RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 926, 29 January 1917, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. January 31 mid February I—Egmont R.C. Summer, February 1 and 3—Gisborac N.C. Summer. February 3—Canterbury ,1.0. Summer. February 7 and B—Marlborougb R.C. Summer. February 7 and B—Taranakl J.C. Autumn February 8 and 10—Poverty bay T.C. Summer. February 14 and 15—Woodville .T.C. Autumn. February 11. 10, and 17—Duncdin J.C. Autumn. February 22 and 21—Wanganui J.C. Autumn. ACCEPTANCES. February I—Canterbury .1.0. Summer. February 2—Marlborough R.C. Summer, February 3—Taranakl ,T. C. Autumn. February s—Poverty Bay T.C. Summer, February B—Woodville .1.0. Autumn. February o—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. TROTTING FIXTURES. February 9—Marlborough T.C. Annual. February 9—Poverty Ray T.C. Annual. February 10— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Summer. ACCEPTANCES. February 2—Marlborough T.C. Annual. February s—Poverly Bay T.C. Annual. February 6—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Summer.

TURF TOPICS.

It is probable that Desert Cold will not spoil silk again till she goes to the post for the Challenge Stakes at Riccarton next autumn. Recently Mr Lowry sustained a severe loss by the death of a full brother to the champion. Though called on to concede Merry Roe 41b northern authorities would not hear of King Lupin's defeat in the Takapuna Cup. The Lupin horse ran a creditable race under his big weight, but had to strike his colours to Merry Roe and Tabasco.

After her first race on the first day of the Wellington meeting Week End was troubled with her joints. Mr Starky has decided to give the Eng-lish-bred mare a lengthy spell, after which he will decide whether to put her in work again or retire her to the stud.

There was a substantial faliing-off in the totalisator receipts at both Takapuna and Forbury Park on Saturday last.

The Blenheim sportsman, Mr J. Corry, recently purchased Elation from Mr Bidwill, and the son of Elevation "will make his first efforts in his new owner's colours at the Marlborough meeting. Mr A. W. Rutherford has engaged Daytime, Samisen, and Furling at the Marlborough meeting, where the opposition will be much weaker than that encountered at Trentham.

The meeting of Bisogne and Bimeter in the Egmont Stakes on Wednesday will invest that event with particular interest. When thes last measured strides in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslic Bisogne was in receipt of 101b from the Riccarton representative, and the former won after a phenomenal effort. In Wednesday's race both horses will have to put up 101b penalty, and will meet on equal terms, so that the struggle should be conclusive. Mr Lowry has allowed Tete-a-Tete to drop out, and will rely on Estland. The two-year-old can muster up a fine turn of speed, and as he will be entitled to a 31b maiden allowance the two topweights will surely find him a hard proposition. The Porirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, who has quite recovered from his recent illness, will be represented at the Marlborough meeting by Kukri, Cold Soult, Rockbound, Sab'ana, and Tango.

After an unsuccessful trip to Wellington Merry Roe was taken back to Takapuna, and on Saturday accounted for the Takapuna Cup. The daughter of Soult. and Erey Roe is evidently well suited by the marine course, as she has put up some other best races there. Prior to the Auckland meeting she was slightlv amiss, and was no doubt benefited by her journey south. The Auckland horseman, J. O'Shea, was in good form at the Takapuna Jockey Club's meeting on Saturday, winning three out of the six flat events. Strange to say, iii neither instance was his mount favourite, while Loyal Arch, winner of the Zealandia Handicap, went out sixth in demand.

