SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1308, 20 May 1915, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Taft Being Schooled Over Hurdles — The North Otago Jockey Club’s Fixture —Clifden Hack Racing Club Secure Totalisator Permit—Death of Respected Western District Sportsman.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, Saturday

The Wairio Jockey Club are about to put in hand the shifting of their stands and enclosures for two or three hundred yards to face a new track which they have had laid out for some time past-

It is reported that Martel, by Charlemagne II. —Neva, has arrived in Southland, and is already sheltered at P. T. Hogan’s establishment. Local backers last week heavily supported Magdala for the Ashburton Cup and Pride o’ Clutha for the race she won on the second day of the autumn fixture at Canterbury's prohibition centre. The latter daughter of Kelburn claims as her dam Flower o’ Clutha (by Trump Card —Stockmaid), a mare who had some strenuous turf battles with Kremlin (Stepniak —Aileen) prior. to. the pair becoming known on metropolitan racecourses. Pride o’ Clutha is owned by her breeder, Mr. R. Paterson, of Arrowtown, who is a well-known station proprietor in the Lakes district, and is inclined to breed thoroughbreds and prize sheep as a fancier.

The old North Island sprinter Taft has been schooled over hurdles on the Southland Racing Club’s track of late, and shapes fairly well for a beginner. A strong force of local horses will take part in the North Otago Jockey Club’s fixture, and it is quite on the cards that one of P. T. Hogans charges, Golden King and Wild Pilgrim, will have something to say when the Cup race comes up for decision. Trainer A. D. Mclvor may also be found playing a strong hand with Spanish Princess and her younger brother, Buller, the latter of whom will be asked to compete in open company. Had Martian Maid not been off the active list for some time past, she, too, might trouble her opponents. The Wyndham Racing Club will instal a ten shilling totalisator before their next meeting, and it is understood that Mr. W. F. James, of Dunedin, will plan and carry out the necessary alterations. It is probable that Mr. James will be called upon to construct and establish three or four of his newly-designed thirtyhorse totalisators in Southland before the opening of next season’s operations. It was the intention of the Southland Racing Club to wait until they could procure an automatic Julius machine before taking steps in the direction referred to, but the march of progress in the meantime has forced their hand.

Hunting men and owners of steeplechasers and hurdle racers in the Western District are greatly pleased to learn that the Clifden Hack Racing Club has secured a machine permit as this club caters almost entirely for fencers. The club holds its fixtures close to the wild fiord country, and it is a very hard place to get at as far as the general public are concerned, but it annually attracts well over one thousand visitors. However, the new permit will tend to encourage the jumping brigade of Southland, and this is something to be thankful for. The Winton Trotting Club have not yet decided as to the date of their first meeting with the totalisator aid available, but there is a chance that their choice will fall upon Easter Saturday, the only holiday date now available in the province. The members of the Southland Trotting Club were naturally disappointed at not getting a totalisator permit, but do not intend at the same time to give up the ghost entirely. If a town like Invercargill of nearly 20,000 inhabitants, and situated as the capital of one of the two strongest trotting provinces in Maoriland is not entitled to a permit, residents in this part of the Dominion would like to know where the better claim lies. The trotting stallion Commanderite, by Commander —Biddy, is to be taken from his old home in the Wyndham district to Woodville, where his owner, Mr. J. McKay, has gone to reside. He is a fast horse, but is inclined to dwell at the mark when the starting clock strikes up its interval tune.

Many southern horses were raced on the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting at Dunedin, but without a great deal of success, the muddy dirt track disconcerting many animals used to stepping their best on dirt circuits. Despite the slight measure of success which was met with, it was still interesting to find that Harold Direct won one event and finished second in another, as he is one of the first cf Harold Rothschild’s stock to succeed on a racecourse, the first being Wairongoa, a recent winner in Canterbury. Harbld Rothschild is lord of the harem at Willowbank Stud, Riversdale, the property on which the New Zealand Trotting Cup heroine, Win Soon, first saw the light. The stock of Messrs. Stevenson and McMatti’s stallion are now coming to hand nicely, and the son of Rothschild is likely to claim a number of stake-gainers before next season rolls round.

The death of Mr. Will’am Affleck, of Otautau, one of the most respected sportsmen of the Western District, occurred this week. He acted as judge to the Wairio Jockey Club for many-years past. Deceased was a brother to Mr. Charles Affleck, owner of the blood stallions Canrobert and Stronghold, and Mr. Thomas Affleck, who until very recently possessed the trotting sires Bellman and’ Sir Hector.

The general racing public here are now looking forward with pleasure to the Dunedin Jockey Club’s June fixture, as there are many horses engaged from these parts, while the steeplechase contests at Wingatui are always popular. In the latter connection it is said that many staid settlers down south annually make the Dunejd'ln Winiter Show an excuse to their families during the first week in June in order that they may steal out to the D.J.C. headquarters to see the racing between the flags. Two well-known horses from the Winton district, the square trotter Annie K. and the pacer Yarraville, made their appearance at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Wednesday in high-class company in the Kitchener Handicap, but finished down the course. This big event of the day was won by Adonis, by Harold Dillon from that great mare Thelma, mother of many crack harness horses, and it is interesting to note that he was driven to victory by his trainer, F. Holmes, who leaves for Auckland to-morrow to catch the mail steamer which is to take him on a visit to America. Holmes expects to purchase several horses in the United States capable of being trained and raced in New Zealand with some prospect of success. On a previous visit to the “home of the light harness horses” the Riccarton mentor brought back with him the mare Bonista, with whom he 1 won a number of races. The daughter of the famous Star Pointer, by the way, has now been retired from the race track as she is in foal to Wildwood Junior. '