SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20089, 4 May 1927, Page 13

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING. FIXTURES. May 4.—Waikato A. a fcf.y 6, 7—Forbury Park T.C, May 6, 7—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 6, 7—Marlborough R.C, May Y—Amberley R.O. May 12, 14—Egmont R.C. May 19, 21—Wanganui J.Q, May 21. —Oamaru T.C. Juu’a 1, 3. 4—Dunedin J.C. Juno 3, 4—Otaki-Maori R.O. June 3,4, &—Auckland R.C. June 18—Napier Park R.C. June 23—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. Juno 24, 35—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 26—Oamaru J.C. July 2—Ashburton County R.C. July 12, 14. 16—Wellington -R.C. July 21—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 28—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 28, 30—Gisborne R.C. July 30—Christchurch Hunt Club. As a rule the owners of the light harness horse are not prepared to give away much in the way of handicap, but Fight Ever is giving Imin 5-ssec to come into the Prince of Wales’ Handicap. Queen’s Own beat them all except Black Admiral in the President’s Handicap at the last meeting held at *iddington. When Author Jinks ran second to Avenger at the Addington Easter meeting ho went 4.35 4-5, and put up one of the beet, performances standing to the credit of a three-year-old in this country. The name of Glenelg inadvertently apf eared in the list of acceptors for the rinoe of Wales’ Handicap published on April 30. The horse was not an acceptor for this race. Swiftbino was spun out at a merry clip over a useful distance, and the son of El Carbine completed his task in good style. Robert BeH and Peter the Painter were each allotted steady _ work, and jyill be much benefited in view of their engagements at the meeting. Alpha Wilkes had Kerrwood Bell a? a companion over a couple of circuits. The former gave a pleasing display, and, with the exception of a skip or two, trotted soundly. Kerrwood Bell put in some baa breaks, but the fact of the course being soft may have accounted for this. The secretary of the Forbury Park Trotting Club has received a telegram that Nighborn and Haunui have been scratched lor the first day. Le Todd ran two good races at the Addington Easter meeting, and a repetition of recent form would make him dangerous at Forbury Park. The first race at the Forbury Park meeting is to start at 11.15 a.m. A continuance of the existing weather will cause the Forbury Park patrons to search for “mud larks,” rather than accept form as a guide to_ possible results. One of the beet races likely to be seen at Forbury Park is the St. Glair Handicap, in which some high-class trotters are engaged. One of the hardest to beat may be Money Spider, who did not look quite at the top of his condition when racing at the Addington Easter meeting. Excellent nominations have been received for the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting, and the numerical strength of the fields makes one fear tliat the back'Tfifl-raers will have a doubly hard row to hoe to got through and beat their handicap. The northern horses will not arrive at Dunedin until this afternoon, and hence their local track work is not likely to supply a line as to their chance at the meeting. A visit to Forbury Park yesterday morning proved to be somewhat fruitless, A number of horses were given fairly strong to steady work, but a mild rain set in and made the trade a bit greasy. It will require favourable weather to get the track in good order for this week’s meeting. Adam’s Apple, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas this year was got by Pommern from Mount Whistle, by William the Third, from Craigellachie, by Wolfe s Crag, a son of Barcaldme. Like many other good winners Adam’s Apple is inbred to St. Simon. ■ .. . Antagonism to the tax on betting in England seems to_ bo establishing a demand for the totalisator. A writer in an exchange remarks that there are occasionally tremendous fields for steeplechases in England. At Cheltenham on March 9 there were 43 runners for the National Hunt Steeplechase, four miles, in which the riding was confined to smstours. Twelve horses fell, five were pulled up, and other mistakes reduced the number of horses that finished to 16. Fine who won, carried 12,3. tine Yarns win was quite a family affair, as he was trained by