RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 884, 9 December 1916, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. December 20—Kaikoura R.C. Annual. December 20—Hurumii T.C. Annual. December 20 ami 27—Taranaki J.C. Christmas. December 20 and 27—Dunedin J.C. Summer. December 20 and 27—Rcefton J.C. Summer. December 20 and 27—Cromwell J.C. Annual. December 20 and 2!) and January 1 and 2 Auckland R.C. Summer. December 20 and 27—Thames J.C. Summer. December 20, 27, and 29—Manawatu R.C. Summer. ACCEPTANCES. December 9—Kaikoura R.C. Annual. December 12—Manawatu R.C. Summer. December 15—Taranaki J.C. Summer. December 15—Thames J.C. Summer. December 10—Hurunui T.C. Annual. December 10—Rcefton J.C. Summer. December 19—Marion J.C. Summer. December 19—VVyndham R.C. Annual. December 20—Stratford R.C. Annual. December 20—Dunedin J.C. Summer. December 21—Wairarapa R.C. Summer. December 22—Waikouaiti R.C. Annual. December 22—Hawke's Ray J.C. Summer. TROTTING FIXTURES. December 18 and 20—New Brighton T.C. December 20 and 27 —Westport T.C. Summer. December 20—Ashburton T.C. Summer. December 20—Core T.C. Annual. December 27, 28, and 90—Auckland T.C. Summer. December 80 and January 2—Grey mouth T.C. Summer. January 1 and 3—Canterbury Park T.C. Summer. ACCEPTANCES. December 14— Westport T.C. Summer. December 15— Auckland T.C. Summer. December 18—Gore T.C. Annual. December 20—Ashburton T.C. Summer. December 22—Greymouth T.C. Summer. December 27—Canterbury Park T.C. Summer. TURF TOPICS. Despite his rather disappointing display at Woodville, Blackall still holds his position as favourite for the Auckland Cup. Others in keen demand for the big handicap arc John ‘Barleycorn, El Gallo, Wishful, Mullingar, and Colonel Soult. A. McAuiay intends taking a team to the Wyndham meeting, which will probably consist of Henriette, Samisen, Daytime, and Furling.

There was a lot of merit associated with Chortle's race in the Woodville Handicap. In fact, his display was of such a nature as to bring his Auckland Cup prospects into prominence. He and Bjorneborg were the best backed candidates, the latter's position in the betting being due to the satisfactory nature of his track work. Chortle had all the worst of the luck in the running, for he did not get a good passage, and had to race on the outside of his field when turning into the straight. A furlong from the post he was standing Orleans and Maniaroa up about three lengths, and under the circumstances his effort of getting within a head of the winner was a fine one. Blackall's showing was only moderate, the distance being rather too short for him. At present he is a bit above himself, but is bound to improve in the course of the next three weeks. No excuse can be found for Bjorneborg's failure. He was well placed in the early part of the race, but failed to hold his position over the final stages. Though the honours of the race so far as the trio of Auckland Cup candidates were concerned rested entirely with Chortle, it would be unwise to place too much reliance on the showings of the other pair.

A. Pringle intends taking a small team to the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting, and he will probably hold the reins over Lady Haldane in the Auckland Trotting Cup. It is fairly certain that one or more owners missed their acceptances for the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting owing to the change in closing hour from 8 p.m. to noon. Very fair support has been accorded the Ashburton Trotting Club for its Summer Meeting. A particularly fine lot of horses figure in the Ashburton Cup and Boxing Day Handicap, including such speedy representatives as Our Thorpe, Emilius, St. Kevin, Author Dillon, St. Ursula, Frandoeia, Sherwood, Evelyn, Cello Sydney Wilkes, and Eccentric.

J. Bryce originally had five representatives engaged in the Mace Memorial Handicap, of whom Prince Berlin is the only one accepted for. If this can be taken as an indication that the Berlin Abdallah gelding is the best of the Oakhampton lot at the handicaps, he is likelv to be made a strong order for next Saturday's race.

With the exception of two races the acceptances received for the first <™y ot the New Brighton Trotung Club s meeting are quite satisfactory. It is somewhat disappointing to find less than half the horses originally engaged in the Mace Memorial Handicap standing their ground, more especially as the defections are mainly in the ranks of the best performers. This can be attributed mainlv to the large number of dual nominations, and the excess of racing. Within a fortnight of the New Brighton meeting follow important fixtures at Ashburton, Auckland, and Canterbury Park. This gives owners a big range of events to choose from, and all the meetings are sure to suffer through their proximity to one another.

