WINTER RACING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 91, 17 April 1929, Page 4

WINTER RACING

APPROACH OF CAMPAIGN REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMMES

By

"Kestrel.”

With the autumn racing campaign practically over the thoughts of owners and trainers will naturally turn to the winter programmes, so that plans may be made for their charges well in advance. i In this connection it is considered by many interested in the racing game that clubs would be doing those directly concerned a service by announcing their programmes well in advance of the fixtures. At least three months should be availed of in order that owners and trainers may be allowed to map out their campaign well in advance. The Marton, Egmont and Auckland clubs were this season in the public eye well before the Wanganui Club. The meetings that will see the winter campaign in train are the Alarton, Egmont, Wanganui ami Auckland fixtures. Nominations for the Alarton Club’s one-day fixture dosed last, night, the Ellerslie entries close on Friday next at 5 p.m., Egmont Racing Club’s nominations are due on Alonday next at 8.30 p.m. and the Wanganui Jockey Club’s nominal ions are due to close on Alonday, April 29, at 8 p.m.

As the Alarton Club’s nominations closed at 9 o'clock last night it will be observed that the four clubs have four different times for the closing of nominations. This is apt to lead to confusion and it is about time a move was made towards uniformity in the matter of closing times, as is the, case in Australia. All the Auckland dubs take nominations up to 5 p.m. and there is no hardship <_zi owners and trainers in that respect. Perhaps more may be heard of the matter at the annual Conference. The programmes for the Egmont, Wanganui and Auckland fixtures are briefly reviewed. Egmont Racing Club. The winter meeting of the Egmont Racing Club will be held on Thursday and Saturday, Alay 9 and 11, just one week before the Wanganui fixture. The principal event on the opening day is, of course, the Egmont Steeplechase, which is run over a distance of about two and a-half miles. The stake is £4OO, which is the same as was offered last year, when the event was won by Brigadier Bill, who came on to Wanganui a week later and won the Wanganui Steeplechase. The big steeples field next month should be even belter than last year’s seven starters because the Alarton Steeplechase should also attract a number. The other cross-coun-try event on the Egmont card is the Hack Steeplechase, with a stake, of £2OO. The hurdlers arc catered for with the Tongahoe Hurdles, with a stake of £2OO, and run over a mile and threequarters. Tw.elve months ago Alistcr Gamp scored a runaway win in this event, beating Alount Alarta and Vexatious, each of whom went on to better things, though Alount Alarta’s demise at Ellerslie cut short a promising car-

Four events will be decided on the flat uu the opening day, these including the AlcUae Handicap, of £3OO, over a mile and a-quarter, and the Flying Handicap, of 1225, over six furlongs. In addition there are the Telegraph Handicap, a hack event over six furlongs for a slake of £l5O, and the Tawhili Hack Handicap, of £175, over eight and a-half furlongs.

Un Ihe second day the Adamson Steeplechase, of £3OO, over a course of about two miles, and the Alanawapuu Hurdles, of £lBO, over a mile and aiialf, will constitute the jumpers’ portion of the programme. The Davidson Handicap, of £225, a mile and a distance, and the Alokoia Handicap, of £2OO, over six furlongs, will be the open events on the fiat, while the Ngamutu Huck, Shorts Hack and the Borough Hack will complete the programme. Nominations for all events will close next Alonday at 5.30 p.m. and the handicaps for first day events will be declared about Tuesday, April 30. Wamganui Jockey Club. The programme for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting makes interesting reading, (.specially as the increase in the stakes, even by so small an amount as £lOO, indicates that the Club has turned the corner to better days. The meeting will be held on Thursday and Saturday, May 16 and 18, the first event each day being set down to start at 11.45 a.m. The stakes offered amount to £3025 for the two days. On the opening day the Wanganui •Steeplechase claims pride of place with a stake of £5OO, the distance attaching to the event being about tnree miles. It is held by many that the course is not by any means so difficult as some cross-country events, but this may be accounted for by the reason that the \\ anganui course, as at present laid out, does not permit the erec non of permanent obstacles off the track. This, it is understood, will be remedied when a steeplechase track is laid for two furlongs down the back stretch with about three permanent fences. It is a proposal that will be gone into with a scheme for permanent improvements later on. It is to be hoped that the field for the Wanganui {Steeplechase next month will be such as to encourage the committee to proceed with their plans.

