SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1553, 29 January 1920, Page 12

SOUTHLAND.

Wairio and Otautau Annual Meetings Both Receive Wide Patronage — Dunedin Forthcoming Racing Carnival Induces Strong Entry From Southland — Bengeroop Taken in Hand Again—Riverton R.C. Increase Stakes —Otaitai Steeplechase Eliminated From Second Day’s Programme—Dunmuire Changes Hands —Turehana Purchased by Mr. W. Swale —Kilkee Proves a Dual Cup Winner —Notes on the Racing at Wairio and Otautau. INVERCARGILL, Monday. During the past week some very ’fine weather has been experienced, two glorious days tailing to the lot of the Wairio Jockey Club and the Otautau Racing Club respectively, with the result that both received extensive patronage for their annual meetings, and the finances benefited accordingly. About ISO entries from Southland have been made for the Dunedin carnival week, including thoroughbreds and trotters, so it can readily be understood that this part of Maoriland is going to play a prominent part in the forthcoming racing at Forbury Park and Wingatui. The Wairio Jockey Club’s annual fixture on Wednesday last was the most successful in the annals of the club. With interesting racing and a large attendance, the figures were a record for the totalisator returns and other financial results. At a recent meeting of the committee of the Riverton Racing Club Mr. A. Jones was appointed handicapper and Mr. A. D. Mclvor starter for the Eastern meeting, the latter being one of the best-known trainers in the south. He has yet to make his debut as a public starter, but there is no doubt about his ability to send the

fields away, if his displays on the training tracks at Riverton and Invercargill are any criterion. It is safe to say that some horsemen will presently find that their stock in trade of little tricks is quite familiar to Mr. Mclvor, who in turn has been recognised as a successful rider, owner, ahd trainer. Bengeroop has been taken up again by P. T. Hogan after a lengthy spell. The son of Calibre —Tinwald Beauty is a very fine stamp of gelding, and is airhost certain to win races provided his mentor can keep him on his legs.

The stakes for the two principal flat events at the Riverton Racing Club’s Easter gathering, the Riverton Cup and Easter Handicap, have been increased by £lOO each, and will now be valued at £5OO and £4OO respectively. The Otaitai Steeplechase has been eliminated from the second day’s card, a hack race having been substituted. This hardly seems good business on the claim that there are not enough horses to fill two crosscountry events on the one day, when it is noted that fields of eleven and fifteen contested the jumping events at Wairio and Otautau during the

current week. Had the club decided to increase the value of the Great Western Steeplechase and retain the Otaitai Steeplechase on the programme they would have won enhanced popularity and probably more profit. The Riverton Club has won high popularity by reason of its encouragement of cross-country racing in the past, and it is hard to understand why the decision referred to has been arrived at. The well-bred novice steeplechaser Dunmuire, by Gienapp—Remorse, has changed hands, and will in the future carry the colours of Mr. T. Kitt, who has owned many successful jumping horses in his racing career. Dunmuire will remain at Rorke’s Drift Lodge, where P. Hogan has a lengthy string of hurdlers and steeplechasers under ms control.

The Antagonist—Windwhistle gelding Wild Night is going on the right way in his work, and may be ready and well at the Dunedin fixture.

During the progress of the Otautau meeting on Friday the steeplechaser Turehana (Multifid —Songster mare) was purchased from Mr. W. Kain by Mr. W. Swale, who experienced a profitable time last season with Palladio. The gelding jumped well at Otautau for his new owner, but met with some interference in the race which spoiled his chance. Eleus has been working along quietly during the past week, and is now bearing a freshened appearance, but his sprinting stablemate Redshire has come in from work once or twice lately nodding his head. This may not mean anything serious, however, as he has often been lame before.

A champion during the current week turned up in the gelding Kilkee, who accounted for both the Wairio and Otautau Cups, the ancient Gunrest acting as runner-up on each occasion. In a way the successes

were very appropriate, as the owner of the Kilbroney—Latchet gelding is a prosperous settler in the district in which the races were decided. In addition to the stakes, Mr. Deegan received a trophy in connection with each race, a neat silver cup for the former event and a very handsome -silver tea service for the Otautau race. The winner was one of the outsiders of the field on each occasion. Gunrest, who had been brought to the track in rare shape by the veteran horseman-trainer G. Hope, was unlucky to meet Kilkee with P. Hogan’s best polish on. Gunrest’s turn came in the final event at the Otautau fixture, when he won the Waikouru Handicap convincingly. There was pronounced cheering when the old fellow came back to weigh in, his owner, Mr. C. Tulloch, beingknown as a good sportsman from the Bluff, while the public also recognised Hope’s part of the performance. The visiting contingent from the Dunedin J. C.’s headquarters, Claverhouse, Borodino and Sedd-el-Bahr were easily beaten in both events under review, but Sedd-el-Bahr’s trainerowner, C. Gieseler, had the satisfaction of leading his representative in a winner after the Wreysbush Welter Handicap at Wairio.

Mr. W. E. Taylor, a leading Invercargill owner, who was a pleased man when Burrangong recently won the Wyndham Cup, has promised the Wairio R.C. a twenty guinea trophy for their big event next season. Trophies are becoming quite a common connection with leading

events in this part of the world, and it can truthfully be said that they are very popular with owners. They are typical of the sporting spirit prevailing in the province, and it is to be hoped that they will increase and multiply as time goes on and thus mark the progress the sport is making in the affection of the public.

After a race full of incidents and mishaps the ancient Heatherlea just got up in the Aparima Steeplechase at Wairio to win that event from Turehana. The third horse, Miss Trixie would probably have won but for baulking. By the way, no less than seven of the starters fell, but the little pony Glenisla fell when leading at the last obstacle but he was a beaten horse at the time. The useful Red Pal won the Maiden Plate at Wairio cleverly from the favourite, Satisfaction. The winner is a half-sister to Nuroma. Red Pal is trained for her breeder, Mr. J. E. Rogers, of Gore, by P. Hogan. She promises to make a good jumper some day, and has already displayed ability in that direction. Clothilde, who threatened danger at the home turn, was galloped on, and may not race again, Mr. W. Couser, her owner, being desirous of sending her to the stud. Satisfaction subsequently scored in the Wairoki Hack Handicap very easily. The well-bred Marching Order (Soldiers’ Chorus —Order, by The Officer —Spot) won the Woodlands Handicap at Wairio easily, but he got off well, which must have helped him materially. Satisfaction (Bezonian —Satisfaire) won the Crown Stakes, the opening event at the first totalisator meeting at Otautau, for Mr. H. Friedlander. She won easily, but failed later in the day when the penalties aggregat-

ing 241 b. pulled her -up, enabling both Sartomart and Pleasurefdrm to beat her. During his visit south this week Trainer C. Gdeseler won twice with Satisfaction and once with Sedd-ei-Bahr.

The ancient Black Sea, who has been racing over country a very long time, took the Otautau Steeplechase from Glenisla. She might have won in any case, but no doubt the fact that twelve of her rivals dwelt by the way made her task an easy one. The Otautau Club only set up as a totalisator body within the past eight months, yet it already has a track, totalisator buildings, and . other appointments established on the freehold propertjq an area which now stands its owners a small amount of money. Owing to the liberality with their funds they have sympathisers from other clubs in the home province. It is a great performance to set up business as efficiently as the O.R.C. has done in practically six months.

Record nominations have been received for the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s summer meeting on February 12 and 14. No less than 31 horses have b/sen nominated for the Maiden Scurry (4% furlongs) on the opening day, which event is for horses that have never won a race on the flat. Another first day’s event, the Summer Hack Stakes (five furlongs), has attracted 33 entries.