LATEST FROM RICCARTON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 8

LATEST FROM RICCARTON.

(By our Special Correspondent.) Our special correspondent at Riccarton, forwarding notes on track form under date August 7, says:— The tracks are in a very bad state, and as much work is done after dinner as before. The plough is very heavy, and quite unfit for use, and a similar state of affairs exists in regard to all the other tracks except the course proper, the outside of which has been available during tho last few days. The Gisborno pair, Continuance and Paisano are schooling and galloping well. The latter has again como into the market by reason of his excellent displays sinco arriving here. Armagh and Hautero are another pair that are doing well. The latter will strip a much improved horse as compared with what he was at Trentham. Antarctic is not so sore as he was at Trentham, and is doing a lot of exercise on the roads, despite his fall. John is still in favour, and good judges hero aro of opinion that he never looked- or went better than ho does now. Zante has lightened up a lot sinco racing at Trentham and can. have no chanco of success in any race here. Sandy Paul always works with Darby Paul and always finishes well in front of him. Silver Cluse is very sore and so is To Roti. The Auckland horse, Master Theory, can hardly walk, and may not bo paid up for. Sinco the Trentham meeting Elfish hns been at New Brighton to get the benefit of tho sandy beach, but ho is now at Riccarton. Paritutu is still next 'in demand to Continuance in tho Steeplechase market. Ho has been going well in his work. Julian has been riding him, and also Royal Arms and Crown Fcarl. Presumably he will have tho mount in their races, unless Oliver is available for tho last-named, vho will race in tho sprint events. , Mngdala, the Southland Winter Cup candidate, has been galloping exceptionally well, and is a great tip hero for that race. Salute is also going well, but is not so much in favour as she was earlier on account of the heavy state of tfie tracks. Thero has been a run on Black Northern, who, it is now said, will start in tho Hurdles and not tho Steeplechase. Mangaroa looks very much above herself, but she went well over five furlongs early in the week. However, she had a good swing on. when at the starting post, and it will bo different from a standing start. Prosper has improved immensely since coming here, and is likely to come back into favour. Mira, Con the Shaughraun, Sea Queen, and La Reina are all doing well. The last-named will bo ridden by R. Percival. Mount Victoria lias lightened ui> a good deal since arriving here, but ho is galloping well .for all that. Ono of the most improved horses working hero is Leapuki, who works well, and seems to go better each morning. He is to be ridden by C. Price, and it is said that he is ono of the most heavily backed horses in tho race.

NEW TOTALISATOK HOUSE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, August 8. Since tho conclusion of the autumn meeting at Riccarton the Canterbury Jockey Club's committee has had in progress some important alterations and improvements for the accommodation of the large crowds that are attracted, particularly by the Grand National ana A'ew Zealand Cup fixtures. Tito drive alongside the railway hue, which is used by the great majority of the people who visit l'decarton, whether by tram, train, motor, or horse' vehicle, lias been considerably altered nnd improved, and in its present form should reduce to a minimum the risk of accident to pedestrians. At tho entrance to both the outside and inside enclosures there has been placed an "island," which will ensure that tho wheeled traffic, whether going or coming, keeps to its proper side, and the arrangements which are proposed for the control of the traffic leaving the course should prevent any confusion and disorder. The principal feature of the improvements which have been undertaken is tlfo new total-i.-ator fiouse, which is quite the largest building of the kind in the Dominion. Its dimensions' are practically 200 ft. in length by 86ft. in width, the ends being semi-circular. Some idea of its sizo may be gathered from the fact that its floor space is nearly three-eighths of an acre, .and that provision is made for 63 sellingwindows and 25 paying-out windows, 15 of the latter being inside and 10 outside. In the centre of the building is a large brick strong-room, which is used for the storage of tickets, and the fittings which have been provided should all make for accuracy and dispatch in the performance of the work, while electric light, nnd teleplioncs have l>een. installed throughout. Tho totalizators themselves which aro now designed for the investments on n field of 32 horses, aro so placed that they aro out of sight of the majority of tho selling-windows, and this will prevent (he blocking of the approaches to the windows by the merely curious crowd who are watching tho investments being rung on. The windows are of extra width, so as to enable the sole of tickets f«> be carried out more expeditiously, and generally the previsions wliirli have been made for handling Hie work are so ample thai, in future any would-be investors who complain at bung shut out wTII have onlv thonifplvcs to fiTame. An alteration lias also been made in regard to the entrance for the competing horses, who will jft future be brought to Jiheir bozej .

