RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19802, 18 May 1934, Page 14

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track A BUDGET OP NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: May 19—Rangitikei R.C. May 19—Ashburton C.R.C. May 19, 21—Te Kuiti R.C. May 26—South Canterbury J.C. June 2,4, s—Dunedin J.C. June 2, 4. 6 —Auckland R.C. June 2, 4—Otaki Maori R.C. Trotting: June 2, 4—Canterbury Park T.C. June 2, 4 —Hawke's Bay T.C. ■June 9 —Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23—Auckland T.C. The hurdler Gallivanter is now being trained at Washdyke by A. Trilford. It is reported that the Great Autumn winner The Smuggler may be raced over fences before long. Prince Val, who was high in the weights in Auckland province a couple of years ago, is down to 7.1 in the President's Handicap at Te Kuiti. Brown Pearl has been consistent but rather unlucky this season. She has won only one race since she resumed racing in the autumn, but a succession of seconds has raised her steadily in the weights. Don Erma, who has shown promising form over hurdles and big fences in the North Island lately, is owned by Mr S. G. Davidson, whose colours were brought into prominence by that great all-rounder Nukumai. The last of the series of Walla Walla races is to be run at Hutt Park on Saturday. Provided track conditions are favourable, and that Harold Logan’s legs are in reasonable good condition, there should be more appearance money for the little champion. Quinopal does not look so bright just now as he did in the spring, and he has raced at times as if his whole heart was not in the business. That is a pity, as a few months ago he looked a good National prospect. He is now raced on lease by Messrs Smith and Burn of Otautau. and is being trained by the first-named. Until lately, Harold Logan always stopped quickly after reaching the front. Since M. Holmes was retained to drive him the champion has raced equally well in front or in behind. Certainly in most cases when he has taken the lead early it has been to slow the field down till ready to put a break on to the opposition but he seems to respond wonderfully to M. Holmes’s methods. P. T. Hogan took two horses to Invercargill, and was never out of the money. Water Power registered a win and a second and Brown Pearl a second and a third. The trainer’s apprentice E. A. Leckie rode both mares. With her 7.13 reduced to 7.8 by Leckie’s allowance, Water Power will be hard to beat if the Ashburton track is soft on Saturday. Mr L. S. Martin, owner of Walla Walla, intends to try and arrange with the trotting authorities in Victoria to stage a Centenary match there between Harold Logan and Walla Walla. There seem to be tens of thousands to be handed out for other forms of sport during the celebrations, and there seems to be no reason why the pacers and trotters should not share in them. Harold Logan’s neck defeat by Walla Walla at Addington on Easter Saturday has proved a blessing in disguise for the Harold Logan party. Had the New Zealand champion won the first match at Easter as easily as he did the second it is unlikely that the boom in invitation races would have continued. Now Harold Logan is picking up nice stakes with his ears pricked.

When Impromptu established a track record of 2.4 1-5 at Hamilton he was assisted by Lindbergh. Both horses went away to a flying start, with Impromptu quickest to gather speed and reaching the half-way mark in 1.2. Lindbergh -was level at the top of the straight, but Impromptu responded and was first home by half a length. As Impromptu was credited with 2.4 1-5 it appears that Lindbergh did 2.4 2-5.

There is a rather disappointing entry for the principal flat race at the South Canterbury May meeting, but in all other respects the nominations are very satisfactory. The Steeplechase promises to be a feature, the hack races have filled unusually well, and the entries for the two harness events are extremely gratifying. If all the two-year-old pacers engaged go to the post, the trots will be dress rehearsals for the Sapling Stakes. When Water Power finished second to Hurlingham at Washdyke last month she was in receipt of 121 b. from Royal Amphora and beat him by five lengths. At Ashburton the difference is 91b., and as Water Power has won in the interval at Invercargill, she seems, on recent form, to hold Royal Amphora safe at Ashburton. If the track is good, however, the betting may not support that view, and it will not be surprising if Royal Amphora is favourite, as a good horseman is engaged.

It is understood that Indianapolis may be given an opportunity next month to attack the mile record. It is unfortunate that he was not ready to make his attempt last month, as it is not unreasonable to believe that at his best he would have done as well as Auburn Lad. When a mile in two minutes is posted, it will most likely be in the autumn. Atmospheric conditions are just as important as track conditions when record-breaking is concerned, and February is the best month at Addington. In late summer the air is more rarefied than at other seasons.

Impromptu's 2.4 1-5 on an unbanked grass track at Clandelands was a fine performance, equal to better than 2.3 at Addington. It provides further evidence of the improvement being made by pacers and in this branch of sport very little is heard of the oldtimer who claims that things are never as good as they used to be. When he does make his voice heard he is promptly squelched by being shown the watch, the accepted standard in light harness racing. When Ribbonwood did 2.9, and was credited with ability to step 2.6, he was regarded as a freak. Now there are at least twenty—probably more—pacers in the Dominion capable of going 2.5 from a flying start with pacemakers. Admiral Wood created amazement by approaching 4.23 for two miles; now a pacer has to break that time to win a 4.40 class race at Addington on fast days. As a result of Walla Walla’s visit, clubs are showing a disposition to encourage owners to send horses after records, and if this spirit prevails next season a mile in two-minutes is almost a certainty.