EGMONT MEETING TOMORROW

Southland Times, Issue 25669, 11 May 1945, Page 7

EGMONT MEETING TOMORROW

SALUDOS IN FAVOUR (Special) PALMERSTON N., May 10. The Egmont Racing Club has drawn an excellent list of acceptances for its meeting on Saturday and the Egmont Steeplechase is arousing considerable interest, marking as it does the reappearance of that grand jumper, Foxiana. He has stood up to the work allotted him, and it is hoped that he will survive the test. Selections may be:— TANGAHOE HURDLES.— Taane Pango, Flying Spy, Hard Frost. TELEGRAPH HANDICAP.— Blue Chips, Tintern, El Tiger. JUVENILE HANDICAP.— Battle Survey, Twitch, Mersine.' HAWERA HANDICAP.— Saludos, Royal Greek, Greek Art. EGMONT STEEPLECHASE.—Master Meirut, Minton, Foxiana. CHAMPION HACK HANDICAP.— Roto Parera, Dunbar, Beneve. McRAE HANDICAP.—Rink, Sunblaze, Peter’s Choice. BOROUGH HACK HANDICAP.— Phalaria or Blue Chips, Tribal Night, Demagogue.

old chestnut gelding by Theio from Odavarb, by Iliad from Bravado, by Psychology, from War Scare, a halfsister to Bobrikoff. He was purchased as a yearling by Mr P. F. Campbell, of Christchurch, for 70gns, and was raced by him without success, although he always showed a turn of speed. ' Last season Whitley was sold to Mr E. C. Haddock, formerly of Christchurch, but now of Hawera, but still remained in C. Davey’s stable at Riccarton. He has taken time to develop stamina, but should now carry on as a winner. Trip To America F. Holmes, sen., contemplates making another trip to the United States. This will be his seventh visit to America, a country which, through his valuable agency, has considerably enriched the New Zealand Trotting Stud Book and Trotting Register. Mr Holmes made a most important addition to New Zealand’s light harness stock when he imported Logan Pointer, and he also brought out Grattan Loyal, Frank Worthy, Rey de Oro, Bonilene, Estella Amos (dam of Indianapolis), and Trix Pointer. The above importations have bestowed an incalculable benefit on New Zealand's light harness stock, and there is every indication that tire strains represented will breed on and become an unfailing source of success at the stud and on the race tracks. Gold Bar

Under normal conditions Gold Bar may have been taken to the United States, where races over a mile are the general rule, and these would suit the son of Grattan Loyal. Gold Bar holds a record of Imin 59 3-ssec on the sixfurlong track at Addington, and on the mile circuits in the United States would be sure to go to a faster mark. The number of horses with records inside two minutes do not run to any great strength even in the home of the light harness breed. Many years ago the late D. J. Price said he would sooner take Fritz to the United States than Ribbonwood, because the trotter was in more favour than the pacer. The best was never seen of Fritz in New Zealand. Indianapolis would have been a good proposition for America, and a substantial offer was refused for the son of Wrack when he was at the top of his form. The offer was made with a view to making an invasion of the United States with the' long-striding champion. More Permits Needed The need for more trotting meetings in the Auckland province is further demonstrated (says Abay dos in The New Zealand Herald) by the fact that provision had to be made for four divisions in the Matangi Handicap at Claudelands. If more permits are not available, clubs should consider providing more matinees to ease the position in the novice pacers’ section. Clubs are to be complimented in getting over the difficulty by arranging for divisions in preference to the ballot system, which is most unfair to owners and trainers. The position is, however, becoming more acute, and the time has arrived when the New Zealand Trotting Association should tackle the problem. The fact that many maiden pacers taking part at meetings are either not forward enough, or incompetent, cannot be overlooked. The association could obviate this by requiring that all novices should be capable of a 2min 20sec mile rate before starting at a totalizator meeting. (The Auckland need for additional permits is no greater than that of Southland).