RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22991, 7 September 1944, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

The Otago jockey, L. Hare, is now attached to J. McLean's stable at Hastings.

The meeting at Wanganui on Saturday will be the first held there for four years. During the period of occupancy by the Army, the Club has had to race at Marton or Awapuni.

Zona Grattan is required to give away 8 and 11 seconds in her races at Trentham, but she won by that margin on her previous appearance there, and has improved since then.

The fields for the two trotters’ races at Trentham on Saturday are idem -cal There is duplication also in the Sharpe Handicap and the Belmont Handicap, except that Desert Lad replaces Bohemian in the Belmont Handicap. t The ex-Southland trotter Castigate’ is engaged in the unhoppled events at Trentham, and the first appearance of the Quite Sure gelding outside his native province will arouse considerable interest. Apart from substantial increases in prize-money, a notable improvement in the Otago Hunt programme is the extension of distance in the hack handicaps from five and six furlongs to seven furlongs and a mile. The fivefurlongs race has always been a blot on the card. Reorapa will be the problem child in the Maiden Race at Wanganui. He has the speed to “win by a minute” if he can be kept to the straight and narrow, but his probable price will not be commensurate with the risk on a turning track. It has been stated that Cabin Boy is now eligible for the Trotting Cup. It is assumed that horses assessed at 4.27 will be admitted, but Cabin Boy’s present rating is 4.29. The only race in sight which will offer a chance to qualify is the 4.33 handicap at New Brighton next month. The Vulture, who was prominent for more than a mile in a hurdle race at the Grand National meeting, had not raced for about four years. When as a three-year-old he won a maiden race at Ashburton his prospects looked bright, but he did not train on. By Valkyrian from a Day Comet mare, The Vulture has inherited unusual jumping ability. Two-year-olds will have their first opportunity this week in the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui and the Pioneer Handicap at Ellerslie. The Avondale race is officially a handicap, but as none of the youngsters has raced the weights had to be framed on classic lines, Allies receiving a 51b sex allowance from colts and geldings. Mr G. Lang, owner of Gulf Stream, has his horses well distributed. C. G. Humphries has some at Riccarton; Longwood is trained by B. McKnight in the Wairarapa, and Matador (halfbrother to Battledress) by J. H. Jefferd at Hastings. Apparently F. Smith’s stable will have three representatives—My Bonnie, Coronaire, and High Span —in the Avondale Guineas. All are in separate ownerships and will not be bracketed, though Coronaire will be coupled with Bueno if the last-named starts. Smith has won the race in the last three years with Route March, Representative and Balfron. The announcement that the Railway Department will carry racehorses on slow trains wsfc not unexpected, but it will nevertheless be welcomed by owners and trainers. Since the grain and stock seasonal traffic ended some time ago it would have been possible to transport horses in the South Island, but the position was different in the North, and the authorities apparently shrank from granting facilities to a section of the Dominion. ASHBURTON R.C. HANDICAPS Handicaps, for the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting are as under: — COUNTY HURDLES, of £200; 15 miles. —Maggiore 11.1, Sir Frederick 10.13, Kilcato 10.4, Roman Son 9.13, Tatting 9.12, Waitoru 9.8, Norse 9.6, Fairy Bard 9.5, Prince Dolomite 9.0, Overland Red 9.0, The Vulture 9.0, BigJoe 9.0, Tan Peter 9.0, Astros 9.0. ASHBURTON HANDICAP, of £400; 11- miles. —Kevin 9.0, John o’ London 8.1, Irish Note 7.6. Findon 7.4, Foxchase 7.0. Stavros 7.0. PENSCROFT HACK HANDICAP, of £200; 1 mile. —Grecian Glow 9.0, Wise Girl 8.9, Honest Sal 8.8, Ganges 8.7, Anchorage 8.7, Saldowa 8.4, Night Fighter 8.4, Bill Gundi 8.3, Lyndon Lea 8.2, Bowmore 8.2, Sunny Sal 8.0, Prince Leighon 7.13, Warrigal 7.13, Lex 7.12, Falconbridge 7.10, Trueway 7.10, Scottish Lad 7.9, Night Believer 7.8, The Vulture 7.8, Racket 7.8, Rahiri 7.8, Legislator 7.8. My Sonnet 7.8, Olga’s Choice 7.8, Ration 7.8, Night Robe 7.8, Salgama 7.8, Salmaform 7.8. Vafort 7.7. King Burn 7.7. SPRING HANDICAP, of £250; 7 furlongs.—John Gay 9.0, John o’ London 8.6, Sascha 8.4, Hearth 8.3, Kronos 8.1, Fairy Bard 7.5, Rawhamai 7.5, Joygiver 7.4, Findon 7.4, Rex Maitland 7.2, Sham Boy 7.1, Warfield 7.0.