THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1157, 19 June 1911, Page 7

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS. [By Gleucoe.] The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's meeting takes place on 'Wednesday and Thursday next. Owners and trainers are given a final reminder that nominations tor all events at the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting: close at 9 o'clock to-night with tho club's secretary, Mr. A. E. Whyte. It is said lhat the New Zealand jumping rider J. N. M'Gregor, now in Australia, has had 108 falls in races. A report from Hastings states that Post Haste has broken down, and will.not race again for some time. Mr. G. D. Beatson will ride Golden Water in tho Ladies' Bracelet at Hastings. Tho Grand Prix.do Paris is to be decided on' Sunday next. Weights for the first day's events at the Napier Park Racing Club's meeting will be declared on Friday next.

As was predicted in this column, when the weights appeared, the field for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase has thinned out considerably. There are only ten acceptors, and two of these (Winiata and Lull) are also paid up for in tho Hack Steeples, so that the field mny be weaker still on Wednesday. Te Arai, 12st. 131b., is at the top of the list, and, as one pound less caused him. to finish down the traek at Wnnganui, it is not likely that, in the interim, ho has come on sufficiently to have a good ■ chance of success. On ■the contrary, reports of his track doings are somewhat discouraging. Lovell, list. Gib., is a great jumper, and the Hawke's Bay country is big, but how the halfbred gelding does tire after going two miles and a half. Still, his great jumping, and the absence of anything to trouble him in the early stages of the race, will be alj in his favour for Wednesday's race. Sir Lethe, lOst. 111b., has not been seen out this season, and, in consequence, may be someivhat backward. He, too, is another good jumper, but does not stay. He reads more like a winner on the second day, when the distance will be half a mile shorter, and he will be improved by his first day's race. Mt. Cook, lOst. 71b., made a good showing at Wanganui, where ho defeated I<ovell, and, on this form, his supporters hold that he will again beat the Porirua horse. Lull, lOst., is not too sound. Lingerer, 9st. 131b., does not inspire one with confidence over a three-mile journey. Winiata made an auspicious beginning at Ellerslie. where he was successful in the Hunt Club Cup, but the remainder—Starlight, Aorangi and Yasmar—have no form to recommend them. Bollin has been allowed to drop out of his first day's engigt-ment at Hastings, but Napper will represent tho Karamea stable in the Hack Hurdles. Bollin wa? schooled by C. Cress on the Hastings racecourse l«st week, but he did not, jump very well. Tho son of Birkenhead has only been jumped twice previously, and each time by himself, so that there- is plenty of time for him to improve. For some reason the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club always run the big hurdle race on tho seconl day of the winter meeting, with the result that the similar event on the opening day falls flat. The suggested is that owners do not wish to risk a penalty for the more richly endowed event or. the second day, and as a consequence, year in and year out, the Turamoe Hurdles is contested by a weak field. Tin question is worthy of a little attention. • That Stirling bit of htrseflesh, Eleotrakoff, is now trained by A. Rhodes at New Plymouth. Rhodes is recognised as a capable trainer, and in his hands the little bay horse may be expected' to run many races this winter. Rawinia (Cuirassier—St. Aih) is now being hunted in the Taranaki district by her owner, Mr. E. George. The brown mare is big enough to make'a "Upper," and .if she takes kinJly toithe business sho'has paeo enough on the flat to "win plenty .of steeplechases. . ... . Writing from Tsla Bank to the "Southland Times," a gentleman furnishes some interesting particulars regarding the. early cafier of the Otag) Steeplechase winner, Tr"uo:Blue":—"This, lrorso was bred by Mr. M'Kinuon, schoolmaster at lsla Bank.' You already know' his breeding, but you may not be aware that his dam was an all-grey, and a very good sort. When True Blue was three weeks old his dam and himself were.sent to my placo to graze. They were both very low in osndition, and, there being a flush of grass, it seemed to be too much for the mare, who died two days afterwards.'The foal was left to find for himself, aiid had to go without milk of any sort from that day to this. I think it wonderful that ho has turned out as he has. I had him two years here, and it was twelve months before he "showed any growth whatever. He was the laughing-stock of this part for months, and was not expected to seo it through. From his first day ho had always plenty of spirit. I am proud to see" him turn out so well, knowing what he came through. He faced tho worst conditions I. ever knew a foal to pnll through under."

Whenever a jockey in New Zealand has been disqualified for what is known as "a cross," or what is alleged to have been an "obvious pull." if an appeal were talked of, curtain wiseacres would always refer to the Rules of Kacing, and tell one that there could be no appeal as the offence is a questbn of fact. etc. The Tannaki .Tockey Club has exploded this theory by the common-seme remarks embodied in the decision on the Barlow appeal case. The remarks ran:—Rule 7 presents great difficulty. It d )es not state that tho decision of the stewards "as to any question of fact" shall bo conclusive, but merely that tho "finding" shall be conclusive. The meaning of the two words "decision" and "finding" are not by rny means the same. "Finding" applies to' r.omc particula- fact ascertained in order to enable a "decision" to be arrived at, and not the decision itself. The rule proceeds to indicate what is a "question of fact," but does not do this with sufficient certainty. It states that these words "shall be construed literally, e.g.. short weight, a cross or an obv'oiis pull, would be questions of fact, whilst, on the other hand, intentionally inconsistent running, not marked by obvious pulling, would be a matter of opinion, and any objection or charge on such a grcund would require confirmation and corroboration." It would appear as if it were intended that only that which is obvious to the eve should be left to the uncontrolled decision of the stewards present who saw the particular incident, and that whatever could not lie determined wHh certainty by eyesight alone should be decided upon evidence in tho usual manner.

FIXTURES. .Tune 21 and 22—Hawke's Bav .T.O. Winter .Tune 23 and 29—Napier Park B.C. Winter .Tnly G and 7—Gisborne It.C. Winter July 15, 19, and 22-Wellington R.C. Winter. . August 8, 10, and 12-Cantcrbury J.C.'s Grand National.