On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 10

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS. FIXTURES Racing Sept. 24, 26—Geraldine R.C. Sept. 26—Marton J.C. Sept. 26—Napier Park R.C. Oct. 3—Kurow J.C. Trotting Oct 3—Methven T.C. Oct. 10—New Brighton T.C. Oct 17—Waikato T.C. Oct. 17, 19—Westport T.C. Oct 24, 26—Auckland T.C. Oct 24, 26—Greymouth T.C. Oct. 26—Oamaru T.C. Oct. 26— Manawatu T.C. First race at Orari to-day at 12.0. Renew has been scratched lor the Geraldine Trot, and Zincali will nov* be a separate chance on the totalisator. The death has occurred in Auckland of E. S. Groat, a well-known trainer of trotters and gallopers. Queen of Song may have another race at the Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday. Handicaps for the second day of the Geraldine meeting will be declared in to-morrow’s “Herald.” Acceptances are due by noon. Kinnoull will probably return to New Zealand by the Awatea, leaving Sydney on October 9th, and it seems that Silver Streak is to return by the same steamer. It is probable that a number of fresh horses will be racing on the second day of the Geraldine meeting. Acena, Orange Bud, Wine Card and Paper Slipper are four from Riccarton due to compete on Saturday. • • • • It appeared that the Sydney jockey W. Cook rode a shocking race on Mala in the Chelmford Stakes in allowing the New Zealand colt to drift so far back in the early stages, but it transpires that he was temporarily blinded by a flying clod which struck one of his eyes.

Selling races, or novice races with selling conditions, figured largely on early Geraldine programmes. One of these, run in 1875, was won by Mr J. Lunn’s Nectar (by Golden Grape), who wept on to win the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, forerunner of the New Zealand Cup, at her next start.

The acceptors for the two trotting events at Orari to-day total 46, against 35 last year, but these figures do not reveal the real Improvement. Last season the two races were of equivalent class, and the 35 acceptors represented only 29 horses. This year the limits are different, and 45 separate horses have been paid up for.

The time record for the Geraldine Cup is 2.6, established by Dodge last year when he cut 2.ssec off Happy Warrior’s long-standing figures. The track record for six furlongs is 1.13, set by Kinnoull last season when he clipped a full second off the previous best, standing to the credit of Moorland and Hurlingham. There has never been a walk-over in a Geraldine Cup, but one nearly occurred in 1905, when Invader (carrying 201 b over) cantered round for second money behind Chaos. On the second day Chaos, hoisted to 10.6, beat two moderate opponents. A dark horse developed by M. and C. Hobbs, Chaos shortly afterwards finished second to Euroclydon in the New Zealand Cup. Aiwai, the winner of the Avondale Stakes, was bred by Mr J. Donald and is raced on lease by the Woodville trainer F. Davis. She is a second foal, being a sister to Prevail. They are both by Chief Ruler out of Yeomanry, a mare bred in England by Bucks Hussar—St. Begoe, by St. Frusquln. Aiwai was favourite for the Debutante Stakes at the Wanganui meeting, but she drew wide out, and could finish only fourth. • • • • In a letter from Sydney F. D. Jones indicated that the idea of taking his team on to Melbourne had been abandoned. The present Intention is to leave Sydney on October 9, after doing the first three days of the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting. This arrangement will enable him to run Custos in the Trentham Stakes and the Harcourt Cup, at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting, before the Derby and other engagements at Riccarton in November. The following riding engagements have been made for the Geraldine meeting: A. G. Parsons, Shawlett, Tout le Monde, Capital, Silver Lark ar\d Queen Dorothy; C. T. Wilson, Aggravate, The Surgeon, Epic and Gaysome; A. Messervey, Culotte, Pelmet, Cleaner, Heloise and Matoru; L. J. Ellis, Wino and Grey Honour; H. N. Wiggins, Gold Cross, Fiord, Carfex and Wine Card (second day); M. Kirwan, Bay Duke; W. H. Hibberd, Radio Star, Great Star and Convivial; J. Veevers, Rebel Chief, C. Hughes, Redolent; D. O’Connor, Havering; J. Murfltt, Cyclonic; R. Beale, Vitaphone; G. H. Humphries, Invoice; G. Barclay, Fox Peak; Lady Kate; E. A. Leckie, Epris, Jack Ahoy; W. Cooper, Chrysology. The big fields of pacers nowadays seen at Orari are in striking contrast with those which were seen even as late as forty years ago, and there has been Just as great improvement in the status of the sport. In 1896, for instance, two winners were disqualified on. charges of inconsistent running. In the first race Marguerite was disqualified on a retrospective count, her form being deemed inconsistent with that displayed at Washdyke a fortnight earlier. There was nothing in the betting to suggest a ramp, as, while Marguerite ran unbacked on the totalisator at Washdyke, she carried only two tickets when she won at Orari. Her backers lost a big dividend, but on an appeal to the South Island Association, the verdict was reversed and Marguerite’s owner received the stake. Ruahlne, who was adjudged winner by