WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1941, 17 February 1910, Page 7

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 13. The Porirua stable was represented at the Hawera race meeting by four horses, but only secured one race, Playmate winning the first day’s hurdle handicap. The Stepniak gelding was found to be lame after finishing in the Second Hurdles, and was sent home to Porirua. Mr. Prosser sent Swimming Belt, Waione and Kina on to New Plymouth where they will fulfil their engagements at the Taranaki J.C. meeting. J. W. Lowe is still at Gisborne with Truganini and Iranui. On his return he will proceed to Dunedin with Effort, Iranui and Sea Queen. The latter has a nice impost in the Publicans’ Handicap. Effort, if she has inherited the staying powers of her sire, Advance, will give her opponents some trouble in the Dunedin Cup. Harry Goodman, a brother-in-law of J. W. Lowes, has taken up his quarters at Trentham. The veteran trainer has in his day had a number of the best horses through his hands, namely, Sir Modred, Somnus, Euroclydon, Silvermark, Apropos and Daydream. Goodman first came over to New Zealand in 1863 and rode in the Champion race on the old Silverstream course (Taeiri). In his young days he was a finished horseman, both on the flat and over obstacles. Goodman won the first hurdle race ever run on the Forbury Park (Dunedin) racecourse on a grey gelding named Patchwork. Amongst his opponents was a chestnut gelding Lottery, winner Of a big steeplechase at Ballarat (Victoria). Lottery was owned by Mr. Pritchard, a brother-in-law of Goodman’s, and was ridden by the well-known Wellington handicapper, Mr. J. H. Pollock. Goodman well re-

members the race, as the obstacles were all post and rail fences, notwithstanding that it was called a hurdle race.

Mention of old-time horsemen brings to mind the fact that Pat McCoy, who won the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase on Larry Markey’s Mousetrap in 1878, and rode many cross-country races with such men as Fred Hedge, W. Hawkins and Harry Lunn, is now in the employment of the veteran trainer W. Davies at Trentham. Pat, who can tell some good tales of crosscountry racing in the early seventies, is still a hale and vigorous man. The declaration of the weights for the Wanganui Cup and Flying Handicap has started double backers going strong. The local metallicians have double books open on the Wanganui combination, and have already jotted down a number of wagers. Taskmaster, Roosevelt, Advocate and Sedition are favourite selections, coupled with Tumuit, North-east ,and Full Rate.

Mr. P. F. Tancred, owner of Penates, has been out of sorts of late, and his medical adviser has ordered him away on a sea voyage. The veteran sportsman hopes to return convalescent in time for the C.J.C. Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps, where Penates will be seen in her colours.

That sterling mare Gold Lace is in capital trim. She has been engaged in the C.J.C. Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps. Gold Lace only started in one event at the Wellington summer meeting, when she carried 9.12 in the Electric Handicap, won by Boanerges (7 2). Her party evidently did not fancy her prospects, as she was neglected in the betting.