ABSENCE OF 'CHASERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1274, 1 May 1930, Page 9

ABSENCE OF 'CHASERS

Cross Country Performers Will Be of Moderate Calibre HURDLE ' PROSPECTS MUCH BRIGHTER Winter is all but on us again, and the steeplechase season, as far as the North Island is concerned, will be officially opened at Hawera next week. ,

AJOMINATIONS have been taken for IN two winter gatherings — Hawera and Wanganui — and the cry is ! going heavenwards that jumpers are going to 'be as scarce as kidney m the boarding-house pie. It is the same old story, but judging by the crop entered at the two West Coast meetings, there is some justification for the cry of stinking fish. There is no getting away from the fact that 'chasers are bred these days, and it would be a poor look-out for the racing clubs if the hunt clubs were to go out of existence. ■ . It is the hunting field that supplies most of the present-day jumpers; the schooling and tuition the horse's re- i J ceive following the hounds standing to: them when the day comes for them to go a bit /faster. * The fields for the two big lepping events at Hawetfa and Wanganui are made up m the main of the oldI timers, with a smattering of new-

comers, which, on past records, do not look likely to achieve any great fame over big fences: > ' Of course, it is not till the Northern that real 'chasing is witnessed, but horses have to, be got ready for that strenuous trip, and Hawera and Wanganui offer that advantage. Thus it is reasonable to expect the Great Northern field to be of moderate class m June. The picture is much , brighter when it comes to hurdling, and the' principal' races on the Coast will see a good class of horse engaged. The south has their find of last season engaged — Overhaul — while the north has »such proven performers as Elicit, Mister Gamp, Horomea, Gaze, Perle de Leon and Prince L.v to hold the fort. As is invariably the case, before the. season is very far advanced ' there wil.l be unearthed a horse or horses of note, and they will save , the situation; but, m spite of this, the outlook is dark and dreary. '