SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1507, 13 March 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND.

Dry Weather Affecting Tracks— Hardness Felt by Jumping Division —Brooksdale Joins G. McLean’s String—P. T. Hogan’s Team of Jumpers Being Steadily Augmented —Formidable String of Flat Racers Also in Commission at Rorke’s Drift Lodge—Zarkoma in Work at Winton —Dunedin J.C.’s June Meeting—Death of Popular Secretary of Gore Racing and Trotting Clubs.

INVERCARGILL, March 6. An unbroken spell of perfect weather has prevailed during the past week, with the result that our tracks are becoming hard. Southland does not lend itself to dry periods for long before the ground becomes all too firm, but if trainers are displaying anxiety, not so the agriculturist, who is preparing to celebrate a very bountiful grain harvest. Those who have jumpers under their care have to be sympathised with, however, as the southern cross-country season opens within three weeks, and seasoned and green steeplechasers alike are going to feel the prevailing unyielding galloping surface.

The local crack Rorke’s Drift is working along steadily, and it is now almost certain that the Calibre gelding will be nominated for the Great Autumn Handicap, but it is just possible that his owner will prefer to see him race down the long straight in the Riverton Cup on Easter Monday.

The sturdy gelding Brooksdale has joined G. McLean’s team again after being tried out over big country in private in the Western District. The son of Pallas and Bealey is to be prepared for steeplechasing and will probably be schooled on the Southland R.C.’s property within the next few days. P. T. Hogan is-gathering a jumping team together at Rorke’s Drift Lodge, where the seasoned racers between the flags; Palladio and Silverspire are already in commission, with a novice gelding by Gienapp to presently keep them company, while Calma is the experienced hurdle racer who will lead Glenshine (Glenculloch -—Minaret) in his schooling essays. Hogan’s flat-racing team includes: Rorke’s Drift, Golden King, Redshire, Tin Soldier, Eleus, Flag Lieutenant, Fleetham, Bengeroop, and one or two lesser lights. The steeplechase riders J. McChesney and G. Fielding, who have just returned from war service in Europe, have joined Hogan’s establishment, where W. Robinson and apprentice I. Tilson are also located and have proved capable of riding over big country.

The steeplechaser Zarkoma is in work at Winton, where he will have to play a lone hand, as there are no other capable jumpers in that locality to go schooling with. H. G. Coker is busy with Cattach and Bontave, a four-year-old gelding by Bonny Glen—Octave,, but both will require careful handling to get them into the best of racing shape. It is said that it was found impossible to build Bontave up while at Riccarton, but this cannot bei claimed now, as he has put on weight since he joined Coker’s stable.

.Unless present arrangements are cancelled, Calma, Golden King and Elens will make the trip to Canterbury at the end of the month to race at the Ashburton County J.C.’s meeting. The little Glenculloch gelding Glenwood went to pieces at Wingatui a few days prior to the Dunedin Cup fixture, and greatly disappointed his connections when produced in public, but has now commenced to pick up again in his home quarters here. It transpires that it was a six-furlong ga lop with Buller that troubled the son of G'lenculloch, the effort to head off the Canrobert sprinter proving too. much for him. The Martian gelding Dorian is freshening up, but his trip to Wingatui recently did him no good. It will take W. Gardiner all his time to get him ready for Easter racing, that is if he should ever come back to anything like his best form. Mr. W. T. Hazlett’s other seasoned horse,, Mazama, has yet to give the Southland public a taste of his quality, but his turn may come next month, as he is doing satisfactory work. Gardiner is at present handling a rising three-year-old by Danube —Directoire, and the novice has the ancient Sirius, borrowed from Rorke’s Drift Lodge for the purpose, acting as his schoolmaster.

The death occurred on Tuesday of Mr. John Latham, for many years secretary to the Gore R.C. and Gore Trotting Club. A severe attack of influenza some months ago is held responsible for the unexpected loss of one of the best-known officials of the southern racing district. The deceased secretary was a very capable business man, and controlled a large number of interests quite apart from those connected with thei turf. His loss will be a severe one to the G.R.C. and G.T.C., as both hold meetings early in April. Mr. Latham at various times represented the country clubs of Otago on the Racing and Trotting Conferences.