SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19178, 8 December 1927, Page 12

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP.

Nominations for the Stratford. Marton, and Hawke's Bay Meetings close to-morrow.

Acceptances for the .Oamaru Meeting close to-morrow. The Woodville District Jockey Club's Summer Sleeting will conclude to-day. Bella Donna (dam of Knocklyn and Lancer) and Granuale, half-sister by Sunny Lake to Rapier, recently produced a fillv foal each u> the G.sbjrneowned English sire Hunting bong, at the property of their owner. Mr G. u. Holmes. Granuale gave promise on looks of being a great galloper, but she proved a rank disappointment, and was retired from racing two seasons ago.

Philanderer, with E. Shaw m the saddle, has given two good displays it iumping at Riccarton this week and his trainer, G. Reed, intends to take him to the West Coast fixtures.

The barrier was available for use at Riccarton yesterday morning, and an unusually largo number of trainers made use of it.

Margaret Birney ran badly at the South Canterbury Meeting, and her owner-trainer has decided to give her a let-up from active work. The Riccarton horseman, J. Campbell, has left for Hawke's Bay. and is now attached to W. J. Dbnovan's stable at Napier Park. Bronstell and Gold Mint will be taken by A. E. Wormald to the West Coast Meetings.

The forward running at Timaru of the two-year-old Star Raid by Night Raid—Bendown, in Miss L. Doyle s stable, drew attention to his future prospects, and with a strong bov in the saddle he should soon reward his lady trainer with a success.

The Hawk is a daily visitor to the Hastings tracks. He appears in good condition and health, but is more staid than before, that wonderful vitality and high spiritedness for which he was so noted being now absent Now nine years old, one would hardly expect him to show again his great brilliancy, so J. M. Cameron has no doubt decided that his favourite will no longer be pitted against the best in handicaps. Singlespear, winner of the first division of the Camden Handicap, six furlongs. at the A.J.C. Warwick Farm Meeting, last-Saturday, is a New Zea-land-bred four-year-old gelding by Greyspear—Single Rose, who was taken over to Australia unperformed by the Riccarton trainer, R. W. King, some good few months ago This is the third or fourth success he has registered over there.

Reports from New Plymouth state that Te Monanui has never looked better, and will be in great nick at Ellers'io at the end of the month, whan he will be seen out for the Auckland Cup, in which he has -9st to carry. As B. H. Morris will be required for Mask in the Auckland Cup, he could not accept the offered ride on Grand Knight. H. Cairns was cabled, but he replied stating that his proposed trio to New Zealand was off. S. Henderson has been secured to ride Grand Knight, who has been given a cood chance to win the Cup at 8.0. The only doubt in his case is ability to see ont the two miles. He has won at a mile and a half, but he had fiuite enough at the end of that journey Still, Ellerslie is a non-stayers' course. A, local sportsman, who has been present at three North Island Meetings of late, on his return to Hastings from Feilding (says the Hawke's Bay "Tribune") gave his opinion that there is evidence of a jockeys' ring operat-

ing in this Island. Certainly, of late, there have been dividends which point in this direction. One Hastings horse at a recent Meeting was paying thu limit the first day and ran accordingly. Had he started the second day it '•* doubtful if he would have been at even money, but he was scratched, the owner having sufficient the first day. Stipendiary stewards with complete control must come. and.the sooner the better.

There is no need to stress the importance of having a good jockey on the back of a two-year-old in the initiil stages of its education and racing career (says "The Watcher"). Many a youngster has been spoiled and has also developed bad habits at the barrier through being in charge of a iight boy who exerted no control over him. When Episode went out to contest ißi Oroua Nursery Handicap at Feilding last wjek she -arried 7}lb over ner handicap weight in order that B. tl Morris should have the mount. At her handicap weight of 7.9 it might or might not have been possible to secure a rider who would do nil that was required of him, but the chances are that she would not have been ridden and handled as Mr Currie and his trainer, W. Rnyner. desired. So, sooner than risk a very promising filly in the early stages of her career, Mr Currie very sensiblv put up the extra weight and had the pleasure of seeina Episode and ridden in the proper style. Tin's correct early education of youngsters is so important that the Conference might well consider in 8 stone minimum in two-yonr-oH races They will run just as well under 8 rs 7 stone, in fact better, because they will be nble to get tho services of stronger horsemen. The top weights rued not be burdened with the extra 141b Owners and trainers with prom'sinr; rounc mpterifl would sooner' be nrenared to tpke on the stood one it their nres°nt weights with an 8 stone than they are at present.

