EPSOM MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 9

EPSOM MEETING

SECOND DAY'S EVENTS PUT OFF UNTIL SATURDAY TRACK NOT IN FIT STATE The committee of the Auckland Trotting Club yesterday decided to postpone the second day of the Winter Meeting from to-day until Saturday. The decision was arrived at after an inspection of the course at Alexandra Park, Epsom, when it was found that, as a result of the racing on Saturday and the heavy rain that has fallen since then, the track was not in a fit state to race upon. Before definitely deciding npon the postponement, Mr. A. G. Mabec, secretary of the club, conferred with visiting owners and trainers, who readily agreed that under the circumstances Bueli a course was unavoidable. The club has been unfortunate with weather conditions for its winter meetings, and last year, when the opening day was scheduled for Wednesday, June 20, heavy rain set in, causing a postponement until the Saturday, the second day being held on the following .Wednesday. Up to 1925 the club held its final meeting of the season in April, but in 1926 a, change was made to June, at the request of owners and trainers, who desired a winter meeting. The track was very heavy in 1927, 1923 and 1929, when the Adams Memorial Cup was won respectively by Uncle Bert in 5.11 2-5, Taipare in 5.15 and Reremai in 5.17 2-5. The record for the race is held by Sea Pearl, who won in 1926 in 4.40. Last Saturday Great Logan won in 4.54. which was almost 10s slower than the time registered in tho two previous cup contests, Worthy Light, 1934, and Kewpie's Triumph, 1933, each going 4.44 2-5.

OBJECTION FAILS MANGERE HANDICAP CASE POSITION OF F. J. SMITH / The objection lodged in regard to the Mangere Handicap run at Epsom last Saturday was dismissed by the judicial committee of the Auckland Trotting Club last evening. The race , was won by Bonny Azure, owned by Mr. S. G. Hedlev, and Nelson Luvan, owned by Dr. M. G. Pezaro, was second,. Both these horses were formerly trained by F. J. Smith, who was recently disqualified for three months by the New Zealand Trottirig Association, and they figured in the race-book as being trained by his brother-in-law C. G. Smith. Mr. A. lies, owner of the third horse. Great Chum, entered the objection against first prize-money, £95, being awarded to Bonny Azure, and second prizemoney, £2O, to Nelson Luvan, on the ground that F. J. Smith was not fulfilling the terms of his disqualification. There was a full attendance of members of the judicial committee, namely, Messrs. T. J. W. Buxton, C. V. Mark. F. C. Marks, J. W Ryan and T. E. N. Wade. Mr. lies attended and made a statement. He said he was in touch with bis witnesses yesterday morning, but in the afternoon received a message from them stating that owing to the bad weather they could not attend. He therefore asked for an adjournment. F. J. Smith, who was present with a number of witnesses, said he received permission from the Trotting Association to continue to reside on the property at Takanini and to work unregistered horse?. The judicial committee's finding was as follows: —That in the absence of any evidence that F. J. Smith has not fulfilled the terms of his disqualification, and in the absence of any justification for an adjournment, the objection be not upheld.

YOUNG HORSES AT EPSOM WELLSFORD OWNER'S TEAM Four young trotting horses owned by G. A. Williams, of Wellsford, have arrived at Epsom under the care of TV. Willetts. The team comprises tho three-year-old trotter Bingen Sun, who has gone into G. Webb's stable, and a three-year-old filly by Gumdigger— Nellie Bramley, a three-year-old filly by Gumdigger—Lady Doris, and a two-year-old colt by Gumdigger—Nellie Bramley, who will be trained at Epsom by Willetts. Bingen Sun is bv Nelson Bingen from Sun Dial, a prolific brood mare by Star Child from an Islington mare, who produced good winners in Gold Dial, Bell Dial and Gumdigger. He is the only one of her progeny to favour the trotting gait, and when trained by Webb earlier in the season showed some promise. Since returning to Wellsford Bingen ~Sun has been operated upon and he has furnished into a sturdylooking gelding. The three other horses are pacers and are well forward, having received a sound education on their owner's track at Wellsford. They are much alike in conformation and show resemblance to their sire, Gumdigger, who was by Gold Bell. Nellie Bramley was a speedy mare by Great Audubon from Ima Dillon, a Harold Dillon mare. Lady Doris was bred in Australia and is by Mambrino Derby from Doris, who also produced the piebald pacer Bicolour, who won several useful races for Mr 'J. A. Mitchell some seasons ago. Lady Doris is also a piebald.

JOCKEY'S BUSY WEEK-END RIDES IN THREE COUNTRIES The noted jockey Steve Donoghuo had a busy week-end recently. lie rode in three countries in the space of 40 hours, and travelled nearly 700 miles. After riding in the 4.0 race at Gatwiok on Saturday, May 18, he left for Belgium. On the Sunday afternoon ho won the Belgian Grand Prix at Brussels on Prince Alv Khan's Prawn Curry. During the night he travelled from Brussels to Paris, where ho rode in early-morning gallops on the Monday. Donoghuo arrived at Croydon by aeroplane from Paris just before 3 p.m. and left immediately for Northolt Park, where his son Pat, a trainer under Pony Turf Club rules, was responsible for several runners. Pat Donoghuo saddled one winner and two seconds during, ihe afternoon.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Argument," To Whetu. —The grandstand Handicap at the Ellerslie summer mooting in the 1928-29 season, when Corinax won the Auckland Cup, was won by Vertigern and Concentrate, who dead-heated, with Oratrix a long head away third. The Clifford Plate at the same meeting resulted: —Mask, 1; Laughing Prince, 2; Count Cavour, 3. TROTTING FIXTURES Juno 23—Auckland Trotting Club.