SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1250, 2 April 1914, Page 15

SOUTHLAND.

Soldier’s Chorus and Gapon Engaged in Riverton Cup—lnjury to Wild Pilgrim—Record Entry for Riverton R.C.'s Meeting—Aerogram Galloping Well—Southland R.C. Handicaps Criticised. (From our own Correspondent.) • INVERCARGILL, March 28. At the time of writing adamantine tracks are still the rule, rain being urgently required both for racing and agricultural runs, to say nothing of the wants of householders in this city and many smaller centres —water is being hawked and frely purchased at the Bluff. On Monday last a downfall of moisture at Riverton enabled seaside trainers to get some idea of the progress of their charges prior to the closing of entries for the Riverton R.C.’s Annual Easter meeting. It must not be thought that because the name of Soldier’s Chorus does not appear in the Great Autumn and Great Easter Handicaps acceptances list that the handsome little son of Martian has gone wrong. It simply means that his connections have been afraid to give him strong work owing to the'state of the tracks. Last evening he was engaged in the Riverton Cup and Easter Handicap, the principal flat races of the annual fixture at his home quarters. The consistant little gelding, Gapon, who has been paid up for in the Easter and Autumn Handicaps, may not, after all, visit Riccarton, as he, too, claims engagements in the same events as Soldier’s chorus P at Riverton. Gapon’s stable companions. Speedometer, Simon Pure and Moong'ow, have also been nom!n-| ated for this fixture. Wild Pilgrim, one of trainer P. T. Hogan’s charges., has again been in the wars. It is not very long since he began to show form again after a series of mishaps, and he has been ir.trouble again this week, as he got cast in his box the other day and injured one of his hind legs. However, the hurt is not very serious and he may be stepped out at Riverton. The Pilgrim’s Progress gelding gives promise of developing into a stayer, and it is unfortunate that he cannot be tested in this, direction- In the meantime Peerless, by Peerage from Bouquet, by Hotchkiss — Bridal Wreath, will represent Hogan's stable over a distance of ground, such as the Riverton Cup, the only race in Southland decided over a mile and ahalf. Jockey Olsen, who crossed over to Australia to ride Sister Radius in her Victorian and New South Wales engagements, cabled last week that he thought of returning in time to catch i the Southland and Riverton meetings, promising to confirm his message, but so far: has done so. News is to hand that he rode a winner at Kyneton (Vic.) the other day,, in Tip Top, by Calibre —Ripple, who can claim to be a full-brother to a good horste in Gunboat. The Riverton R.C.’s entries totalled 24 6 for fourteen races out of sixteen, as against 230 for a similar number last year. The steeplechases, two each day, have filled remarkably well, and this is very satisfactory, indeed, as the success of the fixture in a great measure depends on these cross-country competitions, which serve annually to attract visitors from many parts of the South Island. Several Canterbury horses are coming down to compete this year, including Kelp (well known in the North Island), The Brewer, and Tolstoi. The last-named, in fact, is already with us,

last-named, in fact, is already with us, but he will take some getting ready in time, as he is troubling trainer Hogan and horseman R- Gray to strip him of show-ring condition. The Canrobert —St. Brigid gelding, Sir Bridgid, has hardly recovered in appearance from his efforts at the

Dunedin J.C. Autumn meeting, but he may prove equal to securing a stake during the next three weeks for Mr. W. T. Hazlett, who has not tee nvery fortunate of late in his turf ventures. His greatest disappointment has been Martian Maid, who, however, has picked up somewhat of late, and may carry her light

imposts fairly well at the local or Riverton gatherings. The three-yqar-old filly, Aerogram, by Ahei, has been galloping well on the Southland R- C.’s tracks of late, and can safely be depended upon to run prominently in the near future. Her stable companion, Mister Jim, by Ahei —'Primula, is also going on the right way, but will ot be seen at his best until next season, as he is a rather overgrown three-year-old.

Of late years meetings on the Otago goldfields circuit have, in most instances, been in something like disfavour with owners, but it would appear that a revival in interest has set in. The Beaumont and Tuapika meetings, to be held during the Easter season, have this year attracted record entries, and it has to be remarked that the class of the horses engaged is above the average. Both clubs encourage the American sport consistently, and have to announce very large fields of trotters for forthcoming events. Writing of trotters reminds me of the fact that the hard tracks in Invercargill have been responsible for m/any horses < showing soreness of late, and it is no exaggeration to say that an undesirable record in this direction has just been established. A good deal of criticism has greeted the work of the Southland R.C.’s new handicapper, Mr. W- A. Saunders, but, on the whole, he appears to have done fairly well, considering that in a number of races he has been asked to bring together some of the best and many of the worst handicap horses in the southern portion of Maoriland. Hostile comment, notwithstanding, it is expected that good fields will face Mr. H. Piper at the barrier next week, and it is a certainty that the fie’ds in the trotting races will prove satisfactory.

It is freely expected that southern lightweight riders and apprentices will have the chance of their lives at the Southland and Riverton fixtures, as there does not appear to be nearly sufficient of their number to go round. Last week at the Irish A.S.’s athletic sports J. S- Jamieson, a youth-

ful member of one of the best-known racing families in this province, carried off the St. Patrick’s Sheffield Handicap (135yds), ,'and incidentally won some money for his friends. His father, Mr. R. Jamieson, races both gallopers ..and trotters, but has not been very successful during the'current season. The winner is a very promising sprinter, and since his schoolboy career closed has kept the ambition steadily in view to secure the big event cf the ■ Otago and Southland atnletic year, with its substantial prize-money and annually coveted gold medal, for many years past, presented each season by Sir Joseph Ward.