RACING AND TROTTING

Southland Times, Issue 24654, 28 January 1942, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING

THREE WINS FOR JIMMY DRUSUS SUCCESSES OF FORMER SOUTHLANDER Jimmy Drusus, the eleven-year-old straight-out trotter which was bred and raced in Southland until early this season has won three races in succession since being purchased by Mr P. V. Flexman, of Auckland, a few months ago. He has won the Claudelands Handicap at Hamilton, the Rowe Handicap and the Association Handicap at Auckland and stakes totalling £775. Jimmy Drusus’was bred by Mr J. Hislop, a steward of the Invercargill Trotting Club, who sold him to Mr-Hamilton, of Hedgehope, but before he was started in a race he was transferred to Mr D. Macdonald (Glencoe) in whose colours he won at his first start —the Waikiwi Handicap at Invercargill in 1938. Last season, when he was placed four times in eight starts he put up record time for. two miles at Wyndham, his second to Parrish Gipsy in the Menzies Handicap being run (from 96yds behind) in 4piin 36sec. Like many pacers and trotters bred in the South Island Jimmy Drusus has done well in the North Island for two reasons—the. opposition is not as strong as it is iri Southland, Otago and Canterbury, and the warmer climate has a beneficial effect on old horses. Auckland On Saturday The Auckland Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday is the only racing fixture in New Zealand on that day. Hearth Hearth has now won 14 races and nearly £4OOO in stakes. Night Pal Night Pal, who has been nominated for races at Winton next week, also has been entered at the C.J.C. midsummer meeting on the same day. Canterbury Meeting The Canterbury Jockey Club has received 157 nominations for seven events at its mid-summer meeting to be held on the Motukarara course on Saturday week. The eighth race is the Middle Park Plate, for two and three-year-olds.

Related To Swordstick The Trial Plate winner at Trentham on Saturday, Dolly Greene, is a three-year-old filly by Bulandshar from Sporting Love. It was only her second start, she having run unplaced in the Apprentices’ Plate on the opening day of the meeting. She was purchased at the 1940 national yearling sales for 185gns, and her dam is a half-sister to Pledge, the dam of Swordstick.

Well-known Owner Passes The death of Mr John Keith occurred in Invercargill on Saturday. He was one of the foundation members of the Winton Trotting Club and the breeder and owner of Annie K., one of the best straight-out trotters produced in Southland. '

Racing Dates Discussed The New Zealand Racing Conference met in Wellington last week to discuss proposed changes in dates of race meetings rendered necessary by the. Government’s decision to confine racing to Saturdays and holidays and by the full occupation of many racecourses by the military authorities. The executive also had a long meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs, and although it was not possible to make any definite readjustment of dates for the remainder of the season, it is expected that a statement will soon be available. The executive also held a discussion with the committee of the Wellington Racing Club on the course on Saturday, and as a result of this, it is likely that the club will hold a meeting at Trentham at Easter, but the dates cannot be fixed until it has been decided by the Government whether Easter Monday will be deemed to be a public holiday. The Canterbury Jockey Club, which has always raced at Easter, will confine its meeting this year to one day at Motukarara, but until the holiday question is fixed, the date is in. abeyance. Good Two-Year-Old In winning the Nursery Handicap with 9.7, and giving weight and a two lengths beating to Dominate, Beau Vaals established claims to be considered one of the best, if not the best, two-year-olds seen out this season. It marked his fourth success in 11 starts. In addition, Beau Vaals has been placed four times. Beau Vaals was got by Vaals from Limeen, by Limond-Molleen Oge, by Birkenhead-Mavourneen, by Spalpeen-Amyris, by Gold Reef-Balm, by Dunlop-Frow Frow. Beau Vaals was sold as a yearling at 325gns. Dark Hazard’s Gait After securing a first and a second as a pacer earlier in the present season, Dark Hazard’s gait was changed for the fourth time when he contested the Waimate Handicap at Timaru as a trotter. From 60 yards behind, he started smartly, and followed Certissimus for a mile and seven furlongs, where he challenged him, an interesting finish ending in favour of Certissimus by a length. Dark Hazard’s time, 4min 31 l-ssec,‘ was a particularly good effort on a soft grass track. Dark Hazard made his debut as a pacer when he was two years old. At three years he ran third to Frisco Boy and Toorak in the Riccarton stakes, and won his first race at Hutt Park in February 1937. His real worth became known when he fought out the All-aged Stakes at Ashburton with Frisco Boy. Lucky Jack was third. He has done all his racing in the colours of M. C. McTigue. All told, he has won 13 races, has been eight times second, and five times third, and has won £3421/10/- in stakes. Wyndham Juvenile Stakes

Because of an error in the programme for the Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting to be held on March 21, the Wyndham Juvenile Stakes is shown as a mile and a-quarter event. This should be one mile and a-half, with no restriction as to districts or boundaries, as in keeping with the programme issued at time of entries. The. event is open to allcomers no matter where owned or trained.