On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20611, 28 December 1936, Page 9

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Dec. 28—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 38—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 28, 29—Westland R.C. Dec. 28, 29— Manawatu R.C. Dec. 29, Jan. 1, B—Auckland8 —Auckland R.C. Jan I—Walkoualti R.C. Jan I—Wyndham R.C. Jan 1, 3—Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Marton J.C. Jan. 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Jan. 1, 2—Walrarapa R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Greymouth J.C. Jan 3—Oamaru J.C. Jan. 3, 4—Southland R.C. Trotting. Dec. 28—Wairarapa T.C. Dec. 28—Westport T.C. Dec. 28, 30, 31—Auckland T.C. Dec 39—Winton T.C. Dec 30—Westland T.C. Jan 1. 2—Canterbury Park T.C. Auckland Trotting Cup to-day. Mrs J. Campbell made a fine start on her southern trip, winning the principle double at Wlngatul on Saturday with Tunneller and Knockfln. Peony Rose, who finished second to Top Row at Dunedin on Saturday, is owned by Dr. Robertson, of Ti panui. and comes from the well-known Red Charm family.

The closing of betting shops in Queensland has been followed by very big increases in attendances and totalisator turnover on the racecourses, the average being about 50 per cent, higher.

Following some bumping in the straight recently at Ascot (Victoria), the Southlander F. J. McKay, who was riding Mr W. T. Hazlett’s Luminaire, was suspended for a month.

There will be racing to-day at Wingatui. Awapuni (Manawatu), New Plymouth and Hokitika; and trotting at Auckland, Westport and Clareville (South Walrarapa.

If Red Shadow should win to-day’s Trotting Cup at Auckland he would be the sixth winner of the race trained by J. Bryce, and equal his score for the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Once he left the barrier in front, Top Row never looked in danger of defeat in the two-year-old handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. The initial advantage made things easier for him, but in any case he was greatly superior to the opposition he encountered.

An inquiry was held at Wingatui on Saturday into some Interference encountered by Araboa near the five furlongs post in the Milburn Handicap, and the outcome was a caution administered to J. M. O’Connor, rider of Stolen March, for crossing Over too quickly to the rails position.

The time record for the Auckland Trotting Cup is 4.15 2-5. established two years ago by Roi I'Or. This constituted also a record for the track, but it was broken on the third day of the same meeting when the Walmate pacer stepped 4.14 1-5 in the President’s Handicap and created a grass track record for the Dominion, and needless to say for the Southern Hemisphere.

Big dividends continue to be paid out oh the double totallsator in England ind Scotland. One backer at Thirst collected £ll5O for 10/-, and another at Wetherly received £558, or odds of 2300 to 1 and 1150 to 1, respectively. These returns were noteworthy because none of the horses Involved started at more than 20 to 1 with the bookmakers.

Queen of Song did not have the best of luck in the Otago Handicap. Her rider drew the outside berth, and rode the mare hard over the first furlong to secure a position. She was fourth racing across the top. but was shut in on the rails and had to cover a bit of ground to get a run. The race should do her good, and she looks almost certain to win a good race during the holidays.

Chrysology essayed to win all the way in the hurdle race at Dunedin on Saturday, but Look Smart tackled him at the tar turn, and racing to the last fence they were about two lengths ahead of Blazon. In the run home Blazon overhauled the pair, and after a hard battle worried Look Smart down and beat her by a neck. Chrysology faded over the last furlong, and was five lengths away, just ahead of Silver Jest.

Pink Del 410-468 and Barley Almond 379-504, who were very evenly backed, were quickest to begin in the Trial Handicap at Wingatui, with Petersham, Trumpet Blast and Lumiere also prominent. Soon after reaching the straight Barley Almond strode away from Lumiere to win by three lengths from Trebleack. who moved up into fourth position at the turn. Trumpet Blast was two lengths back, a length ahead of Pink Del. Barley Almond is trained at Riverton by G. C. Bain, who secured him in Hawke’s Bay in the spring.

“With some hesitation,” Conference judges dismissed an appeal by the Metropolitan Trotting Club against the fine of £lOO imposed by the Trotting Association for breach of the 35-minute rule. Now the Minister has stepped in and over-riding the Rules of Trotting, has notified the Club that tn future no totalisator license will be issued unless intervals of 40 minutes are allowed It seemed all along that the Association was courting Interference which there were obvious signs that the Minister would welcome an opportunity to exercise.

The promoted hack Gold Boa 1188748 was made a hot favourite from Knockfln 457-532 in the Federal Handicap at Dunedin. From a walk-in start all six runners began well, but at the end of a furlong Gold Boa and Knockfln had gained a slight advantage from Bon Tray. Racing across the top, Gold Boa was a neck in front of Knockfln, with Bon Tray three or four lengths away. Gold Boa still held her advantage over Knockfln a furlong from home, but the top-weight gradually won the favourite down and beat her by a good head. Silver Sail was four lengths away, just defeating Bon Tray for the minor place.

