Hawkes Bay Happenings

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 10

Hawkes Bay Happenings

(By "Demosthenes.") Stay-at-home punters had a bad time at the National, while on the third day they received enough back to come again at tho next race meeting. Although Sturdee is trained at Hastings nobody benefited by his winning the Grand National Steeples. Nevertheless his win was most popular, his trainer, Jack Maher, coming m for a host of congratulations. ■ To Miss Granny Maher must be given no little credit for Sturdee's win. When Miss Maher received the Advance areldlnff for show purposes his legs were such that It was pounds to dough nuts he would never again seb a race track. "Granny" persevered and m a little time had him sound enough for hunting and from then on continued travelling all over the island' gaining prizes m leaping competitions at the shows. During this period his "pins" were causing anxiety, but his mentor ne^ver gave m irf trying differ- ,- ent methods for getting him sound and eventually ho was well enough to be put m training with tho happy result we all know. Everyone wanted to be on Wassail the third day on account of a Ilttlo bird wandering around tho town whispering that the son of Elysian would not start the first two days, but would land the double on Saturday. Duo's party very near had a royaler when the Demosthenes gelding ran second to Winning Hit As it was the win was not a bad one. Jockey R. Hunt is experiencing: a trying time Jn the Gisborne Hospital. The latest report states that he will be m that institution for at least another three months. An X-ray Is being 1 taken, and until, then nothing definite a.s to the extent of his injuries will be known. Luke Wilson, who has been m this district for some years, is shifting his quarters to Palmerston Nor^h to take oVer tho racing establishment of tho late A, Oliver. A ttiree-yiear-old half-brother to tho National Hurdles winner Lochson by Heather Mixture has been placed into work at Hastings under trainer W. Griffiths. Ab yet untried, but ho looks tho goods. . r A fine big four-year-old gelding bfc< Polydamon has been taken up by Harry Greene. Oak Roso has at last landed a steeplechase and not out of his turn either, as this season he should bo *t least throe up. Correspondent, who was used to prepare Wassail for his Riccarton campaign, is m rare fettle to commence spring racing: early next month. W. Griffiths has just taken up an untried three-year-old by Heather Mixture from Headache. No ono would ever take him for a Heather Mixture, ho being: such a massive colt. More than ono inquiry has been mad% the- Kilbronfiy~-6unbird two-

-1 year-old. Last week Mr. Graham nearly disposed lot him for 700 guineas to a Wellington sportsman, but the sale fell through on account of the. colt having, no two-year-old;: classic engage- ' mental •■..•.'• V- ■ , ; - •.■.'.■ ,ij ; .. '../ ■'■• Red Ceh£ was brought through to 'Hastings at the conclusion of the National and -not -left atWaipukurau as at first intended. Trainer, Bill Donovan is vto, keep him goin£ for the 'chases' at Avpndale. ; , The otheir morning Kenyon was popped over the pony hurdles. The Bisogne gelding, who is about the first of that sire^S progeny, to be tried at this part of 'tbe business, promises .< well." . ; "'■■ ■■■';'-; :":; ; - .i ■ "■> ;•:■ : .' • J'~-- J . Gaze's fall at Trentham must have affected him a lot as he is very listless m his work and looks seedy. Mr. Frank : Orinond's two-year-old King Mark— Birkelot filly is one of the finest of her sex and age that has graced the Hastings tracks for many a day. As yet she has only run against the bit, but , she should 1 go fast when ■ eprintedi- "■'■'■ ■' v: . ;i ' ■)'"■. . ' ' .':.''" Judging by reports from other centres, the Hastings '; youngsters are backward. Although our trainers have riot yet indulged m 'sprinting, their 1 charges otherwise are forward and when the time comes to race they ehould hold their own. , :...'/ Joe Lawry has: taken Queen's Ferry m hand again. Joe's other charge, the "pony" by-Grown Imperial, has had the Ascot Thousand , set for her. / , Had a look at Kick Off the other day running out in'Mlr. J.S. McLeod's •. paddocks. The St.. Leger, winner is now a big horse and l will be brought - into training on the return from England of Mr. McLeod. ;;.'.-