ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22125, 20 November 1941, Page 8

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget Of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Nov 20. 22—Levin R.C. Nov. 22—Southland R.C. Nov. 29—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 29, Dec I—Auckland R.C. Nov 29 Dec I—Feiiding J.C. Dec. 6, B—Woodville D.J.C. Dec. 13—Otaki Maori R.C. Dec. 13—Hororata R.C. Dec. 13—Waipa R.C. Dec. 20—Wairlo J.C. Trotting Nov. 22—Waikato T.C. Nov 29 Dec I —Forbury Park T.C. Dec. 6—Waikato T.C. Dec. 6—Wairlo T.C. (non-tote). Dec. 6—New Brighton T.C. Neither Happy Ending nor Gladynev is in the Auckland Cup. The delayed preliminary system is to be given a trial at Feiiding. Circular Note has had another change of trainers, and is now in C. C. McCarthy’s stable. Favourites scored six wins and a third in seven races on the second day at Napier Park. Three races had to be divided at Te Rapa last Saturday. That record has not been exceeded in the Dominion. It stretched the card to eleven races. fl • •••'■

It is not so long ago that Scapa Flow experienced great difficulty in getting to the end of a mile and a half. With age the Man o’ War mare has developed stamina, and now is a proved stayer. Tire fastest piece of trotting at Addington last week was shown by Biworthy when he finished second in the Dominion Handicap. A break at the start cost him more than fifty yards.

Beau Vite is enjoying a holiday at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, and will stay there until it is time to put him into work for autumn racing. Mr R. Stewart states that It is definite that Beau Vite will come to a New Zealand stud on retirement.

Gladynev was the best two-miler at the New Zealand Cup meeting, but at a mile and a half he was very little superior to Rakanui who, receiving only 11b in the Metropolitan, made all the running, and was beaten only in the last stride. Rakanui had had a hard race in the Canterbury Cup, whereas Gladynev had been given a full week in which to freshen up. Wardress was the best of the other stayers at the meeting when Taurangi took the count, blit her effort In winning the Canterbury Cup left her without any sting for the final day.

Pioneer Handicap form made Dominate more than 101 b better than his stable-mate Indian Sign, winner of the Wellesley Stakes. That entitles Dominate to be rated at least equal to Auckland’s best, Bonny Pay. These two are likely to meet in the Foal Stakes at Auckland, but both may be worried by Travancore, who is now in R. S. Bagby’s stable. Of the youngsters which raced at Riccarton Grilse ranked next to Indian Sign. Winning Flight was in no condition to race, and in the meantime it is not certain that this flying filly will ever be able to fulfil the wonderful promise she gave at Dunedin.

The Timaru Trotting Club is making a praiseworthy attempt to attract the best horses to Washdyke this season. The principal race on its summer programme, the John Hole Handicap, cannot, of course, vie with the Trotting Cup, but the limit is 4.33, or a second tighter than the Auckland Trotting Cup, which admits horses assessed at 4.34. The Waimate Handicap for trotters, has the same limit (4.36) as the Dominion Handicap, the tightest class in the Dominion. The Pareora Handicap is restricted to horses with marks of 2.46 or faster, and 2.46 was the qualification for the New Zealanc sprint championship last week.

The best three-year-old at the Cup meeting was Battle Dress, but his opponents in the Derby were not capable of extending him, and it was not possible to get a line on his ability. The Posterity gelding is tallish but rathei lightly built and is a long strider with smooth action. Next to the Derby winner must, be placed Salutation. She could scarcely be given this rating on her Oaks win, as she had little to spare in a poor field, but her second to Haughty Winner in the Riccarton Handicap was enhanced by the winner’s subsequent form. The grey filly reversed her previous procedure by running better in a handicap at her first start than in a classic two days later.

In a race at Addington last week. Great Blaze and Jackaranda were coupled. In the straight Great Blaze swerved out and checked Qhatmos, enabling Jackaranda to win. A good many people expressed the opinion that the race should have been awarded to Chatmos, but there is no authority in the rules for such a course even if the stewards had wished to take it. A horse may be disqualified or placed behind any other competitor if such horse or any horse belonging to the same owner or in which the ownei 1 has a registerable interest crosses any other horse without being ten feet in front. That does not cover the case of horses which are bracketed because they are in the same stable.

The false rail at Addington has not altogether fulfilled the expectations of its sponsors, and last week complaints were heard that horses in the lead'at the end of the false rail did not always keep a straight course home. There is nothing in the rules requiring them to do so. A horse may not cross another unless it is ten feet clear, but a horse which dives for the inside as soon as it reaches the end of the false rail is not guilty of a cross. It merely takes a new line on which there has been no other horse. Tire false rail is intended to provide a saloon passage for a horse which already has had the use of the leader as a wind shield, and to give it a further advantage over the one which has made the pace and the race. The false rail is inequitable, and has just been scrapped at Randwick and Flemington after an extended trial. Trotting Club Card The Timaru Trotting Club has adopted the following programme for its January meeting: Claremont Handicap (trotters), £175, 13 furlongs (3.43); Salisbury Handicap, £175, 13 furlongs, (3.57); John Hole Memorial, £4OO, 2 miles (4.33); Levels Handicap, £225, li miles (2.52); Waimate Handicap (trotters) , £4OO, 2 miles (4.36); Kerrytown

Handicap, £225. 13 furlongs (3.51); Pareora Handicap. £4OO, 11 miles (2.46); Farewell Handicap (saddle), £250, 1 mile (2.16).