TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bt Rehtimkl.

THE NORTH OTAGO MEETING. The North Otago Jcckey Club has every reason to be highly fcTsUfied at the acceptances foi the first day ot the winter meeting, which takes place on Wednesday and Thursday of next weeK. A. field of a dozen in the Oamaru Cup several wel_known performers, such as Rorke s Diiit. Martina Magdala, fai;nhauser, Ardenyoli and improving sorts such as Bandy and Recorder The' Stewards' Handicap contains some smart sprinters, most of whom have recently shown good form. Eleven have been paid up for in the. Hurdles and excellent fields" also flgnro in the balance ot events on the card. The most notable absentees from the Oamaru Cup are Oxenhope, Gunrost, Buller, Robert Bell, and Red Charm, and two of them figure m other events on the card. The three top-weights still stand their ground, and it should be an interesting bout between the trio. Magdala has latterly been galloping in attractive style; but on paper Rorke s Dritt should 'beat him. In the Great Autumn Rorke's Drift gave Magdala 4lb and a beating, and the former also made quite a good show in the Great Easter. The Calibre gelding was beaten at Gore by Magdala when attempting to give the latter slb over a mile and a distance. If Rorke's Drift has been kept up to the mark since racing at Riccarton, where the form -was more reliable than at Gore, it should be a good go between the pair. Martius allows Recorder 51b for a narrow defeat over a mile at Riccarton; but the former was a better horse at Ashburton, and if he is kept going the Pedometer filly has not much the best of it. Still, she is young, and likely to be improving, and may be found making a bold show. Tannhauser is said to have come on since racing at Ashburton; but he would require to improve a good deal, to have a winning chance. Taking- a lino through Rorke's Drift form at the Dunedin Cup meeting, where he .crave 51b and a beating in the Cup, and 161 b and a beating in the D.J.C. Handicap, Ardenvhor has none the best of it .'n meeting the Calibre gelding on 31b worse terms. Daytime did not look ready at Ashburton, and a mile may bo beyond him at present. It -will bo remembered that he ran a good, second to Buller in the Tradesmen's Handicap, at the last D.J.C. winter meeting-, and carried topweighfc at 8.13 in the Provincial Handicap on the second day. On his best form ho is not badly treated" at 7.13. Bandy's form at Ashburton suggests that ho would run out a fairly good mile under 7.9, and those who follow should help, to make matters interesting under their light burdens.

THE WINGATUI WTNTER MEETING. A large number of Wingatui patrons prefer the winter meeting to any other held on the course during the season. The events between the flags form the magnetic attraction, and those who "love a lepper" will be pleased to note that the crosscountry events on _ ihe next D.J.O. programme have filled 'n a satisfactory manner. Hcatherlea, who has been awarded the pride of place in the Otago Steeples, has won three times on end, and is obviously a much-improved horse to what he has displayed in some of his previous races. He won both the steeplechase events at the Southland Racing Club's meeting, and followed it up by another success at Itiverton. Heathf.rlea beat nothing of much note at Invercargill, and was lucky to score at Riverton, where Recharge had the race won, but fell on the flat between the last fence and the winning post. Recharge has been handicapped as a winner on that occasion, as he is now asked to meet Heathcriea on 91b worse terms. The Brewer, who finished second at Riverton, meets Heatherlea on lib better terms, and Recharge on 121 b better terms. KLilmeny is a far better class of horse than anything engaged in the race; but he has yet to make his debut over country. He, however, has always been a very proficient hurdler, and with schooling should develop .into a useful 'chaser. Silver Monarch went out a first favourite for the Lincoln Steeples of 1914, in which he was opposed by Bercola, Tim Isoolan, Jackman, and others. It was on this occasion that The Cl.ief beat Bercola. Silver Monarch, carrying 10.10, tipped out at the sod wall;_ but if in anything like form next month is not badly treated in the class. The Brewer should be a better horse at Wingatui than he was at Riverton. lie meets Recharge on 91b better terms than when the litter beat him in the Riverton Steeples by 10 lengths.. Grey Renown is a speedy non-staver, and may be seen to Letter advantage than over a three-mile course. He meets Heatherlcn on 221 b better terms than at Riverton. Carrmioro is an improving sort. He did not jump too well at Invercargill, but scored over the Riverton country. Oratonu ran third in the last Hunt Club Cup, and won the Aylesbury Steeples on the last day of the National mooting. On tho latter occasion Grey Renown acted as nmner-up, and now rneefcs

