On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20893, 24 November 1937, Page 11

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing Nov. 27—Ashburton CB.C. Nov. 27, 29—Takapuna J.C. Nov. 27, 30—Feilding J.C. Dec. 4—Otaki Maori R.C. Dec. 11—Hororata R.C. Dec. 11, 13—Woodville D.J.C. Dec. 18—Waipa R.C. Dec. 27—Walpukurau J.C. Dec. 27—Westland R.C. Dec. 27, 28—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 27, 28—Taranaki R.C. Dec. 27, 28, 30— Manawatu R.C. Dec. 27, 29, Jan. 1, 3—Auckland R.C. Jan. I—Waikouaiti J.C. Jan. I—Wyndham J.C. Jan. 3—Oamaru J. C. Jan. 3, 4—Southland R.C. Trotting Nov. 25. ’7--Forbury Park T.C Dec. 4—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 4—Waikato T.C. Dec. 4—Wairio T.C. Dec. 11—Reefton T.C. Dec. 27—Ashburton T.C. Dec. 27—Gore T.C. Dec. 27—Wairarapa T.C. Dec. 27, 28—Westport T.C. Dec. 28, 30, 31—Auckland T.C. Dec. 29—Winton T.C. Jan. 1, 3—Canterbury Park T.C. The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting will commence to-morrow.

Weights for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap should appear next Wednesday.

Slippery, who won the McDonald Memorial at Levin, has scored three wins and a second in this particular event during the last five years.

Arvakur’s backers lost money on place bets when the Beau Pere youngster finished second at the Waikato meeting.

If Pilot Peter begins smoothly he should not experience much difficulty in overhauling the opposition in the Dominion Hndiacap at Forbury.

Anna’s Voyage finished third in a field of pacers at Invercargill, and should be in the firing line in the 3.43 trot at Forbury.

At his last appearance at New Brighton Plutus won easily in 4.25. Indianapolis has to give him 11 seconds in the two-mile race there next week.

The limit for the Auckland Trotting Cup is 4.25, but the race is for horses that “can do” that time, and this will let in King’s Play, whose assessed mark is 4.26. He twice broke 4.21 at Addington this month.

Both races won by Plutus at the Cup meeting were sprint events, but there is no reason to doubt his ability to run out two miles at Forbury. When he won at New Brighton last month he stepped 4.25, six seconds faster than the winner of the big event of the day. His recent form entitles him to start favourite to-morrow in the President’s Handicap.

When Master Brierly dead-heated with Jonathan in the Waikato Cup, he was making his first appearance in the colours of Mr J. Simich, who recently purchased him from Mr M. Hynes. The sale involved his transfer from R. 8. Bagby's stable to that of A. Winder, at Te Rapa, and in the Cup Master Brierly was ridden by his new trainer’s son.

J. W. Lowe has done well in New Zealand with Glare, Red Sun and Sunee, and he won at Levin with another of Australian Sun’s stock, Good Sun. This gelding is a full-brother to to Mithra, with whom J. T. Jamieson won several races in New Zealand and Sydney, and he is closely related to the V.R.C. Derby winner Eusebius. He was secured by Lowe privately as a yearling.

The New Zealand gelding Flood Tide can be described as one of the urtlucky horses of the spring (says a Melbourne paper). Following on his mishap, which prevented him running in the Melbourne Cup, he recovered only to have bad luck again in the Williamstown Cup. When the tapes rose Panax, who was near to him at the barrier, jumped into him and almost knocked him over. This settled his chance, and he beat only a few horses home.

The New Zealanders who did best in Australia this spring were probably H. E. Russell and the syndicate which raced in Sydney as "Mr Auckland.” The Woodville owner-trainer sold Mala for 700gns. and Golden Treasure for four figures, and he secured heavy damages against the tramway authorities for injuries to Mala. "Mr Auckland” won two races with- Highborn, which was brought cheaply, and then sold for 1750gns, a price which looks a good one in view of his subsequent form.

Cuddle’s probable weight in the Auckland Cup is a topic of the moment. Forecasts range as high as 10.3, but somewhere between 9.9 and 9.13 is more likely to be near the mark. Cuddle had 9.12 when she finished second hi the Metropolitan, but a two-mile race is a different affair. In addition, with horses like Cuddle, Wild Chase, Argentic, Willie Win, Wotan, Floodtide, Cerne Abbas, Queen of Song, Friesland, Master Brierly, Scotland, Fersen Mazir and others available, there Is no necessity to overload good horses to attract rubbish.

