On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20983, 11 March 1938, Page 10

On and Off the Track

\ BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS I FIXTURES: K;.<- g 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.o. Mar. 12—Timaru T.C. Jar. 19—Wyndham T.C. Mar. 19—Cheviot T.C. Mar. 26—Roxburgh T.C. The first race at % Washdyke tomorrow will start at 12.30. Trains will leave Timaru for the racecourse to-morrow at 11.7, 11.33. 12.8 and 12.40Greek Shepherd’s racing days are over, and he has been sold to a North Islander to be used as a sire. Grey Honour will start in the sprint race at Trentham in preference to the Thompson Handicap. The Colossus filly Glenogil is to go north at Easter to contest the Great Northern Oaks. R. Beale is to ride Booklaw at Opunake to-morrow, and it is suggested that he may settle in the North Island. The Riverton sprinter Bay Duke, who had been avoiding the hard tracks in the south for some time, has broken down and will be put aside until next season. Special Edition and Taiki will be bracketed in the Timaru Nursery Stakes. They are trained in separate stables, but both are owned by Mr J. B. Westerman. Backers will have no public form to guide them when the New Zealand Trotting Stakes comes up for decision to-morrow. None of the three-year-olds engaged has had any racing experience. Policy is to make her first appearance in Auckland province in the Thames Cup. She has only to reproduce her southern form to be in the money. Bexley Girl and Baron Grand look to be her stoutest opponents. Finella, who won a race at Hutt Park for Mr W. T- Lowe after going crazy before the start, is a Southlandbred mare by Wellington Direct (2.4 D from a dam by Four Chimes (sire of Cathedral Chimes, Matchlight and Taraire). The pacing stallion Wrack has been sold to Mr A. E. Tatlow, of Launceston, Tasmania. The American horse has several times been champion sire of the Dominion, being equally successful in producing winners at the pacing and trotting gaitsMr E. W. Spencer, owner of Rabble, had not seen his horse race until he attended the Banks Peninsula eting. and he will remember the day, as he was asked to explain why he had not notified a joint interest in Gasmask. which should have been bracketed with Rabble. One of the most attractive efforts at Pukekohe was that of Bronze Wing in the maiden event. He was slow out cf the barrier and tailed the big bunch for the first furlong, and when he moved up he had to cover extra ground. He got to the front inside the distance, and then literally walked in. On this showing he should not be long in winning again. The New Zealand trainer J. Fryer has enjoyed a great run in Melbourne lately, and with Pantoon. Elanage, Red Manfred, Namakia, Flying Chief and Company has won some good races. It is now reported that he has added to his team the New Zealand-bred trio. Gay Circle. Desert Chief and Royal Order, owned by Mr G. J. Barton and Mr J. Richardson, of Dunedin. Gold Boa, who has broken down and is to be retired to the • stud, had a short but brilliant career on the racecourse. In about 18 months she started 21 times for ten wins, five seconds and a third, collecting just over £2OOO in stakes. The Balboa mare is a fine type, and as she has not been overraced, and did not start until she was four, she should have good prospects at the stud. Since joining F- J. Smith’s stable Chili Bean has started on three occas- * ions for a first and two seconds. But for breaking under pressure in the two events in which he occupied second place he would probably have secured three successes. He will make his next appearance at the Thames fixture, and provided he retains his gait throughout the full two miles he should be equal to gaining a place. The Carterton meeting, which is to be held at Clareville to-morrow, provided a sensation a few years ago. In 1930 the maiden race was won by Ephialtes, who was having his first start, and the dividend he returned, something over £5OO, is still the largest that has ever been paid on the totalisator for a galloping race in New Zealand, though it is only half the return made by Wairoa Belle in a trotting event at Nelson.

The brilliant performance registered by Uenuku on the second day of the Auckland fixture last month is not likely to be forgotten by backers when the three-year-old parades at Thames to-morrow, and he will only have to be produced in either of his two engagements to be the public elect. He has not yet raced beyond a mile and a half but there is no reason why he should not compass a longer distance, as he displays plenty of tenacity over the final stages of his races.