On And Off The Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 14

On And Off The Track

\ BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing-. May 4, 6—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 4, 6—Westland R.C. May 4, 6—Egmont J.C. May 6—Dunedin J.C. May 11—Amberley R.C. May 11, 13—Nelson J.C. May 16, 18—Wanganui J.C. May 17, 18—Marlborough R.C. May 17, 18—Southland R.C. May 18—Ashburton County »R.C. May 23, 25—Te Kuiti R.C. May 25—South Canterbury J.C. Trotting: May 4—Forbury Park T.C. May 4, 6—Cambridge T.C. May 11—Oamaru T.C. May 11, 13—Waikato T.C. May 16—Marlborough T.C. June 1, 3—Canterbury Park T.C. The Forbury meeting will open tomorrow. Earthquake’s win at Greymouth was her first since April 1932. The Westland meeting will open tomorrow. when there will be racing also at Hawera and Hastings. Two wins at Reefton left L. J. Ellis two points ahead of W. J. Broughton, with a score of 80. On Riverton form Royal Limond should defeat all those below him in the weights in the Celebration Steeplechase at Wingatui. Broken Rule has not succeeded in winning a race since she was purchased by a Gore sportsman, but she should run into a place in the Farewell Handicap at Dunedin.

The field in this year’s Hawke's Bay Cup is of better class than for some seasons, "but it includes nothing approaching the level of Rapine, who won with 10.7 in the 1927 race.

After first forfeits were declared, 46 now two-year-old pacers were left in the Trotting Derby, to be run in November at Addington. Only two or three of them have raced so far, and few of them have been named.

The second acceptances for this year’s Derby and Oaks, to be run at Epsom on June 5 and 7 respectively, were taken on March 26. Of the original 292 entries, 80 remained in the Derby. There were still 66 fillies holding their ground in the Oaks.

The Forbury Park Trotting Club has adopted the use of leather number plates, fixed to the shafts of the sulkies, instead of saddle cloths. It has wisely decided that, with the new numbers, the antiquated armbands are unnecessary.

The brilliant pacer Satin King (4.16), who was turned out on his owner’s farm in Southland some months ago, is being hacked about, and hopes are held of his racing again. He has been fired, and appears to be quite sound, but only fast work will prove this. Satin King is one of the most brilliant performers ever raced in New Zealand. Two yearlings purchased at the Randwick sales on behalf of Mr W. Baird have reached, Invercargill. They are a colt by Silvius from Seraphyna and a filly by Blue Flame from Ardis, the former costing lOOgns, and the latter 65gns. They will be trained later on by F. W. Ellis. Mr Baird previously imported from Australia a gelding named The Rector, who promised to take high rank as a steeplechaser when he met with injuries which necessitated his destruction.

With his success in the Foley Memorial Handicap at Avondale on Saturday, Sporting Blood brought his record for the season up to 19 starts for seven wins, one second, six thirds, and five unplaced. He has earned £2,345 this season. His complete record is 26 starts, nine wins, two seconds, eight thirds, seven times unplaced, and £2,755 in stakes. His proposed trip to Sydney is evidently not definite, as he has been nominated for the Cornwall Handicap to be run at Ellerslie next month.

Few packs of hounds in the South Island have provided the early education for more jumpers during the past years than the Birchwood Hunt. At the Riverton meeting Dunmure, Panocha, and Black Banner, all winners, learned the jumping game behind the pack, and amongst the other starters who followed the Birchwood hounds were Nylotis, Calham. French Fleet, Bandy Boa, Eeclefechan, Towing and Trisox. Snowfall, winner of the Great Western Steeplechase and Grand National Steeplechase, also learned to jump behind this pack. Topthorn’s running at Hawera tomorrow will be watched with interest. Apparently he has been handicapped as a maiden, but three or four years ago, when trained by F. D. Jones, he was a smart galloper. He was second to Silver Scorn at his first start as a two-year-old, and after being placed three or four times he won a novice plate for all ages at Ashburton. As a three-year-old he won the Cashmere Plate at the Grand National meeting, and was second to Silver Scorn at Ashburton. He then proved difficult to train, and has not raced for three seasons, but at his best he was pretty smart.

Ilystride has been paid up for in both the hurdles and the Buckingham Handicap at Dunedin. On Easter form his chance in the flat race looks a slender one.

Keith Voitre, who has become the jockey of the hour, will never have cause to regret his departure from New Zealand (writes “Outsider,” in the “Sporting Globe”). Since his arrival Voitre has taken the Australian racing world by storm, and in winning the Newmarket Handicap on Count Ito and the Doncaster Handicap on Hall Mark in the short period he has been here he has set a unique record for an “imported” jockey. Prior to his being legged into the saddle on Hall Mark, Mr C. B. Kellow, owner of Hall Mark, laid him a considerable sum in the event of his winning the race. Voitre’s original Doncaster mount was Silver Jubilee, but when that horse was withdrawn, Voitre was left without a mount. Then overtures were made to him to take the mount on Sarcherie. Voitre believed that he had been definitely engaged for the mare, and later, when news was conveyed to him that he was not required for Sarcherie, he did not hide his disappointment. After the Sarcherie negotiations had fallen through Holt secured him for Hall Mark. Voitre added to his reputation at Randwick on Monday, when, in a tight finish, he landed Silver Jubilee winner of the La Perouse Handicap. Since he arrived in Melbourne early in February Voitre has won 25 races.

the steeplechase schooling fences at Riccarton yesterday and gave a good exhibition of jumping. He will compete at the Dunedin meeting on Monday and later will go to Wanganui to be followed by Ellerslie, where he will contest the Great Northern Steeplechase.

After having had an easy time lately the pacer Red Shadow is to be put into work again in preparation for another racing campaign. His owner, Mrs M. Harrall, has arranged to have him placed in the stable of the Nelson trainer. L. F. Berkett, and he was shipped north this week on his way to his new quarters.

Last night the position remained unchanged in connection with the threatened clash between the Dunedin and Forbury meetings. The D.J.C. has appealed to the president of the Racinf Conference, who has communicated with the Minister of Internal Affairs and the president of the Trotting Conference, but so far nothing has eventuated.

If official sanction to the postponement of the Forbury Park meeting to Saturday and Monday is forthcoming, an almost unprecedented situation will arise, of two major clubs racing in opposition practically in the same city, and certainly depending on the same public. The dispute between the Dunedin Jockey Club and the Forbury Club had already created considerable bitterness in Dunedin, and the latest development can only serve to intensify it. Unless a compromise is reached, or official action clears the air, it appears that both clubs will be losers, with Forbury probably sustaining the lesser loss owing to its proximity to che city.

Bahrain, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, was unbeatable as a two-year-old, and ’"heft, the runnerup, was beaten only once, by Baurn.m also owned by the Aga Khan. The Indian Prince dominated the situation in two-year-old races in England last season, when he owned the four best youngsters in commission, and it appears likely that he will do so in the classics this year. Bahram last year won the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes at Sandown Park, in which Theft occupied second place. Bahram went on to win the Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood, the Gimcrack Stakes at York, the Boscawen Stakes, and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Theft last year also had five starts, and his only defeat was that inicted by Bahram at Sandown Park.