RACING AND TROTTING

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 7

RACING AND TROTTING

By

HAMPTON

£33,000 WON IN STAKES Trotting Horses Bred In Southland GREAT COON BACK IN WORK Grand National acceptances close today. Reply To Correspondent “G M.” Invercargill.—Blue Logan won the Whiteleigh Handicap on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s 1938 Cup meeting.

A Good Family ’ The rising three-year-old- filly by Siegfried from Andante has been named Tune. She is a member of F. W. Ellis’s team and is a good type of youngster. Andante, who is now in her twenty-sixth year, is still alive, but she has not been bred from since producing Tune. She was the dam of Towing Venite, Choir, Guste and Lady of Spain. Venite has produced two useful winners in Psalm and Sal. Andante was got by Clarenceux from Chantress, by Birkenhead, and traces back to the imported mare Hammock.

Great Coon Back J. A. Rowland has recommissioned both Royal Coon and Great Coon. Both did well during their absence from the tracks. Great Coon, who won four races and was four tunes placed during the closing season, was responsible for some worthwhile form, and although he failed to win over a journey further than a mile his placings behind Royal Flight and Signal Offik cer were much above the average. Great Coon promises to be one of Southland’s best handicap horses in the new season. Royal Chorus, apart from three useful placings, one in the Wyndham Cup, was a disappointment during the year. He was tried over hurdles, and in the few appearances he made in this department towards the closing season he displayed great promise. It will be as a hurdler that he will be expected to race prominently next season.

Getting Back to Normal The light drizzling rain of the last three days has effected a remarkable change in the conditions at the Riccarton racecourse. Practically all signs of the abnormal fall of snow have disappeared, and for the first time for close on a fortnight it was possible to use one of the inside grass tracks for galloping on Thursday. The going was naturally sloppy; but with a little fine weather all tracks should provide reasonably good going for the remainder of the week. The inside steeplechase course has made a good recovery. The course proper has had a thorough soaking, but with a shingle foundation, the moisture will soon drain away, and only a favourable spell is required to ensure a return to the favourable going usually in evidence at a Grand National gathering. It is expected that the course proper will be open for galloping and schooling next Tuesday. Amended System In discussing the amended handicapping tables the New Zealand Trotting Calendar states: —“The new tables provide for slightly decreased penalties and consequently all horses have been assessed to new marks in such a way that horses with placed performances have been given the advantage of the decreased penalties which are to operate in future. For instance, a horse which has won a maiden race and, for such win was allotted the maximum penalty of 84yds under the old tables was assessed on line 8 of the old tables. Under the new tables the maximum penalty is reduced to 60yds and in future a horse wining a maiden race and receiving the maximum penalty for such win will be assessed on line 6. Therefore the horse formerly on line 8 is assessed on line 6 of the new table. In determining the assessments for the 1945-46 season the twomile mark has been taken as the basis, thus horses will still meet on precisely the same terms over this distance in relation one to another as at present. A Great Record Year in and year out Southland bred pacers have played a prominent part in the decision of leading events on the trotting calendar, and it is of interest to point out that during the closing season horses bred in Southland won £33,000 in stakes. This figure represents almost a sixth of the total stake money distributed in New Zealand for light harness events. It is certainly a formidable total and is entitled to be advanced when Southland’s claims for additional trotting permits are being considered. Lady Dawn, with £2747/10/-, was the principal contributor to this total. Blue Horizon was next on the list with £2622 and from the same tap-root were other winners in Bonnie Sandy, and Indian Wrack. Poppotunoa, Medical Student and Comeaway, all descendant from that good producer Our Nurse, won a tidy amount. Seamax, Punctual and Mistydale, all descendants of the Wrack mare Sea Mist, were useful contributors. Dillondale and Navigate, both out of daughters of that good producer First Water (dam also of Ned Worthy, First Royal and Aqua Bond) proved themselves young pacers above the average, while another useful producer to be represented was Suncross, whose produce in Play Safe, Worthy Cross, Fashion Club and Clydeside all raced prominently.

kindergarten to be RETIRED More Than £16,000 Won In Stakes Kindergarten is to be sent home; to Gisborne, and it is unlikely that any further attempt will be made to race him For the last two years he has been unsound, and only his superlative class enabled him to win races on very little work. Kindergarten was a freak horse in more ways than one. He is by Kincardine, a sire believed to be practically impotent when he left England. Kindergarten himself is what is technically known as a double orchid and had all the appearances of a gelding although he had never been operated on. He was bred at Gisborne by Mr E N. Fitzgerald (a native of Orari) and was educated for racing by Ivan Tinsley. He was very plain and rather weedy, and his early races gave no indication of his future gr^ tll a S tiiree-year-old he was sent to Ellerslie to be framed by R. S. Bagby. Kindergarten vaulted into prominence by winning the Great Northern Derby, and later in the season won the Auckland Easfer with 9.11 m 1-37—a magnificent performance for a thiee-year-old. A year later he won the race again carrying 10.3 in 1.35 3-5, a composite achievement never equalled in this hemisphere. The pinnacle of his career was reached in the following season, when he captured the Auckland Cup with 10.2 in 3.22. Kindergarten made one ill-starred trip to' Sydney After finishing a dead-heat for third in a minor w.f.a. race he was pronounced unsound and a long spell was prescribed. Back in Gisborne he quickly recovered, but transport difficulties prevented a return to the Commonwealth, to the great good fortune

