D.J.C. WINTER MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25856, 29 May 1945, Page 7

D.J.C. WINTER MEETING

THE BIRTHDAY HANDICAP The fields for the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday promise to be ot sufficient strength and quality to ensure a big attendance of racing enthusiasts from widespread parts. The feature of the card is, of course, the Otago Steeplechase, and there are also c. hack steeplechase, the Otago Hurdle Handicap, and five events on the tiat. The principal race on the fiat is the Birthday Handicap, and a glance through lire list of previous winners of the race finds the names of owners, jockeys, and horses who were giants of the turf in their day. Among the owners are Sir George Clifford, Sir Charles Clifford, Sir George McLean, Messrs H. Goodman, D. O’Brien, J. Stephenson, G. G. Stead, S. Waddell, M. Hobbs, St. John Buckley, F. Nelligan, D. H. Roberts, F. A. and V. N. Price, J. S. Barrett. H. A. Knight, and G. Gould. Rorke’s Drift has the remark-

able record of having been successful on three occasions—first in 1916 with 10.0, then in 1913 with 9.6, and again in 1921 with 8.4. Horses who have won two years in succession are Little Nell (1874-75), Starshot (1898-99), Terrapin (1903-4), Full Swing (1926-27), and Royal Gallant (1935-36). Horsemen who have ridden the winner in two successive seasons are R. King (1903-4). J. Beale (1909-10), W. Robinson (1915-16), L. J. Ellis (1930-31), and A. Messervy (1935-36). Last year's winner was Boio.vna.

The distance of ■ the race has been changed frequently.' From 1873 to 1875 it was a mile and a-ha)f; 1876-80, a mile and three-quarters; 1881-84, a mile and a-half; 1885-87, a mile and a-quarter; 1888-99 and 1903, a mile and a-halft 1900-2 and 1904-6, a mile and a-quarter; 1907, a'* mile; 1908-18. a mile and a-quar-ter; and from 1919, a mile and a-half. The field engaged in Saturday’s event should produce a race worthy of the place held on the calendar by this time-honoured handicap.