COURSE CHAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 4

COURSE CHAT

4, CASUAL JOTTINGS : NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE (By “Kestrel.” It’S a long time since the outsiders had sftrli an innings tit Wanganui as they had on Thursday. The average of three of the dividends was something like a quarter of a century, while tho average of the lot rau into double figures. When Monalof won the Durie Hack Handicap, downing a hot avourite in Autopay, tho Danilof mare returned a dividend ten times as large as that which would have been shared by backers of the favourite. Count Palatine, who “pipped’’ Mendip in the Alarangai Handicap, carried exactly a tenth of the amount entrusted to the favourite, there being £4O on his chances as against Mendip’s £4OO. While Jack Barry was riding in one of Thursday’s events Someone purloined a shirt from the jockeys’ dressingroom. As the shirt whs one of distinctive pattern Ba.ry is anxious to get in touch with the new owner of the garment so that he can hand over the two collars to match. Telephone communications are barred, says Barry. The bad mantlets displayed by Vandyke and Sir Mercury on Thursday would have made the proverbial parson swear. The pair refused to line up with the rest of the field and at one time Sir Mercury got away into the bracken up the dead end by the six furlong barrier. Then Vandyke followed suit and it was not until after a deity of some twenty minutes that the unruly pair could be got ihto anything like a line. And then Vandyke went on to win. i: :: The totalisator figures ou Thursday revealed the fact that people are fast getting over the gambling fever that marked the post-war bo <m period. The amount put through the machine on Thursday was £15,058, wherea; on the corresponding day last year the turnover was £20,035 10s. Thus a decrease of £4377 was recorde ’. If looked as if Royal Acre Only had to be kept straight at the last fence in the Okehu Hurdles to come home a winner, with Make Up second. Instead of that he fenced bddly and, with Avro coming round on the Outside and Mister Gamp on the rails, Make Up was squeezed out. The favourite was decidedly unlucky. Some photographs of incidents in Thursday ’s racing are displayed in ths window of the Avenue office of the “Chronicle.” Mr T. Wlfetton is the photographer responsible. x Luminary and his rider parted company at the first hurdle in the Okehu Hurdle Race, and that caused quite a number of investors to lose interest iii the eVent. The rider, R. Syme, suffered a few abrasions but his fall was nut a serious one. In getting the Stake after his rider was caught Happing, Avro, who was placed first in the Okehu Hurdles, can be accounted rather lucky. All the same, his record in hurdle races—two wins and a second —reflects favourably on his site, Warplane, who is standing in the Wanganui listrict. The Wanganui Jockey Ulub’s meetings would not be complete Without a programme of band music, and that provided by the Wanganui Garrisoa Band on Thursday found favour with

racegoers, especially as “popular” items were well interspersed with the more classical music. To-day the Alexandra Band will be responsible for the musical programme, and under the baton of Captain Buckley they will plby a very attractive number of popular airs. There are four brackets in the Debutante Stakes to-day, these being as followings: Hampden and Summer Time; Chief Cook and Chief Clerk; Cape Gold and Sailing; Invite and Flower. In the Higgie Handicap Hynanna and Courageous will be bracketed, as also will Black Mint and Royal Game, while Imateagirl and Johneen will be coupled in the Moutoa Hack Handicap. H. Giay will again have a fairly full list of ridihg cugagemeats to-day, for he wilj be on Korokiu, Pomp, Arisus, Vandyke, Marjoram and Fernden, and possibly Kahikatoa. Barry will be ua Cluny, Zarene and Summer Time. Mister Gainp’.s backers lelt on good terms with, themselves whey they saw ■he Bronzetti gelding limsh fast to catch riuer unawares fifty yards off the post. Their chagrin may be miagmeu When it was iOund that his iider had weighed in 21b snort. It WUs uscertftined that a lead-bag had burst and several pieces oi lead, aggregating a couple oi pounds, had been Scaiteieu uii ihu coui'ov» cue Was picked up near ilie last hurdle. In the Uune Hata HaiiUicap i’uiiip uisp.ayed plenty ui speed, lor no Chine thiougu his after going a couple of lunongs. lheu, instead being allowed to continue his run, he was checked, only to come very .wide round the top anu finally finish fourth, it was a good effort and he would not lose any friends as a result. iVrndch lan quite a good race ill the Beafield Handicap, though not good chough to make ms backers any return oh their investments. He will be an improved horse waen next he steps out. vVhen Melissa ran him and then made far the rails Fernden dropped bhek. Had it not been lor that incident he might have been closer up at the finish. Melissa s rider did not get off scot free. 11. Gordon is having a run of success in jumping laces, .nd his turn of luck is popular. In recent weeks he has won the AlanaWatu Hun. Cup Bteeplechase on Risk, the Awapuni steeplechase on Skyrider, the Hawke’s Bay Niurit Cup Steeplechase on Risk, and the Rate. Hurdles at Marton on Make up. It is not so very long ago that Gordon, the victim of a very bad fall at would neVef ride again, would ever ride again. The caterers for the Wanganui Jockey Club, Messrs Dustius, Ltd., felt the effects of the smaller attertdance on Thursday. War Scrip was scratched at 5 p-m. yesterday for the Spring Hack Handicap),