RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21747, 15 June 1934, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RACING. June 16.—Hawke's Bay J.C. Jims 16.—South Canterbury J.C. Jub* 21. 23.—Napier Park R.C. Jume 23.—Ashburton C.R.C. June 30.—Oamaru J.C. July 6.—Dannerirkc Hunt Club. July 10, 12, It.—Wellineton R.C. July 21.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt CUV July 26.—Waimate Hunt Club. July 28.—South Canterbury J.C. July 28.—Manawatu R.C.

VISITORS FAVOURABLY IMPRESSED. Messrs t. S. Martin and W. M‘Kay, on their arrival in Sydney alter their trip to New Zealand with Walla Walla and Auburn Lad, were loud in their praises of the treatment they had received m New Zealand. Without attempting to mu he any excuses, Martin said the New Zealand public did not see the best of Walla Walla. Travel 'changes and climate appeared to undermine his stamina and, coming at the back-end of a heavy season, the horse did not appear capable or producing his best form. A glowing tribute to the ability of Harold Logan was paid. Mr Martin stated that this horse was all Now Zealanders claimed for him, and no horse racing could afford to give him a start or any other concessions. Martin and M‘Kay spoke well of the totalisator. “ We have seen what the totalisator has done for the sport in New Zealand, and we wish we could get it firmly established in Australia,” they stated. “ New Zealander’s were wise in keeping the bookmaker out of horse racing. He could not do for the sport what the totalisator has done,” they added. They were also impressed by the manner in which trotting was conducted in New Zealand. “Even in the country districts the racing is first-class, the tracks are excellent, and it is scrupulously fair. We have never seen cleaner driving than in New Zealand, and we could hot imagine anything better in the way of trotting than that last seen at an Addington meeting.” As soon as he could breed or acquire another' good one,” Martin concluded, he would return to New Zealand. It was useless going to New Zealand without a topnotcher. The standard of performances in New Zealand was much higher than, in Australia, and better horses were required to win the best class races. JOTTINGS. Membo, who is suffering from a deep cut in one of his legs, has rejoined E. Trilford’s stable at Washdyke. D. O’Connor has been engaged to ride Thurina in his steeplechase engagements this winter. As Gustavo has been accepted for the two principal flat events at Washdyke on Saturday, speculators are wondering how he and Waterpower, who is also in both races, will divide theii tasks. Now that Rebel Chief has been returned to sprint racing, his presence on the minimum of, the Southburn Handicap will be a source of bother to the other runners. He has had suffi cient experience, and a win for oim on Saturday would be well received. The New Zealand Trotting Association has decided that owners of maiden horses starting for the first time in a race must be in the birdcage and ready for inspection at least one hour before the starting time of tie, first race of the day. It is reported that an offer of £BOO was made for Teviot Downs after he had won at Ashburton last Saturday. No business can have resulted, as Teviot Downs returned to, Riversdale last Monday. A. E. Ellis is likely to make another trip to Australia in the spring. Roy Reed, who leaves for Sydney this week, is reported to have accepted an engagement to ride Silver Ring there. Galloper Light, the stallion who was on Friday last successfully represented in the Oaks at Epsom for the second time, is by Sunstar from Santa Fina, by St. Frusquin. He was a good performer on the racecourse himself, as, in addition to successes in England, he won the Grand Prix de Paris of 1919.

The Wellington Racing Club is asking the New Zealand Racing Conference for an amendment to the rules to allow the draw for a race to take place at any time after the acceptances close, and before the horses are weighed out. in giving such authority the president may require’ the draw to be made in the presence of such persons as he approves. Giggleswick’s recent deeds have improved a good record. He has been placed thirty-five times in fifty-eight starts. Nineteen wins, eleven seconds, and five thirds have earned him £1,689. Giggleswick is a half-brother to that good mare Polydora. An interesting feature of the Great Northern Steeplechase was that the first and second horses, Valpeen and Hauwai, were two of the youngest in the field. Valpeen, a six-year-old, shared with Speakeasy and Emancipation the distinction of being the most youthful of the starters, and Hauwai is only one year older. The twenty leading riders this season to date are as follows:—L. J. Ellis 79, K. Yoitre 73, W. J. Broughton 55, A. H. Eastwood 47, H. N. Wiggins 45, R. Reed 45, B. H. Morris 42, A, E. Ellis 38, P. Adkins 38, R. M‘Tavish 34, J. Dooley 30, S. Tremain 28, A. Russell 27, H. Goldfinch 27, S. Wilson 26, C. Thomson 25, S. Anderson 25, R. Marsh 25, ,G. H. Humphries 24, N. M'Kenzie 23.

