SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 15

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

April 27, '2)3—South Canterbury Jockey Club. April 27, 213—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. April 28, 30—Waikato Racing Club. May s~Nelson Jockey Club. May 10, 12—Egmont Racing Club. Maj 12—Aahburton County Racing Club. May 17, 19—Wanganui Jockey Club. May 26—Amberley Racing Club. Juno 2, 4—Otaki Maori Racing Club. June 2, 4, 6—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 2, 4, 6 —Auckland Racing Club. June 16—Napier Park Racine Club. Juno 22, 23—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club June 26—Hawke's Bay Hunt Club. July 7—Aishburton County Racing Club July 10, 12, 14—Wellington Racing Club. July 19—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt Club July 26, 2a—Gisborne Racing Club. July 28—Christchurch Hunt Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J.G., Papatoetoo.—Fiery Lad has not won a stake of the value of £'loo or over, although hia four victories have yielded £229.- His winnings render him ineligible for maiden hunters' steeplechases, but li* can compete iu hunters' hurdles and steeplechases if qualified. NOTES BY ARCHER, JUMPING SEASON NEAR. A reminder that the jumping season will soon be at hand was given by the closing of the nominations for the principal events at the Auckland Winter Meeting last week. It is very gratifying to know that the entries received in connection with tho Great Northerns contain the names of many proved jumpers, as well as a number of others likely to improve and bo worthy candidates for those races. Weights for the Great Northerns will be announced on Friday, May d, and their appearance will cause a quickening of interest, more especially as the jumping season will bo opened at Hawera six days later, when the Egniont Racing Club will make a start with its winter Meeting. DEATH OP LIN ACRE. The English-bred horse Linacre, whose death was recently reported by cable, has occupied a leading place among the most successful sires in Australia for tho past decade and has undoubtedly left behind a great record. A good racehorse in England, Linacre was an immediate success on going to the stud in Australia. In his second season—l9ls—he was fourth on the list of winning sires, second in 1916, first in 1917 and 1918, and still prominent xintil the time of his death. To enumerate all the good horses sired by Linacre would be a task of considerable magnitude, as his progeny won many of the best races in Victoria and New South Wales. Up to the end of last season his descendants had won over £266,000, and this sum will no doubt be increased before tho current season is over. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Lord Quex gelding Torquil, sold to an Australian buyer during tho progress of the Auckland. Summer Meeting, was successful at Victoria Park, Sydney, last week. Apparently the victory was well anticipated, as Torquil started at a short price. Several yearlings were purchased by Auckland buyers at the recent sales in Sydney. Mr. F3. Curksey secured a filly by Flying King from Varga and another. The filly is a full-sister to Air Queen and was bought for lOOgns. A colt by Tomatin from Lucella, was purchased on behalf of the Papakura trainer, J. T. Jamieson, for 39Sgns. The Gisborne sportsman, Mr. L. Clare, has left on a trip to London, via Sydney, Java, and Egypt. Before leaving Mr. Clare informed a southern writer that he expects, to return via Sydney, where his horse. Merry Mint, will race again in the spring;. Merry Mint is stated to have practically recovered from the hock injury that caused him to be put aside some months ago.

It has been decided to leave Ladies' Boy permanently under the care of W. Tozer at Ellerslie. The Bome Boy 11. gelding :b looking none the worse for his recent racing and should strip in excellent order at Te Rapa, where he is booked to race on Saturday and Monday next. Lack of size is the only thing against. Ladies' Boy, who is c. shapely little fellow and goeß very fast. It is probable that he may always do best under a light scale of weights.

The steeplechaser Puwhero, who has been off the scene for some time, is reported to have made a decent showing among the hurdlers at Awapuni last week, and it is probable that he may make an early return to form. Two years ago Puwhero won the Grandstand Steeplechase at Wanganni and the Napier Steeplechase also. A boll fencer that is up to weight, the All Red gelding is just trie sort to keep in mind for Hav/era and Wanganui, where the flat country and distances of the steeplechases are to his liking. The bleeding trouble that a fleeted Corinax when he raced at the autumn carnival at Ellerslie has shown no signs of recurring and he has been going along nicely in his work. The Magpie gelding is one of the most promising handicap horses in thii province and has only to be at his best to make a bold showing in the Stoiey Memorial Handicap at Te Rapa, where he will be suited by the roomy track and the lefthanded way of going. It is reported that Royal Damon has been sold to Mr. E. RiSdiford and will in future be trained at Trentham by Captain Gage Williams. Where the class has not been strong Royal Damon has won a lot of races, often carrying big weights, but he has fallen short of being good enough where he has been in good company at the big meetings. Caiefullv placed, the Polydamon gelding should continue to pay his way well.

The well-known hurdle horseman E. Stanway leaves for Sydney by the Marama on Friday en route to Melbourne, where he will be attached to B. Price's stable. On the trip to Sydney Stanway will be in chaige of Mr. C. Dawson'3 horses, Newbury and Rawhetu. who are going over to join G. Price' 3 team at Randwick. It is reported that two other Auckland horsemen in W. Rennie and R. E. Thomson also contemplate leaving for Melbourne.

A surprise entrant for the Great Northern Hurdles is Town Bank. The Archicstown gelding has run some good races on the flat latoly, and, although he has been nomin ated for tho big hurdlo event, it is more than likely that his owner may prefer to race him in the flat events. Two ye;i.r3 ago Town Bank finished third in tho Cornwall Handicap, and he is so partial to soft going that ho is likely to bo a strong contender for honours in the event again this year. Still his owner may have serious intentions of racing him over hurdles this winter, as Town Bank has been nominated for the hurdlo events at Hawcra also. Writing in the Otago Witness " Sentinel'' remarks:—"A. E. Didham, who has been riding with considerable success based on ability in the saddle, is a, Fred. Archer type of horsemen —tall and thin. He rides with excellent judgment and there ia not a better horseman in New Zealand to-day. Didham in particularly good in a finish, which he generally makes with a well-timed run and his mount well balanced and held together for a filial effort. His naturally lengthy leg debars him from using the extreme crouch, but be can get far more out of a horse with a good grip than others perched on the withers. It is unfortunate that another season may end his career in the saddle, as he will probably walk about 9st. during the coming winter. Didham will thus share the fate of many other good horsemen, who, just as they are riding with the best of judgment born of experience in the saddle, have to stand down through getting too weighty. In order to find use for good horsemanship our racing clubs could advantageously adopt a rulo which would automatically raise the weights when the top-weight among acceptor* falls below 9.5 or 3.0."