RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22934, 3 July 1944, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

■Bancor finished fourth in the opening event at Addington, but was deprived of the prize for galloping in the straight. W. J. Broughton rode two winners and L. J. Clutterbuck one at Hastings on Saturday. Broughton is now assured of the premiership. Prince Grattan, who made a return to form to win the Ellesmere Handicap after two indifferent performances, did not appear in the published list of acceptances for that race. Stock Exchange is missing from the acceptance list for the Trentham Hurdles. It will be regretted if he does not come south, as his reappearance at Riccarton would have been welcomed. None of the leading owners was in the money at Addington last Saturday, and Mr B. Grice heads the list for the season with £5025. Mr J. R. McKenzie £4822, Mr A. J. Wilson £3660, and Mr E. G. Bridgens £3155 are next. Being the only nomination, the following have been elected to the committee of the South Canterbury Jockey Club:—Messrs A. S. Elworthy, L. R. Jordan, R. J. Murphy, C. L. Orbell and T. Seaton. Two nominees, Messrs E. Macdonald and J. F. Montague, will contest the presidency of the Timaru Trotting Club. Only the required number of nominations were received by the secretary (Mr F. G. M. Raymond) for the other offices. They are:—Vicepresident, Mr J. Gilmore; committee, Mesrs A. Anderson, A. B. Annand, W. Connolly, and J. C. South. The opening event at Addington produced a mixed exhibition of trotting. Castigate made an unlucky debut in Canterbury by declining to leave the mark, and his compatriot, Blackdale, did not do much better. The three-year-old David Dryden, sandwiched bursts of fast trotting with stretches of galloping. Betty Maxegin broke up after leading for a mile, and Bancor, who was responsible for the pace for the next lap, left his feet when leading into the straight. Others to mix it were Little Jean, Yahoo, Paddy's Choice, Kaffir Prince and Front Royal. The winner, Sea Gem, tangled just after the start, but settled down to trot solidly thereafter.

Two highly impressive performances in the hack class at Hastings have been given by Queen's Charm (Hunting Song-Charmalaine. Six years old Queen’s Charm was a long time in getting her name on top in the judge’s hoist, but in her last eight starts her tally is five wins and two seconds. She won on the first day at Hastings with 10.0. She was given 10.8 in the Te Aro Hack at Trentham. and is now eligible for a rehandicap. Queen’s Charm is a full sister to Hunting Charm, a winner for Mr D. Grant.

Tolerate did not make the trip but the other 18 acceptors paraded for the first “trot” at Addington on Saturday. Betty Maxegin led Bancor and British Victory for a mile, then broke and retired. Going down the back the last time Bancor had a good lead from Suzerain, Maximum, Flying Scott and Sea Gem. Bancor elected to gallop after reaching the straight, and the strain of coming from 120 behind told on Flying Scott. Sea Gem, trotting brilliantly, ran in a comfortable winner from Suzerain and Maximum. Sea Gem is owned and trained by R. H. Butterick, who produced that great trotter Peggotty. The favourites were Castigate and Suzerain. Gold Peg gave another smooth performance to win the Peninsula Handicap at Addington. Coupled with Frances Easton, she was a solid favourite with Surprise Potts next in request. Taking sole charge before going a furlong, Gold Peg led for the first mile from Sunny Glen, Native Scott and Tam o’ Shanter, and this quartette were still in the van with a lap to go. Sunny Glen then cried enough and along the back it was left to Frances Easton to challenge her stablemate. Across the top Gold Peg led from Frances Easton, Surprise Potts, Native Scott and Trikkala, Frances Easton tired in the straight and Trikkala stumbled, and Gold Peg won easily from the three-year-old Native Scott. Keewah, who lost a lot of ground by a break, finished with great dash to beat Surprise Potts for third.

The withdrawal of Surprise Potts, who had competed in the previous race, left only half-a-dozen starters for the Waimariri Handicap at Addington. The consistent but unlucky mare, Scottish Lady, was preferred to Nola Scott and the Timaru winner, Pre-eminence. Nola Scott broke at the start, but as the pace was slow this was not a serious error. Cheval d’Or and Lucky Gem led Scottish Lady, Pre-eminence and Erin's Country for a mile and three furlongs, then Pre-eminence raced to the front to win decisively from Scottish Lady, who just staved off a dab by Nola Scott. Cheval d’Or was fourth.

Bronze Eagle won his first race for R. B. Berry, and his first this season, when he beat Dusky Sound by a length in the Winter Handicap on Saturday. The Wrack horse carried more money than Braw Lass or Dusky Sound. Braw Lass set out in an endeavour to lead all the way, but she never got far ahead of Mankind and Special Edition. This trio, attended by Lightning Lady and Parrish Lad, were in command for a mile and a quarter. Along the back Bronze Eagle, Dusky Sound and Horsepower were speeded up and at the entrance to the straight they were alongside Braw Lass and Mankind. Bronze Eagle and Dusky Sound outsped the others and Bronze Eagle won by a length from Dusky Sound. Lightning Lady, Special Edition and Braw Lass were next. Nelson Eddy was in the rear throughout.

Backers picked out the placegetters, Ordnance. Rangefinder and Sea Max, for the Aviation Handicap at Addington, but selected them in the reverse order. Ordnance led off from Allie Audubon, who soon broke up, and at the mile was four lengths clear of Timworthy and Rangefinder. With a lap to go Ordnance had widened the gap to eight lengths from Timworthy, Rangeflfiner and Sea Max. He was even further ahead when Rangefinder and Sea Max set out to overhaul him from the half-mile, and eventually won by three lengths from Rangefinder. Sea Max, who lost ground by a tangle at the barrier, was half a dozen lengths away.

The trotter. Gerfalcon, attempted to foot. it. with the pacers at, the start of the Ellesmere Handicap at Addington and paid the penalty. Manpower and Flash Guy also broke up. The favourite, Claremorris, with Prince Grattan and Gallant Chief in attendance, made the running for a mile, when Prince Grattan supplanted him and won nicely from Claremorris and Prince Grattan. The only other to be dangerous was Labour Day, who finished well in fourth place. The field for the Stewards’ Handicap at Addington included Gallant Chief and Manpower, who had started in the previous race. Paul Collette,. the favourite, broke a hopple at the start and his backers did not get a run. Goldfinder set, a moderate pace for Southland, Bank Again and Manpower, and they raced in that order for over a mile. Goldfinder retired three furlongs from home and Manpower led to the straight from Southland. Watcher and Gallant Chief. Southland tackled Manpower in the last, furlong and secured the verdict by a head, with Watcher in third place. For the Telegraph Handicap, the last, race of the: 1943-44 trotting season, the Addington public favoured Dusky Sound and Sabu-Bing Crosby bracket. Trusty Scott dwelt slightly at the start . Sabu. Braw Lass and Safety Pin were first away from Special Edition and Bing Crosby. They retained their positions for over a lap, and across the top the last time Sabu and Bing Crosby were in command from Special Edition, Braw Lass and Trusty Scott. Dusky Sound was close up, but was in a pocket. In the straight Trusty Scott ran to the front and ran home a winner by a length from Lightning Lady, who snatched second money from Safety Pin. Dusky Sound, who got clear too late, Hew up into fourth place.

The semi-final of the South Canterbury waltzing championship was contested at the Scottish Society's dance on Saturday night. The judge (Mr L. Cross) selected the following to compete in the final:- Mr and Mrs Paterson. Mr and Mrs Black. Miss Peebles and Mr Begg. Miss Mitchell and Mr Brooks, Miss Kilgour and Mr Brady Mi’s Hendry and Mr Ruston.