SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1542, 13 November 1919, Page 10

SOUTHLAND.

Excellent Entries for Winton Meeting—Rorke’s Drift Resumes Work Again — Gore Racing Club Make Good Profit Out of Spring Meeting —Puilah Joins R. Berry’s StablePeerless Taken up Again—Form of Southland Horses on Opening Day at Riccarton—Bright Prospects for Dunedin Jockey Club’s Christmas Meeting.

INVERCARGILL, Monday.

The heavy snowfall experienced in all parts of the South Island last week did not extend to the lower levels of Southland, but the abnormal rain caused the closing down of the southern tracks for a few days. The entries received for the Winton -Jockey Club’s annual fixture are of a very satisfactory nature, and must constitute a record since the days before the war. Eighteen useful performers have been entered for the Winton Cup. The list includes Kilbrogan and other prominent performers such as Eleus, Rorke’s Drift, Tin Soldier and Burrangong. The sprint event has attracted Kilboyne, Kilbrogan, Eleus, Almoner and other speedy gallopers, while 14 jumpers have been nominated for the crosscountry events.

Rorke’s Drift has been taken up again this week after enjoying a spell for some months. The son of Calibre is claimed to be perfectly sound again, but he cannot be ready for the Winton Cup at the end of the month.

The Gore Racing Club’s spring meeting resulted in a profit of round about £2OOO, a fact that should lead to a substantial' increase in stakes at the corresponding fixture next season. This is the most successful financial achievement in this history of the club, and needless to say the officials of the club are jubilant. The four-year-old Pallas —Luresome gelding, Puilah, has joined R. Berry’s stable. He is a neat little fellow, possessing the gift of galloping, a fact he proved last season when he got thoroughly keyed up to race in the Winton Stakes.

The widespread success of the progeny of St. Anton in Australia causes regret when it is considered that a local member of the clan in Anton can gallop well but will have nothing to do with the barrier. His owner is persevering with him, however, hoping that he will yield to patient treatment. The day he starts well will probably mark the occasion of his first success in public.

Several southern owners are at present in Christchurch on the look-out for suitable horses to race at home during the summer and autumn terms. When Mr. J. B. Reid’s gallopers in training are submitted to auction this week there will be offers for the majority of the string from Southland. The committee of the Southland Racing Club have decided to raise the salary of the secretary, Mr. W. A. Saunders. This recognition ■ is well deserved, as the local official practically fills the bill as a metro-

politan club’s paid servant, the bulk of registration work in the southern province in regard to galloping and trotting passing through his hands. He has also been reappointed handicapper for the ensuing season. The old Comedian gelding, Peerless, has been taken up again by the Riverton trainer, J. Thistleton. Now that he has been treated to a »pell, he may train on and play a successful part in autumn jumping events. The local sportsman, Mr. J. Todd, is the proud possessor if a full sister to the North Island filly, Nursing Sister. The daughter of Solferino — ■Miss Dalrymple is going on the right way and growing into an attractive juvenile. The Invercargill representative, Eleus, ran fairly well in the New Zealand Cup. After assisting Battle Song to make the pace he was prominent into the straight, ultimately finishing seventh, which was fairly satisfactory with an interrupted preparation to be taken into consideration. Fleetham was supported from the south for the Spring Plate at Riccarton on Saturday, but displayed signs of soreness as a result of his efforts under the heavy weights at Gore, and finished a long way back. Glenshine ran a very fair race in the Riccarton Welter on Saturday, but this is not unusual with him in any company. The Dunedin Jockey Club expect to experience a better meeting than usual at Christmas time, the resumption of the railway service under prewar conditions being a stronge factor in. favour of the metropolitan body. '