THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1243, 27 September 1911, Page 7

THE TURF.

WELLINGTON. RACING CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. STIPENDIARY STEWARDS, ' The annual general meeting of members of tho Wellington Racing Club was held at the Chamber of Commerce last ovening, II r. J. B. Jlarcourt presiding. There were about 3(1 members present. Tho annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of stewards, td fill the vacanc.ifs caused by tho' retirements provided for in the rules, resulted in the return of Messrs. J. G. Duncan,' R. T. Tiirnbull, W. G. Johnston, and iTcscph Joseph. Mr. E. W.- P. Bucholz and Messrs. Higginson and M'Shane were elected auditors.

Mr.- W. H. Turiibull moved :-"Thil tho incoming stewards be recommended to support, the appointment of stipendiary stewards."

In speaking to this motion, Mr. Turnbull stated that ho-was in earnest about tho matter, and he considered thuf, by voting against the adoption of stipendiary stewards, when the 'question wus before, t.ho ..Racing Conference the club had done an injury to racing. Personally, he did not think that- there, was one person in the Dominion who was op-, posed to them. The real danger was that if the clubs did not appoint them the Government would, nnd then tho ■ clubs would bo in ■ tho unsatisfactory position of having to pay them, -whitehaving no control over them. Referring to the argument that the right men could not be obtained ;to fill tho positions, Mr. Turnbul! went on to say that eometlu'ng was wrong if they, could not get good men for -fiiiin a year—the salary that was suggested. He then read 'two letters from -prominent racing officials in New South Wales. Tlieso were to the effect that the stipendiary stewards had proved very satisfactory there, and that suitable men had been secured for the positions at £iliO a year. The contention that our landing owners would not race under the system of paid stewards' was, in the- opinion of Mr. Turnbull, answered by tho fact that our leading ■ owners went to Australia and raced under stipendiary stewards. As for the contention that the club had always voted against the proposal, tho speaker 'remarked that it was the Wellington Racing Club which had introduced it to the Racing Confe-renccj Last year, ho had withdrawn- his motion because he had been told that the • conference would.deal with-the question. When, however, it camo up at, tho conference it was the club's representatives who had practically prevented it from being carried. In conclusion, Mr. ■ Turnbull stated that ho had-JW doubt that a betting ring existed among jockeys, and one good - result that •would follow , tho appointment of stipendiary stewards would bo that they could discover the charactor ■ of • jockeys and the nature of their betting transactions. Mr. J. J. M'Grath seconded the motion.. He believed that it was in the best interests of racing. Ho referred to tho large sums on the balance-sheet received from gates, nominations, acceptances, nnd totalisator, and stated that the people, who provided. those funds, wanted something better than the condition of affairs which now existed. No one would snggest that there was anything wrong •jrith the stewards of the club, but they iiad not the experience that-was necessary. It would 1)0 easy enough, he declared, to find men in Sew Zealand.competent to fill tho positions just as the.re were competent judges, handicappors, and starters. ■'Stipendiary , stewards were needed to keep trainers nnd jockeys up to tho mark. The only, thing that deterred them from doing wrong was the fear of being found out. Ho knew a"number of, the public who were of opinion that'they did not get a fair run for their money. He, himself, was-an-owner-in a' small way/ and might bb-in a larger way if he thought that he could always get- a, fair, run for his moan?}-. M>:-A. L.- Wilson and Mr. Tnrrell also supported the motion. The-motion, on bein.j'gut ing, was carried" uiianimriilsljY ' ' .:, ..AUSTRALIAN. RAGING 1 ,.;.: . - ' ' By Telegraph—Press Aesbciation-Oopyright Melbourne, September 26. Gold Thread and Wimme-ra have been ■scratched for tho Toorak Handicap. (Rdc. September 26, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, September 26. Chaste bos been scratched for the Kenein«ton Handicap at tho A.J.C. meeting, find Malt Bin for the A.J.C. Derby and Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps. .WHAREKURA OFFERED FOE SALE. (R-ec. September 26, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, September 26. Tho Not Zealand-bred Wharckma (Eton—lrma) was offered for sale at auction to-day and passed in at 24 guineas.