After being under observation for several days, W. J. Tomkinson was operated, on at St. George’s Hospital on Sunday. A report received on Wednesday morning stated that he was making satisfactory progress. It will be remembered that Tomkinson met with an accident while loading sulkies on a horse float, and received injuries to his stomach. When Wee Pat won the Great Northern Hurdle it was only the second time in the history of the race that a mare had been successful, and it is necessary to go back forty years to find the first winning mare. In 1894 Melinite, a five-year-old daughter of Nordenfeldt, who carried 10.6 and was a warm favourite, beat a field of eight in good style. Wee Pat, who also ranks as a five-year-old, carried 10.1. The distance in Melinite’s year was two miles, whereas it is now two miles and a-half.

Royal Visitor, the New Zealand jumper, has been transferred to Mentone, and is now located at J, Acola’s stable in charge of his trainer, P. H. Brady. With Redditch, Precocious, and Royal Visitor, Mentone holds a very strong hand in the Grand National Steeplechase. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the last three winners of that event were trained at Mentone. They were Rakwool, Precocious, and Redditch.

Mr J. S. Witney, the American racehorse owner whose Thomond 11. finished third to Golden Miller and Delancige in this year’s Grand National, said on his return to New York from England that he would make another attempt to win the Grand National next year< Mr

[By St. Ccair.]

August 4.—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 4.—Christchurch Hunt Club. August 14. 16, 18.—C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. August 18.—Pakuranga Hun| Club. August 18.—Egraont-Wanganui Hunt Club. September I.—Otago Hunt Club. TROTTING. .Tun* 20, 23.—Auckland T.C. June 24.—Hawke’* Bay T.C.

Whitney stated that his two Grand National runners —Thomoml 11. and Lone Eagle—were to remain in England, where they will be trained lor the big race at Aintree next year. The winter meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club will be held tomorrow. and the following horses should run well in their respective engagements :—Pukaki Hurdles - Fleeting Glance, Adult, and Rasouli; Southburn Hack Handicap—Colossian, Brown Pearl, and Imperial Spear; Wai-iti Harness Trot— Insolvent, Wild Dreams, and Adsum; Prince Edward Handicap—Davolo, W*ater Power, Silver Sight; Pareora Steeplechase—Speakeasy, Punchestown, and Valves; Temuka Hack Handicap— Sibella, Osculate, and Nightform; Winchester Harness Trot—Llewellyn’s Pet, Subsidy, and Cracksman; Seadown Handicap—Mobile, Martian Chief, Gustavo.

Lord Ranald has been worked on his owner’s place at Westerfield, and he will not take much strong work to bring him to racing form. Two Nationals ago he was favourite for the steeplechase, finishing ■ fourth, and pulled up lame. Since then he has been in steady exercise, and it will not be surprising to find him again taking his place in the National field. Any early form shown by this brilliant jumper will bring him into favour. He will race at Washdyke to-morrow, and on the following week-end at Ashburton. Here are a few facts gleaned from an American paper about the way that they race in Buenos Aires:—“ The racing headquarters at Buenos Aires has three courses, seven polo fields, and a swimming pool nine hundred feet by three hundred feet, in which to swim horses with bad legs. The wine cellar of the Jockey Club is stocked with four hundred thousand bottles, and there is on the premises a barber’s shop, where hair is not only cut, but is perfumed and polished.”

G. Richards had ridden fifty winners this season up to May 30. He took a fortnight longer to reach that score last year, and, if he continues as at present, he will finish well ahead of his 259 wins last year. Richards rides many seeming. “ certainties,” and that, of course, does not make him one for punters to follow. However, his ability to keep on “ getting there ” makes him a good proposition for those of his patrons who are satisfied to win races without taking big sums out of the ring. Richards has five different retainers this season.

