TO-DAY’S CARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18916, 19 January 1924, Page 4

TO-DAY’S CARD

RECENT FORM DISCUSSED. SPLENDID RACING IN PROSPECT. By 4 ‘Early Bird”). At last the Wanganui Trotting Club have managed to secure holiday dates for its annual race meeting, and it will occasion considerable surprise if the fixture fails to create a record in the history of the local club. The course at Wanganui East (which is alongside the tram terminus and Eastown railway station) is in grand order, and given a continuance of the present fine weather to-day and on Tuesday, there should be very large attendances recorded. Proceedings are timed to commence at 11.45 a.m. with the INNOVATION HANDICAP. (Of 100 sova; I*4 miles; harness.) Oakhampton .. set yd? hhd Lord Haldane., ser Lady Zoe ... “6 Jasper . . .. ser Lord Azapanthus 48 The Abbey scr Lucy Franz .. 48 Aero Maid. . . . scr This race has the smallest field of the day, but it will serve to bring Oakhampton and Lady Zoe into opposition once more. It will be remembered that at Awapuni on Wednesday the former crossed Lady Zoe. undoubtedly causing her to break and lose several lengths, and although Oakhampton beat her by four lengths he was disqualified. Lord Haldane, a locally trained gelding, vas stopped in his work recently, but has made a good recovery and may do the brilliant things expected of him. Aero Maid is working well, and so is Lucy Franz, who won a race here last year. Lord Agapanthues went sufficiently well at Awapuni to have his prospects favoured somewhat. On form, Oakhampton and Lady Zoe may be seen fighting out their Manawatu race again. There are thirteen remaining in the FOSTER'S HANDICAP. iOf 100 sovs; I’a mile’; harness.) The Moose .. scr yds bhd Princ’ss Audubon scr Manna .. .. I’4 Why Worry ... scr Bann Zolock .. 12 Rita Elect . . scr Nita Cole .... 24 Dome .. .. scr Guinea ■. .. 36 Jean Darling . . scr Ararawa .. .. 48 Jean Audubon scr Miss Marvin .. 60 Of the above Why Worry and Dome were conspicuous at the Manawatu meeting in their engagements there. Rata Elect, racing unbacked, trotted a great race at the same metting, and it is safe to say she will have more than seventeen tickets on her to-day. Manna went a good dewn below, and so did Nita Cole, Guinea and Miss Marvin, who secured a second placing. Ararawa won nicely, but has been rehandicapped to 48 yds. Summed up. it can be said that Ararawa, Dome and Beta Elect, racing unbacked, trotted Manawatu meeting. The third event carded is the KIRKWOOD HANDICAP. •Of 100 sovs; 1% miles; harness, i _Audubon Maid ser yds bhd * 'Ward Nut .. .. scr Jenny Wallace 72 Major Domo scr Biz Ben .72 Herbilwyn .. scr Plunder .... 84 Todd Bells .. 108 Harland ... scr Alto 120 Wallace Reid . . scr There are eleven acceptors in this race. Audubon Maid showed up at Manawatu, and so did the promising trotter Herbilwyn, but it must be remembered that the latter has been trained on the grass. Big Ben, Plunder, and Roi Altho gave promise at the same meeting, where Todd Bells finished a close fourth, just in front of Rio Alto, and both should improve on that form. Hard Nut, Major Domo and Wallace Reid failed to get in the picture last Wednesday, and on that form can be ruled out this afternoon. Herbilwyn and Todd Bells read the best of the field. The way is now paved for the WANGANUI CUP. (Of 225 sovs; 2 miles; harness.) Roaie Nut scr Respect .. .48 Rose Bingen .. scr Waiterere . . 60 Black Cloud .. ser Jimmy Richmond 60 yds bhd Ivy Audubon . . 60 Grey Peter .. 12 Warlock . . . . 72 Daphne Wildwood 24 Lord Nepean . . 72 Azelziou . . .. 36

