On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20982, 10 March 1938, Page 11

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES: Rac‘ ig Mar. 11, 12—Cromwell J.C. Mar. 12 —Opunake R.C. Mar. 12—Carterton R.C. Mar. 17, 19—Ohinemuri R.C. Mar. 17, 19—Wellington R.C. Mar. 23, 26—Oamaru J.C. Mar. 25, 26 —Manawatu R.C. Mar. 26—Birchwood H.C. Mar. 26, 28—Bay of Plenty R.C. Mar. 31, Apr. 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Trotting Mar. 12—Thames T.u. Mar. 12—Timaru T.C. Mar. 19—Wyndham T.C. Mar. 19—Cheviot T.C. Mar. 26—Roxburgh T.C. K. Voitre, who is rapidly regaining form in the saddle, won three good races at the recent V.R.C. meeting. The Australian Cup winner Marauder was broken in and educated by J. T. Jamieson, but did not remain in the stable. Valmarch is the only Wingatui horse nominated for the Wellington Autumn Meeting. He will leave for the north on Friday and should pay expenses. Silver Ring was railed back to Greymouth after the Banks Peninsula meeting, and is unlikely to be taken to Trentham. Prince Quex. who won Mr W. R. Kemball a good race at Flemington last week, was sold some time ago for £3OOO to go to India, but did not pass the “vet.” With a record of three wins, two seconds and a third in as many starts Fremont will attract a lot of attention if he takes his place in the Wyndham Trotting Cup. The American-bred horse is the most promising young pacer in commission. Two Nursery Stakes candidates were speeded up at Addington on Tuesday. From a standing start Shadowson (J. Bryce’s representative) paced a mile in 2.18 1-5, and later Talk! covered the distance from a moving start in 2.16 4-5. Taiki (trained by A. Holmes) started favourite for the two-year-old race at Auckland last month, but broke at the start. D. Cotton has a good-sized team in work at Riccarton for Mr D. Grant. In addition to Kinnoull and Rebel Lad, there is the three-year-old Lady Kinnoull, two-year-olds Density and Grey Coat, and yearlings by Pink Coat from Seaside and Miss Muffett. Rebel Lad, who was injured at Wingatui at Christmas, has been nominated for the Oamaru meeting. The Tidal gelding Flood Tide has resumed work under R. Miller’s guidance at Takanini. Flood Tide competed unsuccessfully in a few of the big handicaps at Melbourne last spring, and owing- to ricking himself on the eve of the meeting was unable to contest the Melbourne Cup—his chief mission. Regarded as one of the best of Dominion stayers, Flood Tide should soon atone for his recent unsuccessful trip to the Commonwealth. He is in excellent order to recommence a preparation. Peter Pan's two-year-old sister, Tinker Bell, who is in work at Randwick, is well developed, and more than average interest will attach to how she turns out. As her dam, Alwina, was trained at two years, but was not reckoned good enough to race, and her second and third dams did not distinguish themselves, she is not favoured by her sex. Not many mares produce two really high-class horses, and while Peter Pan's half-brother, Brazilian, is more stylish in appearance than the former, there is no comparison between them as racehorses. An hour after the last race at Bulls on Saturday a fire started in the main grandstand, presumably the result of a spark from the boilers at the rear of the building setting fire to the roof. It was fortunate for the Rangitikei Racing Club that the staff from the publican’s booth were still packing up, for they were able to assist several of the club’s ground staff present to remove a number of sheets of iron from the roof and quell the threatening conflagration. There was a fresh wind at the time, and nothing would have saved the building had the fire gained a few more minutes’ start. Silver Ring heads this year’s weights for the Thompson for the fourth time in succession. Two years ago, after not starting with 9.12 in the previous year, he was allotted 10.6 and he won. Not only was that the record weight carried to victory in the race, but it was the highest weight that had ever been awarded a horse in the long history of the event, 31b more than Tortulla was given in 1902 on the old Hutt Park course. Last year he was set on the same mark, but, having his first race for the season in the Dominion (he had won in Sydney during the spring), he finished only ninth in a field of fourteen. With four starts since, and nearly a year’s spell in between, he is now down to 9.5.

The good fortune which had been favouring R. E. McLellan’s stable appears to have run its course for the present. Trebleack and Milford went amiss before the Dunedin Cup meeting and Trebleack had to be retired for the rest of the season. Milford was brought in again after a few weeks’ spell but there was a recurrence of the old trouble and now Paladino is out of training with the same ailment. Both horses have side trouble, and whether they race again this season is problematical. Milford was troubled with his side all along, and he is to be spelled for a few weeks in the hope that he will recover in time to be put into training for the winter months. Paladino was physicked and spelled for a few days after the Winton meeting and when he resumed he appeared to be in good health, but later he showed unmistakable signs of the (rouble and is still affected.

Applications for a winter date have been made by the Manawatu Racing Club and the Matamata Racing Club. The permits available are the two days the Woodville District Jockey Club has allowed to lapse. Lady Graceful was lame after running at Motukarara, and has been sent home to Dunsandel. Some Shambles is another of A. J. Martin’s team unlikely to get to the post at Oamaru. Soho, winner of the Napier Park Cup, was a present to his owner, Mr G. G. Beatson, from his father, Mr G. D. Beatson, president of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. The Beatsons have done well as amateur riders, and when Mr G. G. Beatson won the Duke of Gloucester Cup on Soho his father presented him with the horse. Financiers, who has won three races lately, is at present a typical PaperMoney, with a great turn of speed. There is no reason, however, why she should not run out a middle distance. Her dam is Corsetiere. by Solferino from Dame Straitlace (Kilbroney—Discipline), and on this side Financiere is bred to stay. Seven of the nine two-year-olds remaining In the Timaru Nursery Stakes have reputations for speed, and there is every prospect of a fine race. Last year there were twenty starters, with the result that there was a good deal of unintentional interference at the start. The smaller field this year should see a cleaner race and inspire backers with more confidence. The committee of the Australian Jockey Club decided recently that positions at the barrier should be drawn by the stipendiary stewards for all races and be posted one hour before the first race on each day of a meeting. The innovation will begin with the club's meeting at Warwick Farm on March 12. Another Important decision fixed the scratching time on the course at threequarters of an hour before the starting time of the race. In Melbourne the draw for positions is made by the stewards immediately acceptances are declared. This practice was adopted in Adelaide until recently, when it was decided to refrain from announcing barrier positions until the day of the races. It is understood that racing executives in Sydney believe that the barrier draw is information that should be provided only on the racecourses, and that if it is through! that improper use is made of the information outside the course, the clubs will take steps to protect themselves. One means that might be adopted is the copyrighting of the barrier draw, and the refusal of the use of it until after the race is run.