WINTER MEETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 5

WINTER MEETING

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB . STEEPLECHASE FIXTURE | PROSPECTS FOR 1931 MEETING (Bv "KESTREL:-) With a history that dates back half a century or so, winter racing in Wanganui can recall to the old-timer many memories of steeplechase tussles and hurdle duels, while the names of many of the best ’chasers and hurdlers seen in the Dominion dot the records of the principal events at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter fixture. The Wanganui Steeplechase for many years held pride of place among the cross-country events decided outside the centres, and though the club has had to reduce stakes drastically owing to straitened finances, with the result that owners and trainers have not accorded its fixture quite as much patronage as formerly, the .Steeplechase and the Century Hurdles have sufficient bearing on the Great Northern jumping ‘‘double” to attract attention from over a wide area. This year the Wanganui Steeplechase will be run on the second day oi the meeting, but the Century Hurdles will provide an attraction for the opening day, and in addition the Grandstand Steeplechase will be another drawing card on the first day. The programme which the club will provide to-morrow for the opening day is a very attractive one, the acceptances averaging eleven a race, and in no event are there fewer than nine prospective .starters. On Saturday, when the meeting wiL be concluded, there will be some good fields for such popular events as the Wanganui Steeplechase and the Connolly Handicap, and thus it may be anticipated that the meeting will result most successfully. At any rate it is evident that the secretary, Mr S. R. McCallum, and the caretaker of the course, Mr W. C. Price, have left no stone unturned in an endeavour to lay p firm foundation for the success of the meeting. Quite a number of visitors have already arrived, their number being added to yesterday by the arrival of a Wellington and Hawke’s Bay contingent, while the Fordell stable sent in Cashier and a two-year-old (for educational purposes) last evening. The Taranaki horses will arrive to-day, while many of the Awapuni, Marton, and Feilding candidates will come through by “float” to-day or to-mor-row morning.

The jumping races to-morrow have attracted really good fields, and with no fewer than nine Great Northern Hurdles candidates figuring in the Century Hurdles, additional interest will be lent to that event. Some may regret the necessity for reducing the distance to a mile and three-quarters, the former distance having been in the vicinity of two and a-quarter miles. However, a journey over fourteen furlongs is quite far enough at this stage of the season, and that should not detract from the interest of the event. Carinthia, Mister Gamp, Make Up, Red Fuchsia, Nukumai, Aurora Borealis, Fine Acre, Perle de Leon and Callamart are J.hc nine Ellerslie candidates, while Con-

jurer, Llandudno, Hymgreat and The Warden are the others engaged. It should bo a fine contest. Three South Islanders in Carinthia. Perle de Leon and Make Up, who are going on to Ellerslie, will attract attention, especially as two of them have had some recent racing. Others engaged have recent good form to commend them, and the issue appears open. Included in the Grandstand Steeplechase field are five Great Northern Steeplechase candidates, these being Omeo, Nukumai, Skyrider, Birkbeck and Kaokaoroa. Though the race is run over a distance only a little more than half that of the Great Northern Steeple chase and over “country” that can scarcely compare with Ellerslie for difficulty, it may serve at. an indication of whether some of those engaged are anything like fit enough for the long Ellerslie journey. Recent winners in Omeo and Birkbeck, in addition to the veteran Nukumai and the promising Skyrider, will add interest to the contest. The fields for the flat events are very satisfactory, both as regards quality and numbers, and in these races the issue also appears fairly well conceale-i The opening event is timed to start at .12 noon, while the last race is down to be run at 4.10 p.m. No passes will be issued between the lawn enclosure and the “outside.” In order to cater for the modest investor on the lawn there will be sufficient ten-shilling totalisator windows, but no silver will be taken at these iawn windows, thus avoiding a good deal of confusion. One of the features of the Wangn nui Jockey Club’s race meetings is the splendid programme of band music provided, and the musical items to be played by the Wanganui Garrison Band tomorrow' will appeal to visitors and city residents alike. Review of Prospects. Thirteen are engaged in the opening event, the Rata Hack Hurdles, and included is the Landmark-Gourmet bracket. A trio that will engage the attention of backers to-morrow are Moerangi, Callapat and Goldlike. Red Fuchsia, Mister Gamp, and Aurora Borealis, winners of the Century Hurdles in ]928, 1929, 1930 respective ly, are engaged in to-morrow’s event, in which there a dozen likely starters. Fancied candidates at this stage are Mister Gamp, Aurora Borealis and Llandudno.

A mile and a distance has to be covered in the Balgownie Hack Handicap, in which a field of eleven is carded. The recent good form of Grand Judy. Knollmere, Pewa, Spearform, Green Patch, Malahat and Takahue will cause support to be well spread, and the favourites may be Spearform, Knollmere and Grand Jury.

A handy-sized field is to contest the Grandstand Steeplechase, and included are Flying Swift and Kowhatu, who returned the dividends last year when this event was run on the second day of the meeting. It would not be surprising to find Omeo, Skyrider and Nukumai well supported. An Empire Handicap field of eleven contains a very even lot of middle-dis-tance handicap performers. Interest will be added by the presence of Cashier, who only a littie over a week ago won over hurdles at Marton. Backers will most likely find several that will attract attention, and three that will not be friendless arc Cashier, Paitonu and Silvermine.

The Borough Hack Handicap finds a dozen carded, included being several smart hacks, among whom Zarene, Manifesto and Miss Shef have good form in their latest efforts to commend them.

The day’s racing to-morrow will conclude with the open sprint, the Winter Oats, in which the favourites on the machine may be Aston, Orapai and Ridgemount.