A change from last year’s programme has been made by shifting the Century Hurdle Race back from the second day io the first, a position that this important jumping event held for many years prior to last year’s experiment. The stake this year has been increased to £4OO, of which the winner’s share will be £3lO. The distance will be about two miles, but in reality contestants will be required to run nearly two miles and a furlong. The event has always attracted a good field and was won last year by that good hurdler Red Fuchsia. 'The other events for jumpers on the opening day are the Hack Steeplechase, of £175, over about two miles, and the Kaitoke Hack Hurdles, of £175, over about a mile and a-half. The Connolly Handicap is an old-es-tablished event that usually draws a good field ami this year the stake of £3OO should attract a largo entry. The distance remains at a mile and a quarter, but the winner will earn £240, an increase on last year’s share. The Borough Handicap, of £250, over six furlongs, and the Purua Hack Flat, of £175, over six furlongs, will complete the card for the first day. On the concluding day the Grandstand Steeplechase, of " £3OO. over a course of about two and a-half miles, will cater for the contestants in both cross-country events the fiftst day. The May Hurdles will again take its place on the programme, the stake this year being £3OO, of which the winner’s share

is £230, while the distance remains at [a mile and three-quarters. The Rata (Hack Hurdles, of £175, over a mi l a... 1 la-half, will open the day’s racing. | There are four events on the flat. (The principal is the Empire Handicap, Iwith a stake of £275, over a distance [extending io a mile and a distance. • The other open event is the Winter [Oats, of £250, over six furlongs. The 'hacks are catered for with' the BalgowInie Hack Handicap, of £175, over a mile land a-distance, ami the Farewell Hack [Handicap, of £175, over six furlongs. This completes a programme that should prove attractive to owners and trainers in view of the fact that it will form such an important, part of the circuit. Nominations for all events close on Alonday, April 28, at 8 p.m. and handicaps for all first day events will be issued about Alonday, Alay 6, after the Marton meeting. Auckland Racing Club. The Groat Northern meeting held annually at Ellerslie in June has long .since won a place with the most popular fixtures in the Racing Calendar, and that the Auckland Racing Club is determined that the winter gathering shall not lose any of the fame that has appropriately come to it pointed evidence is forthcoming in that the sum of £13,800 is offered as prize-money in connection with the approaching meeting, which is fixed to be held on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, June 1, 3 and Nominations for the following events close on Friday next, April .19, at 5 p.m., with the. secretary, Mr W. S. Spense: —Great L'orthcrn Hurdrn Race of £1750 (2t miles). Cornwall Handicap of £lOOO (li miles). Great Northern Steeplechase of £2001) (about 3j miles). King George Handicap of £7OO (seven furlongs). • York Handicap of £750 (one mile), and Wintei Steeplechase of £lOOO (about three miles). MARTON JOCKEY CLUB ONE-DAY WINTER MEETING EXCELLENT NOMINATIONS The Alarton Jockey Club had a most satisfactory response from owners and trainers when nominations closed last night for their winter meeting, to be held on Saturday, May 4. For the seven events 130 entries have been received. and with seventeen figuring for the Alarton .Steeplechase prospects appear bright for .he fixture. Such good performers as Beau Cavalier, Brigadier ' Bill, Alaunga, Puwhero and Star of the East have been accorded nomination for the first big steeplechase of the winter campaign and ns the rest of the events have filled well the Club should have a successful meeting. The following is the list of nominations:— OPEN HURDLES (Of 175 govs; 1% miles.) Koaiiau, Kilburn, Ballyfarnon, Abisogne, Chrishna, Red Bank, Home Made, Red Fuchsia, Kilbrook, Nucleus, Beau Cavalier, Alandarine. DASH HACK HANDICAP (Of 150 bovs ; five furlongs) Joy Germ, Wii e Tray, Scottish Standard, Call Again, Joy Girl, Latakia, Gallapat, Pot Shot, Nasselle, Chesterman, Hop wood, Waiorua, Plane, Aladcinoiselle. Inflame, Alarenga, Bunk Note, The Jack Jumper, .Vyeford, Long Acre, Valpine, Row Shot, Taranto, Mint Belle, Fine Acre, AVhitc Ringlet, Lucky Bag, Some Acre, Atacama, Good Cheer. MARTON STEEPLECHASE (Of 300 sovs; about 2% miles) Banjuke, Alatu, Brigadier Bill, Marcellus, Frisco Jack, Braeman, Hollycombe, Star of the East, Son o’ Aline, Vexatious, Trouble, Puwhero, Birkbeck, Alountain Crag, Beau Cavalier, Alaunga, Alandarine. WINTER HACK HANDICAP (Of 175 sovs; 1 mile and 137 yds) Alystum, Aletellus, Alothplane, Balloon, Tunbridge, Gold Bag, Elysiauor, AVarfille, Gasnapper, Disrank, Shrewd, Clavcrs, Skyrider, Hard Gold, Briar Root, Aurora Borealis, Royal Acre, Atacama. CROFTON HANDICAP (Of 260 sovs; I*4 miles and 37 yds.) Royal Damon, Ruanui, Papatu, Borsalene, Starboard Light, Imperial Spark, Alanly, Nukumai, Briar Root, Shining Armour, Blimp. FLYING HANDICAP (Of 200 sovs; six furlongs and 37 yds) Royal Damon, Limited, Borsalene, First Acre, Second Thought, Vast Acre, Booster, Black Duke, Dobbin, Keddar, Palcta, ALoa Bird, AVhenuanui, Ladv Liinond, Broad Acre. FAREWELL HACK HANDICAP (Of 150 sovs; six fur and 37 yds) Joy Germ, Mandate, Call Again, Australis, Gold Bag, Latakia, Second Thought, Afarjoram, Ali Baba, Callapat, Volplane, Alademoiselle, The Jack Jumper, Long Acre, Real Estate, Taranto, Alint Belle, Fine Acre, Hard Gold, Gratton, White Ringlet, Lucky Bag, Desert Lad, Hatteras, Warflame, Atacama, Vinella. HAWKE’S BAY MEETING ACCEPTORS FOR FRIDAY [ Per Press Association. I NAPIER, April 16. MANGATARATA HACK HURDLES (Of 130 sovs; l-Rmiles)