by an entrance near the ambulance room, thus avoiding any crowding about tho boxes, noarest tho main gates. DUNEOIN JOCKEY CLUB. STAKES TO BE INCREASED. IDy Teleeraph.—Pi«s Association.) Duncdin, August 8. At a meeting of the Duncdin Jockey Club's committee to-day it was decided to increase the stakes for the ensuing year by .£7OO. The Duncdin Cup is increased by .£l5O. AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB. TEAK'S FIGURES. By Telegraph—Pices Absociation-CopTrieht (Kcc. August 8, 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, August 8. The annual report of tho Australian Jockey Club shows that the receipts from nil sources were considerably in excess of those for the previous your. The sum of •£71.575 was distributed in .stakes.. For the current season the added money shows nu increase of .£6350. The n*w leger stand, just completed, cost ,£31,600. Further extensive additions a.ml improvements to the club's property aro foreshadowed. SCRATCHINGS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, August 8. Crosbie has been scratched for the Winter Cup. TROTTING EVENTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Gisborne, August 8. A good deal of disappointment was occasioned last year when trotting events were eliminated from the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association's programme in consequence of tho provisions of tile new Gaming Act. The committee are again making representations to tho Minister for Internal Affairs on the matter, with a view to having the trots reinstated on tlio programme. NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bt Glexcoe.] W. Young left for tho south last night to fulfil riding engagements at Eiecarton. A. Oliver leaves by to-night's southern steamer. As jumpers go, old Bribery must be considered ' a very safe conveyance (says' u Melbourne exchange). He has made only' three mistakes since: ho came over from Tasmania for his first Grand National. Bribery came down in that sensational Australian Hurdle, in which his stablemate, Ataahua, took a prominent part until he also fell. Eater Bribery, ridden by H. A. Deeble, had another fall in u steeplechase at Flemingtou, when carrying the crushing weight of I3st. lllb.; and last year he -foiled to get the course in the Australian Steeple.

The well-known trainer Stuart Waddeli is at present in Dunedin on a brief holiday (says the "Otago Witness"). He has been up-country visiting his relations, find his many old friends aro pleased ti see the veteran looking in the test o. health. One of his first visits in Dunedin was paid to Mr. James Ilazlett, for whom he rode and trained in bygone years. li> tho tinio of the racing* partnership of Messrs. Stephenson and Ilazlett manygoou winners were turned out by Waddeli in the colours. Hawick, who is the sole representative of the Porirua stable at the Grand National meeting, was sent south on Wednesday night. On tho same boat was The Rover, a fancied National Hurdles' candidate, and J. Hathawny's poir, Leolautoi and Hafcari, who is engaged in. the Hunters' events. Tho Victorian Amateur Turf Club's meeting will be concluded at Caulfield tomorrow, when the Australian Steeplechase is the principal event to bo decided. Malster is'easily first on the winning sires' list, for tho whole of Australasia for tho eeason just closed.. During tho period mentioned his stock' won over ,£32,009 in stakes. Wallace is second on the li«l with ,£20,000. During the past season tho Australian Jockey Club, with 11 days' racing, distributed more prize-money than tho Victoria Hating Club did in IG, the respective totals being ,£71,575 and J>G3,43G. Of the A.J.C. total £56, m was added money. Altogether, however, more prize-monoy was given at "horse" meetings in the -Melbourne metropolitan area than that of Sydney, the total for the southern capital being about ,£135,000, as against about .£IOB,OOO in Sydney. In Melbourne tho V.R.C. is well backed up by the V.A.T.C, whose contribution was ,£35,225, while Mooneo Valley gave .£10,055. RACING PERMITS. The Minister for Internal Affairs has replied to the letter of tho Canterbury Jockey Club regarding the recent'decision regarding permits that ho is unable to agree with their reasoning or their conclusions, and as the matter had been already decided, he hopes they will excuse him from discussing it further. FIXTURES August 13, 15, and 17—C.J.C. Grand National meeting. August 29—Amberloy Steeplechase Club Annual. September i— Marton J.C. Spring. September 12 and 13—Ashbnrton Countv B.C. September 26 and 27— Cieraldinc li.C. Spring.