SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 10

SOUTHLAND.

Winton Trotting Club’s Annual Gathering—Trainer J. White to Take Up His Residence at Wingatui—A Nice Two-year-old Gelding—Giralda Partnership Dissolved — All Ready’s Timaru Cup Victory—Gore R.C.’s Improvements. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL.. April 17. It transpires that when Mr. J. 3. McArthur rode his gelding Ghent into second place in the Waiau Steeplechase at the Riverton R.C.’s meeting he performed a feat worthy of special mention. Shortly after the start his mount’s bit broke, and in the straight the bridle gave way altogether, which accounts for the fact that Mr. McArthur had eventually to jump off to stop the grey horse. Ghent will probably be taken to Wingatui to race at the Dunedin J.C. winter meeting in the races set aside for hunters. Mr. H. M. Campbell, an official of the Hawke’s Bay J.C., was a spectator at the Riverton R.C.’s Easter fixture. He expressed himself as highly pleased with the cross-country racing and the country traversed, and complimented the club on possessing such a fine course and property. The Winton Trotting Club’s annual gathering on Wednesday proved an enjoyable outing as far as the racing was concerned, but heavy rain made matters unpleasant for everybody and caused the time records to stretch out. The principal event, the Winton T.C. Handicap, miles, was won by a bold and sturdy young pacer called McConnachie, by Young McKinney, who is raced by his owner and breeder, Mr. H. Cunningham, well-known on the turf in connection with Moonglow, Varanian, Buff Gauntlet, and other horses. A silver cup went with the stakes, and mine host of a well-known Winton hostelry was greatly pleased with the trophy. McConnachie, by the way, will be heard of again to advantage. Two other promising novices were successful at the meeting, Lady Wild, by Wildmoor (sire of Country Belle) from Lady Rothschild, and Pomona, by Prince Imperial—Polly Warbeck. The former is a doublegaited mare, but her owner intends that she shall be classed as an unhoppled performer, while Pomona is

a clever pacer. He was bred by Mr. Grigg, at Longbeach, Canterbury, and eventually fell into the hands of Mr. Baird, jun., of Invercargill, cheaply, and almost at once showed that he could travel neatly in the straps. The Winton people are in hopes that a totalisator permit will come their way before next season. If this does not happen it is more than likely that this long-established club will disband, as results do not justify carrying on without the aid of the machine. The Lakes gelding Copper Boy has left for his owner’s station at Arrowtown, where he is to be hacked about and generally well treated until the approach of next season. J. White, who has been assisting with Mr. W. T. Hazlett’s horses for some time past, has left Invercargill to take up his residence at Wingatui. It is understood that he will set up as a public trainer at headquarters, and that he will have charge of the team recently prepared by J. McCombe at .Riccarton. McCombe, by the way, has taken out a jockey’s license again.

The stallion Buff Gauntlet is looking healthy and well at his new home at Winton, and it is safe to say that at least three of his consorts, in the same ownership, have proved in foal. The mares referred to are Miss Sylvia, Blue Bell and Rosene, by Stepniak. Miss Sylvia produced a very fine foal to the Red Gauntlet horse last year, but it rolled into a watercourse and was drowned.

A very nice two-year-old gelding is being handled in Winton at the pre sent time by J. Gray, in preparation to play a part in the Guineas Stakes of next season. The son of Glenculloch —Follicle, by Casket —Parvula, was bred at the Oreti Stud by Mr. R. Miller, and looks like turning out a valuable racehorse. Another product of the same stud of similar age re cently changed hands in a filly by Glenculloch —Turret, by Sant Ilario — Minaret (dam of Magdala, Giralda and Magdalen). These two youngsters are shapely and well grown, and should lead to the Clanranald --Madowla sire getting on the winning list to a creditable extent

There was a bidding duel in a local auction mart on Saturday last, when Giralda, by Canrobert —Minaret, was offered for sale to wind up a partnership. Eventually, amidst applause, the roan-coloured gelding was knocked down to one of his previous owners, Mr. F. Price, to the tune of £3OO.

The cross-country and hurdle race rider L. Lloyd has left to join the Sixth Reinforcement camp at Trentham, having volunteered for service at the front.

All Ready’s victory in the Timaru Cup was anticipated in this district, and at the same time gave pleasure to many local breeders, as Mr. Buckley’s horse is the son of a full-sister to Canrobert, in Aerina, a smart little

mare during her two-year-old racing career. All Ready is the best racehorse so far to be credited to the

Stepniak stallion All Red. Second place in the Cup was filled by the Invercargill-owned Golden King, who has raced most consistently since the New Zealand Cup fixture in November last, and his stable companion, Peerless, finished second in the hurdle race on the same day.

The gate receipts at the Riverton R.C.’s meeting amounted to £970, as against £llO6 at the corresponding fixture of last season. Both these sums rank as records as far as the club is concerned.

The Captain Webb —Wild Daisy mare, Golden Webb, got away from her lad the other day and came to grief, cutting her legs about severely.

Mr. A. Gardener, well-known in local galloping and trotting circles as a clever blacksmith, died on Monday last at the early age of 43 years after a long and painful illness, contracted as the result of a chill. Mr. Gardener was favourably known as an owner of trotters at various times, and also as a skilful gun-shot. Last year he won the clay bird championship of Maoriland at the traps in Timaru.

It is reported that quite a number of Southland hunters and steeplechasers are being kept in work in view of com peting at the Dunedin J.C.’s meeting at Wingatui in June next. This Otago fixture is becoming known as the “Southern Grand National” meeting, and is growing in popularity as the years pass.

The work of constructing new training tracks on the Gore R.C.’s property is being pushed on rapidly, and train ers in the Eastern District will thus find themselves well catered for by the time the spring season comes round again.