of Australian owners. Once he started in his winning way the champion was only once out of a place—in the Wellington Cup when he pulled up lame under 10.10. Kindergarten’s winnings exceeded £16,000, all won in the Dominion, except £25. His last appearance was made in the Hazlett Cup in Dunedin.

COURT TALK WINS MAIN EVENT

STEEPLECHASING AT KNAPDALE Good finishes were seen in all three steeplechases at the annual point-to-point meeting of the Eastern Southland Hunt Club on the property of Misses K. and M. Hanley, Knapdale, on Saturday. Interesting racing did much to compensate for the disagreeable conditions under which the “programme was conducted, the club experiencing unfavourable weather for the third year in succession. The venue was ideal from the public’s point of view, there being a crescent terrace forming a natural grandstand from which an uninterrupted view could be enjoyed. Riders, however, were not so fortunate, the sodden and slippery going on the course itself accounting for a number of spills during the afternoon. Court Talk ran a solid race to win the Eastern Southland Steeplechase after taking the lead at the end of six furlongs and making the pace from then on. His jumping was excellent throughout. In the Wayte Memorial Steeplechase Sparkling Lad’s rider mistook the course at the end of a round when, with a lead of several lengths, he missed a jump and had to turn back. The winner, Bright Feather, had a life at the fourth jump, otherwise his display was a good one. A field of 11 contested the Wantwood Steeplechase, which was won by Certain, whose brilliant finishing run was a feature of the day’s racing. Mr D. Kelly, joint secretary of the club, thanked the Misses Hanley for the use of their property and patrons for their encouraging support in adverse weather. Results:—

WAYTE MEMORIAL STEEPLECHASE. About two miles. Weight, 12 stone—J. Johnston’s BRIGHT FEATHER (T. M. Kelly) 1, Miss E. Carter’s PILOT (W. • Wayte) 2, T. Brown’s ADVICE (H. Winsloe) 3. Also started: Banjo (R. R. Ford), Crackerjack (R. McLeod), Jacko (H. Redman), Golden Song (A. J. Carnie) and Sparkling Lad (W. Todd). Banjo, Sparkling Lad, Jacko and Bright Feather raced in close order to the ■ first fence, with Advice heading the rest. Approaching the logs Sparkling Lad took the lead from Bright Feather, with Advice and Crackerjack handy. Still leading with a round to go, Sparkling Lad missed the second of the double and Golden Song was pulled up shortly after. Pilot was left momentarily in charge, but with half-a-mile to go was passed by Bright Feather, Banjo and Advice. In a good race home Pilot came again, but failed to catch Bright Feather by just over a length. Advice was a good third and Banjo was fourth. Crackerjack fell. Time, 4min lOsec.

