RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 6

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel The Seigfried gelding Segra broke a shoulder when being schooled last week, and had to be destroyed. Foxette- has been four times placed in 19 starts, and requires a touch of sympathetic handicapping. True Range shapes as if he would show up better over more ground than he raced over at Wingatui. The Wellington, Racing Club has adopted the same method of reducing fields as that introduced at Melbourne meetings some months ago. Gold Wren holds the race record for the Otago Steeplechase at smin 21 2-ssec, and the smin 36 l-ssec put up by Prince Flaneur is next best. Sincere sympathy will be extended by their "many friends to Mr E. N. Didham in the death of his wife, and to A. E. Didham in the loss of his mother. Slayer was made the win favourite for the Otago Steeplechase. The chance of the top-weight was not assisted by the pace set by Bally Brit and Anglo-French, but he was staying on well at the finish.' Maggiore was a bit of a surprise favourite for the Birthday Handicap. She was staying on at the finish, but Cherokee finished too strongly for those who attempted to challenge her in the run to the post. Acceptances for the Wellington meeting are due to-day. This means that South Island owners will have to accept without seeing the handicaps, which were due yesterday. Compeer, who won the Brighton Handicap in good style, has not done a great deal of racing, and scored his second win in nine starts when he won last week. He has also been placed in five races. Compeer was got by Paper Money from Last Note, by Song Bird—Hard Cash, by Penates—San Severo, by Sant Ilario. The large attendance at Wingatui on Saturday showed that with an attractive card and favourable weather a successful meeting is assured at our racing headquarters. This year the meeting'was not held at the same time as the Winter Show, which has always contributed t 6 the attendance at Wingatui. The Manawatu Steeplechase winner, Anini, has done very little racing during the past couple of seasons. Last season she won once in four starts and ran second three times. Prior to her recent win Anini had two unplaced starts this season. She is a seven-year-old mare by Commandant—Headache, by Birkenhead—Agony, by Dreadnought. Tissue did not shape up to expectations in the Birthday Handicap. She appeared to be travelling well on the outside of the field when racing along the back stretch, but failed to finish on as she did at Oamaru. In 11 starts this season Tissue has won twice and finished in a place five times.

Once- a horse bleeds there is a doubt about a complete recovery. Light Cavalry appears to have done so, and he scored a popular win for Mr A. H. Todd, whose colours are a recent addition to the list of racing banners. Light Cavalry has a good turn of speed. He is a four-year-old gelding by Irish Lancer—Linwood, by Woodend—Sabor, by Fowling Piece from a mare by Sheen. A goal of 2,000,000 dollars for war relief has been set by the Executive Committee of the Turf Committee of America. The money is to be raised from race tracks, owners, breeders, and others connected with the sport, and the committee has made it clear that under no circumstances are the tracks to pass on their obligations to the public. The plan, the first of its kind ever undertaken by American* turfmen, leaves the choice of the methods of achieving the objective in the hands of the several managements, inasmuch as the Executive Committee has no power to compel adherence except through the support ; it may get from public opinion While owners and-breeders are expected to do their share, the major part of the Turf War Chest will be derived from the tracks themselves. While details of the 2,000,000-dollar plan must be worked out by the various organisations, these suggestions have been made: (1) A percentage of the track's profit at the end of each racing period to be given to the fund. (2) Several days selected out of each meeting from which all the profits would be given to the fund. (3) A selfimposed assessment by each track on per capita attendance.