A good many horses were exercised on the course proper at New Brighton this morning in view of next week's meeting. M. Edwards had most of the horses he intends taking to Auckland on the track, amongst them being Adelaide Direct, Wallace Wood, Jaylyn, I.adv Wilmington, Blackthorn, Dillon Bell, Vice Admiral and Reggie Huon. This will be one of the strongest contingents ever taken by one trainer to an outside meeting. Mr J. George's hay colt Alteration by Elevation—Ednain won the Welter Handicap on the first dav of the I'cilding Jockey Club's meeting very easily, being heavily supported on the machine. On the second day he failed in open company, and at three years the Auckland Cup looks beyond him. Kurapai, at Woodville, as at Feilding, accounted for both Mack Hurdle races. A peculiar incident, however, happened on the second day. Janitor, Hie favourite, was leading by four or five lengths coming to the las! hurdle and going easily. In jumping lie swerved badly arid look both hurdle and rails. The jockey stuck to him and eventually finished up on the ploughed gallop inside the rails.

Janitor, who is an aged gelding by Waipawa—Jingle, dam of the Grand National Steeplechase winner, Captain Jack, was purchased on the second day of the Feilding meeting by Mr T. Whelch, owp;>r of Merrie I.ad, Manakau, and other horses. The price paid was £l5O. It is Mr Whelch's intention to send Janitor south to a Canterbury stable. lie is

an efficient fencer and an attempt will be made with him in cross country events. Mr Whelch has been after him for some time, but Mr H. Gaisford would not sell. On Thursday, however, he was so disgusted with his bad luck that the deal was completed immediately after the race. The horse cut his stifle slightly when he jumped off the course.

After several failures on the flat Mr W. .1. Douglas's San Fran gelding Atuafoio was tried over hurdles at Woodville. Hidden by Jy. O'Connell he made a promising showing, but the most likely recruit among the hack hurdlers was Sir Fisher. Usually Mount Victoria absolutely refuses to face the barrier, and generally gets away lengths behind the field. On the second day at Woodvil;«j he was last away and finished , secjnd. The first time he leaves with the field he will take some catching. That horses have good memories is well known, and the latest instance occurred at Woodville. It transpires that Janitor had been i schooled over the last hurdle there, I and in his essays had once struck it hard. In the race, after giving a 1 faultless exhibition over all other i fence*, he swerved at the last hurdle | and lost the race. | Handicaps for the Ashbtirton Trotting Club's meeting are due on the morning of the second day's racing at New Brighton. Should this arrangement be maintained it will deprive Mr Brinkman of the second day's form at the seaside !course, and necessitate penalties beling imposed. Surely it would be in the interest of all concerned to put ■ the date of handicaps and acceptances for Aslihurton back a day. Killjoy's withdrawal from his Auckland engagements was brought I about by muscular rheumatism. At present the A.J.C. Derby winner is enjoving the freedom of a paddock at Kllcrslie. English bred horses bulk largely in the entries for the Auckland Bating Club's meeting their numbers including:—Thurnham, Chcloma, Shrill. Gold Painting, Llanishan and Greenstreet. The hist named was got in England and foaled on a steamer when Hearing the New Zealand coast. She was called after Captain Greenstreet, who has probably brought more passengers to New Zealand than any other captain in the service. The Stratford Racing Club recently called for applications for the position of handicapper for the second day of their summer meeting, and conferred the position on Mr Jack

! Henrys, a son of Mr J. E. Henrys, iThat Henrys, jun., will fill the posiI tion as satisfactorily, saj'S an exi change, may be expected, as he is ! not without experience and a knowj ledge of racing, and, indeed, has been keen on racing since he was a youngster. He starts at a more mature age than did his father, who has been going strong for thirty years, and was never more successful than at the recent Canterbury meeting, where only four favourites out of twenty-four won under his compilations. Mr Jack Henrys is a horseman to start with, anil has seen racing in England, South Africa, South America and the Commonwealth, and would have been fighting for his country long since had he not been three times rejected through an injured knee.

TEMPLAR."