NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bt Glekcoe.]

There will bo racing at Ashburton today and to-morrow. Nominations for the Spring meeting of tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club closo to-morrow evening. Weights for tho Wanganui meeting aro duo to-morrow. Some time back favourable mention, was made in this column of the jumping ability of Toney. Yestorday at Dannevirko Mr. L. Campion's horso won the Hack Hurdles and paid a good price. Ho was ridden by C. Price. The win of Birkful in the Hack Race at Dannovirko was fully expected by his followers. Tho colt has improved wonderfully of late, and his three-year-old career should prove a remunerative one for his owner. Sir George Clifford's Madam Madcap, by Clanranald—Madowla, foaled a filly to Treadmill at' tho Stonyhurst stud last week. The Yaldhurst filly Somniform will take part in the Welter Handicap at Ashburton to-day. . Subsequently she may be sent north to take part in the Wanganui Guineas. This was the early spring programme last season of her full-brother, Bon Reve, who afterwards developed such good form. The Otaki handicaps aro due to-mor-row morning. Nominations for tho Stewards' Handicap at Riccarton do not close until Friday, October 3. It has booa decided that tho allow-

lion of place money in all C.J.C. races for tlio future bo in the proportion of 70 per cent, to tlio winner, 20 per cent, to the second, and 10 per cent, to tlio third horse. Mr. C. lliggins, of Christchurch, returned from a visit to Sydney yesterday. He states that K. J. Mason's horses havo attracted favourable attention, there, and that Itanihrick touts aro much taken with Emperador and Hanksia, T. Johnston, of Oamaru, who took Land Hose to Melbourne some tiino ago, returned to New Zealand by the AVillochra yesterday. Land Rose struck herself badly a few weeks since, and is at present being spelled. Mr. A.'W. Cf)x, who was at Broken Hill many years ago, and bought one of the original shares in tlio mine of that name, started racing horses in England in 1887, and has won £152,983 in stakes. Mr. Cox, whose racing name is "Mr. Fairie," has had a number of good horses, including Speedwell, Calcottia, Eager, Bayardo, and Lemberg, through his hands, and the two last-named will probably earn him many thousands in stud fees.

The New Zealand Cup winner, Midnight Sun, is evidently to fulfil his Metropolitan Handicap engagement at Randwick, for, prior' to leaving Melbourne, he was galloped over 12 furlongs with The Parisian.

The Spring meeting of the Ashburton Club, which opens to-day, will serve to introduce several new horses. In tlio Hurdles. Coronetted is top weight with list. 910. In such poor company the chestnut cannot bo regarded as other than well treated, but, unless ho is at his best, Umeraboy, who scored decisively at Amberley, may account for him.

Several promising maiden performers will be seen under silk in the Trial Plate. Amongst them are the Yaldhurst candidate Sauci, Formal, a full-sister to Spccialform, and Jeannot, a full-brother to Jan.

Somniform, the three-year-old fullbrother to Bon Reve, will have tho services of Dceley in the Welter Handicap. If Glenowl (9st. 61b.) is back to his Oamaru form he may be found running on at the finish.

On the Timaru form of Tlirnx, the others will have improved very much to bring about his downfall in the big handicap at Ashburton. The Cornet (Bst. 91b.) is fancied by his party, and one report states that they fully expected him to give Thrax weight..

Several times, when racing as a two-year-old, Whiz showed a lot of pace, and Dceley may have a good ride at Ashburton to-day, but tho top-weight, Golden Morn, is well fancied, and has done a lot of work. :

Oxcnhopo (9st. 21b.); and Gnome (7st. 71b.) should bo tho favourite selections in the Spring Handicap, which-is the concluding event at Ashburton.

Officials for the Manawatu Racing Club have been appointed as follows Clerk of-scales, Mr. W. Randall; timekeeper, Mr. R. Stevens; surgeons, Drs. Martin and Putnam; veterinary surgeons, Messrs. C. J. Reakes, D. R. Rait, alid Primmer; judge, Mr. W. H. Hart-gill; starter, Mr. 11. W. Skipwith; clork of course, Mr. R. C. Tilley.

Mr. J. F. Hartland, secretary of tho Auckland Racing Club, has forwarded the club's book programme for tho current season. Tlie publication contains lists of nominations for classic _ events and winners of principal races .in past years. French Ksse, n runner in the Trial Plate at Dannevirke yesterday, was heavily supported away from the course. Lubriline, runner-up in the Trial Plate at Dnmievirko, carrics the colours of Mr. Martin Boyle, owner of The Rover. This horse was placed third in tho Hack Welter event at Marton, but was disqualified for weigh-ing-in 341b. overweight,

DIVERSION OF FUNDS.

INJURED TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS. "An unsportsmanlike thing" was ttio description, given to a matter brought under tho notice of the Government in tlio Houso of Representatives by Mr. J. S. Dickson, member for Parnell. • He asked the following question of tho Government:—"Whether tliey will tako steps to prevent tho funds which were subscribed by trainers, jockeys, and owners for tho assistance of licensed trainers and jockeys who meet with accidents being used by t'ho Racing Conference for tho payment of stipendiary ■ stewards?"

Tho Hon. W. F. Massey replied: "Tho Government is not aware that t'ho funds reforred to aro used, or proposed to bo used, for tho payment of stipendiary stewards. Tho Governtnent will endeavour to ascertain tho facts, and if it is proposed to divert the funds subscribed for a specific purposo for the object mentioned, they will endeavour to prevent such, misapplication." Tlio following was tho resolution carried by tho Conference in July: "Whenever the only audited accounts of tho general trust funds, as submitted to tho conference, shall show a credit. balanco of more than £10,000. then, and in sucli caso, tho General Trustees may apply such surplus over and above tho sum of £10,000, or any portion of silch surplus, in payment of tho expenses incurred by the Racing Conference'in connection with tho services of stipendiary stewards." Mr. Campbell said that no more unsportsmanlike thing had ever been proposed than tho diversion of these funds. Dr. Newman: It has not been done.

Mr. Campbell: It has been proposed by the conference and carried, according 'to their report.

Mr. J. S. Dickson said it was the intention of thci conference to use for tho payment of stipendiary stewards this fund, subsidised by the jockeys. Mr. Herries: IKo, not by tho jockeys. He added' that the fund was nothing to do with trainers or jockeys. Mr. Dickson uirged again that the fund for tho relief of accident should not bo applied to any 'othc-r purpose, Mr. G. Hunter s:tid that in his opinion the people who were interested in having racing conducted on clean and honourable lilies should have to bear part of the cost of stipendiary stewards, whose business it wtUild bo to safeguard them against accidetilts, which wero commonly the result of' malpractice. Tlio fund had now reached considerable dimensions. Contributions wero made to it by owners, jockeys,i and trainers, but under 110 statute, and ho thought it would bo unwiso for the Government to interfere. Tho administration of the fund had been satisfactory up till tho present, and it could liafely bo left for the futuro to tho good sense of the Racing Conference.. The Hon. W. 11. Herries said tho matter was one which hal'dly affected the Government. It wais rather a private matter affecting tile Racing Conference and the racing public. The Government had no jurisdiction. In any case, he thought tlio idcia of spending the money on stipendiary stewards was a very good one. Meantime nil injured jockeys and trainers wero paid fully as much as they would foe entitled to under the Workers' Compensation Act, and he believed they were well satisfied.