TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

There is every prospect of more than average success attending the annual meeting of the Tiinaru Trotting Club to-morrow. Large fields are engaged in most of the events, while there is no lack of quality in the principal races. For the convenience of Christchurch sportsmen a special train has been fixed to leave for Timaru at 8.5 a.m., returning at C.45 p.m. Several of those figuring in the Trial Handicap possess private reputations for speed, but have not yet made good. Sallywood and Mine-light are a speedy pair, of whom tho best has not yet been seen in public.

Of the mixed lot of trotters figuring in the Waimate Handicap, Rita Rose is assured of solid support, but if Pieter TimmeTman can be induced to leave the mark he is bound to be troublesome.

A nice field of 14 pacers are down to contest the Timaru Handicap, and as there is only 4sec between the lot a keen struggle can be looked for. A pair likely to take a hand in the finish are Dean Dillon and Stockade, but the result is very open. The back mark division in the Seadown Handicap are not badly placed, and with A. Piiugle in the saddle, Watchman should be prominent. Even 80, he will need to hurry to overhaul such a speedy pair as Ouimet and Sweet Nut.

There should be an interesting contest amongst tho nine trotters engaged in the Temuka Handicap. Despite his many recent failures Succory will be ■well supported, while Wonderland can be expected to improve on any of his recent efforts.

The limit horses appear to have something of an advantage in the Washdyke Handicap, a likely pair being Mykot and Lluvia d'Oro.

In the Fairlie Handicap Gladiola and Eotheliff are assured of strong support, while Shanghai and Granger may be capable of keeping the front markers busy in the Farewell Handicap. The big track at Addington is very loose just at present, and badly in need of a good soaking. A number of horses were exercised this morning, but the work was of an uninteresting order. Amongst those on the track were Nelson Bingen, Frank Traeey, Bank Note, Rearguard, Biiudura, Ked Heather, Tit Bits and Caltou. One of the best actioned trotters seen at Addington for some time is the American stallion Nelson Bingen. So far he has not been required to show his best speed, but he should be capable of putting up a good race when quite wound up. A. Fleming took several horses to Canterbury Park yesterday, amongst them being his contingent, for the Timaru meeting. Dean Dillon showed a fine turn of speed till he struck himself, after which he could not be induced to settle down. Perfect Day and Wonderland both shaped nicely, and the former has evidently come on a lot. Handicaps for first day events at the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting ■will be" declared on Friday morning. This will enable Mr Briukman to take Timaru form into consideration. The West Coast sportsman, Mr H. W. Kitchingham, intends being present at the Timaru meeting to see his horses Golden Pippin, Orange Pippin, Lovebird and Lluvia d'Oro race. One of Otago 's staunchest supporters of trotting in Mr T. T. Ritchie, announces his intention of shortly retiring from the business. Mr Ritchie has been a steward of the Forbury Park Trotting Ciub for many years, and was also a member of the New Zealand Trotting Asso'eiation.

The secretary of the Forbury Park Trotting Club announces that several nominations were received for the club's autumn meeting after the hour of closing and could not be accepted. The Southland trainer McLelian has decided not to take any of his team to Forbury this mouth, but Smith will probably take Last Vue to that meeting. A feature in connection with the Ashburton A. and P. Association Show will ho two events that should claim the attention of light harness enthusiasts. One is for the best two-year-old trotter or pacer, to be exhibited without harness, and the other is for the best yearling pacer or trotter. Liberal prizes have been given by the Ashburton Trotting Club. Though Winter Cherry appears as an acceptor for the Waimate Cup, she is a very unlikely starter in that event. On the conclusion of his gallop at Biccarton yesterday morning Fiery Cross was slightly lame, but the trouble goon disappeared. Gay Lad will sport silk in the President 's Handicap at Waimate, and a race

.should do him good in view of subsequent engagements at Ashburton. Gamecock is being kept up to the collar in view of his engagement in the; Waimate Cup.. Though the distance may prove rather far for him, his condition should enable the son of San Francisco to put up a good race. The Panther is favourite for the English Derby, with Messrs Clark and Robinson's colt Stefan the Great in demand Iforke 's Drift is continuing to work well after his Dunedin Cup meeting efforts, and is to be nominated at the Southland meeting to be held at the end of this month. Tenders are to bo called for the formation of the new track on the Invereargill course and it is anticipated that the work will be commenced before the end of this month. The new track will be nine furlongs and 39 yards, and its turns have been surveyed on a radius i j of seven chains. F. McCabe, formerly one of Aus-, tralia's best cross-country riders, and of late years a member of the A.1.F.,' rode the winner of the Gatwiek Steeplechase last month. It is one of the big jumping events of the 3 r ear in England, and any jockey who wins it has the chance of a good ride in the National. I There is to be quite a carnival of racing, steeplechasing, and trotting in Southland during the end of March and beginning of April, commencing with the Southland Kacing Club's autumn meeting on 26th and 27th insts., and followed at short intervals by the Gore Racing Club, Gore Trotting Club, and finishing at Easter time with the Eiverton Racing Club's annual fixture. The sum of £10,420 will be distributed in stake money by these four clubs, I which gives,, an excellent idea of how the sport has advanced in the south. | I Owing to the closing down of racing during the influenza period in New , South Wales turf news was difficult to obtain and the arrival of Mr W. R. Kemball's team in Sydney was featured in several newspapers, a large amount of space being devoted to the New J Zealand horses, photographs and full | particulars of their performances and breeding being published. Admitting ■ that the team is a mixed one and some of the horses not of the first flight, the I Sydney scribes find it hard to under-1 stand the reason of Mr Kemball's in-1 vasion of their country for a declared' period of one year. It may be news to the Commonwealth journalists to learn that Mr Kemball is an Australian, who lauded in Maoriland in a humble | manner, but who presently rose to a state of affluence as the result of shrewd-1 ness, foresight, and some smiles from j Dame Fortune. The owner of Hymestra,' Nanna, Snub, Scornful, Wishful, and j Gladful is probably anxious to, race his j useful horses in his own country, hence j the invasion . which is apparently a ' puzzle to the critics. TEMPLAR. I