The above are a nice even dozen who should provide a spirited contest. Rosie Nut had been doing good work of late, but she failed to strike a gait in the Manawatu Cup. Rose Bingen was one of the best trotters seen out at Awapuni. Black Cloud went fairly well, and Grey Peter has been kept for Wanganui. Daphne Wildwood disappointed in the Manawatu Cup after knocking herself about somewhat at the start. Azelziou failed there also. Respect trotted two goud races, finishing just out of a place in the Cup after getting away badly, and he may be expected to improve on that form this afternoon. Waitarere finished a good second in the Manawatu Cup. and now meets the winner on very much better Terms, and in addition he will not on this occasion let the leader get too far away. Ivy Audubon, who captured the Manawatu Cup handsomely and then came out and won a shorter race, has paid the penalty by being put back an extra 48 yards. jimmy Richmond started three times on Wednesday, and was not sighted on each occasion. Jimmy is not the horse he was. Warlock is by no means a back number, and had he left the mark with the field

in the Manawatu Cup he would have been hard. Lord Nepean was the Manawatu Cup favourite and was trotting on strongly in fifth place at the finish, close up behind the horses which got in the money. This should be a beautiful race. Rose Bingen may be reserved for a later race, but if started in the Cup will be coupled with Ivy Audubon. This pair, with Respect, read the best of the field, judged on their running on Wednesday. The next item carded is the AUTUMN HANDICAP. lOf 100 sovs; one mile; saddle.) Guinea . . .. ser . yds bhd Little Jim scr Le Merial .... 12 Rose Pointer .. ser Pearl Coronado 24 Lucetta .. .. scr Prince Akwood 48 Gold Trace . . scr Jimmy Richmond 60 Lord Agapanthus scr Lord Minto . . 96 Directive . . . - scr This is a saddle race. There was no similar event on the Manawatu programme, so punters have little form to work on. Le Merial and. Rose Pointer are a good pair who should be well forward. The sixth race is the PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, (Of 125 sovs; 2 miles; harness.) Jenny Wallace scr Laurier .. .. 72 Big Ben .. .. scr Roebell .. .. 84 yds bhd King Peter .. 96 Plunder .... 12 Roi Alto 96 Little Logan . . 48 Grattan Chimes 96 Battery Bell . . 72 Rose Bingen . . 132 Several of the above candidates are engaged in some of the preceding events, and their earlier showings should serve as an excellent guide. Big Ben, Plunder, Little Logan, Roc Bell, King Peter, Roi Alto, and Rose Bingen trotted well at Awapuni, but there are two or three not seen out there who may be dangerous. Rose Bingen, Battery Bell (a double winner at Auckland), and Little Logan (a double winner at Manawatu) look the pick of the eleven likely starters. A ten furlong race follows. This is the MORTON MEMORIAL HANDICAP, (Of 100 sovs; I*4 miles; harness.) Jean Darling scr Imshi .. . . 12 Doctor Dillon scr Grey Peter .. 3-.> Ruse Pointer . . scr Penrl Coronado 48 yds bhd A zelxion . .. 43 Sparklight .... 12 Warlock .. .. 84 Miss Marvin ... 12 Ivy Audubon . . 96 Le Merial . . 12 Raced over a ten turlong course. Doctor Dillon was made favourite in a two mile race on Wednesday and ran second. Sparklight, Miss Marvin, and Warlock were similarly placed. Ivy Audubon is well back and may not make up her handicap. Of the dpzen acceptors Doctor Dillon and Sparklight should come in for a lot of support on their present marks. The day’s trotting will conclude with the EASTBROOK HANDICAP. (Of 100 sovs; 1% miles; harness.) Oakhampton . . scr Lord Agapanthua 36 Why Worry . . scr Ararawa 48 Jasper .. .. scr Wee Thorpe .. 48 Lucy Franz - . scr Directive . . .. 60 yds bhd Grey Peter . . 84 The Shrew . . 36 Here again are several horses seen out earlier in the day, and it is quite likely that one or two will have to put up with a penalty. Oakhampton and Ararawa may come under this category, but they are very forward in condition. THE OAKHAMPTON CASE While A. Corrigan, driver of Oakhampton in the Ladies’ Bracelet at Awapuni on Wednesday, did certainly bore over on Lady Zoe, and causes her to break, the action of the stewards in disqualifying Oakhampton altogether for the race, and in ordering the driver to stand down for a year, appeared to be unduly harsh and has come in for a good deal of condemnatory comment. Of course any interference should be punished, but the punishment should be commensurate with the offence. The writer was standing near the judge’s box with another Wanganui sportsman when the incident occurred, and it did not seem as if the interference was very serious/ ‘ In putting Oakhampton out of the race altogether the stewards acted unwisely and apparently not in the interests of the public. It would have been more satisfactory to all concerned had the judge’s decision been reversed, i.e., placed Lady Zoe first and Oakhampton second. That is what really should have been done, and no injustice inflicted upon the public, who should not be made to suffer for an error of judgment on the part of the driver. So far as the suspended driver is concerned, he has given notice to appeal, and, unless the stewards have • some evidence up their sleeves which I was not made public after the inquiry, then it would occasion no surprise to find the suspension considerably reduced.