There were four well-backed candidates—Linguist 579-581, Aratoa 456-593, Stolen March 517-525, and Orange Bud 361-537—in the Milburn Handicap at Wingatui, but there was only one in it at the finish. Stolen March, Orange Bud and Linguist were first to show and at the far turn Stolen March was well clear of Orange Bud, Ilithyia and Palmyra. Round the top Stolen March was followed by Orange Bud and Ilithyia, with Sir Rosenor next. Stolen March was never challenged and won by over two lengths from Stratosphere, who came from the clouds and beat Palmyra by a length. Ilithyia was two lengths further back, followed by Linguist and Mutus. Orange Bud ran wide under pressure in the straight. Weather prospects are favourable for the second day of the Dunedin meeting and the track should be fast. It is anticipated that the following will be prominent:— Hurdles—Look Smart, Royal Pal. Juvenile Handicap—Silver Bond, Top Row. Novice Handicap—Pink Del, Trebleack. Rousseau. Grandstand Handicap— Gold Boa, Bon Tray. ( St. Andrews Handicap—Great Star, Queen of Song, Davolo. Allanton Handicap—Gaysome, McHeath, Trivet. Fernhill Handicap—Stolen March, Superex, Linguist. Farewell Handicap—High Glee, Willie Win, Jack Ahoy.

Mr A. Ferguson got a quick return for the 150 guineas he is reported to have paid for McHeath, as the Lord Quex gelding won the Burnside Handicap at his first appearance in his new colours. The popular selections were Wild Career 691-639, Gaysome 496-605 and Double Shot 424-553. In a broken start Last Link, Trivet, Southdown and Gaysome got off badly. Song Boy was soon out in front from Surge, Poniard, Wild Career and Silver Lark, and he raced to the home tu' n followed by Wild Career (who got through on the rails), Surge and Poniard. Two furlongs from home McHeath and Gaysome came into the picture, and McHeath stayed on best to win by two lengths from Gaysome, who finished fast on the rails and beat Song Boy by a head. Wild Career was next, about a length away, with the rest beaten off. McHeath paid over two score on the win machine.

Silver Streak, Tauramai and Daring Deed retired from the Otago Handicap, and in a field of eleven Queen of Song 794-690, Tunneller 247-468 and Travenna 247-463 were in most demand. Great Star, Davolo, Tunneller, Queen of Song and Grand Finale led out of the straight, and at the mile the order was Great Star, Tunneller, Queen of Song, Gay Circle, Davolo. Great Star led into the back by four lengths from Tunneller, Gay Circle and Queen of Song, and at the far turn the call was Great Star, Gay Circle, Tunneller, Queen of Song, Amy Johnson, Grand Finale and Davolo. Tunneller headed Great Star at the turn and secured a lead of two or three lengths from Gay Circle, Davolo and Queen of Song He was being overhauled at the finish, but secured the verdict by threequarters of a length from Queen of Song, who beat Gay Circle by half a length, with Davolo a head away. Some lengths further back came Great Star, Amy Johnson and" Polydora.

Rebel Lad had been involved in two or three close finishes since his return from Australia, and he figured in another on Saturday at Wingatui, with the luck this time on his side. In the Salisbury Handicap Willie Win 998-617 was a pronounced favourite from Convivial 421-456 and Rebel Lad 431-469. Great Empire and Superex Jumped out smartly, but at the end of two furlongs Vantoon was in command from Superex, Great Empire and High Glee. Across the top High Glee and Vantoon were together, clear of Superex, but at the turn High Glee streaked away and two furlongs from home held a lead of three or four lengths. He was still well clear with a furlong to go, the only opponent within striking distance being Rebel Lad, who had just emerged from the ruck. The small apprentice on High Glee appeared to be rather confident, and Rebel Lad dashed up to win on the post by half a head. Willie Win was about three lengths away, with Convivial, Fireguard and Superex next.

Americans are wavering regarding the efficacy of the ‘m’agic eye" camera as an aid or over-ruler of judges in close finishes, and according to Herr F. Becker, Germany’s best known writer on racing topics, the mechanical judge was tried and discarded long ago in his country. Herr Becker relates the outcome of a simple experiment which was carried out on the training grounds. “A white-painted rope about one inch and a half thick was fastened bewteen the two poles over the winning line just high enough for the horses to put their noses against it. The width of the track was twelve metres. One horse was placed about a yard from the inside pole, another about six yards from the outside pole. On every one of the six photographs taken the nearer horse appeared to be slightly in front. The supporters of this camera business were compelled to admit it when the winning line and the rope were photographed without the horses. The nearer part of the rope came out much broader than the farther part; that is to say, the outer border of the near part "defeated” that of the remote. The naked eye, however, sees the rope without the enlargement of the nearer part. The head of the horse nearer to the camera will come out larger on the photo than that of the horse near the rails. In a dead-heat, therefore, according to the camera, the nearer horse always will be the winner, and if the horse at the rails wins by a nose, the