Major Stevens for his wife and was ridden by their son, Mr J. Stevens. Commendation has won 15 races out of 20 starts, and has captured nearly 9000sovs in stakes. , , ~ It is' now reported that H. Tsearde, the trainer of Cimabue. has purchased the Lfji rhtou gelding. Mr A. H. Fisher’s team is at present being treated to a spell from business oa the training track. There is Tittle sport left in racing nowadays—it is simply a business of pounds, shillings, and pence. “Sport” and sportsman” are two words almost without exception quite out of place ( sa y s “Vedette” in the Evening- Post), ■when used in reference to racing. Some of the individuals carelessly alluded to by some writers as “sportsmen” are enou-h to make, the proverbial cat laugh. According to reports from the North Island Peter Rosa and Lady Spalpeen may bo nominated for the Dunedin winter mcet--IDWith the defeat of Gascony in die Manawatu Stakes, two-year-old, form is becoming a trifle mixed, and it would (says , Ahe Watcher”), appear by no means certain that he is entitled to premier position amongst the juveniles. The manner in which, he stopped at the end of seven furlongs on Thursday was, despite his Nib penalty, not very convincing from the point of view of Derby . prospects next year, and after viewing his North Island Challenge Stakes and Thursday’s race, and comparing his finishing effort m each with Agrion r s bull-dog finishes in the Champagne and _ Challenge Stakes at Riccarton, one is compelled to the conclusion that Agnon is his superioras he proved m the A.R.C. Royal Stakes. One is certain so far as one can be m turf matters, that Agnon would have carried 9.0 in‘tho Manawatu Stakes on Thurs dav and no racy of it. the death is reported from Auckland of tho imported stallion Marble Arch. He sired Peter Maxwell, tho winner of last season’s 'Grand National Steeplechase, and two of his best representatives on tho flat •were Uncle Nod and Mullingar. The Awapuni Gold Cup was not a fast run race. The first _ two furlongs took 27sec, five furlongs Imin ssec, and six furlongs Imin 17 2-ssec. [This was all to the advantage of a speedy horse like Commendation, yet he was (says the Watcher”) doing his level best a good way from home. While outstandingly superior to those of his own age whom ho has met in New Zealand, ho has twice now, bn the only occasions ho has met older horses, caused his connections and supporters a considerable amount of anxiety at the finish, and the impression is confirmed that Rapine won on his merits at Kiccarton. On performances the three-ycar-old Palm would appear to be held quite safely by Limerick. “The racecourse is not the only section of tnrf activities where money can be made. A man wont for a gamble two years ago when ho gavn 85 guineas for a mare in foal to Magpie at a country sale. Born and carefully reared, that youngster (says a writer in a Sydney paper) came up at the yearling sales recently and brought 14W guineas. Tho breeder who bought the mare two years ago was J. Silva, head groom to william Thompson, of Yarraman Park. Scone, who breeds on a large scale. Attending tho Maitland sale, Mr Hilv a took a fancy to a brood mare named Daffodil Queen, by Linacre, from Silver Ray. The fact she was in foal to Magpie enhanced her value, for just then the Maupies were forging to the front, with W itkjbag making a great name for his sire. Because of tho union with Magpie he regarded the marc as a bargain snap, and gave 85 guineas for tho mare and took her homo, where she duly foaled. Carcfullv prepared for sale, the youngster entered Chisholm’s ring looking like an T 1 painting. A nice sort of colt, he was regarded by some as the pick of the catalogue, and rapidly went to 1400 guineas at which figure he was knocked down to Mr E. Jolly, an Adelaide owner.” The A.J.C. meeting has concluded, and, according to Sydney writers, previous to that fixture commencing, Heroic was malting his last appearance there for he U to go the stud at tho beginning of next season. Heroic was a horse that had a good chance of heading Gloaming’s total of £43,100, for ho won £38.062 10s. and ho only had to got another £5038 to be in front. With tho rich weight-for-ago races and tho Sydney Cup at tho A.J.C. meeting, it was thought that he was sure to add considerably to his stake earnings, but he failed to do so.

