SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6241, 12 June 1946, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES

BRIEF ITEMS OF INTEREST • ON AND OFF THE TRACK (By “ Old Rowley ”) A Reminder Owners and trainers are reminded that acceptances for the Wjiipa Racing Club’s winter meeting close next Friday. Interest Quickening Local racing enthusiasts are keenly awaiting the acceptances for the first winter race meeting on the 1 ocal course since the war commenced. Nominations were not so large as many expected, except in the Arapuni Handicap, but most of those names appearing look likely to fulfil their engagements, and if this proves the case the fields will be quite large enough. Club officials have not' stood still while the restrictions precluded* actual racing, and the cross-country course should provide interesting obstacles for the contestants to negotiate. One thing is certain: even inclement weather will not unduly worry those who wish to attend, as conditions under-foot have been anticipated, and in most places should not be found unpleasant. With shortages in mechanical equipment and tyres necessitating restricted running it is possible that there will not be as nlany people coming from far afield as in normal times, but it is hoped chat the Club will receive the utmost support from local racing folk. “ Wot a Beauty I ” (Vide “ Educated Evans,” with apologies to the late Edgar Wallace.) But it certainly was a surprise to “ Old Rowley ” when La Diamond returned that fabulous dividend at Cambridge last Saturday. So far I haven’t received any grateful letters from readers, so evidently this is one prophet who has no standing in his own district. And for the information of my punter friends who are hopeful of borrowing a fiver I may say that I failed to have faith in my convictions, and thus must continue to write this column indefinitely. Not for “ Old Rowley ” the life of ease and contentment that comes from judicious investing, although I know of one man in this town who must have collected pretty nearly enough to keep him, in idleness for the next twelve months, the said gentleman backing just about every winner at the Cambridge trotting meeting, including £1 each way on La Diamond. Then there was the local lady who, on Monday week at Ellerslie, liking the name of Susan Lee, induced her sister to join her in a ten-shilling each-way bet on that century-dividend payer. There must be some truth in the old saying that “ it is better to be born lucky than rich.” Fair Effort

Without ever looking really dangerous, Roman JNed ran a promising race in the Tamaki Steeplechase. He was handled patiently, and finished on, quite solidly. In easy company tliis novice ’chaser should make his presence felt. Game Attempts

Certainly there is no satisfaction like the receiving of a winning check from a racing club. But, for what it may be worth, Mr A. Yarndley has just cause to feel proud of the gameness (displayed by his Foxbridge hurdler, Bright Fox. Carrying wh.at many good judges of racing incline to think was a very harsh poundage, Bright Fox ran honest and sterling races in his engagements at Auckland, and there is no doubt that had he been in receipt of as generous treatment as some of those engaged at the meeting he would have won his quota of stake money. It would appear that Mr Yarndley has little hope of winning much in the Auckland district under the existing scale of weight assessment for his charge, but maybe if he can find the time to spare he might receive more lenient treatment if he cared to nominate Bright Fox for important engagements further south. It would be interesting to see how the horse fared in the hands of southern handicappers.

Another Good Race The last four or five appearances of Sweet Baffles have shown this five-year-old Baffles gelding to be in very good form, and he is holding his condition well under hard racing. He ran another sterling race in the Second Fitzroy Handicap against the good hacks Cracroft, Silver Wedding, Kanga, and others. His turn should come soon.

May Get a Stake It is a long time since Biscuit won a race, but he runs consistently honest races, and in the Tamaki Steeplechase it looked as though he might at least get a minor share of stake money, but it was not to be, for when Kilcommon fell at the sod wall the first time coming down the hill, and brought down Bronze Night, this caused Biscuit to veer off into the course proper, thus losing any chance he had. It might now be the time to start paying attention to this aged Peach Brandy ’chaser, for some of the fields are not over-strong, and he jumps solidly.

Racing at Manawatu It will be good news to owners and trainers that the Manawatu Racing Club has successfully applied for the dates on which the Wellington Racing Club would have held its meeting had the. Club not been forced to abandon the winter meeting on account of the course not being finished sufficiently to allow for first-class racing. This will make a big difference to many owners and trainers who had been getting their charges ready with the Wellington meeting in view. July 6th and 13th are the two days on which racing will be conducted by the Manawatu Club. Although the Wellington Club must have felt very reluctant to abandon its meeting; nevertheless the step appears to have been a wise one, for this will now allow the alterations to be made thoroughly, and racing generally should benefit greatly by the improvements which this progressive Club has undertaken.