RICCARTON NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 13

RICCARTON NEWS

TRENCH FLGIIT IN WORK WILD CHASE DOING NICELY A. C. MESSERVY FOR AUCKLAND [rtV TEnKGHAPH OWN' COItTtKSrONPKNT] CITRISTCHUnCH, Friday Trench Fight has now stnrtcd on another serious preparation and is in remarkably good orrlor. Wild Chase has also been getting through some useful work of late. This pair will commence their racing this season at Trcntham in October. AYild Talk is still in the Wanganui Guineas, and it is possible that she may go north. For some years past the Clifford colours have been represented in the classic, and Wild Talk should be a worthy candidate this year.

Although it was announced early in tho week that the proposed trip of Willie Win to Melbourne had been abandoned, the matter has again been discussed and a final decision will be made during the week-end. J! lie goes, ho will be shipped on September 1. The Riccarton light-weight horseman A. C. Messervy, who served his apprenticeship in tho Chokeboro stable, but of late has been with F. Parker, will leave next week for Ellerslie, where he will be attached to W. J. Fergus' stable. When Rebellion was purchased from Mr. G. Murray Aynsloy by Messrs. O'Brien and Dennett it was arranged that he was to remain with 11. Davies, private trainer to Mr. Aynsloy, until after tho Grand National Meeting. It lias since been decided to leave him with Davies, who also has Sovereign Lady and Disdain under his care at present. Disdain looks in excellent order, but it has not been possible to do as much with her as desired, owing to recurring leg trouble. J. Tonikinson is giving The Masquerader one more trial. It was considered that The Masquerader had finished racing when ho went out some weeks back but, as he did well, it was decided to put him into work again.

GRAND NATIONAL NUMBER OF CASUALTIES THIS YEAR'S GOOD AVERAGE RECORD OF PAST SEASONS Although the heavy slate of the training tracks affected even the schooling of jumpers immediately prior to the Grand National meeting, the average of performance, judging by the number of casualties in the steeplechase events, was better than the mean of the previous decade and a great improvement on the 19J57 record, when only two horses completed the course in the Grand National Steeplechase without mishap. The fields generally were larger than in more recent years and the fences were as formidable as on other occasions, but the times wero much slower than has been common. All six steeplechase events, produced good contests and accidents arc inoro liable to happen when the horses aro rumjing in close formation than when the field is strung out. The percentage of casualties, which, includes horses who for any reason failed to complete the course, from 1930 is as follows: —19110. 46 per cent; 19.'31, 3G\; 1932, 36J; 1933, 50; 1934, 23i; 1935, 33; 1936, 29; 1937, 43.}; 1935, 29V. Details of each race, giving the number of starters and failures for the last eight years, are as under: — - C 2 c o % a O t/j o a - « = a H % , >. t a a d .5 cy, W K PQ <J H? Year 1031 .. Started Ki 7 S 8 .S 11 Failed 7 3 1 3 0 7 .1032 . . Started 10 7 !> 7 10 Failed 7 3 3 O 6 1033 .. Started 0 11 .11 7 8 8 Failed I 0 3 3 4 4 1031 .. Started 30 7 7 4 7 7 Failed 3 2 1 0 2 '2 1035 .. Started 11 7 8 H 3 5 Failed 3 3 3 2 1 2 3030 . . Started S 7 7 7 (i 0 Failed 22 3 22 1 1037 . . Started 0 5 8 6 I 7 Failed 7 0 4 3 (J 3 103tr Started 10 7 10 0 (j 8 Failed 5 1 3 22 1 These figures would appear to show that the performance of. jumpers from year to year, under the same conditions as regards the obstacles, is consistently good. In 1931, there were 58 starters and 37 completed the course, and in succeeding seasons, the respective totals were 58 and 37 again, 27 and 27, 42 and 32—the best achievement for many years, that of 193-1 —12 and 28, 41 and 29, 39 and 22, and this year, 47 and 33.

Tho record of tho Aylesbury Steeplechase, especially in view of the fact that it is run on the last day, is very good, as also is that of the Hunt Cup. There have been some catastrophic contests, however, such as the Lincoln of 15)31, the Enfield of 1033 and the Grand National of 1037. At four meetings in the last eight, a race has been run without a casualty and there were two such events last year. SUCCESSFUL SEASON WAIKATO TROTTING CLUB [FROM OUll own coimrcsroNnKNT] HAMILTON. Friday A profit of £643 is shown in tho balance-sheet of the Waikato Trotting Club, which is to be presented to the annual meeting of members on August 30. The president, Mr. R. T. Beid, in bis report, stated that only two permits were issued to the club during the season, and that these were exercised on December 4, 1037, and on May 14 of this year. Stake money was again progressively increased, and both fixtures proved a great success. Tlio liabilitv to the bank was liquidated during the latter part of the season, and tho guarantors were released.' Tho guarantors, Messrs. H. W. Burch and ,J. Eraser Smith, had been thanked for their services to the club. The report stated that improvements were in progress at the course, and all buildings and fences were being repaired and painted. Lt was hoped to make extensive improvements to the members' stand later. During the season tho Cambridge Trotting Club held its annual meeting on the Waikato Club's course, and the gathering proved a great success. The season closed with a financial membership of 186, a slight increase over last year. During the year £6OO had been expended on repairs and painting. Totalisator receipts amounted to £6735; stakes totalled £2400; and taxation paid to the Government £3132. The levy to tho Trotting Association was shown at £103; rent of the course, £200; course upkeep, £260; and depreciation, £283.