WANTWOOD STEEPLECHASE. About two miles. Weight, 11 stone—N. Kelly’s CERTAIN (Owner) 1, Miss J. Horne’s BLACK JOE (W. Todd) 2, R. R. Ford’s RED LAW (Owner) 3. Also started: Big Ben (H. Winsloe), Lady Friend (A. Dickie), Red Phil (A. E. Redman), Piccadilly (W. Wayte), Lucky Obm (K. Whiteley), Spot Cash (I. Dodds), Scottish Glen (R. McLeod) and Campus (C. Kirby). Big Ben dwelt at the start and Red Law jumped sideways, interfering with Piccadilly and Red Phil. Campus, Scottish Glen, Spot Cash and Lady Friend approached the first fence almost together, but the latter came down. When the field settled down, Spot Cash had taken up the running from Black Joe, Campus and Scottish Glen, who fell at the fourth jump. Red Law was next some six lengths back, with a similar gap to Certain and Lucky Obin. This order was maintained until half-a-mile from home, where Red Law, Lucky Obin and Certain began to make up ground. At the second last fence Spot Cash had had enough, and Lucky Obm came inside Black Joe on the bend with Certain coming fast on the outer. These three charged almost abreast at the final brush, where Lucky Odin came to grief and Certain put in a great jump. Finishing gamely, the latter had three lengths to spare from Black Joe, with Red Law six lengths away and Spot Cash fourth. It was a popular win. Time, 4min ISVisec. EASTERN SOUTHLAND STEEPLECHASE. About two and a-half miles. Weight, 12 stone. —J. Boyle’s COURT TALK (A. E. Redman) 1, J. Johnston’s BRIGHT FEATHER (T. M. Kelly) 2, K. Whiteley’s HARMONY ROW (Owner) 3. Also started: Bow Street (R. Horne), Red Hope (W. Wayte), Lucky Obin (A. Jones) and Sparkling Lad (W. Todd). From a good start Bow Street, Sparkling Lad, Red Hope and Court Talk raced in a bunch to the double and continued to make the running for the next half-mile. At the logs Sparkling Lad and Bow Street were just showing clear of Court Talk, who then ran to the front. At tills stage Harmony Row and Lucky Obin appeared to be hopelessly out of it. Court Talk made all his own pace over the last mile-and-a-half, though Sparkling Lad. Bow Street and Bright Feather were always within striking distance. Bright Feather began to close on the leader at the second last jump, where Bow Street and Sparkling Lad were tiring. Court talk won by two lengths in a hard finish with Bright Feather, Harmony .Row being 10 lengths back third and Red Hope fourth. Sparkling Lad fell at the last jump. Time, 4min 43'Asec. OPEN JUMP—BANJO (R. R. Ford) 1, FULL FLIGHT (Miss B. Scott) 2, PILOT (Miss E. Carter) 3. WOMEN’S JUMP—PILOT (Miss E. Carter) 1, TE ANAU (Miss G. Jones) 2, BANJO (Miss J. Horne) 3. CONSOLATION JUMP—SPARKLER (M. Winsloe) 1, DOLLY VARDON (E. Winsloe) 2, JACKO (S. Slater) 3. JUMPING COMPETITION, ponies 13.2 or under—TARZAN (W. Whiteley) 1, SILVER (Miss D. Kelly) 2, TOBY (Miss F. Harvey) 3. JUMPING COMPETITION (juvenile riders) —GIMPY (M. Winsloe) 1, DOLLY VARDON (E. Winsloe) 2, TE ANAU (W. Whiteley) 3. POLO RACE—DOLLY VARDON (E. Winsloe) 1, GIMPY (W. Whiteley) 2, TOBY (M. Winsloe) 3.

WINTON JOCKEY CLUB Loss On Year’s Working The annual meeting of the Winton Jockey Club was held on Friday evening, Mr J. GMacalister presiding. The annual report stated that it was unfortunate for the club that the day of its annual fixture was wet and this, ■ combined with the restrictions on motor and rail traffic, had an adverse effect on totalizator and gate returns, causing a loss on the meeting. The turnover of the *totalizator was down approximately £5OOO, the gates showed a decrease of £l3O over the previous year and the stakes were raised £458/10/-. The finances of the club were still in a favourable position although the.hank balance showed a decline from £1528/17/6 to £754/19/5. Consideration must be given to the rise in stakes. The income and social security tax was £322. £3OO was invested in the War Loan and £4Bl was granted to the racecourse trustees for further repairs and maintenance to the course property. It was pleasing to see the big improvements made at the course over the last two seasons. As soon as building permits and labour were available the club would be able to carry on with a building scheme which had been neglected during the war years. Mr Macalister said that the drop m the totalizator turnover cost the club £2OO, but other country clubs were all in the same position. On the whole year there was a loss of £525 The club had to pay retrospective tax on the rebates of £5OO in excess of £2O 000 on the totalizator. The club had made a donation of £lOO to the R.S.A. buildlnTheU foilowing office-bearers were elected: President, Mr R. J. Woods; vice-president, Mr W. L. Cunningham; treasurer, Mr J. Kean; committee, Messrs T. McGillivray, J. G. Macalister, J. H. Swale, J. Welfare, J. J. Woods and R. Swale; secretary, Mr J. F. Bromley; auditors, Messrs J. T. Shaw and J F Harrison. The remaining members of the committee are Messrs F. Boyle, T, Hamilton, J. L. Hazlett, J. W. Murphy, W. Swale and A. Campbell. Messrs J. T. Smith and J. Kean were elected life members.

CYCLING M. Beer Wins Championship Twenty riders took part in the annual 25mile unpaced club championship conducted by the InvercargillAmateur Cycling Club on Saturday. The senior championship was won by M. Beer in Ihr Smin 26sec. The winner of the junior championship was w. Young, whose time was Ihr 12min 14sec. Beer won the Maurice Harris Memorial Cup for the rider gaining the actual fastest time Three times in as many starts Beer has now registered fastest time in this event and he has twice won the senior championSh The results of the sealed handicap were: M Beer (scr) 1, G. Hewton (9min) .2, A. Drury (Imin 15sec) 3, A. Padget (9min) 4.