SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1589, 7 October 1920, Page 8

SOUTHLAND.

Full Brother to Brackenfield Training on Well—P. Hogan’s Juveniles, Liqueur and Song Bird — Bright Spot to be Retired to Stud — Conference of Delegates of Racing Clubs in Southland Province—Red Eagle Being Schooled Over Hurdles j —Lifebuoy Recommissioned After Lengthy Spell—P. Hogan’s Team to be Taken North This Week — Veteran Local Mentor, James Lawson, Again in the Game After Lengthy Absence From Training. INVERCARGILL, Monday. Reports as to heavy rains and foods have reached here during the week from all parts of Maoriland, but very little moisture has fallen in the home province, and training operations have not had to be curtailed. The Southland Racing Club have decided to admit all ladies free without production of tickets to meetings during the current season. The inducement held out from the north to Mr. W. T. Hazlett failed to tempt the president of the Southland Racing Club to part with the full brother to Brackenfield, the gelding not being for sale. The son of Boniform—Gargaron is training on well, but will not be raced in the meantime. He is a big fellow, and has already displayed signs on the track that he knows how to gdllop, hence he will be well worth, taking care of, and is being given time to mature. Although only three, he classes as a four-year-old, as he was born in July. P. Hogan has been exercising the two-year-olds Liqueur and Song Bird at the barrier during the week. The former slips out smartly, and can travel well when extended, but Song Bird is a somewhat slow beginner.

Liqueur has been in training longer than the son of imported parentage, but Song Bird may be developing into the better racehorse of the pair.

The Southland Racing Club is calling for applications for the position of handicapper for their summer meeting, to be held the first week in January. The Treadmill — Bonnie Brae filly Bright Spot, who has only won one race since being introduced to Southland, is to be relegated to the stud by Mr. Frooks, who bought her from Mr. W. Stone at the close of last season. Bright Spot and Buller’s sister, Spanish Princess, are booked to visit Fleetham. The locally-owned three-year-old, Listening Post, opened his winning account for the season by scoring in the Farewell Handicap, the final event at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting. The son of Solferino — Eager Eyes was r eaten on the opening day over six furlongs, but proved fully equal to defeating a somewhat weak field over his distance of a furlong less on the concluding day. He is owned by his breeder, Mr. E. Russell, who imported his Americanbred dam from Australia. The little Southlander is trained at Riccarton by W. McDonald. At a conference of delegates from the various racing clubs in Southland, held in Invercargill last week, the question of one judge, one handicapper, and one starter for the home province was brought forward. The delegates favoured the move as regards the judge and starter, but were divided as to the handicapper, and eventually decided .to refer the matter to the next meeting, in July, 1921. A number of matters of importance to local clubs were dealt with, and a committee of presidents of the clubs was set up to act where public deputations were necessary for the welfare of the turf. Mr. W. T. Hazlett, head of the Southland Racing Club, was the moving spirit in establishing the conference. It is reported from Riverton that the big All Red —Edna May 11. gelding Red Eagle is being schooled for hurdle racing on behalf of Trainer J. Hymers. In a schooling task over the local steeplechase country during the week the erratic Dunmure showed to advantage over Palladio. The steeplechaser Lifebuoy, by Royal Step (Stepniak—Royal Plumes) from Seaward, has been taken up again after a lengthy spell, necessitated by a poisoned limb. He will be treated by the veteran George Hope in company with the flat racer Adelina, the disappointing full sister to Michaela. Adelina, who has been spelling some time, is very much in the rough, but she is now a sturdy five-year-old with, very fair galloping ability. The Dunedin Jockey Club’s weight adjuster has given Mr. W. Stone’s representatives, Silver Peak, Checkmate, and Mantua, something to do at the forthcoming meeting at Wingatui, but Primum is not badly treated in his opening engagement of the season. The Riverton - trained Marching Order is to be produced at the Dunedin fixture, and is reported to be one of the most forward of the horses prepared at the pretty southern seaside resort. P. Hogan has Calma galloping well. The daughter of Calibre may display a bold front when the races at Wingatui are decided within the next fortnight. This week P. Hogan will make a move north with a strong team. Several Of the horses under his care will be raced at Kurow, but the main body will be kept in reserve for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s fixture. Bengeroop and Almoner are looking particularly well, while the two-year-olds Liqueur and Song Bird are also well forward, the former being nearly ready to race at the present time. The annual meeting of the Lake County Jockey Club disclosed the fact that about £9O was lost last season. It was decided to hold the annual fixture this season in February. The sum of £6OO will be given in stakes, a reduction of over £2OO. The meeting, which is held at Queenstown, entails a costly trip, not widely favoured by owners. The Southland veteran mentor. James Lawson, who has been out of the game for some years past, is now using the Southland Racing Club’s tracks again, his charges being the Australian - bred Cakewalk gelding and Clothilde, who has grown into the best looking mare hereabouts, but. who unfortunately is under suspicion for wind trouble. Both horses are backward in condition, having only been up a few weeks.