RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 7

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

W. Hillis, who has been temporarily in charge of W. E. Hazlett’s horses at Washdyke, is to ride True Range in the Otago Steeplechase. Horses in two races at Wingatui on Saturday Include Half and Half, Boloyna, Kohara. Hunting Charm Riding Home and Sir Saladin. American overseas servicemen have been apprised of the defeat of the Kentucky Derby favourite Free-for-AU by Burning Green over 9 furlongs at Louisville. The St. Clair Handicap will be the seventh race at Wingatui on Saturday. Owing to the small field it has been transposed with the Winter Handicap. Four of the Birthday Handicap acceptors are in other races—Kohara in the Otago Hurdles, Sir Saladin in the Winter Handicap, Hunting Charm in a hack race, and Boloyna in the Otago Hurdles. Foxhaven, who starred at Wingatui last June, has dropped out of the Birthday Handicap. He was a longway from being the worst handicapped horse in the race. At a meeting at Bombay, where a treble totalisator is opened, only one investor selected the three winners. He collected 105,000 rupees the equivalent of 20,000 to 1. Spanish Main was paid up for in three races at Ellerslie—Greenlane Steeplechase, Great Northern and Hunt Club Hurdles. His prospects look brightest in the Greenlane Steeplechase, but it is suggested that he may start in the hurdles as well. The Wanganui Jockey Club is one of very few which use the single pool system of betting. The battle of the systems was decided long ago, and most of the clubs which adhere to 75-25 are committed to it through lack of facilities to run win and place machines. Foxiana gave , another brilliant display over the Awapunl fences on Monday. and it is confidently hoped that he will be able to compete in the Wanganui Steeplechase on Monday. Authcaitlc was running out liack nominations at Riccarton at Easter. He had qualified for the higher grade preciously at Trentham, and the appeal judges’ verdict did not affect his status. Authentic may be nominated for the New Zealand Cup. A meeting of Trentham trainers appointed a committee .to write to the Wellington Racing Club outlining improvements which it is considered are necessary to bring training facilities up to present day requirements. Lord Broiefort was bought with the ultimate object of making a jumper of him. Not many of Broieforts stock have been tried over obstacles, but two recent winners are Brantome and Gay Fort.

The big Bulandshar gelding, Maharajah, has been raised 131 b in the Otago Hurdles for his win at Invercargill,, but he can-ied weight well and is a proved mudlark. The class is considerably stronger at Wingatui, but Maharajah will be stoutly supported if his dicky joint allows him to run. He is now trained and will be ridden by C. Low. The Cornwall Handicap was run in divisions two years ago, the winners being Alethea and Rakanui. Unless there are eight scratchings a division will be required again this year. The stake of £l5OO will be increased to £2OOO <£looo for each division) if the requisite number of withdrawals is not forthcoming. The death is announced in Australia of Clarence O'Neill, who achieved prominence in Victoria as a rider over jumps. He was a brother of Vin O’Neill, a prominent trainer who won a Melbourne Cup. Before they went to Australia the O’Neill brothers were well known in the Dominion in connection with their buck-jumping show. Immediate has been ridden in work at Ellerslie by W. Mudford and T. Green, but in the Cornwall he will have his usual pilot (L. J. Ellis). Auckland observers credit the Washdyke gelding with being a very fit horse. He has the physique to carry weight and is not inconvenienced by soft going. Immediate should run a great race, and if he is beaten it will probably be because he encounters something better at the weights.