TARANAKI MEETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 301, 21 December 1945, Page 7

TARANAKI MEETING

BOXING DAY FIXTURE

Removal of restrictions on racing dates gave the Taranaki Jockey Club an opportunity to make its midsummer fixture again a two-day affair, and as the Stratford Racing Club will follow with two days of racing on New Year's Day and the following day, a handy provincial circuit will be provided. The Taranaki meeting will be on Boxing Day and the following day, December 26 and 27, and judging by the acceptances received for the opening day there should be good racing. The first event each day is set down for 11.32 a.m., and the win-and-place electric totalisator should be appreciated by patrons. Ten are engaged in each of the open events on Boxing Day, and as Boden Park is the only one claiming the dual engagement the fields will be of satisfactory dimensions. Black Plato is topweight in the Christmas Handicap, and as he won the Higgle Handicap at Wanganui, beat all but Duality in the Waverley Cup and was runner-up to Langue d'Or in the Levin Handicap at Otaki, he can be expected to run an honest race. Sunblaze, last year’s winner, followed up by winning the Malone Memorial at Stratford and the Taranaki Cup, but he is a hard horse to follow. However, on his day he will take a lot of beating. Keen Play won the Waverley and Stratford Cups last season and must be respected. Master Ted ran out of hacks when he won the Moumahaki Hack Cup at Waverley, prior to which he had put up a consistent record for placings. Fort Royal was a winner in highweight company at Trentham but he. as well as other lightweights, would have lo improve to have a chance, though Grey Salute could be expectea to run well. Aiderman, Tideless and Lord Coronach will probably carry most support in the Flying Handicap, but two visitors in Our Joy and Bueno are capable of springing a surprise. Large fields are engaged in the Huatoki Plate and the Tikorangi Hack, and in the latter Vermette and Jocelyn Ann will be bracketed. Two Auckland horsemen, B. Markwick and M. Coon, have already arrived at New Plymouth for the meeting, and it is understood that E. V. Dye will also be there by Boxing Day. G. Ivil will be at New Plymouth for the Taranaki meeting. His mounts on Boxing Day will include Aiderman, Hulabaloo, Molly Martia and Tatara Lad IRahotu Hurdles).