On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20803, 11 August 1937, Page 10

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing August 12, 14—Canterbury J.C. August 21—Pakuranga Hunt Club. Sept. 2—Egmont-Wanganul Hunt. Sept. 4—Taranaki Hunt Club. Sept. 4—Otago Hunt Club. Sept. 9, 11—Wanganui J. C. Sept. 18—Ashburton County R.C Sept. 18, 20—Avondale J.C. Sept. 23, 25 —Geraldine R.C. Trotting Aug. 11, 13—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. August 28—Auckland T.C. Sept. 4—New Brighton T.C. Sept. 11—Wellington T.C. October 2—Methven T.C. October 9—New Brighton T.C October 16—Waikato T.C. October 16, 18—Westport T.C. October 23, 25—Auckland T.C. October 23, 25—Greymouth T.C. October 25—Oamaru T.C. Irish Comet’s mistake in the Grand National appeared to be due to colliding in the air with Shillelagh Wood as they rose to the second last fence. Streamline's withdrawal from the big race was due to one of his joints giving trouble, and he, too, may be put aside till next season. Collison was lame after his race in the Jumpers’ Flat and apparently can be written off so far as the Grand National Hurdles is concerned. Tlie field in the Trial Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday was drawn exclusively from South Island stables, an uvsual occurrence in connection with this race.

Mr J. M. Shaw, of Washdyke, will act as clerk of the course at Addington f the remainder of the meeting, in lieu of Mr R. A. Ferguson, who was seriously injured on the opening day. Fireguard appeared to be going well in the Trial Hurdles at Riccarton when he was brought down by Primak, who also was making a good showing until he came to grief.

Queen of Song staged another fast finish in the Winter Cup and she promises to be specially hard to beat over a little mere ground later in the week.

Mr J. S. Shaw, who has been appointed a stipendiary steward by the Trotting Conference, intends to lease his stables, and will drop out of the ranks of trainers in both branches of sport.

Burglar appeared to break down rather badly after jumping the first leg of the Kennels Double in the < and M tional, and the last may have been seen of him, in view of the fact that he is 12 years old.

Conditions were perfect at Riccarton yesterday except in one particular Thick smoke from the tea-room boilers drifted across the course and almost completely obscured the colours of the horses in the sprint races and at the top turn. Smokeless fuel would be appreciated by racegoers.

The totalisator investments at Riccarton yesterday amounted to more than £65,000, the highest Grand National day since about 1924. Three times during the afternoon there was a five figure pool, more than £13,000 being speculated on the Winter Cup and more than £lO,OOO on the Grand National and the Avonhead Handicap.

The Trial Hurdles, which opens the G’-and National programme, is run under hack conditions, but originally it was a maiden race. It is safe to say that the “hottest” maiden it introduced under the old qualification was Record Reign, who won it under 12.12, and two days later accounted for the Grand National Hurdles under the same impost. Prior to his win in the Jumper's Flat yesterday, Jolly Beggar’s only previous success in a flat race was gained over two years ago in the Greymouth Cup. His performance hardened the confidence of his admirers in connection with the Grand ..’ational Hurdles, but the hard race may prove to have an effect on him later in the week. Form received a jolt when Great Pal rewarded G. Feilding with a long overdue win in the Cashmere Plate yesterday. On their running at the Hunt i> eeting Rockingham and Happy Night looked certain to go well, but neither was in sight at the finish. G. Feilding’s team had put up an exasperating sequence of seconds last season, and Last Link commenced with another in the ’umpers’ Flat, and Royal Pal’s success was richly deserved. The Winter Cup winner, Catalogue, is owned by Mr E. L. Barnes, now residing in the North Island, but formerly well-known in trotting circles in Christchurch. Catalogue, who is trained at Awapuni by Mrs A. W. McDonald, began smartly from an inside position, and after being near the front all the way won -omfortably. Until a couple of strides from home it seemed likely that his stable mate, Old Surrey, would finish in the money, but he just failed to hold off Queen of Song.

The Paper Money mare Alma displayed further Improvement to win the P-narua Handicap at Riccarton. She is a half-sister to Ventrac and Travenna, and their dam Ravenna is building up a fine record at the stud. Alma was a brilliant twe -year-old, but she became rather crazy, and after two wins as a juvenile did no good until : ’.re captured a double at Riverton more than two years later. Yesterday's win was her fifth since she regained form und:r A. F. Didham’s care.