SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1293, 4 February 1915, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Ogier’s Recent Successes — Trotting Match Arranged — Otautau Hack R.C’s. Annual Fixture. (From our own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, January 20. It is reported that Dr. Robertson, of Tapanui, will appeal to headquarters against the penalties imposed upon him by the Southland Racing Club in connection with the Brooksdale case. Trainer J. Thistleton, of Riverton, and his better half, are about to pay a visit to Victoria, where the seaside mentor has relatives. Thistleton came across to New Zealand from Australia a good many years ago, and first became prominent in the turf world here as an amateur cross-country horseman. At the present time the majority of the horses under his care are jumping performers, and lie has several very promising animals in work for the Onkaparinga meeting of Maoriland—a name often conferred on the Riverton Racing Club’s Easter fixture. An attendant was sent to the North Island last week to bring Vocation, by Birkenhead—Stepfeldt, back to Southland. On his arrival here the speedy brown horse will probably become an inmate of P. T. Hogan’s establishment.

Dame Fortune very often appear'' to ladle out her favours with no unsparing hand when she does decide to glance the way of deserving sportsmen, and the case of Mr. W. Crossan, of Dunedin, is an illustration in point. After a long series of disappointments with Ogier and other races, the bay horse won a race at Wyndham on New Year’s Day, ran well at. the Southland R.C. meeting, and went on to Trentham to again bring grist to his owner’s mill. Mr. Crossan, who can accept defeat with any racing man in the Dominion, was, cf course, greatly pleased with the turn taken by events, but there was more to come. At the Forbury Trotting Club’s fixture on Wednesday last The Bronzewing, by Four Chimes (a son of Abbey Bells, bred in Victoria) from The Pigeon, by King Harold — Little Jane, won the Stewards’ Handicap of 130sovs (iy 2 miles) early in the afternoon in Mr. Crossan’s colours, and the last event of the day, the Electric Handicap of 160sovs (one mile) also fell to his share with the very ancient Australian-bred gelding Truth, by Honesty, who defeated a large field, mainly as the result of clever riding by flat-racer jockey F. E. Jones, who is verj r fond of steering hoppled horses. Both horses returned good prices, and it is needless to say that their owner did not allow them to start unsupported. The Bronzewing, by the way, was bred in Riversdale, Southland, from a very well known family on the dam’s side and as she was sold out of this district as a particularly smart novice it goes without saying that she had many southern followers. It is reported that two Winton sportsmen—one the owner of a pace" and the other the proprietor of a smiare-gaited trotter —have made a match for £5OO. The event is scheduled for April first (a suitable day) over a three mile course; owners up. A similar match took place in the Winton district some years ago when the late lamented E. McKewen rode St. George to victory against Young Burlington. H. G. Coker, the well-known Riccarton cross-country rider, who was injured at the Wairio Jockey Club’s

fixture when Te Tua fell with him, has returned to his home in Christchurch. He had no bones broken, but was very badly bruised. The programme for the Gore Racing Club’s summer meeting has been issued and it is very pleasing to note that there is no race on the list of less value than lOOsovs. The raising of the hack events in value will be popular with horse owners. The Riverton Racing Club have decided to erect skeleton stands in addition to their ordinary accommodation for their annual Easter gathering. These stands are built up something like the seating erections of a circus tent, but are more substantially designed. The Wairio Club were the first to try the experiment in this part of the world and the idea caught on at once, leaving the covered in stands somewhat deserted in fine weather. The Riverton gatherings attract such large crowds to witness the steeplechase races that some provision of this kind is an absolute necessity.

The Otautau Hack Racing Club held their annual racing fixture on Wednesday without the assistance of the totalisator, and it proved a very successful function. The Otautau Cup of 20sovs (IV4 miles) fell to the gelding Copper Boy, by General Average —Silver Maid (9.8), who defeated eight others in 2min 15 3-ssec on a rough track. The Handicap Steeplechase of 20sovs (about two miles) was won by The Jew, an ancient grey gelding of unknown breeding, who defeated Tolstoi, Heatherlea and several other well known southern cross-country horses after leading all the way. The winner was ridden by the veteran horseman C. Church, who was also on the back of Black Sea, by Black and Red, a very promising fencer, who carried off the hurdle race. The Hack Race and Welter Handicap were both won by a useful four-year-old gelding called Canrobur, by Canrobert — Tomboy (dam of Office Girl), and Teviot, by Finland— Pantomime, secured the Flying Handicap. The Maiden Steeplechase was won by The Deuce, by Pallas from a Cajolery mare. This must be the first of the stock of Pallas to succeed in a race between the flags.