On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Nov. 28—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 28, 30—Takapuna J C. at Ellerslie Nov. 28. 30—Feilding J.C. Dec. 10, 12—Woodville J.C. Dec. 12—Waipa R.C. Dec. 12—Hororata R.C. Dec. 19—Otaki Maori R.C. Dec. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Dec 26, 28—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 28—Taranaki J.C. Dec 26, 28, 29—Westland R.C. Dec. 26, 28, 29— Manawatu R.C. Dec 26, 29, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C. Jan I—Waikouaiti R.C. Jan I—Wyndham R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Marton J.C. Jan. 1. 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Jan. 1. 2—Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Greymouth J.C. Jan 2—Oamaru J.C. Jan 2, 4—Southland R.C. Trotting. Nov. 28—Forbury Park T.C. Dec. s—New Brighton I.U. Dec 3—Waikato T.C. Dec 3—Wairio T.C. Dec. 26—Ashburton T.C. Dec. 26—Gore T.C. Dec 26, 28—Wairarapa T.C. Dec 26, 28—Westport T.C. Dec 28. 30. 31—Auckland T.C. Dec 29—Winton T.C. Dec. 30—Westland T.C. Jan 1. 2—Canterbury Park T.C.

First race at Ashburton to-day at 12.30.

Lone Raider has been scratched for the Flying Handicap at Feilding.

The Forbury meeting will be concluded to-day, commencing at 12.15.

The Feilding and Takapuna (Ellerslie) meetings are scheduled to begin today and conclude on Monday.

L. G. Morris, who handed in his jockey's license two years ago to confine his attention to training, will resume to-day at Feilding.

A horse which has never been overweighted is Alchemic, who may show up in the Flying Handicap at Feilding to-day.

If there was the slightest justification for starting Studley Royal in the Derby he should have a chance in the Highweight at Ashburton. The weight to be carried by Top Row, Garonne, Allspice and Landing, the two-year-olds in the Lagmhor Plate at Ashburton, is 7.7.

If Martara is as near the equal of Trench Fight that some northerners declare him to be, he should be a certainty for tire Kowhai Handicap at Feilding.

The Paper Money gelding Cardsharper, a member of H. Gray's team, is suffering from a lacerated leg. and will not be able to race this side of Christmas. Cardsharper has something of a reputation.

Greenwich beat Francis Drake at Marton, and was second to Francis Drake and again to Counterblast at Trentham. He 1s sure to be at a short price in the Juveline Stakes at Fielding to-day.

Pukeuri, Santa Fe, and Royal Thread are acceptors for both trots at Ashburton, but they are “giving away ’ four seconds in the second race, and are unlikely starters unless one of them wins earlier in the day.

With a strong rider in charge, Heloise seems to have good prospects in the Highweight at Ashburton. If she could be depended upon to begin well it would be difficult to select one to beat her.

Courtcraft, the Limond-Homage colt for which Mr W. H. Gainsford paid 1200gns at the Trentham sales last January, is in F. Davis's stable at Woodville but is growing very fast and may not be seen at his best until later in the season.

There is talk in Australia of J. E. Pike returning to the saddle to ride Talking next season, but there seems to be no solid foundation for the rumours. It would mean Pike handing in his trainer’s ticket, as dual license are not issued in Australia.

Good reports are forthcoming concerning the Posterity-Eulogy filly Relative, the last of the progeny of this famous marc. Relative was not offered for sale as a yearling, and will race in the interests of her breeder, Mr G M. Currie.

The unexpected withdrawal of Southern Smile from the Buchanan Handicap at Forbury on Thursday compelled backers to look elsewhere for a favourite, but there is little doubt that the Adioo Guy mare will be No. 1 selection if she goes to the barrier today.

The Gore Racing Club has changed the dates of its summer meeting from February 24 and 25 to February 26 and 27. For many years it has raced on Wednesday and Thursday, but the transfer of the half-holiday to Saturday has made an alteration desir-

The probability of Mala running in the Great Northern Derby will Invest that race with special interest. The Lackham colt is reported to be in good order, and if he goes to Ellerslie he will give the line on the respective merits of New Zealand and Australian three-year-olds which it has not yet been possible to obtain through Gustos.

T . R. George, who has topped the list of winning trainers for the last three years with 47 points in 1933-34, 35 in 1934-35, and 52 in 1935-36, has not got into his stride this season, and so far has had a fairly lean time. H. and A. Cutts lead at this stage with 17 wins—two at Ashburton, three at Wingatui, one at Ranglora, three at Trentham, and eight at Rlccarton.

Nominations (of present yearlings) for the Timaru Nursery Stakes 1938 and for the New Zealand Trotting Stakes 1939, will be taken by the Timaru Trotting Clup up till 8 p.m. on Monday. Each race is worth £350. First forfeits (£1) are not due until August, and the cost of starting is only £6.

Emissary is a brilliant sprinter and weight carrier but is not a good investments unles the track is reasonably firm and the atmosphere dry. With about 28 pacers on the limit in the Melrose Trot at Ashburton, it is something like buying a ticket in a raffle to attempt to pick a probable place-getter before the barrier positions are known.

Jonathan was made favourite for the Waikato Cup, but he never at any stage looked like the winner. He lacked nothing on the score of condition, but is evidently not suited by the lefthanded going since he met with an accident some time ago. He is engaged at Ellerslie, but he will have to do a great deal better to beat some of those he encountered at the Waikato meeting, especially as he has 31b more weight.

The new totalisator house at Ashburton will be used to-day for the first time. The building has cost about £l6OO, and structurally should meet all needs for a good many years. “Double” windows have been provided, so that it will be possible to buy win and place tickets from the same queue. A dividend barometer will replace the “dial” which formerly showed the investments in figures, but this will be manually operated, and necessarily cannot be right up to date.

Stirling Lady has not acclimatised in Canterbury and temporarily at least has lost the dash she displayed last season in Southland. In her first start at Forbury on Thursday she compounded when seriously challenged for the lead, and on her second appearance she broke at the start. The Winton owned mare made up her lost ground rapidly, but was beaten off again. It is less than a year since Stirling Lady commenced racing and as she is a young mare there is plenty of time for her to regain form.

There will be a strong field in the Alison Cup at Ellerslie to-day. On the form they displayed in the Waikato Cup, King Rey, Sinking Fund and Mazir should have excellent chances. They finished second third and fourth behind Dark Shadow, who is not engaged. King Rey and Mazir have both 11b. less to carry and Sinking Fund has the same weight. Kelly has been galloping attractively, and the place-getters may include King Rey, Mazir and Kelly. For the sprint, the Cheltenham Handicap, Adalene, Tray Bit and Impasto may be fancied.

Last month the English Jockey Club announced a drastic change, and one that will not be pleasing to all clubs. In future it will appoint judge, starter, veterinary surgeon, and clerk of the scales for all clubs, leaving the clubs, subject to the approval of the Jockey Club, to appoint and pay the clerk of the course, equivalent to the secretary here. The cost to the clubs for these officials will be £llO per day for meetings of four consecutive days or eight days at any time, and £9O per day for other meetings. Even if the meeting, or any part of it, is abandoned, the fees still have to be paid.