SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1482, 19 September 1918, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Increased Activity on Tracks — Sir Malt May Race at Geraldine and Kurow—Orderdown Joins G. Hope’s String—Tribute to a Popular Trotting Starter—Golden King Taken up Again — Winton Jockey Club Increase Stakes for Annual Meeting—Vocation Benefited by Spell.

INVERCARGILL, September 13

Local trainers are very busy at present with good tracks at their command and favourable weather under experience. P. T. Hogan, H. G. Coker, G. McLean and J. Boyd have lengthy strings under their respective charges, and it is safe to say that all will turn out winners before the season is far advanced, a mild prophesy ventured upon in light of the knowledge that the stable of each mentor referred to contains at least one galloper to be classed as useful in this part of the world. G. McLean may escort the first home-trained horse abroad for the new racing term, as he has Sir Malt engaged at the Geraldine and Kurow fixtures. The Australian-bred son of Malster has wintered particularly well, and is galloping freely, but does not-encourage the belief that he will favour racing over a distance of ground. It is this fact which has probably tempted his owner to engage him in the north, where short events are open to the black gelding. “There is nothing the matter with Rorke’s Drift,” chortles P. T. Hogan, and the local mentor is, therefore, on good terms with himself in regard to the New Zealand Cup prospects of the son of Calibre. Rorke’s Drift has been entered for the principal event of the Kurow meeting, but seven furlongs is rather a short course to enable the bay gelding to show at his best. Hogan has also nominated Fleetham for the same race, but a five furlong contest later in the day might suit him better.

Orderdown arrived here on Wednesday, and has joined G. Hope’s string. The daughter of Glenculloch and Order appears to have got over her breakdown of last year.

Another newcomer this week was the five-year-old gelding by Rorke’s Drift from Mettle, by Calibre —Walda. He has been well treated during the winter months and kept in firm condition by road work. In future, the descendant of the Invercargill crack will be under the care of G. McLean, and it is just possible that he will turn out useful, as he is a most determined customer and has strength and activeness to back it up. Advantage was taken of an interval during the proceedings at the annual meeting of members of the Southland Racing Club last week to make a presentation to Mr. W. Norman, who has acted as honorary starter for trotting races here for a period of about 12 years. On behalf of the Southland Racing Club, Wyndham Racing Club, Gore Racing Club, Winton Jockey Club, Wairio Jockey Club and Winton Trotting Club the president of the Southland Racing Club (Mr W. T. Hazlett) handed to Mr Norman a valuable Rotheram gold watch, at the same time congratulating him on his recent success as a starter at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting in Christchurch. Mr. Hazlett referred to the high reputation borne by the guest of the occasion as a sportsman ami a man, and hoped that he would long be spared to weai the ti piece and take an interest in the light harness sport. Su^e^ y in . recommendation was made to the in coming committee of the Southland

R.C. that Mr. Norman be appointed starter for the galloping races on the home track, and it is more than likely that he will receive the appointment, as he has had previous experience in this direction at nontotalisator fixtures.

Golden King has been taken up again, and the son of Golden Knight is very fresh and well. He has returned to his old quarters at Rorke’s Drift Lodge. At a meeting of the committee of the Winton Jockey Club last week the programme for the club’s annual gathering during the week following the New Zealand Cup meeting was approved. The stakes will total £2200, the increases being allotted as follows: Steeplechase events £25, trotting races £45, and flat events £330. The Winton Cup will be worth £3OO. Mr. A. G. Wood wrote accepting the position of starter. Names have been claimed for Winton Stakes three-year-old candidates as follows: Acolyte (filly, by Buff Gauntlet —Lethe mare), Turtle (filly, Soldiers’ Chorus — Turrette), Tatton (filly, Soldiers’ Chorus —Turret), Blue Gauntlet (filly, Buff Gauntlet — Blue Bell), Flag Lieutenant (gelding, ViceAdmiral —Miss Signal). A pleasing fact in connection with the annual meeting of the Southland Racing Club was the whole-hearted manner in which several speakers testified to the successful way in which Mr. Marshall, the club’s caretaker, carried on the farming department, which showed a very fair profit for the year. Despite the fact that he carried on short-handed, Mr. Marshall kept his tracks in good order and found time to attend to the installation of several improvements, in addition to making good as an agriculturist. The old steeplechaser Peary has been entered for the Waitaki Steeplechase at the Kurow meeting, but he is hardly likely to face the starter, as he was anything but sound when he left J. Boyd’s stable here to return to his owner in South Canterbury.

Reports from Wingatui are to the effect that bad weather has prevented trainers working at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s headquarters from getting full use of the tracks, which is unfortunate in view of next month’s meeting. The horses owned by the president of the Southland Racing Club (Mr. W. T. Hazlett) have not been long in work, and Dorian and Daringdale are somewhat in the rough after lengthy spells, but Vocation is rapidly getting into shape. The last-nam-ed has settled down nicely, and it would not be surprising to find him galloping well later on in the season, There is no doubt he has benefited by his period of relaxation.