The Woodville Jockey Club receives entries for its Autumn Meeting up till this evening. Taken all round, the Summer Meeting of the Forbury Pnrk Trotting Club hardly came lip lo Ihe high Standard usually associated with southern fixtures. On bolh davs the attendance was disappointing, with the result that there was a falling-off of £5053 in the totalisator receipts. On the opening day the starling left a good deal lo be desired, the results of at least three events being affected by faulty dispatches. There was ;t marked improvement in this all-important detail on Saturday, and the racing was correspondingly belter. Adelaide Direct did not attempt to lower the track record of 2min 8 3-ssec, the Australian-bred mare being off colour. It is understood that the attempt may be made at the club's autumn meeting. There were 11 high-class competitors in the Forbury Handicap, of whom Stanley's Child, Tamarisk, and Childsdale were in most demand. Tamarisk was evidently feeling the effects of his mishap on the opening day, for he quite failed to reproduce his Ashburton form. Agnthos, on (he other hand, started particularly well, and after being well placed all through, had sufficient in reserve lo stall oo' a late run by Stanley's Child. Though the lime was not particularly smart it was a good performance on the part of Ihe winner, and quite justified the high expectations formed of him before being taken south. Childsdale spoil! his chance at Ihe Start, hut Moneymaker p;si up the best race of his career in gelling third place. Evidently Hardy Wilkes will not do his best when asked to race with pacers, for on both days he broke up badly after showing ;i greal turn of speed when doing his work properly. Another very interesting item on Saturday's card was the New Zealand Trotting Slakes, a race confined to three-year-old trotters. Two Christchurch representatives in A. Cox's Marietta and Reta Peter, who were bracketed on Ihe machine, were installed favourites, no doubt on accotml of their showings al Aldington before going south. The former, who is by Petcreta from the Huon mare Marietta Huon, ran a good race, hut more than met her match in Ihe locally-trained Swiftwood, by Wildwood Junior from Swift. Swiftwood is owned by Mr T. T. Ritchie, a southern representative on She New Zealand Trolling Association, who had a good deal to do with the institution of the race. The winner trotted nicely all through, but several of the others

showed more pace than he, only to spoil their efforts by breaking. The disappointment of the race, was J. Bryce's representative, Bluewood, who failed to reproduce the speed credited to him in private. Pax made his connections sonic compensation for his unlucky defeat at Wellington by scoring a meritorious win in the Telegraph Handicap, and by covering the two miles in 4min 43 3-sscc on a slowish track the Prince Imperial gelding has come with a hound into the select ranks of. saddle horses. It was only his superior stamina that enabled Pax to defeat Captain Stanley, for the pair raced almost on terms till well willring the home straight. On the conclusion of the race the stewards reprimanded F. Holmes, jun., for careless riding on Pax. Captain Stanley's owner lodged an objection against the winner on the ground of inconsistent form, but it was dismissed.

A stable companion of Pax in Law Chimes landed the second leg of the double by scoring in the An Revoir Handicap. This event attracted a field of 15, including three representatives from one stable in 0.1.C., The Bronzewing, and Dalwhinnie, the combination finding most favour with backers. After 0.1.C. and Dalwhinnie had flattered their supporters Law Chimes came with a great burst of speed, and bettered her record by casting the mile behind in 2min 15 l-ssec. She had previously started in the Royal Handicap, but could only get third to Moorland and Stanley's Child in that event. Moorland's win in the Royal Handicap did not come out of its turn, for the gelding has not raced with the best of luck for some time. In the King Ceorgc Handicap on the first day of the meeting he suffered rather badly at the start. Then when putting in good work Mandcrene fell in front of him, and the mishap quite put him out of court. It is something of a coincidence that he and his stable companion, Stanley's Child, should finish first and second in the Royal Handicap. The Forbury Park track is evidently a favourite one with Billy Parole, for the Australian-bred son of Australian Parole and Miss Flora Huon has won both his races there. Last December he put up a creditable performance by winning the Suburban Handicap in 3min 44 l-ssec but failed badly at Canterbury Park and Wellington. On the conclusion of the latter fixture he was taken to Dunedin, and on Saturday got to the end of two miles comfortably in the smart time of 4min 58 2-ssec.

A first day's winner in Happy Jack carried most investments in the Musselburgh Handicap, but despite A. Pringle's best efforts he never threatened danger. Victory rested with Royal Rothschild, who went with great steadiness from start to finish. Two half-brothers in Calton and Robert R. finished first and second in the Second Amateur Handicap, and the former, who has had very little racing, looks like doing well in open company.

On being examined at the Duncdin Hospital it was found that R. Reay was suffering a double fracture of the injured leg. This will necessitate a rather lengthy sojourn for the Canterbury rcinsman in the southern institution.

The New South Wales sportsman, Mr Jack Lavenstein, is expected in New Zealand shortly with some horses.

The Gisborne trainer, J. H. Jefferd, has already broken in the Martian—Two Step colt that a patron of his stable purchased for 500gs at the recent Auckland sales. Soon after being handled the juvenile met with a slight mishap that necessitated him being spelled. TEMPLAR.