On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19941, 27 October 1934, Page 11

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS. FIXTURES Racing:: Oct. 27—Banks Peninsula R.C. Oct. 27—Rangitikei R.C. Nov. 3—Waipukurau R.C. Nov. 8. s—Avondale J.C. Nov. 3,5, 7, 10—Canterbury J.C. Trotting: Oct. 27—Wellington T.C. Oct. 25, 27—Poverty Bay T.C. Nov. 6. 8, 9—Metropolitan T.C. Banks Peninsula meeting to-day. Trotting Cup “Trial” at Wellington this afternoon. Satin King pulled up apparently sound, after running at Oamaru. and is to have another race at Wellington to-day. If he stands up to his work Satin King will be very dangerous before the Cup meeting is over. The principal event of this week in Victoria is the valuable Moonee Valley Cup, to be run this afternoon. For the Centenary the stake has been raised to £3OOO, in addition to a gold cup. Young Sentinel, who paid a sensational dividend at Gore In the autumn, has not won since, but he went close to another big return this week, beating all except the winner, Tauramai. As it was, his dividend on the place machine was pretty substantial. Cherry Queen’s double win at Gore may cause some money to be lost on her at Riccarton. When she is able to frame her own rules, as happened in weak fields at Gore, she is a brilliant galloper, but she has never been convincing when she has met anything capable of beating her off the mark.

Some clubs appear to have overlooked the alteration in the limits for slow class races adopted by the Trotting Conference. A 3.38 class for pacers is now something of a misfit, as horses which win off the extreme limit, 3.43, usually go back to 3.39 or 3.40, and would have to give away a second or two to start in a 3.38 event.

One of the trotting events at Rangiora was started before the machine had balanced. The stewards met to consider the position, but diplomatically adjourned sine die without reaching a decision. As the totalisator had closed before the start no harm was done in suite of the technical infringement of the rules.

Gold Trail, who has received a 51b. penalty in the New Zealand Cup in recognition of her Pearce Handicap win, is by Chief Ruler, and on that account does not appeal in a two-mile race. Chief Ruler sired an Auckland Cup winner in Admiral Drake (Chief Ruler—Tame Duck), who was second in the New Zealand and Sydney Cups as well, but one duck does not make a covey.

Nell Volo will be a great attraction if F. J. Smith brings her to Addington next month. There the American mare will meet real trotters, but if she is what her northern admirers claim —the best in the Dominion —she should clean up the programme so far as unhoppled events are concerned. Nell Volo is on 4.36. and receives 7 sec. from Trampfast, Huon Voyage, and Olive Nelson.

Win-and-place totalisators will be run at theßanks Peninsula meeting. Good “place” prospects appear to be: Trial Stakes, Delice. Orris; Highweight, Cottingham, Chidden; Devauchille Trot, Argolis, Wink Eye; Buchanan Memorial, Sweet Agnes, Polydora; Harwell Hack. Theatin, Cheap Money; Le Bons Handicap, Rebel Star, Cranford; Little River Trot, Noble Prince, Subsidy: Brackenfield Hack, Colossian, Rebel Chief.

In the win pool on the Balfour Trot at Gore, there was no investment on Red Logan, and ten shillings only on three others—Winnie Lee. Neola, and Rothborough. The possibility of a sensational dividend was soon removed. Rothborough. Neola and Red Logan were soon toiling a furlong or two in the rear, and Winnie Lee compounded after going well for half a mile. There are some smart pacers in Southland, but there are also some rough ones.

M. Kirwan held only a three months’ conditional license at the time of his suspension at Wellington, and if he fails in his appeal he will be in a different position to a rider with a fullterm ticket. His conditional license W'ill expire at the end of October, and he will have to secure a renewal instead of automatically becoming eligible to ride when the suspension expires. In Victoria, a permit to resume riding is required after all suspensions.

One totalisator, paying dividends on a 70-20-10 basis, will be operated at Wellington to-day. Horses likely to participate are: Petone Handicap, Triangle. Chudleigh; Novice Handicap, Sage King, Paragon; October Handicap, Dundee, Compass; Cup Trial, Blue Mountain, Satin King; President’s Handicap, Chudleigh. Harvest Dillon; Borough Handicap, Imposter, Sylvia Sydney; Short Handicap, Sage King, Azel Maid; Electric Handicap, Agility, Compass.

The owner of Knocklong expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which she was ridden in the Flying Handicap at Gore, and the matter was investigated by the judicial committee. A decision that there was no evidence to justify any action being taken was a sound one. On the first day, Knocklong was beaten by Cherry Queen, Lochlaggen, Red Racer and Master Anomaly. On the second day Lochlaggen was absent, but the other three again finished ahead of Knocklong, who had a fresh rider aboard.

Last year the Gore meeting gave a very pronounced tip for the New Zealand Cup. Palantua, handicapped at 7.2 in a weak Cup field, finished second in the Spring Handicap at Gore with 9.0 and won the Waikaka Handicap with 9.4. It is doubtful if the Cup winner was seen there this week. The Smuggler was second in the Spring Handicap with 9.0. but ran badly in the Waikaka Handicap with the same weight, and in this year’s Cup he has 121 b. more than Palantua carried last year. Those figures appear to effectually dispose of The Smuggler, but he has it in his favour that he is never a second-day horse and that he won the Great Autumn with B.o—his Cup weight.

Apparently the stipendiary steward is of opinion that the verdict in the Polydora case did not gor far enough. The “Dominion” says:—“The decision of the judicial committee of the Wellington Racing Club in the Polydora case did not meet with the approval of the chief stipendiary steward, Mr C. Gomer, and he has availed himself of his powers under the rules of racing to notify the executive committee of the Racing Conference to that effect. Under the same rule the executive, if it feels satisfied that such

decision should be reviewed, may direct it to be referred to the district committee. This has been done, and the reference has gone forward to the Wellington District Committee with a direction that it be treated as an appeal from the decision of the judicial stewards of the club. The matter will be dealt with by the district committee at a meeting to be held next Tuesday. The rule further states that the stipendiary steward shall be entitled to attend the hearing, and take part in the proceedings as appellant.”