In an Inquiry following the Lake Hack Cup at Levin on Saturday the judicial committee found:—“Son and Heir was not run on his merits: neither owner nor trainer was party to the horse’s not being run on his merits; the rider, B. Anderson, be fined £5 under Rule 282 (2), the committee accepting Anderson’s explanation that he was guilty of careless riding as opposed to deliberate pulling.” If the horse was not run on Its merits, a fine of £5 appears to be ridiculously inadequate; it it was only a case of bad riding the finding should have been differently worded

Floodtide’s Australian trip must have been an expensive one as he failed to win any money, and the outlay in bets and fees must have been considerable. Another who returned with a big debit was Wotan, whose two seconds were a poor return for the cost of the campaign, as it is understood that he was stoutly supported for the Cups. There was not much limelight for the Smith family this year.

Just before F. Davis’s team —Courtcraft, Homily, Francis Drake and Aiwai—landed in Sydney, Australians were told that it was the strongest that had left the Dominion during recent years. It failed to justify this extravagant praise. Homily won £750 in five starts and paid her way. Courtcraft collected £650, but it is doubtful if this had his expenses, while Aiwai and Frances Drake were failures.

J. Fryer had ten horses In Melbourne, the team being probably the biggest taken across by one trainer. They won eight races, but five of these were on suburban courses, and the three at Metropolitan tracks did not include any of the plums. In one race, won by International, the victory was gained at the expense of a stable mate Wotan, who was a strong favourite. International collected about £7OO, and was the principal stake-earner of the party. Elange won two small races, but there had been costly ones prior to success, and possibly Pantoon, whose two wins were anticipated showed the best results of the ten.

Possibly in twenty years’ time, if legislation does not interfere with racing in the United States, that country will be one of the greatest racing countries in the world. For they have the art of showmanship and they use it to popularise the sport. Every known gadget that will help to make the game more popular they use and employ to its fullest extent. The electric totalisator with flashing lights showing the changing prices as bets are made, the camera-eye, the timing apparatus which tells the time in which each furlong of every race is run, the “gold fish” weighing room where the jockeys can be seen weighing out, a glassed judge's box instead of the cell-like boxes we have in New Zealand, and many other things, all help to Interest the public.

RICCARTON NEWS By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 23. The weather was fine but cold at Rlccarton this morning. The plough and the No. 8 grass track provided fast going and some smart gallops were registered by horses that are to race at Ashburton Saturday.

The first half-hour was reserved for reverse work, for the benefit of horses engaged at the Auckland meeting. F. D. Jones sent Cerne Abbas and Royal Chief together and Protector singly, the trio getting through useful tasks. On the Grass Raeburn and Gay Lyric ran half a mile in 50sec. Avenal and Shadowland reeled off five furlongs in Imin 3 4-ssec. Contract and Bastille were mates over seven furlongs in Imin 32 3-ssec. Wine Card showed great dash while doing five furlongs in Imin 1 2-ssec. Nolana and Rebel Queen ran half a mile in 50 3-ssec.

Happy Night and Sir Hugh were given a working gollop over seven furlongs. Grey Honour, going at an even pace, took Imin 18sec for six furlongs.

Lady Middleham and Ephod dashed over three furlongs in 37 2-ssec, r.oyal Chief taking similar time alone. Davolo had Grampian as a companion for six furlongs, run in imin 16 4-ssec.

".oy Bun drew away from Phalanx at the end of a five-furlong spin, which he completed attractively in Imin 1 4-5 sec, Epic following over the same ground in Imin 2 2-ssec. Llcnacree ran seven furlongs in imin 32sec. She is to be tried later over longer Journeys. On the Plough Convivial and Dropped Catch were going well at the end of seven furlongs in Imin 32sec.

Guinea Fowl went smartly over half a mile in 49 4-ssec.

Studley Royal took Imin 17sec for six furlongs.

Lady Leigh sprinted three furlongs in 37 3-ssec, Invoice following in 37sec. Pelmet and Love Affair took 38sec for the last three of five furlongs. Rabble and Screamer were on terms, in front of Owlsgleam, at the end of five furlongs in Imin 1 2-ssec, a smart gallop.

SCRATCHINGS By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, November 23. Bantry was scratched at 2.15 p.m. yesterday for all engagements at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s meeting. Lomacre and Awatea Princess were withdrawn from all engagements at 11.45 this morning.