On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21001, 1 April 1938, Page 11

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Apr. 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. April 2—Stratford R.C. April 2—Waimate R.C. April 8, 9—Whangarei R.C. April 9, 11—Westport J.C. April 9—Dannevirke R.C. April 9—Otautau R.C. April 16—Tuapeka County J.C. April 16—Greymouth J.C. April 16, 18—Wairarapa R.C. April 16, 18—Fellding J.C. April 16, 18—Auckland R.C. April 16, 18, 19—Riverton R.C. April 18, 19—Canterbury J.C. April 18—Kumara R.C. April 18—Beaumont R.C. April 18—Waipukurau J.C. Trotting: April 2—Manawatu. April 2—Greymouth. April 9—Taranaki. April 9—Ashburton. April 16, 18—Hawera. April 16, 20, 21, 23—N.Z. Metropolitan. April 30—Auckland. Sixty gallopers are in training at the Egmont Club’s tracks at Hawera.

Courtcraft and Homily, two of F. Davis’s team, are in the paddock, and will be left there till the spring.

The Stratford Club will use the single pool system of betting to-morrow. It was the Stratford Club that first adopted win and place in New Zealand.

The highest weight carried by a winner of the Waimate Cup is 9.2—by Medallist and by Mountain Lion (twice).

L. George, who has been training at New Plymouth for some years, has moved to Hawera, where he has taken the stables formerly occupied by J. Fryer.

Now that Courtcraft, Royal Chief and The Crooner have dropped out of the Great Northern St. Leger, Smoke Screen, Francis Drake and Wildflower represent the best class in the race, but none of them has shown ability to stay. ’

Acceptances for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, forfeits for the Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes, and entries for other events at the C.J.C. autumn meeting, are due by 5 p.m. to-day.

It is understood that the new stipendiary steward, Mr C. F. Hartland, will not take up his duties in the South Island until May 1. In the meantime he will assist the North Island stipendiaries in order to gain experience.

Dictate has been condemned in some quarters for his failure when heavily supported at Oamaru. He did not do so badly, as his rider was disappointed when waiting for an opening on the rails, and he had to be pulled out to the middle to get a run.

Tire death occurred at Hutt a few days ago of Mr J. Gravestock, formerly a well-known trainer. Among the horses he trained was Chimera, who shared with The Hawk the six furlongs record of 1.9 4-5 until Silver Scorn reduced it to 1.9 2-5.

Mr M. J. Forde had been superintending the training of Poniard prior to the Oamaru meeting, but the Greyspear gelding is now in A. E. Didham’s stable. Didham formerly trained the sprinter Silk Paper for the Winton owner.

Galleon, Silver Streak, Dictate, Waitaka. High Glee and Wild Career have been entered for the Riverton Cup and the Great Autumn. It is practically certain that Galleon will race at Riccarton, while it is anticipated that High Glee and Wild Career will be at Riverton.

In the Dunedin Cup Studley Royal 7.1, won from Galleon 7.0. In the Great Autumn Galleon is required to give Studley Royal 91b. Since the Dunedin meeting Studley Royal has failed to add to his score, while Galleon has won three races and unless the Riccarton gelding does something special at Waimate Galleon will have more adherents on Great Autumn day.

Coronation (Llmond-Jewel of Asia),' who had his first race yesterday at Hastings, will probably be put aside until the spring. He is owned by Mr. W. H. Gaisford and trained at Woodville by F. Davis. It was thought that ho would bring a high price at the yearling sales of 1937, but, owing to a slight mishap, he was not offered. Later he changed hands privately at a high figure.

At the end of eight months of the current season L. J. Ellis had ridden 67 winners, and had drawn eight points clear of C. G. Goulsbro 59. B. H. Morris was third with 48 points, and there was then a drop to S. Wilson 37. Unless something unforeseen happens, Ellis or Goulsbro is certain to top the list at the end of the season, as their weight gives them an advantage over Morris.

The small stewards’ stand at Waimate which for many years had cribbed, cabined and confined officials, trainers, riders and visitors, has been replaced by a commodious building which will not only give more room, but will provide shelter as well. The old structure was roofless, and had long ago outlived its usefulness. The club is to be congratulated in at last being in a position to effect an improvement that had long been needed.

Lord Astor has sold the Cameronian —Volume horse Cash Book for export to Turkey as a stallion, the purchase having been made on behalf of the Turkish Government. Winner of the Aintree Derby, Cash Book was rated within two pounds of Mid-day Sun in the Three-Year-Old Free Handicap. Winner of the Newmarket Stakes, he wound up favourite with Perifox for the Derby, but finished out of the first ten.

The Masquerader will not be a starter at Waimate to-morrow.

F. Holmes will steer Mr J. R. McKenzie’s horses at the big meetings at Ashburton and Addington.

Acceptable carried several pounds overweight when he finished second to Rebel Mate at Oamaru, and if he were dependable he would have a chance in the open sprint at Waimate to-morrow.

As was hinted some time ago, R. Beale has decided to settle at Awapuni He will go north after the Riverton meeting, where he will ride Survoy and Trumpet Blast. The Nightraid-Receipt gelding Settlement, formerly trained at Trentham, is now in F. D. Jones’s stable.

A. J. Peart (well-known in South Canterbury), who rode Valpeen to victory in the Grand National Steeplechase in 1934, is about to return to the saddle, following lengthy employment away from racing. He is to ride crosscountry candidates at the Otautau and Riverton fixtures.

The Brisbane Amateur Turf Club some time ago expressed its determination to make its Newmarket Handicap at Doomben the most valuable sprint handicap in Australia, and fixed the prize money at £3OOO. Later, the V.R.C. gave £3OOO for its Newmarket Handicap, and as a result the Brisbane people have raised their stake to 3000 guineas. This is probably the only case in Australia where the value of a race is assessed in guineas.

The following riding engagements have been made for the Waimate meeting:' L. J. Ellis, Studley Royal, Nolana, Janet Gaynor, Steer Clear and Dracula; A. E. Ellis, Queen Dorothy and Salient Knight; C. T. Wilson, Rebel Lad and Balmenter; G. H. Humphries, Silver Sight; J. W. Jennings, Golden Chest, Countervane, Lady Middleham and Linguist; D. O’Connor, Supreme Court; J. Murfitt, Drinkup; G. Ridgway, Pink Comet, Patuma; M. Caddy, Paper Note and Bellerive; A. Russell, Rebel Chief; P. Spratt, Flame Queen and Acceptable; A. Messervy, Density, Salient Knight and Volo Dale.

When the novice cross-country performer Eastern Chief toppled over to break a shoulder after clearing the logs obstacle clearly in the Gardner Memorial Steeplechase at the Birchwood meeting, one of the most promising maiden steeplechasers seen out in Southland for some years went the way of all horseflesh. He had a good hunting field reputation, had won a number of jumping competitions at agricultural shows, and had already won between the flags, while he was a speedy customer across the flat. He was an ideal type, short-backed, powerful, and of average size, and beautiuflly bred, by Chief Ruler (imp.), from Violet 11. (imp.). Virile to a degree and anxious to measure strides with opponents, he was inclined to be reckless when challenging opponents, and thus over-jump himself. This characteristic caused him to fall at the Winton meeting, and a similar state of affairs appeared to prevail where he jumped for the last time on Saturday.