RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 5

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing October I—Otaki-Maorl R.C. October I—Kurow J.C. October 1, 3—Ohinemuri J.C. October 6. B—Dunedin J.C. October 7, B—Hawke’s Bay J.C. October 8, 10—Auckland R.C. October 12, 13—Masterton R.C. October 15, 17—Avondale J.C. October 20, 22, 24—Wellington R.C. October 22, 24—Gore R.C. October 24—North Canterbury R.C. October 24—Waverley R.C. October 24—Waikato Hunt Club. October 27, 29—Poverty Bay Turf Club October 29—Banks Peninsula R.C. Trotting j October I—Methven T.C. October B—New Brighton T.C. October 15—Waikato T.C. October 15— Manawatu T.C. October 22, 24—Greymouth T.C. October 22, 24—Auckland T.C. October 24—Oamaru T.C. October 29—Invercargill T.C. October 29—Thames T.C. The first race at Kurow to-morrow is timed to start at 12.30. Kinloch, who was nominated for. the New Zealand Cup, is not in work, and is one which will drop out to-night. C. G. Goulsbro, who has abandoned the idea of going to Melbourne, has been engaged to ride Willie Win in the New Zealand Cup. • • • • Mr L. W. Storry has refused to put a price on the Robespierre-Llmelight filly Romarin. Previous offers for fillies out of Limelight had been rejected. L. Dulieu. who suffered head injuries at the Wellington winter meeting in July, is riding work again at Ellerslie, but it is expected to be a while yet before he resumes race riding. Defaulter defeated Wild Chase over six furlongs In 1.16 at Riccarton yesterday morning, and promises to start a very hot favourite' for the Dunedin Guineas. An acceptance for the New Zealand Cup, and entries for the Stewards, Metropolitan, Criterion, Jockey Club, Stonyhurst, Members’ and Fendalton Handicaps, as well as for the Canterbury Cup, are due by 5 p.m. to-day. Surmont is booked to make his first appearance to-morrow at Otaki. In view of the failures of other crack two-year-olds of last season in open sprint races this year his effort will be watched with interest. The distance is seven furlongs, which may worry him. It is asserted that there is no fitter horse at Ellerslie than Palmlnt, who has recorded some sound gallops during the last few weeks. A slow beginner, the Paladin gelding, who is engaged in the Hack Cup at the Ohinemuri meeting, shapes like a stayer and can be expected to run out the distance. It is eighteen montlis since Dungarvan raced and he is due to reappear in the seven furlong event at Otaki on Saturday. He has been in work some time and with Allunga was responsible for the best gallop over seven furlongs at Trentham yesterday morning. Dungarvan is now a six-year-old. At Epsom earlier in the week the pacer Great Chum provided the highlight of the morning’s training operations by stepping a mile in 2.12, the first half in 1.5. About 1.8 to 1.10 was the average for the last half for other horses. Great Chum worked in saddle with a lady rider (Mrs Collins). Shy has not won a race since he beat Cuddle at Trentham last October, but the plain-looking Valkyrian gelding is expected to be a place-getter in the Poland Cup at the Ohinemuri Club’s meeting at Paeroa to-morrow. Form suggests that the two he has to beat are Gold .Vaals and Kena. Since it was announced that Master Hotspur will not take up the 101 b penal*/ in the McLean Stakes, an idea has got abroad that the Dunedin race will be a gift for Winning Rival. There is no sound reason for this, as while the Chokebore youngster can gallop the stable has no such exalted opinion of her capabilities. Acceptors for the Melbourne Stakes to be run at the V.R.C. October meeting at Flemington to-morrow, are:— The Trump 9.5, Ajax 9.5, Marauder 9.3, Apollo 9.3, Elgolea 9.0, Ena 9.0, Aitchengee 8.12, Stoic 8.9, Pageant 8.9, Evening Mist 8.7, Tactical 8.4, Destiny Bay 7.8, Fort Regal 7.8, Brethren 7.8, Hilton 7.8. Engaged in the Handicap Hurdles at Paeroa (Ohinemuri meeting) on Saturday, High Star has derived benefit from two recent races on the flat, and last week he schooled over four hurdles in his best style. A winner over hurdles twice last season, High Star possesses plenty of pace and is likely to set his opponents a hard task. Stretto will represent New Zealand in this year’s Epsom Handicap, a race which has been credited to a Dominionbred horse in the last four seasons. Silver Ring won with 9.6 in 1934, Synagogue in 1935, Capris in 1936 (on a protest against Gay Lover, and Gold Rod last year. Autopay and Nightmarch were other fairly recent Epsom winners from New Zealand. The last New Zealand-owned winner of the A.J.C. Derby was Prince Humphrey (1928), who was bred in Australia, and was actually ineligible to run. Four Dominion-bred horses, however, have scored since then—Phar Lap, Ammon Ra, Theo and Homer. The only Jjew Zealand bred runner tomorrow will be Limulet (Limond-Ank-let). •.• • • - A Sydney report states that trainer Frank McGrath believes Geebung will become another Prince Foote. Geebung is unable to start In the Derby owing

to an irregularity in his entry, and consequently is forced to run in the Epsom. Prince Foote was a high-class performer, who won the Derby and Melbourne Cup, and Geebung will have to improve half a hundredweight to reach his level. • • • • As the result of an argument a couple of Scottish owners engaged their horses for a match for a good stake. A few days before the event was scheduled to take place, the two disputants met. One said to the other, "Look here, I’ve thought things over and it seems foolish to carry on with this affair, which must prove expensive to one of us. What about calling off the match?” His opponent agreed, at which the other man laughingly exclaimed that he never thought to find such an easy way out of a tight corner, his horse being dead lame. "Dead lame’’ was the retort, “dead lame, you say. Well, my horse has been dead this three weeks.” The Kurow meeting became a regular fixture early in the ’’nineties.’’ Prior to that residents in the Waitaki country had meetings at Duntroon and at Omarama. The Omarama gathering has maintained a fitful existence on a non-totalisator basis, but Duntroon closed down very soon after the Kurow meeting became established. The original course at Kurow was situated on the other side of the township. During periods of economic stress and transport difficulty the Kurow Club on occasion has raced at Oamaru with successful results, and more than once negotiations have taken place with a view to effecting amalgamation of the two North Otago clubs. A few seasons ago a proposal was considered for a trial fusion for a period of five years, but an obstacle arose in connection with the ownership of the Kurow property.