ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22043, 16 August 1941, Page 7

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget Of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Aug. 16—C.J.C. Grand National. Aug. 28—Egmont-Wanganul Hunt Aug. 30—Taranaki Hunt Sept. 4, 6—Wanganui T.C. Sept. 6—Otago Hunt Sept. 13—Ashburton R.C. Lincoln Steeplechase to-day. The Grand National meeting Is scheduled to conclude at Riccarton this afternoon. » • » • North Island horses won only two out of nine races on the opening day of the Grand National meeting, but they had their turn on Thursday when they captured six events out of eight. It is reported that the broken start in the last race on Grand National tiay was caused by the starter inadvertently toughing the button (on the end of a flexible cord) when, with his back to the horses, he was walking to his usual position. Oh tire first two days of the Grand National meeting C. T. Wilson and P. Burgess each steered two winners. No other Jockey notched more than a single win. Such a wide distribution of rewards is very unusual at this fixture. cede

In the Qraiid National hurdles, Thfe Dozer and Tidewaiter finished 160 yards in front of their nearest opponents. The Dozer has been raised 161 b and Tidewaiter 71b in the Sydenham Hhrdles, but it is difficult to envisage any of those they defeated turning tile tables on then! to-day.

Treasurer was nominated for the Longbeach Handicap, a hack race on the final day of thfe National meeting. After his win with 10.4 at the Hunt meeting, and his subsequent success in vo..ter cup, he wou.u carry the “grahdstand” if he had been left in the hack race.

The New Zealand Trotting Association has reversed a decision of the Forbury Park Club, which disqualified April Direct, winner of the Royal Handicap, for unauthorised change of gear. The club awarded the race to Night BeUm. The Association has reinstated April Direct as winner, and fined his owner (Mrs Baldwin) £25.

In the Lincoln Steeplechase this afternoon Astral Flame will be reS Hired to carry 161 b and Dozle Boy 91b lore than in the Grand National, blit Slayer has been raised 41b|and Ballybrlt 41b also, while Chat is up 21b. Astral Flame, the youngest and least experienced of the field, is most likely to improve and will be hard to beat.

At a meeting this week, the Trotting Association disposed of a case which had been under review for some time, At Ktunaru in April, it was alleged Lough Derg (a winner) started from a wrong mark. It has now been decreed that Lough Derg should be disqualified and the race awarded to Helenora; and that Lough Derg’s river, C. K. Yeatman, should be fined £lO. • • • •

There were rumours abroad that the final day of the Grand National meeting might be postponed, but the emergency committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club met before the closing of acceptances and decided that there should be no variation of the schedule. Trainers considered that the track would be safe, and some expressed the opinion that they had had to race horses under worse conditions elsewhere.

The reinstatement of April Direct (disqualified at Forbury for unauthorised use of a tongue strap Which was not used on the first day) as winner of the Forbury ROyal Handicap, has attendant consequences. It deprives C. S. Donald of one poirit for the trainers’ premiership, and enables M. Stewart to tie with him for that honour. It mearis also that April Direct will be reassessed as winner of the race, while the penalty imposed on Night Beam will be lifted.

The weather continued very wet in Christchurch yesterday morning, and put any idea of racing at Addingtoil completely out of the question. The grounds were largely under water, and there was no indication that the track would be fit for racing by Monday. Ultimately a postponement until next Saturday was announced, although it was rumoured that there was some reluctance in Wellington to grant such a long deferment of the concluding day.

The going at Riccarton on Grand National Hurdles day was the deepest that has been raced on (or in) there for many seasons. The surface was holed considerably at the Hunt meeting, and these punctures were filled by rain which soaked the track. Exacting it was on horses and riders, it proved quite safe and accidents were unusually few. The Dozer’s time in the Grand National Hurdles ★as the slowest since the race has been run over the existing distance, and the figures for the flat races were about a furlong slow to the mile.

The connection of the Hazlett family with racing goes back for half a century. Mr James Hazlett (whose memory is perpetuated by the Hazlett Cup) became associated as a racing partnership Mr Stevenson. Their best performer was probably Gipsy Grand. After Mr Hazlett’s death two of his sons, W. T. and L. C„ bought Vladimir, and with this horse won several important races. Later they registered separate colours, and have been racing for more than 40 years. Mr W. T. Hazlett has been president of the Southland Racing Club for 38 seasons. He made a lucky purchase when he secured the English mare Simper, whose descendants have won a lot of I money. The best on the flat were Gold Light and Dazzling Light in New Zealand, and Sir Simper in Australia. With Paris, Mr W. T Hazlett won a Wellington Steeplechase. Mr LC. Hazlett had a great steeplechaser in Pamplona, and now owns a good one in Slayer. Loughrea was a fine galloper on the flat. Messrs J. S. and W. E. Hazlett, owners of Astral Flame, are sons of Mr W. T. Hazlett. The first-named was well known as an amateur rider until his weight increased. W. E„ amateur trainer of the big team raced by the partnership, first earned fame as a New Zealand Rugby representative. Last year Hazlett brothers were third on the winning owners’ list for the Dominion. Their most important success on the flat was with Sparkle in a Dunedin Cup. Spendthrift won them a Great Western Steeplechase, and Astral Flame realised their major ambition by winning the Grand National. Three or four years ago, Graball established a record by winning the three open steeplechase at the Dunedin winter meeting.