Hawkes Bay Happenings

NZ Truth, 7 June 1924, Page 13

Hawkes Bay Happenings

(By "Demosthenes.")

Much rain has fallen In this district of late and m consequence the tracks have been m a very bad state, many trainers being forced to use the roads. Later, our tracks should be m first-class order for the jumpers.

The Hawkes Bay Club have decided * to strike out m a more liberal-manner m future. Thus ladies' tickets, as m the last few years, will not be as scarce as the flowers" m winter. The decision of the club is meeting with great approval from all sides, . and is such that will go a long way m putting them: on their feet.

Good Sport, who went all to pieces m the autumn, 1b being treated to a spell. The half -brother- to Chortle is a good horse and will yet win a big race. .

Jim Percy, the late popular caretaker of the Hastings racecourse, has been discharged from the Napier Hospital. Percy is making slow progress towards recovery- ..'..,.

Since arriving at Greenmeadows, Nigger Minstrel has come m for a great deal of admiration. Mr. Lowry recently expressed himself as being of the strong opinion that this colt will be the best horse he has ever owned. He may, be, but with Bobrlkofl! and Desert Gold m mind this writer thinks Mr. Lowry will indeed bo a most fortunate owner if he is superior to the above pair of champions.

In stud matters the Squire of Okawa has m the past been most unfortunate at different times m losing brood mares, young stock, etc., but, says he, all those misfortunes rolled into one would not equal the loss of the imported mare Paradise Duck.,

Gaze, a more than useful hunter last winter, is beginning to come back to that form. Trained m the country, the All Black gelding should require a little racing before he is quite at his best.

Mr. Harry Hassell, owner of v the Sbutra Stud, contemplates a trip to his native country, England, m the near future. No doubt that gentleman will be on the look out for another Merry Moments.

Mr. C. F. Vallance's Aeroslie gelding Akros, m J. Maher's stable, appears to have fully recovered from the accident received on the eve of the last Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting at EUerslie. He will not be long m the hunters' class.

J., Mackay, who, previous to taking up the duties of studmaster at Karamur was employed at the Waikanae Stud, was married last week m Hastings.

Wonderful the tales one hears as to the different people who could . have ow^ed Maunga. Some two years ago aiWairoa sportsman was negotiating for the lease of him on the advice of Joe Griffiths, but because he was not out of Te Puia, as he thought, he be? gan to hum and hah, with the result that Miss Douglaß, who tended him from the time he waß a. foal, determined no • one would have him but herself, with the happy result we all know. Maunga is from 'a full sister to Te Puia.

Luke Wilson is contemplating a holiday before settling down m harness again. In the meantime his two apprentices, Gordon Trlcklebank and Pat Hobsen, have joined the stables of Jack Maher and Fred Tilley respectively. . s '■ ■ Antler has got over his "Wanganui trip now he is back In his own stables. He will not be raced again until the Napier Park and Hastings gatherings.

Merry Messenger, the way he is going on, should be a useful handicap horse m tho early spring. He will be raced at our local winter meetings In the open events.

Mountain Peer Is making very slow progrosß towards recovery. Mr. H. Tupeaa also lost the services of this useful hurdler last winter.-

Itanui tightened up a great deal on his Wanganui trip, but is beginning to build up again. Last year he won the Napier Park Steeplechase, but he does not appear to be the same horse now. He will have another pop on the 20th, when the local opposition will not, on present indications, be much stronger.

In the late autumn. King's Polly showed trainer Stewart Waddell such track form that the veteran fully expects the full brother to Anomaly to develop into a classic horse as a three-year-old. Being trained on the same track as Nigger Minstrel, he will got the opportunity of finding out

That useful Merry Momenta golding Jovial has taken kindly to hurdling. Bach time he is schooled he goes better. Bred aa he Is, he should make a clinker. Merry Moments was a great hurdle performer In England while his aire, Count Schomberg, is considered by many racing authorities to bo tho greatest hurdler ever raced In the Old Country.

Grace, w.ho sent half Hastings broke last spring before they Jerrlod hor to bte tho jade she is, has been placed m work again under Ket Collins.