Harold Young, one of New Zealand's leading horsemen a few years back, who has been riding in Australia for the past couple of years, contemplates returning to New Zealand, and he will again apply for a jockey's license. At one time Young acted as first horseman to Sir Geo. Clifford, for whom he scored a number of notable sucoesses. He is a capable horseman and can go to scale at under eight stone, so that his services should be in good demand. Since August last Youug has ridden fifteen winners in Queensland.

TROTTING NOTES. Though the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting does not commence until Tuesday, December 27tli, owners should not lose sight of the fact that acceptances for all first day's events close to-morrow at 5 p.m. A payment of 7 sovs is due for horses engaged in the Auckland Cup and a .further payment of ,10 sovs for starters must be made on the day of the race.

Nominations for the Winton T.C.'s Annual Meeting close to-morrow.

Vestas, who is engaged at the Wellington Meeting, was sent over two miles at Addington yesterday, giving a good display. This young pacer has only to behave himself in his races to win big money. N. L. Price, who has been an inmate of a private hospital for . some weeks past, is on the improve, and well enough to return to his home at Sockburn. Talaro's connexions are not satisfied with the handicap allotted him in the Auckland Trotting Cup, and the Great Audubon gelding will not be taken north. He will probably be nominated for the Canterbury Park Meeting to be held on January 2nd and 3rd. Call Boy, winner of the Introductory Handicap at Waikato on Saturday, is a five-year-old gelding by Nelson Bingen—Lord Derby mare.

Encouraged by the successes of- his two horses, Jewel Pointer and Amaris, the Auckland sportsman, Mr M. Mooda be, has strengthened his team by the inclusion of the Australian-bred gelding Lee Mauritius, who arrived at Auckland on Tuesday and has joined J. Shaw's team.

The pacer Desborough, who though very sore, won the St. Kilda Handicap at the recent Forbury Park Meet ing, is to be limited to a few mares this season. Desborough is a good stamp of sire and being by Logan Pointer—Lily F. bv Franz—Hattie he lacks nothing on the score of breeding. The Forbury Park Club's Spring Meeting resulted in a slight loss to the Dunedin Club. The terrific ga e that swept the course during the whole or the racing on the first day no doubt made speculators a bit chary as to suppoiting their fancies to any extent, otherwise the totalisator receipts would have shown a considerable advance on the sum registered. At a recent meeting ot the Forbury Park Trotting Club the Gore Owners and Trainers' Association wrote stating that at a recent meeting it was resolved to suggest to the c-lub that un the night of acceptance a draw tor places bo made, so that owners and trainers would know from what places tliev would start their horses.—lt was decided to reply that this matter had been considered, and the committee did not feel disposed to alter the present arrangements. In the West Australian Trotting Cup, to be decided ou December 24th and 26th. Bell Harold has been handicapped to give away 90 yards in « mile and a half, the race being for horses with placed performances of 2.21 or better to the mile. Dean Dillon' is on 66vds behind. Willowdean on *2vds. and Ratana on 18vds.

During an interval between the races at Waikato on Saturday, Jewel Pointer (J. Shaw), with the assistance of a galloping pace-maker, gave nn exhibition of pacing over a mile. The Loganjointer horse covered the distance in '2.9 2-5. after a display that was greatly appreciated by spectators. In the acceptances published yesterday for the Northland Trotting Club's Meeting, Mars and Reremai were included by mistake in the Cup, and Tony Victor in the Waipu Handicap. All three have been scratched. —Press Association.

