On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21085, 11 July 1938, Page 9

On and Off the Track

V BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: July 16—Hawkes Bay Hunt Club. July 16—Waimate Hunt Club. July 23—Rangitikei Hunt Club. July 23—South Canterbury Hunt Club July 23—Matamata R.C. July 28, 30—Poverty Bav Turf Club. July 30—Christchurch Hunt Club. July 30—Taranaki J.C. Acceptances for the Waimate Hunt meeting are due to-morrow. Nominations for the South Canterbury Hunt races will be received until 9 p.m. to-day. I .... Weights for the Grand Nationals and the Winter Cup should appear tomorrow. The Manawatau Hunt Club has been granted a special permit for a meeting to be held at Awapuni on July 30, the object being to raise funds towards the cost of importing an Irish stallion

likely to breed jumpers and hunters. Sweet Rose, who returned the big dividend of the week at Trentham, had not won since her success in the Christmas Handicap at Ellerslie two and a half years ago, but she had been turned out for part of this period. Valarth, who got away with flattening three hurdles when lie won on the first day at Trentham, found the timber less yielding on Saturday. He fell at the first jump and in doing sc

caused Spender to lose his rider. Supreme Court, who won the Highweight at the Westport meeting, accounted for a similar event at Amberley in May. Prior to that the Gainscourt gelding had not succeeded since he took the Champion Hack at Wanganui over two years earlier. Curie’s win at Trentham on Saturday marked his first success over hurdles, but a few seasons ago the veteran was a good if not consistent galloper on the flat, and as he is very proficient in heavy going he is likely to do well over the sticks if he can be kept going. El Meynell followed up his first day success by winning the Kia Ora Handicap at Trentham by a substantial margin. This was his third victory in his last four starts, and it was a fortunate decision that brought about his return from Sydney a few weeks ago to go into R. S. Bagby’s stable. Bryce Street did not race up to expectations in the July Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday. On Te Rapa form he should have been upsides with All Irish, but never got within hailing distance of the winner. Bryce Street may do better on firmer going at Riccarton, but he will need to improve to have a Grand National chance. j The Racing Conference decided that no dual licenses (jockey-trainer) are to be granted except under special circumstances. It will Ire interesting to

learn what constitutes “special circumstances.’’ On previous occasions a decision has been arrived at on these lines, but some Influential person has succeeded in having it abrogated. Density (by Pink Coat from the Australian mare Denise), who won the Trial Plate at Riccarton on Saturday, after being in front practically all the way, is one of the best-looking two--1 year-olds seen in action this season. She did not make an appearance until the February meeting, and it will not be surprising if she wins plenty of races next season. Mr J. A. Smaill’s luck was in when he bought Monipere just before racing commenced on the third day of the Dunedin meeting. The Paper Money gelding practically paid for himself by winning the King George Handicap a few hours later, and he put himself a long way in credit by collecting £350 for the Winter Oats at Trentham on Saturday. Great Legion and Proclamation carried the field along in the Novice Handicap at Trentham, but the firstI named commenced to tire two furlongs I from the post, and while Proclamation lasted longer he could not resist chalI lenges from Bluffer and Sly Fox, Bluffer running in a winner by a couple of lengths from the brother to Sporting Blood. Quest, who had been trying for years to win a race, without quite succeeding, had the field badly strung out at the finish of the first division of the Buller

Trot on Saturday, and Loyalette almost distanced the opposition in the second division. This was the first harness race at Riccarton for four years, and it did not provide a very exciting contest. Rebel Mate improved on his fifth on the first day at Trentham by annexing the Onslow Handicap on Saturday from Rollicker and Prince Acre, both placegetters earlier in the week. The Washdyke sprinter has made rapid improvement since he resumed racing in the autumn, and has been a very profitable horse for his rather lucky owner, Mr R. J. Smith. There are only two more trotting events—one at Waimate and one at

Washdyke—to be decided this season and these cannot affect the competition lor the trophies awarded for the trainers’ and reinsmen's premiership. C. S. Donald, with 41 wins, is the leading trainer, the total amount won in stakes by the stable being £9792. OI this Plutus has contributed £2685. Glenmure, who has been nominated for the Amateur Cup at the Waimate Hunt meeting, has been a follower ol the Birchwood Hunt for the best part of the season. The Panmure mare war injured earlier in the year, but she is now quite sound again. If she carries out her Waimate engagement she wil be ridden by her owner, Mr W. Swale who won the gentlemen riders’ even) at the Birchwood Hunt meeting at InI vercargill.

Sussex, who won the first Victoria Grand National Steeplechase (in 1881) carried 13.1, and eleven years later Rcdleap succeeded under 13.3. Redleap is often referred to as the best ’chaser Australia has produced, but he would have to travel a lot faster if he could be resurrected to-day, in fact he would have to cut at least a minute off his time. Gnair, top-weight in Saturday's race, carried only 11.9. The 2.291: taken by Quadroon to win the Parliamentary Handicap was the third slowest on the course, and is the worst recorded in an open event at any

metropolitan meeting for a dozen years. So adhesive was the ground that two horses, Last Refrain and Airam, could barely reach the post. They had stopped to a walk in the last furlong and were taken over direct to the birdcage gate. Brazen King also just reached the post, passing one other pair as they came to a standstill. The going was not improved on the final day, and it took El Meynell 1.58 J to run a mile at the conclusion of the meeting. Courtyard and Full o’ Scotch, whe finished first and second in the Wintei Hurdles, can be cited as illustrations ol the fact that there is just as muck ■ glorious uncertainty attached to racing as to cricket. Full o’ Scotch startec 48 times before he notched a win, ther suddenly he developed form that en- : abled him to score four firsts and s . second, and about £lOOO in stakes, ir ■ his next five outings. Courtyard wai ■ regarded as such a rogue that he wai ; given away. For a time it appearec 5 that the giver had been fortunate ; then in some miraculous fashion th( 1 Grandcourt gelding flashed into pro' minence with four consecutive wins t and in hie last six runs has establishec . a record of five wins and a second worth over £l2OO.