ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21279, 24 February 1939, Page 8

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Feb. 24, 25—Gore R.C. Feb. 25—Wanganui J.C. Feb. 25—Waiapu R.C. Feb. 25, 27—Westland R.C. Feb. 25, 27—Te Aroha J.C. Trotting Feb. 25—Kaikoura T.C. Feb. 25—Wairarapa T.C. March 4—lnvercargill T.C. March 4—Wellington T.C. March 11—Timaru T.C. Gore jubilee meeting to-day. • • • • Aussie Ra was scratched at 12.40 on Tuesday for the Wanganui Cup. Beaupartir was taken out at 10 a m. on the same day. • • • « A number of horses have been accepted for in two races on the first day at Gore, including Tupai, Chirp, Bilboa, Disband, Atua Rere, TokoKoura, Wild Career, Thermidor, Straightdell, Airdrie, and Sunny Jean. Toro-Koura has been accepted for in the two open races at Gore to-day, but unless the track is considered too hard for Passaform to run in the Bell Memorial, Toro-Koura is pretty sure to start in the sprint. N. Cunningham has decided to appeal against the decision of the Auckland Trotting Club to disqualify him for a year, for “electing” to withdraw his horse from the Waiheke handicap after the totalisator had closed.

Lady Furst and Golden Sheila will not be rehandicapped for the Herries’ Memorial Cup at Te Aroha, nor Ivar for the Hot Springs Handicap. Gay Rebel will not be rehandicapped for either the Herries' Memorial Cup or the Hot Springs Handicap.

Mr W. Higgins, of Wellington, will be leaving on another trip to England next week. While in Sydney he may make arrangements for the transfer of his two-year-old Beau Pere—Joybird colt Bel Oiseau, already a winner, to the Dominion for racing at Eellerslie at Easter. In that event Beaulivre will come to Riccarton.

There does not seem to be much hope for Nuffield, Australia’s best three-year-old in the spring. He ran poorly in the Orr Stakes at Williamstown, and next day was lame in the foreleg which threatened trouble in the spring. It was feared that the trouble was seated in the suspensory ligament, which would spell finis. ! • • • •

The Chief Ruler gelding Gay Circle, trained by J. Fryer for Mr G. J. Barton, caused a surprise by easily winning an Apprentices’ Handicap at Williamstown a fortnight ago. He had not raced for eight months having broken down in front, and that his success was not anticipated by the stable is indicated that he started at three-figure odds in the ring and paid over a century and a third in the machine.

Ortyx made her first three-year-old appearance at Winton, but no indication was given whether she had retained her speed. She was rather barrier-shy, and her rider took her to the rear to await the return of Violenta who was playing up in front and wide of the barrier. When the starter decided to send the field away without Violenta, Ortyx was apparently overlooked.

Silver Ring broke down badly and possibly hopelessly at Victoria Park, Sydney. He had run a good race at Canterbury Park, and in a weak field with 9.0 and D. Munro to ride him he looked a fair chance. He was jaunty before the race, despite his doubtful foreleg. He was cantering in second place at the turn when suddenly his leg gave way and Munro had to pull him up. The old gelding walked in on three legs, a pathetic sight.

The Gore Racing Club, which celebrates its jubilee to-day, held its first meeting in 1899, but that of course did not mark the inauguration of racing in the Eastern Districts of Southland. A race styled the Gore Cup was run in 1884, and another in 1887. There were races also at Mandeville and Wyndham, the stakes at the lastmentioned township totalling about £lOO per diem, compared with £5OO for a single race to-day. The first meeting on the present Gore course was held on January 23, 1890. The Gore Cup, £5O, was run over a mile and a-half and won by Mr R. Klldaire’s Ixion, who later on in the year won the first Grand National Hurdle race.

An interesting story is told of how an owner missed a bargain when his horse failed to win a race at a northern meeting. Owner-trainer B. Burgess was on the track one morning and he was offered Llangollen at a price less than £lOO. At that time Llangollen had not started in a race, and Burgess asked for a trial before deciding to buy her. His request was acceded to, but he was told that in the event of the trial being successful the purchase price would be raised. A good horse was selected and Llangollen duly accounted for him. The price was then nearly doubled, and Burgess stated that should Pukeko (one of his horses) win a race at the meeting he would buy Llangollen. Pukeko failed to win and Llangollen still remained the profitable property of the Abbot Bros.

The Gore Racing Club did not make spectacular increases in stakes for its jubilee meeting, but decided to spread part of the money over a wider field than would be covered by winners and place-getters, and made acceptances free. On last year's figures it was anticipated that the gift would cost the Club about £260, but it has not worked out that way. For the 1938 •fixture the nomination and acceptance

fees totalled £460, and this month the receipts will be approximately £4lO from nominations alone. The acceptances for the opening day total 121, compared with 81 for the corresponding day last year. The principal increases are in the racing events.

The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator at Gore on Friday:—

Longford Hack Handicap: Spendthrift and Guste; Pink Bond and Triple Cone. Electric Trot: Bellond and Tracey Lass; Flash Guy and Pitwell; Harbinger and Viscosa; June Tide and Yon Yan; Lorene Vai and Violet Potts; Pontoon and Abel; Sungauge and Ned Worthy. Novice Handicap: Cone Peak and Airdrie. Jubilee Trot: Ochiltree and M'Glusky; Crown Peak and Iron Duke.

Commenting upon the claims of Defaulter, who is now in Sydney, “Pilot” says:—“Whenever I hear New Zealand’s best three-year-olds discussed, I always think of Noctuiform as exceptional. Though I do not think we have stood still since 1905, it is doubtful whether there was ever an A.J.C. Derby in which the winner so completely outclassed his opponents. Noctuiform won at his ease by six lengths from his stable-companion, Sun of God, who beat Lady Wallace by ten, with the 2 to 1 favourite, Charles Stuart, fourth. Less than two months later Lady Wallace won the Victoria Derby from nine other runners. In winning in 2.323, Noctuiform knocked 4Ssec. off the previous best for an A.J.C. Derby.” On returning to New Zealand he won the New Zealand Cup, Derby, and Canterbury Cup, but on going to England at 5000 gns. he failed to acclimatise. PILES QUICKLY RELIEVED No need to suffer fro . this agonising complaint. Hundreds relieved with wonderful Zann Treatment. Send 9d in stamps for generous sample. Zann