On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21089, 15 July 1938, Page 7

On and Off the Track

\ 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 Turt Club July 30—Christchurch Hunt Club, lulv 30—Taranaki J C. August 6—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 9, 11, 13—Canterbury J.C. Trotting August 6, 10. 12—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. August 27—Auckland T.C. September 3 —New Brighton T.C. First race at Waimate to-morrow at 12 o'clock. L. J. Ellis has been engaged to ride Cocksure in the Winter Cup. L. J. Ellis's mounts at Waimate will be Valantua (two starts), Silver Sail and Toro Koura. The pacer Dewey Cloud had to be destroyed alter a collision with a n’lotor-car on a road near Winton. The single pool system of betting will be used at the Waimate Hunt meeting’. Toro Koura, oen of the two-year-olds engaged in the Novice Plate at Waimate, showed considerable promise in the spring, and with L. J. Ellis as his pilot, will probably start favourite.

The Trentham track was something approaching a morass last week, and the form there is likely to be upset at Riccarton, which at its worst is always much firmer in winter than Trentham.

It looked a rather ambitious undertaking to start the hunter Power Chief in the July Steeplechase at Trentham, but the Tractor gelding should be No. 1 selection in the Hawke's Bay Hunt Cup to-morrow. The Masquerader, a Dunedin Guineas and Great Easter Handicap winner, has been retired from racing. He broke down some time ago, and although he appeared to be sound again he failed to regain form on being put into training. Mr R. H. W. Holden has intimated his intention of making a long trip abroad, and in consequence, the stallion Siegfried and other members of the Mana Stud, Poukawa, Hawke's Bay, will be sold.

j was not nominated for the South CanI terbury Steeplechase his only other j chance of a run before the Grand Nai tional will be at the Hunt meeting at Riccarton.

The three-year-old pacer Sandusky began the season on a 3.37 mark, and, although he was only twice successful, concluded the term on 3.28. The Jewel Pointer youngster received some of his penalties by being placed in classic events.

It is stated that Turoa Webster, who is to go to India to ride for the successful Higgins’ stable, declined an offer of £3OO to ride Pooley Bridge in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles. The £3OO was no doubt contingent on a win.

The much-boosted match in America between the mighty War Admiral and the invincible Sea Biscuit, resulted in a '‘lizzie,” the match being called off

by War Admiral’s party at the last moment. Twenty-five thousand people attended, only to learn that War Admiral had been scratched.

Jolly Beggar’s 11.3 is the lowest top weight awarded in the Grand National

Steeplechase since Aurora Borealis was given 11.1 in 1930. Jolly Beggar, though top weight, has never won a steeplechase and has started in only one, yet the Rules of Racing say that no horse may be penalised in a steeplechase for having won a hurdle race.

Great expectations are being formed of Greyhound's efforts on the coming American Grand Circuit. The champion is now six years old, and on 11 occasions has gone 2.0 or better for a mile. Good authorities in the United States expect Greyhound to reduce the world's record for the distance to 1.56.

The Hon. Peter Beatty, owner of Hois Roussel, did not end his luck with the purchase of that colt. At the Ascot meeting last month he bought Foxglove 11. with his engagements, from the Prince Aly Khan. Foxglove Il’s first run in Mr Beatty’s ownership was in

the Ascot Gold Vase, two miles, in which he was ridden by G. Richards. Foxglove II won easily, and presumably the race was not of less value than last year's £2150.

It is hinted that the Tax Department, is considering the question of the broadcasting of complimentary tickets by racing clubs. One Auckland provincial club distributed over 4000 compliment arics, and it is stated that 2000 were used on each day of its meeting. The tickets were complimentary at the inside gate, but their holders paid 2/for admission at the outside turnstiles. The Government’s interest is aroused by the question of amusement tax.

The yearlings purchased for clients by Geo. Price at the last Trentham sales will be shipped to Sydney this week. They have been broken in and wintered by Mrs A. McDonald at Awapunl, and are reported to be goodlooking youngsters. The list includes two colts—one by Limond from Miss Thespian and the other by Foxbridge from Eager Rose —and a filly by Night Raid from Coronilla. The Limond colt is a half-brother to Chief Ranger and a full-brother to Rehearsal.

It has been suggested that the times at Trentham last Saturday must have been the slowest on record for a metro-

politan course, but this doubtful honour is claimed for Wingatui. On the third day at the Dunedin winter meeting last year it took 3min 15 l-ssec to run a mile and a-half over hurdles (3min 14iisec at Trentham), lmin 26 l-ssec to run the open six furlongs as compared with lmin 225 sec, and lmin 58 l-ssec for the open mile as against lmin 57»sec last week.

Only one horse, The Agent, has won the Grand National three times, and he did not win three times at Riccarton. In any case fields were very small in The Agent's day. Valpeen, one of the double winners at Riccarton, will attempt to establish a record next month. He has 10.6, compared with 10.0 and 10.13 in his previous wins, but he is a long way from being the Valpeen of old. In the recent Great Northern he carried only 9.2, and in view of the fact that he has twice been beaten since then he has not been thrown in with another 181 b.

The Reassessment Board has let out several well-known trotting horses for the new season. The following pacers have been let up one second over all distances: —Bingen Palm, Blue Mountain, Bonny Azure, Evicus, Llewellyn’s Pride, Queen Author, Rey Spec, Rol I’Or and Worthy Light. Among the trotters, Sea Gift and Garner have been let up one second over all distances, and Todd Lonzia’s new marks are

2.13, 2.47, 3.21 and 4.29. Indianapolis has been conceded one second over a mile and a mile and a-quarter, while Red Shadow has had the concession extended for a mile and a-quarter and two miles, the same let-up being accorded Gallant Knight and Raydus. War Buoy. Guy Junior, Recess and Grace McElwyn have been let out a second on their two-mile marks and Gunfire over a mile and a-quarter only.