his victor on Ist J3lb better terms. The Gunner is one of Uio safest conveyances that can be fouftd; but he generally fails to stay out three miles. Those who follow in the li.-:t have yet fco distinguish themselves as being worthy of more weight than the minimum burden. Acceptances are due on Monday, May 29. THE FORBURY PARK MEETING. The popularity of light-harness racing was never more forcibly illustrated in Dunedin than on Saturday last, when the Forbury Park Trotting Club concluded its winter meeting. The enclosures were so densely thronged that the attendance appeared to be ono of the best, if not the very best, that had ever mustered on the course. The attendance was also astonishingly good on the first day, when it is remembered that no half holiday was on hand to sot free many who patronise the Forbury meetings when they can do so without having to neglect, business for an afternoon. The track was in good order, but a bit on the hard side, and apparently the harrows had not been sent out to do anything but scratch the surface. A still atmosphere and a hard surface suggests fast times, and the conditions wore much better in that direction on the first day than they were when the second card was being got off. A fairly good breeze on the second day did not help towards the compilation of fast times, and any comparison between the first and second duy'* records would be valueless if attention to that important factor was overlooked Taking the racing on the whole, it must bo. classed as very interesting without being of a particularly exciting nature. Still, sensation is not the essence of racing. Some of the form was hard to follow, but possibly admitted of easy and honest explanation. It would, however, bo interesting to learn why some apparently well-beaten horses on the first day had so much money coming for them, despite a defeat which did not seem to promise too much for a subsequent success at the meeting. The stewards had to consider the running on three occasions during the second day, but did not disturb the judge's placings. The starting did not meet with general approval; but this opinion was principally based on the unsatisfactory despatch in connection with the Jeffs Memorial. It was very obvious that Reggie Huon would not move off with others on the same mark, and all starts should at least allow the front division to get away on fair terms. No doubt the fact that Reggie Huon was a strongly-backed horse drew additional attention to the annihilation of his chance before the race actually commenced. Apart from Reggie Huon. several others in the field were on the screw when the starter sent off the front line, and it was undoubtedly an unlucky despatch, to say the least. There is not much doubt that an eight-item card is far too long at this time of the year, particularly if an "inquest" or two crop up in connection with the running. Fields were small in the big events, and this state of affairs was no doubt solely attributable to the fact that the stakes were not sufficiently attractive to tempt more patronage from tho north. A glance at the fields engaged at New Brighton and Canterbury Park suggests that the local club does not fully exploit tho possibilities for good fields in high class events. Note, for instance, the fact that only two or three out of a good field engaged in the King George Handicap at Canterbury Park were also engaged at Forbury Park. Tho simple fact that tho Canterbury Park stake is nearly double that offered at Forbury Park may bo the solution of the matter. It is, in any case, a matter of regret that, when there are so many high class horses in training, a Forbury Park meeting should not attract more of them. Despite all drawbacks, however, the meeting was a strong financial success, and so should result in the club issuing a good programme when they next seek to cater for the sports. OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT. It is understood that the gelding Rudstone was brought from Christchurch to race on the second day of tho Forbury Park mooting, but the acceptances were missed owing to those connected with hrm being under the impression that acceptances for the second day closed at noon on Friday instead of what was actually the case, closing on tho previous evening. It is also said that several other acceptances were missed through the same reason. Some owners and trainers require a tremendous lot of prodding up as to when nominations and acceptances close. If several acceptances were really missed, it is regrettable that the club in its own interests did not insert a notice on some of tho vacant space on the first day's book as to when they were due. There is, however, a still greater considerat'on in connection with the matter, and that is that the handicapper should not be expected to produce his second day's handicaps at 8 p.m. when there is a blank day between the two cards. Handicaps are not tho easiest thing in the world to compile, and when there is opportunity for ample time being granted tho adjuster it should bo allowed. It should never bo overlooked that handicapping is the basis of racing, and every facility should be provided in order to give full and adequate opportunity for their compilation. A hastily-compiled handicap is apt to carry mistakes which crop up purely through lack of time at the handicapper's disposal, and itr is to be hoped that more consideration in this matter will be shown at future meetings held on the course.