WANGANUI TRAINING. (By TeleETO-ph.— Press Association.) Wanganui, September 26.-Th'e-re was a number of visiting , horses on tho track this morning, but the work done was unimportant. The weather was showery. ■, ■ • Hawick jumped the schooling hurdles fairly well. Praefectus and Aurake finished together at tho end of six furlongs, and. Brilliancy .proved too good-for St. Gate: over ■ four furlongs. Counterfeit, Countermine, Big Blast, Merry Frank, Espartcro, and a number of others did useful work; . •■•.'• HASTINGS TRACK WORK. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hastings, September 26, Tbe weather was tine and the tracks-in good order this morning for training operations for tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club mreting. ■ ' Interesting work was done before breakfast. Dazzling (light-weight up) covered six furlongs on the grass in lmin. 17soc, and San Pluie took lmin. 21sec. to run the same distance on the plough. •Bandalero and Ariom finished together over six, the. latter going very easy, in lmin. 22Jsec. Trieze and Blue Lake covered six furlongs on the plough in lmin. 20! sec, the latter going tho better. Goldfinder and Separator covered a mile on the grass in lmin. 'JBJsec. Tho former, with tho worst of the weights, finished three lengths to the good; Pipeclay, Te Puia, aiid Esmeh got over six furlongs on the plough in lmin. 22scc, Te Pnia going best. Bliss did the best gallop of tho morning, getting to the end of a mile in lmin. iisec, but was slightly lame when pulled up. , Elevator and the Mystification—Searchlight filly di<l thrco furlongs on the grass in 38>ee., tho kttor in front. Composed galloped six furlongs on tho grass in lmin. IDsec. Kemissness'and Vi finished together over four furlongs on the grass in SQsec Others doing useful work wore Parable, llonzel,' Cheddar, Manupai, Sea. Englo! Smooge, Stellaris, Merr'io Lad, and The Aut. TOTALISATOR INVESTMENTS. (By Tclcgranh.— Special CorresDondenU Auckland, Septcmbsr 26. At. tho recent Ayondale, meeting, which covered a day less than the correspond im; meeting of last j'Mr, the totalisator investments ran to the bi;; total nt .CIHIKi 10.-'-.. or £-Uis> 10s. in o.vcoss of the- lillO meeting. This has formed the -libjcct of comment. Even those in t'Mich with tire position express tlran-K-lv'.-s ;..s surprised at tho figure?. The i;!ori"- ? is !;ir,'!clv accounted far in Hi" fiic' *':~t the whole of the betting now, ft 1.. nigh the machine, whnrcas at this tiuio kft year bcrj|:mal;ers wero permitted to operate, ."ml th,- extent of I heir trans.'it'Moiv: was never disclosed. Tli? amount ii.vt-ii was invested on 10 races during two days this .war, as ngainst 2( events, (•.v tend in;,' over three days, in .September, 1510. . RACING CLUB'S GRIEVANCE. Hcprrtin , ; on t.he petition of W. H. ]I'i:-ki!,!; on.l :»' oiiifrs, of Bui!?, «-1, 0 avked Hwt tin Kamjilikei. Racing Club might have iU license granted as hereto-,

fore, the A to L Petitions Committee of the. Ilouse of Representatives recommended that the petition bo referred to (ho Government for favourable consideration, and that tha attention of the Minister for Internal Affairs be- specially directed to the great injustice which had in this instance been done to (ho I'angitikei Club.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. CBr Gr.ENcoE.] For the Wanganui meeting, which opens to-morrow, good acceptances have been received. Ef(iiitiis has br.en paid up for in both the U-'lying and Spring Handicaps, but she is not likely to race in both events. In some quarters it is thought that she will not race at all until the Stewards' Handicap at liiccarton comes up for decision, but this seems hardly probable. The stakes are the same in both events at Wanganui, and this is possibly the. reason why the mare has been paid up for in both races, tho owner leaving Iho fiun! decision until the last moment, when probably he will endeavour to .'■elect the weakest field. In tlio Flying Handicap the Advance maro will have u very hard row to ho?, if she is to dispose of Boanerges at a difference fit 131b. On the other huud, in tho in ho event, she would be meeting a number of horses which aro only half ready. ■In tho Hurdles, Reumae, lOst. Olb., will probably be W. Young's mount, and, on this account alone, he will bo assured ot heavy support. Attwood s horse has not had a race for somo considerable time, whereas Esparterb, Coinpas's, and IVinda"o each competed in two races at Riccarton. Gaelic, 931. Sib., finished » strongly at Otaki at the end ot a nillo and a half as to suggest that, with two stone less on his back, he would run a particularly good race over a quarter ot a mile further. In the Hack Hurdles, Hawick, list, lib., and Captain Bell, lOst. 101b., will bo opposed by five moderates in .Merry Lawn, Tina Toa, Highden, Mitehau, anil Prince Has;an..

Six three-year-olds have been paid up for in tho Guineas. The circular course may not suit a long-striding horse, such as Koyal Scotch, and ho may encounter strong opposition from thelvaramea colt Miscount. Rangiatua is able to muster up a great dash of pace over a short distance, but whether ho can stay is another matter. The tillies Bronze, Labour Day, and Counterfeit make up the field. The two first-named may hardly be ready to run out, a severe mile, but Counterfeit is very forward, and may bring about the downfall of tho colts. Two useful three-year-olds, Ireland and Biakeney, should carry tho bulk of tho public investments in the Maiden race, but backers will have their ability well tested in the Hack Handicap, in which a very useful field is engaged. A horso which should shape Well in this event is Big Blast, 7st. 9ib., who is to bo ridden by C. Emerson, in place of the unknown rider who steered her nt Otaki. In the concluding 'event at the last Trentham meeting the Chokebore cast-off ran Sandy Paul to a head at a difference of 131b. Sho is now receiving two stone from him. Local trainers have nominated freely at Blenheim, and severaJ of the races there should fall to them. W. Davics has Abercced, First Battery, and Royal Marine engaged. C. Pritchard has Terawhiti and Rongamau, A. Goodman Ivirini, J. Ayres Bracken, V. Cotton Ceylon and Ahuap-ai, and F. Higgott Emma and Indra. .