A. report has been published in Australia, emanating from a New Zealand source (says the ‘ Dominion), that R. Reed, who is leaving for Sydney by the Monowai on Friday, will not return to New Zealand, the reason given being the recent Hawera incident, involving the handling of Orapai. _ There is a definite feeling in racing circles that Reed was’ in no way to blame, and he is sportsman enough to treat the Hawera decision philosophically. If it be that we are to see the last of this first-cli> horseman, it will be because of plans previously laid coming to a head, rather than bitterness over the recent episode.

The taste of horses in the matter of drink apparently differs as much as among human beings (states the ‘ New Zealand Herald’). Copey, winner of the Great - Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie in 1932, had to be fed on stout. He is known as “a delicate feeder,” and the stout was given him to build up his constitution. But Yalpeen, winner of this year’s Great Northern Steeplechase—in which race Copey ran Third —will drink . nothing but milk. Half a gallon of milk is given to him in his mash every night. Writing on May 8, the London correspondent of the ‘ Press ’ states that Captain D. Petrie Simson has had ah early first win on the flat this season. He has horses trained by Captain A. B. Holland at West Horsley. These he has given names of patriotic or military suggestion. One is Empire Unity, another is Empire Loyalty. A third Soldier Man (Soldemis—-Sable Lady, by Marten), won the Quarndon Handicap Plate, one mile, at Derby, a few days ago. He gained a decisive victory from better-fancied horses in a field of ten runners. In everyday life one speaks of Captain Donald Simson, but in turf circles he is always addressed as Captain Petrie Simson.

Described by Bruce Lowe as second only to Carbine among Australasian racehorses up to his time. The Barb led from end to end in the Australian Derby, a sweepstakes of thirty sovereigns each, with apparently no added money.. How would they like that in these days ? There were originally thirty-five subscribers, and it cost nothing to get in—but it cost fifteen pounds to get out. Tell it not in Gath, whisper it not in the streets of Ascalou (writes •‘‘Banjo” Paterson, in the Sydney Mail ’), but The Barb took two minutes forty-eight and a-half seconds to run the mile and a-half; and Mr De Mestre’s Rapidan, winner of the Epsom. took Imiu 53sec when be deadheated with Bracelet for the Epsom. They ran it off. when Bracelet started at 6 to 4: on. but was beaten by Rapidan, and the time for the mile was reduced to Irain Slsec. These times may seem fantastically slow to us, but they never hustled their horses in the early part of a race in those days. This, by the way, may also account for the fact that they were able to run their horses twice (and sometimes thrice) in a day. A correspondent, writing to the Auckland ‘Star,’ says:—My experience at race meetings over the holiday weekend convinces me that win and place betting is the only logical system. Judging from remarks made all round me at Ellerslie iu regard to the smallness of dividends, and no third dividends, in spite of a great increase in attndance, 3 gather that the public are beginning to realise what they have missed in reverting to the old style, and also have discovered that their chances of success are undoubtedly lessened by the single pool, with only two dividends instead of four, under the win and place pool. It has been argued that one has to lay out more money under the win and place system, which, to my mind, is absurd; for, as a fact, I find that I have to lay out more money on the single pool to get the same results as the win and place pool. As an example, ] will take two identical races and conditions under the two systems—viz.: In Auckland Stanchion was fifth favourite on the machine, and in Dunedin Royal Limond was fourth favourite, and yet £1 invested on Stanchion produced less than 10s each way on Royal Limond,

and had both horses run third Stanchion would not have paid anything, but Royal Limond would have shown a profit, and there are hosts of similar cases. Ellerslie was exceedingly lucky with a great increase of attendance, but to come out with an increase of only £5,500 shows that sufficient money was not circulated to get baok on the machine, and I venture to say that under the win and place pool an increase of £25,000 would have been shown, not that more new money would he required, but with the four dividends there would have been a larger distribution of money which would have gone back to the totalisator to swell the turnover. I may be wrong, but as far as the four main centres are concerned I feel convinced that win and place betting has come to stay, and as soon as the public can realise its value they will have no other system.

“ Mother, teacher whipped a boy today for whispering in school.” “ Well, that was right.” “ But he hollered ten times as loud as he whispered.”