Tuki ia booked to fulfil engagements at tho Great Northern winter meeting. It it about as hard to pick a mud horse as to pick a good yearling but there are a few rules that ate worth following. Old Dick Mason, who is possibly the most experienced trainer now in business, had his own ideas of what oonstitutes_ a mud horse, and he founded his opinions on his experiences with Gloaming (says an Australian writer). “It’s not a matter of stride,” said Mason. “I have seen plenty of good mud horses that were long striders. It is tho way that they lift their front feet out of tho mud that makes all tho difference. “Take Gloaming, now. Ho reached out a long way, and when he brought his front feet back ho didn’t bend his knees at all. Ho brought his front feet straight back and fetched about a shovelful of dirt with him at every stride. I could follow Gloaming’s tracks through any field on a wet day bv the amount of earth ho scooped out of tho "round. Ho never was any good in the mud, and the best mud horses are those that bend their knees at each stride. Do your remember Realm, that won the Sydney Cup? There was a mud horse for you; ho lifted his front feet a foot off the ground at every stride.” As a rule, short-striding, round-actioned horsee are the best actors in soft going, whilst long striders generally require a firm foothold. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, and it is interesting to read what the most successful trainer in Australia and New Zealand has to say in regard to the subject. HAWKE’S BAY RACES. (Peb United Peesb Association.) NAPIER, May 3. The following are the acceptances for tho Hawke’s Bay Racing Club’s meeting:— Mangatarata Hurdles. One "mile and three-quarters.—Maunga 10.9, Merry Singer 10.3, Anchor, San Pedro 10.0, Lombardo 9.10, Asleep 9.5, Westerner 9 M, Fireblight. Goodmark, Peshwa, Martona 9.0. Hign-Weight Handicap. One mile and one furlong.—Highway 8.12, Lovebank, Calluna, Merle 8.11, Gordon Swift 8.8, Mandarine, Coot 8,7, Rakauponga 8.6, Radiate 8.5, Greengrocer, Colarina, Merry Wanderer 8.0. Nursery Handicap. Five furlongs and a-half.—Doree 8.7, Kory Mor, King Quex, Tori 8.2, Polydectes 7.13, Lady Ximond 7.6, Liasion 7.4, Vigilance 7.2, Keen Autumnina, Nahi 7.0. Hawke’s, Bay Stakes. Six furlongs and a-half. —Reremoana 10.0, Shirley 9.12, Grand Knight 9.10, Lady Cavendish 9.5, Cimabue 8.3, Moree 7.6, Great Charter 7.3, Rory Mor 7.3, Marsurd 7,1, Reckless 7.1, Wild Pigeon 7.1, Autumn, Mandoline 7.1! Hawke’s Bay Oup. One mile and a-half. —Rapine 10.7, Clarinda, Royal Divorce 8.7, Perle de Loon, Novar 7.8, Merry Day 7.7, Cohesion, Vertigern, Mah Jong 7.2, Addlapato 7.0. _ . Poukawa Handicap. Six furlongs.— Hathor 9.1, Superb King, Town Bird 8,6, Kalos 8.0, Grand National 7.11, Inner Harbour 7.9, Moepai 7.8,. Sir Kay 7.5. Mon Mint, Eloquent 7.3, Tan 7.2, Clavers, Heatherblend Tanagra, Tameterangi.7.o. Autumn Handicap. One mile and one furlong.—Scotch Mixture, Nukumai 8.11. Vertigern 8.10, Queen’s Choice 8.8, Royal Diadem 8.5, Cohesion 8.2, Bonhpmme 8.1, Good Sport 7;12, Starboard Light 7.11, Bennannee 7.10, Othon, Road Hog 7.5, Serenade, Camiola 7.0. . Forangahau Handicap. Six furlongs. Royal Damon 9.0, First Acre 8.12. Peneue 8 10, Licinius 8.5, Threadneedle 8.0, Rascal 7.15, Decoy Bird 7.11. Archeen 7.8, Ngawati 7.6, Huikai 7.2, Welkne 7.0.