The reason given by the Auckland Trotting Club for its refusal to allow the broadcasting of race results is that it gives too much encouragement to the small country bookmaker. The Otahuhu Trotting Club has also refused to allow its Meetings to be broadcast. On the other hand, the Auckland Racing Club and the Takapuna Jockey Club have_ so far permitted the broadcasting of 'their Meetings, though it is probable that the former club will discuss the matter later. The Goulburn Trotting Club has been troubled with what is known as the Steelite case for the past couple ot years, says a Sydney writer. In 1920, when »t a meeting conducted bv the club, the first and second placed horses in a race were disqualified tor fauit.v nominations, third prize money was paid to the owner of Karindee, >vno recently made a claim on the first prize money. It was, however, subsequently found that Karindee's nomination was no better than those of the first and second horses, and the whole matter was referred to the New South Wales Trotting Club. The head body has ruled Karindee's nomination out of order, and that the prize money reverts back to the Goulburn Club. Karindee's owner will now be asked to refund the £3 prize money paid to him. If it has done nothing else, tin-hare racing in New South Wales has been a big help to the finances, of trotting for the New South Wales rotting Club, as a result of leasing its ground to the tin-hare proprietors has netted over a thousand pounds • a month, and when the last mail left Sydney_ it was estimated that the amount derived by the Trotting Club from the sport was between £7OOO and £IO,OOO. A writer in the Sydney ''Referee" sums up the position as follows: —"What is going to oe done with this additional revenue? A conservative estimate of the amount in hand as a result of the rental for the tin-hares would put the sum down at £7OOO to £IO,OOO. Does the N.S.W. T.C. intend to apply this sum to the betterment of trotting, or is it merely proposed to allow the money to be placed to a reserve? The sane follower of the sport immediately grasps what is required of the N.S.W.TC. The latter should launch out with a big trotting programme. At least a £IOOO trot should be listed for attention. My idea, advanced some considerable time ago, was that the N.S.W.T.C. should stage a series of big prizes. The sport would be given a wonderful fillip It is not necessarily meant that the prize money should be restricted to £IOOO. Why not stage a £2OOO event, and another a week later of £IOOO to be regarded as somewhat of a consolation. If the dates of these events were fixed shortly after an important Meeting in New Zealand, it is safe to say that, in view pf the fact transport charges from New Zealand to Sydney are no greater than from one part of the Dominion to another, there would be a ready response on the part of New Zealand owners and trainers Natnrallv horses would come from Victoria. Queensland, and other States of the Commonwealth." THE "DEATH TRAP."

IS ADDINGTON TRACK DANGEROUS ?

At last night's meeting of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association, considerable time was spent on a discussion on the cause of tno large number of accidents that had taken place on the Addington track, most of which had occurred near the turn going out of the straight. At this part of the track a hard pathway is worn by the thousands of people who mak« their way from the outer enclosure to the centre of the course just before a race commences. Members generally described it as a regular "deatn-trap."

Onu speaker said that he had some years ago mentioned the danger of the corner, and had gone to the trouble of having plans drawn showing how danger there could be averted. Horses were inclined to jump the path made by the people, who tramped from the outside enclosure to the centre of the course.

It was stated that plans were already in existence providing for an alteration to the course, but no provision had been made for a subway to take the people from the outer enclosure to the centre of the track and back again. There had been accidents at the recent Meeting, and it was considered that the hard track made by people crossing was known by the horses, who not forget the hard eoing. Mr J Robb said there had been some controversy over the danger of the place in question. He knew that, at the recent Meeting, drivers had been called before the committee of the club and he would like to know if there were anv drivers present who did not blame the state of the track. Drivers who had been questioned by the committee had practically stated that the state of the track was not in rnv way responsible for the accidents. This was a view not endorsed by members, all of whom stated that 'h* hard path made bv the people constituted a very real danger and was reallv responsible for accidents. It was deckled that the Association write to the New Zealand Metropolitnn Trotting Club »nd Canterbury Park Trotting Club, drawing attention to the "death trap'' at the corner going out of the straight, and offering a suggestion that a subway should be provided.