and with the conclusion of I'he Wanganui meeting to-day all eyes will Tiow be focussed on the Great Northerns. Strong fields are engaged in i both events, the competitors being thoroughly representative of the best jumping talent in the Dominion. A fairly extensive Southern contingent is expected to compete at the Ellerslie meeting, and this fact will lend much additional interest to the gathering The minor events, as usual, have filled remarkably well, and the competition for staket-money promisee to be exceptionally keen. The winter meeting at Ellerslie is regarded by many as tne Dest of the year. The majority of racegocrs love to witness a jumping event, and the programme provided at the winter gathering is calculated to satisfy the moet ardent lover of jumping. The weights for the minor events of the opening day of the meeting are due to appear on Monday. A PROMISING STEEPLECHASER. San Forte, who distinguished himself by winning the Wanganui Steeplechase on Thursday, is evidently a promising crosscountry performer. He is a five-year-old gelding by GuiaJiforte— San, and, if he keeps sound, it is reasonable to expect that ho will improve considerably: He was put to steeplechasing as a four-year-old and commenced his cross-country career by winning the Maiden Hunters' Steeplechase at tho North Taranaki Hunt Club's meeting in September. 1922. During last season San Forte contested 12 races. At the Wellington winter meeting last July he won the jfirst Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, was placed second to Master Peter in the Second Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase, and was second to First Line in the July Steeplechase. Last week Son Forte finished fourth in the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase on the opening day of the Eginont Racing Club's Winter Meeting, and was placed third in the Opeke Steeplechase on tho second day. He is not engaged at the Ellerslie winter meeting. FRENCH CHAMPIONS MATCHED.

There is always a true sporting flavour about match races, and the result, of the contest between the French cracks, JEpinard and Sir Gallahad 111. at Saint Cloud, Paris, to-day will be awaited with interest. The distance of the race is six furlongs and a-half, and Epinard is to carry 9.6 and Sir Gallahad 111. 8.9. Seeing that the latter horse won the Lincoln Handicap recently with 8.5 without any trouble, Epinard should be thoroughly tested. Before the Lincoln Handicap Sir Gallahad 111. was said to be a horse of moods, but the support accorded him in the English race indicated that French racing people had every confidence that the horse would do his best when required. EPINARD FOR AMERICA. According 'to American writers, it is definitely settled that Epinard is to be taken to the United States to meet the best of the • American horses in special events. Epinard. however, is going under very different conditions to the English colt. Papyrus, a3 he is to . run three races at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and Latonia at distances of six furlongs, a mile, and a mile and a-auarter respectively, and, instead of being match races, they will be at weight-for-age and open to all horsss. The prizes for the Belmont and Aqueduct races will be 25,000 dollars, while at Latonia the prize will be 50,000 dollars. As the entrance fee for each race is 250. dollars, and an additional 1000 dollars to start, it will therefore be seen that Epinard's owner has a chance oi winning more money than Papyrus' owner, as there are sure to be several starters in each race and the prize-money will be considerably swelled. Entries close for the races on July 15. and it is expected that Epinard will by then be in America. Epinard will have a better chance of downing the crack Americans than Papyrus, as not only will he have more time to become acclimatised* but his trainer, Eugene Leigh, is familiar with American conditions, while Basil Jarvis, who made the trip with Papyru3. did not have the slightest knowledge of American conditions. As M. Beary is cabled as Epinard's jockey in the Saint Cloud match, the chances are he will go to America to ride that horse, and Epinard will, from all accounts, lose nothing by that LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. Heroic, by virtue of his doughty periormances as a two-year-old, is practically certain to be the winter favourite for the Australian Jockay Club's Derby, but others will also be well fancicd. Discussing the prospects of the two-year-olds that have been seen out this season. ''Cardigan," in the Sydney Referee, states \that he expects Spearfelt, Leslie Wallace, and Golden.,. Voice to prove better stayers than Heroic. Braehead, who won the Denman Stakes at the recent City Tattersall's meeting at Randwick, is credited with a fine performance in the event mentioned. Braehead. who is by Mountain King, is said to be a particularly good-looking horse. The Monk was a starter in the race, but was never prominent. The Cypher, who has raced prominently in important events in Australia this season without much success, started favourite for the City Tattersall's Cup at Randwick. The son of Martian made a good bid for victory, but was beaten a length by. Barosca.

By his victory in the Century Hurdle Race at Wanganui Prince Rufus has stamped himself as a stayer. He has beeto well xanalea and has shown particular aptitude for mile and a-half hurdle races. He won the 'JLangahoe Hurdle Race at the Egmont Racing Club's Winter Meeting last week with 10.3, and repeated Tinokaha's performance of last season by going on to win at Wanganui. Prince Rufus is engaged in the Great Northern Hurdle Race with 9.10.

Black .Art. who finished second in the Wanganui Steeplechase, should prove capable of winning a cross-country event during the jumping season. He is by All Black— Dear Heart, ■ and has performed with a fair amount of success over hurdles. His best performance was in winning the Sydenham Hurdle Race at the Canterbury Jockey Club'-. Grand National Meeting last August. when he compassed the two miles in. 8m 44 3-ss. He is encased in both the Groat Northerns, and has been allotted 9.8 in the hurdle race and 9.5 in the steeplechase.

Pamplona, who is owned by the Southern sportsman, Mr. L. C. Hazlett, is said to be coming to Auckland for the Great Northern meeting. Pamplona, who is a seven-year-old chestnut gelding by Pallas— Bstella. is a half-brother to Lochella. He has not done a great amount of racing, but his performances are rather impressive. At the Riverton meeting last year he won the Great Western Steoplchn.se' by 400 yards, and later accounted for the Otago Steeplechase at the Dunedin winter meeting. He was not started again till the Riverton meeting last month, when he repeated the previous year's Hiccess in the Great Western Steeplechase, carrying 11. and winning easily. Pamplona is weighted at 9.4 in the Great Northern Hurdle Ra"e end 10.8 in the Great Northern Steeplechase.

Many different tales have been told as the reason why Carbine was beaten by Ensign In the V.R.C. Derby. It has, however, been generally understood that the use of the short whip came in as one result of Carbine's defeat, and the following, in answer to a correspondent of the Australasian, gives support to that idea:— We referred your Question," says the Australasian, "to Mr. W. S. Hickenbotharn, sen., who stated that Carbine could stand punishment a3 well as any other horse, although it was not always necessary. On one occasion .at _ Randwick the Musket horse gave his compariot Lochiel 10 lengths' start over the last.half-mile, and m a punishin? finish got up in time to win by a head. Mr. Hickenbotham said Carbine finished under punishment in the Victoria Jorby won by Ensign, and that was what cost the lire at horse the race, as his rider , unfortunately struck him in a tender place.