SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1373, 17 August 1916, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Rorke’s Drift Fourth on List of Winning Horses —Amateur Horseman Enters Trainers’ Ranks —Trainer A. D. Mclvor’s Formidable String—C. J. Heywood’s Team at Riccarton — Lake County J.C.’s New Lease of Life. INVERCARGILL, August 11. From a statistical point of view both Canrobert and Rorke’s Drift have established Southland records for the season just closed. The stock of the Soult —Hotcherina horse, in securing £3309 in stakes, set a southern sires’ record, while Rorke’s Drift, fourth on the list of winning horses, with £2530, shows the best total to date for a season by a horse trained in this district. The Calibre geldingwon in the spring for Mr. J. C. N.

Grigg, prior to becoming the property of Messrs. F. and V. Price. Neuroma (£745), who followed Buller (£763) on the list, was bred by his owner, Dr. Rogers, of Gore, and this fact gave great pleasure to his sporting medico owner. It is understood that the Tapanui R.C. have made an application to the Gore R.C. for the use of the latter’s course on November 22 and 23 for racing purposes. The T.R.C.’s track, now undergoing improvements, will not be ready for use until next season. It is safe to say that a two days’ fixture at Gore will greatly assist the finances of one of the oldest clubs in Otago. An amateur horseman of years gone by, in Len Smith, has embarked on a new career as a public trainer in Invercargill. in his day Smith rode winners across the flat, over battens and between the flags, but for many years past has been following pursuits quite apart from the turf. At present he has the Calibre gelding Hardshot under his care, and within a few days is to receive a half-brother to the hurdle horse Peerless, the novice being a gelding son of Canrobert—Bouquet, by Hotchkiss—Bridal Wreath. The newcomer to the game was bred by Mr. F. Malcolm, of Haddon Bush, who also bred Peerless. The owner of Hardshot is also sending a young

Calibre gelding to the care of the exDunedinite.

Bearing in min 1 the fact that many calls are still to be made on racing clubs on behalf of patriotic funds, the Winton J.C. committee have decided not to give effect to a suggestion male by members recently that the stakes for the November fixture be raised from £lBOO to £2OOO.

It is not always safe to prophesy at the commencement of a new season as to the strength of a particular stable, but it certainly looks at the time of writing as if A. D. Mclvor has in work at Riverton the most formidable string ever placed under his care. His team comprises eight horses —his declared limit, despite some tempting offers —including: Gunrest, Buller, Neuroma, Minesweeper, Mohawk, Spanish Princess, a three-year-old half-brother to Neuroma, a chestnut gelding by Pallas —Redstart, and a three-year-old filly, ranking as a sister to All Ready, by All Red—Aerina (sister to Canrobert).

The Winton J.C. have re-appointed Mr. A. Jones as handicapper and Mr. A. G. Wood as starter for the new season.

G. McLean is busy with Glensponse and Heatherbloom (Canrobert —Rosebloom), and both are lusty and well. The latter gave promise early last season, but several mishaps put him out of court for many months. W. Ratcliff is handling a shapely and very game-looking three-year-old gelding by Glenculloch —Flirtation, and it is on the cards that he will develop into a useful racer. He may not be quite clean-bred away back on the dam’s side, but high courage has come from the same source in the past where hack racers and jumpers have been concerned.

C. J. Heywood has Jock, Order down, Special Order, Eager Eyes and several others in active commission at Riverton. So far, Eager Eyes has stood up to all that has been asked of her, and it is hoped that the Cesarion mare will show her heels to her rivals presently for the honour of the United States.

The well-known local owner and breeder of trotting horses, Mr. J. B. Thomson, has embarked in the Clydesdale line, having purchased the imported Scottish stallion Bancor, who will join the American sire, Russell Patch, and other trotting horses at his new owner’s Middlevale Stud. The well-known Pallas gelding Brooksdale has joined J. Hymer s stable at Riverton.

It looks as if the Riverton R.C.’s tracks are to be in great request for training purposes during the present season, as thirty-seven horses have already been stripped at the Western District convincing ground, an unusual number for this time of year. Of late Messrs. J. J. Mcßride (owner of Obsono), R. M. Paterson (owner and breeder of Pride o’ Clutha, Golden Rupee, etc.), and G. D. Baird (owner and breeder of Copper Boy) have been rousing up their brother sportsmen in the Lakes District, with the result that it is anticipated that the Lake County J.C. will take on a new lease of life during the 1916-17 turf term. Stakes are to be increased and a new track laid out at Frankton, while every effort is to be made to induce Southland owners to visit Queenstown on the occasion of the annual reunion there of goldfields racing folk. As a result of over-reaching Rongahere was unable to take his place in the field for the Grand National Hurdles, greatly to the disappointment of an army of supporters in Otago and Southland. During the absence of P. T. Hogan in Christchurch his home team have been kept up to the collar, and the trainer of Korke’s Drift will become a very busy man when the tracks are fit for consistent work, as he is to have a large number of horses under his stable roof.