SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1429, 13 September 1917, Page 10

SOUTHLAND.

Edistone Joins G. McLean’s Team— Golden King Enjoying a Spell—Gore R.C.’s Spnng Meeting—Southland R.C.’s Annual Report—Aycliffe in Steady Work —A Promising Novice by All Red INVERCARGILL, September 7. The weather has now cleared after a very wet spell, and the Southland R.C. tracks are drying up, not, however, before time. During the past fortnight or longer the local gallopers in work have been trotting and galloping on the clay trotting track, the only circuit available for anything like real work. Th s dirt path was mainly constructed by means of a road scoope, and has proved one of the cheapest and most useful tracks on the home course. It is the only clay track in Southland, which makes it valued by the light harness brigade, but trailers of thoroughbreds have also come to look upon it as a very valuable makeshift.

The steeplechaser Edistone, by Blackstone —Lulah, who made his debut at the back end of last season, winning one race out of three starts, has joined G‘. McLean’s team. He has an excellent idea of how to safely get across country, but has not yet developed a full head of speed, although he gives promise of improvement in this respect in the near future. Kokowai, by All Red —Kea, has recovered from what threatened to turn out an attack of strangles, and is now working with Camaieu and Clothilde (Rokeby—Camille). The last-named is going on the right way under W. Ratcliffe’s charge, but will have to strip fit and well in November, to compete successfully with Staff Officer and the colt by Pallas —Minaret in the Winton Stakes. It is reported that the aged gelding Benzowen, by Benzoin —Wattlebird, is to join G. McLean’s team, which at present consists of Glensponse, Miss Finland, Heatherbloom and Edistone After a compulsory and lengthy absence from the turf, the chestnut gelding came out last season and ran some good races, but the best he could do was to win the Otaraia Hack Welter at the Gore R.C. summer meeting, and finish second to Hardshot in the Myross Welter Hack Handicap at the Southland R.C.’s autumn fixture, when Hardshot, in receipt of 71b., beat him home nicely. Benzowen classed as a very smart horse prior to coming under the displeasure off the racing authorities several years ago.

The Winton turfite Mr. W. Swale, owner of Gunrest, Peter and other useful horses, was hurried away to a private hospital on Sunday last, and operated upon for appendicitis. His w.despread circle of racing friends will be pleased to hear that Mr. Swale is making sat.sfactory progress in the direction of recovery. Most of the Southland racing professionals eligible for military service with the First D.vision have already been called up, but trainer J. L.ndsay, of Riverton, was named in the tenth ballot) G. Hepburn, who acts as private trainer to Mr. L. C. Hazlett, was included in the Otago list of future soldiers, as also was jockey L. G. King, who is now in service with T. Stiven, jun., at Wmgatui. Golden King, one of the most successful of P. T. Hogan’s team of last season, is now running out, and it is hoped that he will stand a preparation about the tune the autumn leaves begin to fall. The speedy Jubert, by Canrobert — Julia, is standing up to his tasks so far, but it will take H. J. Searle all his time to keep h.m on his legs when the tracks harden up. Rorke’s Drift has to be classed as one of the most gay and festive members of P. T. Hogan’s team. His period of relaxation must have benefited the son -of Calibre to an unexpected extent, as he is now looking bigger and more burly than ever before.

The programme for the Gore Racing Club’s spring meeting has been issued, to extend over two days. The principal events of the respective days will be the Spring Handicap, of 210sovs. (one mile and a quarter),

and the Waikaka Handicap, of 175sovs. (one mile and a distance). On the opening day the Eastern Steeplechase, of 12550v5., will be decided, to be followed by the Wantwood Steeplechase, of llOsovs., on the last day. Of the additional £2OO by which the stakes have been increased, £SO has been distributed over four trotting events, two open and two class races. The annual report and balance-sheet of the Southland Racing Club shows a profit on the summer meeting of £756 Ss. 6d , and on the autumn fixture £216 2s. 9d. The revenue for the season was £10,779 18s. 6d., and the payments £10,326 13s. 3d. The club has a membership of 187, and the farming of the racecourse property returned a profit of £65 19s. 4d. The balance-sheet has. been set out at considerable length, and anyone of an inquiring turn of mind may follow the financial transactions of the past season to the full, procedure not always possible with the returns annually placed before the subscribers to many more important turf institutions. There is always a suspicion that Camaieu has not thoroughly recovered from an accident which befel her during her early career, when she got hung up on the railings of the local scraping sheds enclosure, but she is moving along freely. The Downshire—Camille mare has furnished very nicely since last season, and, with a stand up, should win money early in the season. Clothilde, a half-sister to the former, is a credit

to her sire, Rokeby. She is progressing in a satisfactory manner, and should be ready to meet all-comers in the hack class during the summer campaign.

Aycliffei by Rokeby—Mosca, is one of the regular workers of H. G. Coker’s string, and is giving some token of improvement, but so far he has not flattered his supporters in this part of the world. Good reports continue to reach here of a novice in J. Hyniers’ Riverton Stable, the green performer being a son of All Red and the Australianbred mare Edna May IL, by Playbill (son of Bill of Portland). He is an upstanding animal, and just the kind to develop into a very valuable racing proposition if not overtaxed until he reaches maturity.