RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24912, 11 May 1942, Page 8

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel Acceptances for the Oamaru meeting are due to-day. A sale of bloodstock will be held on the morning of the Oamaru meeting. A special train will be run in connection with the Oamaru Jockey Club's meeting.

The Defoe gelding De Friend has been shaping well in his schooling over fences. South Island horses appearing amongst the acceptances for the Egmont meeting are Hurry Girl, Arctic Dawn, Erination, and Palfrey. Apart from minor mishaps, it is said that the portable electric totalisator in use at the VVaverley meeting gave general satisfaction.

The Bulandshar colt Lambourn, who came into favour by winning the Harcouit Stakes, is amongst the acceptances for the Egmont meeting. He afterwards ran Wardress to half a head in the Canterbury Cup, following a fourth in the New Zealand Cup. Lambourn may show a return to form in the near future, i Dozie Boy, who ran second in the Grand National Steeplechase with 92, does not seem to be over-burdened with 9.8 in the Egmont Steeplechase. The death of Mr Ralph Stewart, the owner of Beau Vite and other horses, will cause sincere regret amongst his many friends in New Zealand and Australia. The Wellington Racing Club has announced a two-day programme for Julv. The Wellington Steeplechase will carry a stake of £IOOO, the July Steeplechase one of £BOO. and Winter Hurdles one of £750. In .order to prevent unwieldy fields at the Wellington winter meeting the club intends to reduce within the safety number any field by such • means as the stewards think fit. It is not stated what method the club will take to reduce a field. It may mean the use of the ballot, as in Australia, but no doubt a definite statement will be included in the conditions attached to the programme . It is reported that J. T. Jamieson has returned to New Zealand and will confine his" attention to farming, and possibly horse breeding. He first came into prominence as private trainer for \Mr A. McDonald, of Masterton, with Affectation and others. It was the form 1 displaved by Affectation that induced the late *Mr R. Morrison to buy Simper from Mr J. B. Reid. Mr Morrison had just started a stud with a number of mares and Hymestra, but unfortunately he was a victim of the influenza epidemic. Mr W T. Hazlett purchased Simper at the dispersal sale of Mr Morrison's stud. It is said that Jamieson trained winners of around £IOO,OOO in Australia, and, incidentally, his stable gave the ring a few severe jolts.

Racing has for some years past been firmly established in North Otago so far as the Oamaru meetings are concerned. At one time, however, the club experienced fluctuations of fortune and on two or three occasions it required strong work py some stalwart sportsmen in the district to keep the flag flying. At times the fields in the principal events Were limited to two or three starters, but on the other hand the " dress parade" at one time rivalled Flemington or Ascot in the wealth of fashion displayed. North Otago has always been a good sporting district and many notable winners Have been bred there. It is a noteworthy fact that from 1898. to 1905 six winners of the Welcome Stakes came from the Elderslie Stud. Other winners of the same race bred there included Skirmisher, Cyrene, and Pin Money. Good winners bred in the district included Grand Rapids, Vanilla (two Stewards' Handicaps), Obsono, Michaela, Roseday, Comic Song (Stewards' Handicap 2). Silver Streak, Munjeet, Compris, Goldspur, Menschikoff, Orloff. Mingista, All Red. Cronstadt, Carlita, Kilboy, Affectation, Ingoda and many others. There is thus sporting atmosphere surrounding the district which materially assists in the success of racing.