SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1459, 11 April 1918, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Riverton R.C.’s Annual Fixture— Death of a Respected All-round Sportsman —Mohawk’s Form at Riccarton. INVERCARGILL, April 5. The Riverton Racing Club’s annual fixture attracted large attendances each day, and the experiment of holding the fixture on Saturday and Easter Monday following proved an unqualified success. Two financial records were established, in that the totalisator investments amounted to £35,860 10s., while the gate receipts ran over £1350. The steeplechase races were very interesting, and, as usual, formed the principal attraction, meeting with the approval of many new visitors to the district, who, tempted by good weather and dry roads, came from Dunedin and other northern centres by motor cars. A substantial amount of southern money followed Mohawk - to Riccarton, and those who supported the American horse in the Great Easter Handicap and lost persevered next day, in addition with others, and benefited financially when the son of

Mexican and Maxine Elliott narrowly defeated Nystad in the Templeton Handicap. Mohawk was knocked back after reaching the straight when attempting to get a position on the rails, but C. Emerson then brought him out to the centre of the. course and he ran home gamely with les. than a head to the good. Mr. Colin McDonald, who at one time acted as secretary to the Southland Racing Club, died here on Monday last. The deceased, a well-known land and estate agent, was a keen sportsman some years back. He was a brilliant bicycle rider in his youth and competed prominently in the Austral Wheel Race and other valuable races during a sojourn in Victoria, while he successfully owned, rode and trained trotting horses in Southland as an amateur. He also took a great interest in boxing, and at times acted as judge and referee at tourneys conducted by the local Boxing Association. The deceased was a highly-respected citizen, and a great believer in both boys and girls being brought up to box, swim and generally engage in all manly exercises. His advocacy of the noble art for girls was practiclly demonstrated in his own family with success. The Riverton Cup went to a genuine southern supporter of the turf, in Mr. W. Kain, and pleasure was expressed at his first success with his recent purchase, Marsa, by Martian —Nantes. The mare was turned out by C. GieseIcr looking particularly well, and this fact contributed to her being elected to the position of favourite. The race was run at a slow pace over the early stages, and when it came to a sprint home Marsa defeated Thaddeus by three-quarters of a length. Rorke’s

Drift, was always with the field, but the sprint at the finish was not in his line and he finished three lengths away, third. Balboa ran, but was never prominent. On the second day of the Riverton fixture the principal flat race was won by Thaddeus, who was in receipt of 171 b. from the Cup winner, Marsa. The pair were together at the distance, but Thaddeus then drew out to score by a couple of lengths. Golden King finished third, but was never dangerous. Rorke’s Drift was fourth and put up a fairly good fight under 10.6. Gunrest ran badly, and it is evident that he will not be ready for some time to come yet. Mohawk was unlucky in the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton, as his pilot, little R. S. Bagby, was riding in the race under difficulties. When turning his horse round to commence his preliminary canter, Margerine kicked him on the ankle and knocked him out of the saddle. It was thought for some time that the lightweight would not be able to carry out his engagement, but he stuck to his task and rode a good race under the circumstances. In any case, Mohawk is not a small boy’s horse, being a big, powerful animal. As his owner is going to the front in a few weeks’ time Mohawk has been placed on the private sale list, but remains in W. McDonald’s stable at Riccarton in the meantime. He is to be raced at the forthcoming South Canterbury meeting.

The Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton, the leading cross-country race of the Southland season, was won for the second time by the bandylegged little Recharge, by Renown — Tomboy. He drew away at the finish and scored by 150 yards from Yarkoma, a promising full-brother to Rongahere. Although Turehaua and Chappal Moh were going well out in front when they came to grief, Recharge would have won in any case. On the second day of the fixture, Chappal Moh slipped his field and looked like coming home by himself in the Riverton Steeplechase, but he made a mistake and Recharge had a long lead with only one fence to jump. However, 12.4 pulled the little chap up over the latter stage, and Yarkoma got up to head him off by four lengths. The Sarto —Komuri gelding, Yarkoma, has been very successful between the flags this season in Southland, with four wins to his credit, and may develop into a useful ’chaser under P. T. Hogan’s care. Hogan won two other cross-country events at the meeting, landing the Waiau Steeplechase with Dalton, by Ahei —Miss Stent, and the Otaitai Steeplechase with the highly-bred Sylva, by Sylvanite—Jenny Moore, owned by Mr. L. C. Hazlett, of Dunedin. Both horses have given Hogan a great deal of trouble in different ways, and his success with them is a feather in his cap. Dalton, who is owned by the master of Rorke’s Drift Lodge himself, has suffered from ailments, strains, and knocks over a course of about three years, while Sylva has been difficult to school, but now goes generously enough. Sylva may never carry a great deal of weight to advantage, but he can gallop well on the flat between his fences. It is not often that Hogan gets a chance to try out well-bred horses at his beloved steeplechasing

game, but, in Sylva and Yarkoma, he has two thoroughbreds under his care, if they are nothing else. Kilmedy was produced for the first time in Southland at Riverton and easily won the Trial Stakes, but was beaten, out of a place in her second essay, the Farewell Handicap. The Kilbroney mare is an attractive galloper, however, and will do better later on. She is owned by two local sportsmen who race as “Mr. J. G. Emslie,” and it has to be placed on record that they won two other races at the fixture with the aid of Burrangong, by Mystification—Stepdaughter, a four-year-old brother to Step, Mysteriarch and Mystified. He is a very slow horse on his legs, and may not have won at all but for getting out well at both attempts. In the Second County Handicap, his second race, he galloped up to the barrier as it rose and slipped his field at the outset. The starter fined jockey A. McKay £2 for his “enterprise,” and the stewards subsequently increased the penalty to £5. Prior to getting off to a move-up, McKay made a similar attempt, and the fact that he managed to finally beat the starter, Mr. H. Thompson, of Christchurch, caused a great deal of dissatisfaction and spoiled what promised to be a good race, in which Kazan and Aycliffe would undoubtedly have had powerful claims. The veteran Riverton trainer J. Hymers turned out three well-condi-tioned winners at the local meeting, viz., Kilbrogan, Samiel and Bon. The first-named is an improving horse, but Bon was favoured by the fact that he had only 7.9 to carry, a 51b. apprentice allowance bringing him to the weight at which he can give of his best form.

P. T. Hogan trained Tin Soldier, by Calibre —Tinwald Beauty, winner of the Wallace Hack Handicap at Riverton. He is somewhat in the rough as yet, but may turn out useful in due course. The four-year-old brother to Gunrest is owned by G*unr. P. A. Price, now at the front, who is a sport-loving son of the senior partner in the ownership of Rorke’s Drift.