ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21645, 4 May 1940, Page 11

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of Newt And Views FIXTURES Racing May 4—Egmont. R.C. May 4— Southland R.C. May 4—Franklin R.C. May 11—Ashburton County R.C. May 11— Otakl Maori R.C. May 11, 13—Poverty Bay Turf C. May 16. 18—South Canterbury J.C. May 16,18— Manawatu R.C. May 18, 20—Waikato R.C. May 25—Foxton R.C. Trotting May 4—Oamaru T.C. May 9, 11—Forbury T.C. First race at OatnarU at 12.15. Racing at Riccarton (Amberley neetingi will commence at 11.47. The death has occurred in America of Abbacy, dam of the miracle trotter Greyhound.

Manlan has the necessary speed to win the Innovation Handicap at Oamaru to-day if he begins smoothly.

"Horses for courses" theorists will be on Valimeen at Pukekohe to-day. The Vaals mare has an imposing record on this track.

Wattom has been paid up for in two races at Invercargill to-day, but is likely to start in the Awarua Handicap <ll miles).

Valimeen was an absentee from the Takaninl track on Tuesday, and it is stated that she is an unlikely starter at the Franklin meeting to-day.

The Dozer Is showing considerable aptitude as a jumper, and he is to make his debut in this role at the Franklin meeting.

The win and place system will be used to-day at Oamaru, Invercargill, Riccarton, Egmont and Franklin meetings.

Ortyx will be favourite for the sprint race at Invercargill to-day. but backers will be taking a double—whether she can win and whether she leaves the mark promptly.

The Oamaru Trotting Club is one of the few that retains a saddle race on its programme, and it has been rewarded by an acceptance of 19 for the Electric Handicap to-day.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference will be held in Wellington on July 12, and that of the Trotting Conference on July 10.

The trotting trainer M. Stewart is now preparing Hunting Blood at Te Rapa, and the Hunting Song gelding is infusing plenty of dash into his dally tasks.

The Canterbury branch of the Racing Owners and Trainers Association decided to take no action in regard to an agitation to have the flat-footed start made optional instead of compulsory.

It is stated that a remit is likely to be brought before the Trotting Conference. with the object of making it compulsory that at least two two-mlle races shall be Included in every day's programme.

When Wild Talk won the Timaru Cup she scored the first win in that race for the Clifford colours since Cruchfleld won in 1891. It was a coincidence that both winners should have carried the same weight, 8.8.

Loyal Queen, who showed up promisingly at Tauherenikau at Easter. is to make her next appearance at Awapuni next week and she Is worthy of consideration in the comparatively weak class.

Although Spendthrift was allowed to decline his engagement in the Southland Hurdles to-day he is making splendid progress as a jumper, and gave a brilliant exhibition over three hurdles earlier in the week.

Bronwen. who Is to contest the open sprint at Pukekohe. ran five furlongs in Imin. 2 l-ssec at Takaninl on Tuesday. She will probably be ridden today by A. Spinley. and will thus have the benefit of a 71b. allowance.

Guilder, who would probably have won the Tekapo Hurdles, if she had survived the last fence, was not entered for the Ashburton race. She is a half sister to Nightcap, who won several hurdle races for an Ashburton owner.

The Dozer, who is engaged in the hack steeplechase at Pukekohe. has not raced over obstacles and he has done no schooling on the tracks. He had. however, a good deal of hunting experience in Taranaki last season, and is said to be a proficient fencer.

Though she is still eligible for hack events and has not won a race this season, handicappers are not taking any risks with Capricious, who was allotted 10.2, or 441 b. above the minimum, in the Starkey Memorial at Amberley.

Valimeen. Bronwen and Aero, King may be the most popular candidates for the Paerata Handicap, the open sprint at the Franklin meeting. In the President's Handicap, the selections may be Valmlnt, Jack Tar and Pocket Venus.

One of the handsomest yearlings undergoing education at Hastings is said to be a colt by Captain Bunsby from Sidestar (Nightraid-Dribble). Sidestar was bred at Seadown by Mr C. M. O'Connor, and is a half-sister to Red Dragon, who is to run in the hurdle race at Ashburton.