RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19698, 26 July 1927, Page 13

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

1926-27. July 28, 80—Gisborne Racing Club. July 30—Christchurch Hunt. 1927-28. ~ August 6—Poverty Bay Hunt. August 9, 1.1, 13— Canterbury Jockey Club. August 20—Pakuranga Hunt. August 27 Taranaki Hunt. September 2, '3—Marton Jockey Club. September 8, 10—Wanganui Jockey Club. Septembei 9—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 10—Otago Hunt, September t4--Dannevirke Racing Club. September 15—Dannevirke Hunt. September 24—Ashburton Racing Club. September 24, 26—Avondale Jockey Club (at Ellersliti). September 29, 30— Geraldine Racing Club. October I—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. October s—Manawatu Hunt. October 8, 10—Auckland Racing Club.

ANSWER'S TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Maxim."—Nelson was defeated on two occasions in the decision of the Canterbury Cup. In 1886 he was defeated by Artillery and in 1887 he ran second to Maxim. " Query," Henderson.—ln the conditions attached to the A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes it is laid down that the winner of the Epsom Handicap shall carry a penalty of 101b and the winner of the A.J.C« Derby weight-for-age if handicapped below that weight. The penalty clause attached to the Caulfield Cup is that the winner of any race of the value of £IOOO or upwards to the winner after the declaration of the weights shall carry a penalty of 14lb. The winner of the race in question which you mention would not be penalised for either the Metropolitan or Caulfield Cup.

NOTES BY PHAETON

THE GRAND NATIONALB. Of the 13 horses engaged in the I.'ew Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, four hail from Auckland, ftnd, as the quartette referred to include Beau Cavalier (11.7), Kawini (11.1), Zircon (.10.2), and Peter Maxwell (10.1), it may be said that matters shape promisingly for another success being registered by a horse hailing from this district. Beau Cavalier's winning displays in the Great Northern Steeplechase and in the Wellington Steeplechase place him well in thu limelight, but Kawini may prove a thorn in his side at Riccarton, and then there is Peter Maxwell to be reckoned with. There was no doubt about Peter Maxwell's victory last year, and. if he is landed at the post in the same form this year as he was 12 months back, he will be a hard horse to beat. Fifteen horses are still engaged in the Grand National Hurdles, 'and, with Comical and Ngata numbered among the defections, Kawini (10.6) is left at the head of the list. The horse that appears to be most favoured at present is Wharncliffe (10.0), but there is no tendency to'unduly boom him, and there is plenty of reason to view the situation as decidedly open between at least half-a-dozcn.

THE WINTER CUP. In the 35 contests that have eventuated to date for the Winter Cup the marea have only scored three victories. A glance over the acceptances for this year's mile race at Riccarton reveals that five mares are engaged, viz., Hathor (by Egypt—All's Well), Horomea (by Quarantine —Hermia), Joy Bird (by Argosy—Almond), Flaming Ray (by Clarenceux—Formal), and Peho (by Winkie—Little Owl).

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Zircon is credited with having stood his two races at Trentham in a manner that augurs well for his being ready for the fray at Riccarton next month.

Commendation and Limerick are expected to make the trip from Wellington to Sydney by the same steamer, and if such eventuates it will furnish an interesting incident.

Omahu and Ngata evidently felt the effects of their racing at the recent meeting at Trentham, for both veterans were allowed to drop out of their engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National Meeting.

It is stated t-o be quite certain that First Acre will next season run his first race in Australia, all continuing well with him. The son of Acre will probably be shipped to Sydney by the steamer leaving Wellington this week.

Only two more meetings remain to be held before the season of 1926-27 comes to sn end. The Gisborne Racing Club holds its meeting on Thursday and Saturday, and the closing meeting is that of the Christchurch Hunt Club, which takes place at Riccarton on Saturday.

Inferno's misbehaviour at the starting-post last year led to his being placed on the schooling list, which means that he ia ineligible for any flat race in the Dominion. Tho son of Absurd has improved his manners to such a marked extent that it iB considered he has fully earned the delation of his name from the prohibited list.

" Halt a century ago horsea were trained on hard work," said Ned Thompson, an cldtime Australian authority recently. " They didn't run on shirt-front tracks rolled by machinery and kept green by automatic sprinklers . And they didn't fetch thousands in the sale-rings either. You could get a cup winner for a hundred or so, and you didn't need a license to train or ride. Those were the days."

A record still to be achieved in connection with the New Zealand Grand Nationals is for a horse to win the double in the same year. The fact of the steeplechase being rvn before the hurdle , race in the Grand National double, it is hardly necessary to state, invests the task with more difficulty than that attached to the Great Northern double, where the hurdle event comes first. Not many horses are submitted to the test of endeavouring to win the double at Riccarton. At the posting of the first acceptances for this year's big jumping double at Riccarton Beau Cavalier, Kawini, Crown Coin, and Peter Maxwell comprise a quartette figuring in both races. It is a promising quartette, for they can all lay claim to a staying certificate.

Wharncliffe (10.0), who is the ruling favourite for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdlo Race, was not called upon to race until he reached the age of five years, and at that period he failed in the only two races exacted from him. At six yearß old he did much better, for lie scored two victories and he was only counted out of a place on three occasions in the 13 races he contested at that period. During the present season Wharncliffe has contested 11 races, and his record iB four winß, one second, four times third, and twice unplaced. In the decision of the Winter Hurdle Race at Trentham on the 16th iust. Wharncliffe beat all his field with the exception of Nukumai. but it has to be stated that he was in receipt of 291b from his rival that day, so that the performance for which he wna responsible at Trentham under 9.7 was not of an outstanding character.