Kingi Hod, a three-year-old gelding by Conqueror—Culverfn, is the latest addition to Iv. Williams's team at Clareville.

Dan Lenu, who when tried on the flat was a conspicuous failure, is to-be given a chance to pay his way as a hurdle performer. The chestnut gelding jump 3 well, a-nd should win plenty of hack hurdle races.

The Sou'-wester gelding Moose, who gave promise of turning out a really first-class, hurdle horse, but who subsequently went wrong in the wind, has been operated on recently, and is to recommence training very soon. Amongst Moose's best performances was his treblo win at tho Awapuni meeting eighteen months ago.v

In moving the adoption of tho annual report at the annual general meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, last night, the president remarked that tho course at Trentham has been thoroughly maintained during tho past year, and has in addition been materially .improved, ilyv the; creation of a rand track over a mile- in length and 20ft. broad. "This track," continued the president,' "has been proved to bo an excellent one. In fact, it is one of the finest in the Dominion for wet weather work, and tho club is indebted to the care and ability of Mr. M'Glashan, our caretaker, who was responsible for it. The buildings are all in first-class repair, and tho plant of tho club has been thoroughly well kept up, and renewals installed where necessary."

Tho handsome silver cup, which is to be attached to the Champion Plato at the Spring meeting at Trentham, was on view at tho annual meeting of the AVellington Racing Club last night. It 7s a replica of the marble vase at Warwick Castle, brought from Greece early in the last century. On the motion ot Mr. J. W. Abbott, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr. G.' D. Greenwood, the donor of the cup.

It is stated that all available local money has been secured about the double Merry 'Frank and Deploy for the principal handicaps at Wangamii on Thursday. The combinations next in demand are Faunus and Smilax and Boanerges and Smilax.

At the meeting of members of the Wellington Racing Club last night, Mr. James Ames expressed the hope that the stewards .would, in future, deal more firmly with 'trouble at the post. He went on to state that heavier lines should, if necessary, bo imposed on the jockeys who did not proporly control their mounts at the start. Why could not the club adopt the rules which obtained in Sydney and Melbourne, where tho horses did no preliminary, but galloped straight to the post and "went off to the tick." As many as twenty -five or thirty horses frequently started in a race there, and rarely was one seen to turn round at the post. Surely, then, five or six horses could bo started hero without delay.

At a hunt club meeting at Moonee Valley (Vic.) on September la, tho Yeringberg Handicap, run over fivo furlongs and a quarter, brought out u few smart sprinters, including tho New Zealander Obsono, who, at list. 131b., was giving the Malster gelding Rheims 2st. The pair went out eqnai favourites, and had the finish to themselves, liheims, who is owned by Mr. S. Miller, winning rather comfortably. Rheims was taken ill after winning, and died two dnys after. :Mr. S. 0. Wood, who made a post-mortem examination, found that the causo of death was a rupture of au internal organ, such as brought about the death of Lord Cardigan. Rheims, who was a brother to Boniface (by Malster from Joan d'Aro, by Lochiel), cost Mr. S. Miller 190 guineas as a yearling, and wns just striking form.

In discussing the racing at Rosehill on September 16, an Australian writer states that Lady Medallist won the- Rydalmore Mile in tho easiest possible 'fashion. She disposed of Thoas and Bandon Lnd turning for home, and Wood was pulling her up all the way over the last furl&ng. Grist was second, and Red Knight third, but Lady Medallist won too easily for a/jy importance to attach to tho pkiciugs. This was Lady Medallist's first run in the colours of the Queensland sportsman who gave 1000 guineas for her last April, and it now seems as if he has made a profitable, purchase.

An advertisement in this issue notifies that nominations for several events at tho Auckland Racing Club's spring and summer meetings close nt 9 p.m. on Friday next, with the club's secretary, Mr. J. l\ Hartland. FIXTURES. September 28 and 29.—Wauganui J.C. Spring. September 28 and 29.—Geraldine R.C. Spring. October i— Hawke s Bay J.C. Spring. October 11 and 12.—Marlborough R.C. Spring. October 11 and It.—Dunedin J.C. Spring. October 11.—Napier Park R.C. Spring. October 21 and 23.—Wellington R.O. Spring. October 23.— Waverloy-AVaitotara R.C. Annual. October 21 nnd 20.—Ciro.ymouth J.C. Spring. October 2G and 27.—Poverty Bay T.C. Novembei D 1 nnd I.—Auckland R.C. November i, 0, 8, and ll.—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. December 2(> and 20. and January 1 and 2. -Auckland T!.C. Summer.