RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9694, 23 June 1917, Page 10

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES. Juno 22 and 23—Napier Park H.C. Winter. Juno 29 and 30—Hawke's Bay J*C, Winter. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Tohunga.”)

Amongst that long list of casualties appearing daily we must expect to find some of our dearest friends, 8° many of them have gone, and so many more will doubtless go. It hurts to know that one whom you met almost yesterday, has been killed, or may bo wounded at the front. One of the best sports in the Wellington province, Harry Palmer, of Pctonc, 'u;s been wounded on the Somme, and has friends will bn grieved to know ot bis misfortune. Private H. J. a man well past the prime oP life, one who bad spent the best part of bis hie in working to win a lair way lor bis wife and boy, volunteered for the front, and left in the same contingent as bis only son did. Private Palmer was one of the mainstays of i.'iie Wellington Trotting Club; be donated the first gold cup for the meeting, and helped most materially in keeping the club going. It is not often the, father and the son go out to battle together, especially when the father has no real need to go.

The Napier Park meeting has provided a packet of surprises. The winner of the first hurdle race proved a victor at bis first try-out. Want is one of the Penury breed, and b,as not done too well on the flat. It looks as ihough the jumps would suit better. The result of the Potaue Hack Steeplechase would bo a surprise to most sportsmen. Bodenham, the winner, has let those who have placed their trust therein down so often that he would ,be probably sent away with a light gold weight. Rauraanawhiri got into the Stewards’ Stakes at the minimum, and showed the way to the others, winning by two lengths. Ho is a good horse, and .will pay his way. Czaronus fell in the Petane Steeplechase, which Was not an unexpected ,episode. Braobnrn stood up to it in the Napier Steeplechase, and, well weathered by Deerey, ho landed the stake. A number of his followers had lost confidence in his ability to keep his feetMarten must bo returning to his original form. Ho turned up in No. 2 place at Napier in the main country event of the day. Montana fell in the Ahuriri Hurdles, and, according to the telegraphed account of the races, he was destroyed. He will be missed from the tracks, ns ho had undoubted ability, both on the flat and across the minor jumps.