ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21553, 16 January 1940, Page 6

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing: Jan. 19—Wairio R.C. Jan. 18, 20, 22—Wellington R.C. Jan. 20, 22—Thames J.C. Jan. 22—Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. Jan. 26, 27—Pahiatua J.C. Jan. 27, 29—Auckland R.C. Feb. 1, 3—Wairoa. Feb. 1, 3—Wanganui. Feb. 3—Canterbury Feb. 3—Tapanui Feb. 3—Matamata. Feb. 8, 10—Egmont. Feb. 10, 12—Poverty Bay. Feb. 10, 12—Gore. Feb. 10, 12—Rotorua. Feb. 16, 17 —Winton. • Feb. 17—Tolaga Bay. Feb. 17—Opunake. Feb. 17, 19—Waikato. Feb. 22, 24—Dunedin. Trotting: Jan. 20. 22—Wanganui T.C. Jan. 25, 27—Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 27—Marlborough T.C. Jan. 31, Feb. 3—Wellington T.C. Feb. 10—Canterbury Park T.C. Feb. 10, 14—Auckland T.C. Feb. 17, 19— Manawatu T.C. Feb. 17—New Brighton T.C. Norseman is the only Wingatui horse in the Wellington Cup. The only previous Dunedin winner of the Trentham race was Longhea (1924). In 1901 Renown carried 8.10 in the Wellington Cup, which stood as a weight-carrying record for a three-year-old until it was beaten last year by Defaulter, who carried 8.11. Owing to war conditions, good class English horses are being sold in large numbers to go abroad. Indian owners are taking the fullest advantage of the opportunity of getting good horses at the moderate prices now prevailing in England. With 30 acceptors in the Highweight on the opening day of the Wellington meeting, there is likely to be shortage of jumping riders, to which the event is confined. In the event of there being an insufficient number, a flat racing jockey can be put up, but his mount has to carry a 71b penalty. When Vogengang won the Wellington Cup in 1894, he was saddled up again later in the day and won the Telegraph Handicap. Vogengang was then a four-year-old colt, and he was got by Burlington, a son of Albany, whose name occurs fairly frequently in the back of some trotting pedigrees. The biggest weight ever carried to victory in a Wellington Cup was the 10.4 by Advance, in 1903 at the Hutt. Other horses who have won the race with 9.0 oi' over, are Uniform, 9.3 in 1898, at the Hutt; Achilles, 9.4 in 1907, Star Stranger, 9.8 in 1923, Compris, 9.0 in 1932, and Vintage, 9.9 in 1935, at Trentham. On figures, Thermidor has the best prospects of the South Island horses in the Wellington Cup, but she is usually a slow beginner, and this is likely to prove a handicap in a crowded field. She will be ridden by C. T. Wilson and will not have to put up the overweight she carried in the New Zealand Cup. No three-year-old has been left in the Wellington Stakes and the five two-year-olds which will comprise the field include two maidens. Doria will carry a penalty of 71b.. Absolve one of 51b. Kentucky, Sir Beau and Lambourn are not liable to penalties, but they may declare some overweight. If Absolve behaves at the barrier he should win, although Sir Beau has a reputation.

The Timaru Trotting Club made a fortunate decision when it applied for a transfer from January 12 to December 16. Not only was the weather atrocious on Saturday, but the economic outlook for racing clubs has deteriorated within the last few weeks, A profit was made in December, but a heavy deficit would have been inevitable on Saturday.