Atareria .... 11 1 Mixed Heather 0 6 Bally farnon .10 13 Rauk.auponga 9 6 Crishna .. .. 10 3 Abisogne 9 6 Pale Star .. 9 13 Mandarine .. <l 1 Braeman .... 9 11 Son o’ Mine 9 1 Highwayman 9 9 HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP (Of 130 sovs; nine furlongs) T,>q 8 2 Clavers .... 8 7 King’s Jest . 8 2 Kinross .... 8 t Tunbridge .. 8 0 'I an . . .. S3 Havana .. .. 8 0 Charmaline .. 8 3 Whakama . . • 8 0 King Manu . 8 2 Sun-Yat-Sen . 8 0 NURSERY HANDICAP (Of 130 sovs; 5% furlongs) Hunting Boy 8 12 Tahoma .. .. 7 2 Clever .. .. 8 10 Lordlike .. .. 7 2 Royal Flyer . 8 7 King Acre .. 7 2 Cuticle .... 8 7 A nd a 7 0 | Valpre .. ..8 7 Gipsy Fate . 7 0 1 Royal Line .. 8 5 Adept . . 7 0 i 1 e Awha .... 8 1 Hunting Cry 7 0 ' Ben Hur i . . . 7 5 Awanga .. .. 7 0 Mister Cook 7 2 HAWKE’S BAY STAKES (Of 400 sovs 6’ furlongs) Admiral Drake. Cimabue. 1 he Hawk. Hunting Cry. Gasccony. My Own. Great Charter. Millais. HAWKE’S BAy cup (Of 400 sovs; 1% miles) Tresham .... 8 8 Papatu . . .. 7 9 Blimp . . 8 5 High Court 7 0 White Fang 8 2 Goodwill 7 0 Cashier .. 8 1