Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1904, Page 21

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By the ' Old 'Un."

PETROVNA, whose owner protested against Bagpipes on the ground that the latter was ridden by an unlicensed ride., has been disqualified by the CJ.C, on the ground that the mare's entry was informal. The upholding of technical objections is apparently now the order of the day I think I am oafe in stating that at least 50 per cent, of the' nominations foi warded to secretaries of racing c u«i, are moie or less informal. A convenient, mode of nominating is a simple wire stating -'Nominate Bluoher, Cup en<l Flying, J. Smath." This costs sixpence to the sendei , and gives no end of trouble to the secretaiy, but, all tile same, is usually accepted. To prevent being disqualified, owners will now have to forward paiticulars as per rales 45, 48, and 50, and 1 I would advise them to carry continually n thieir pocket a copy of the rules at racing, with the view of reading them up on all available occasions. The Masterton Racing Club (which includes amongst its stewards Mr. C. A. Pownall, the legal gentleman' who conducted! the owner of Convoys case in the appeal against Gladsome) has taken alarm since the decision in the Petrovna case,, and a committee of six has been appointed' to scrutinise the nominations with the view of rejecting or otherwise dealing with any that appear informal. The secretary (Mr. Thos. Duncan) has had 1 much experience, but he plainly told his executive that he could not ac■cept the nespoinsibility in connection with the nominations, and the result was th© appointment of the committee. Rule 45 sets forth that entries -by wire shall be binding, but if not confirmed at the earliest possible time the nommaitor shall be fined. £10, and the horse shall not be qualified to start. Rule 50 lefers to horses entered for the first time. Owners will, in addition to the rules of racing, require a copy of th© New Zealand Stud Book. Verily the printers of the rales and stud books will be kept busy in the near futuie. The foregoing must be taken, seriously by racing mem, as undoubtedly there i:> a class of owners on the alert for technical breaches of the rules. Protests will, no doubt, go in frequently beforei the expiration of the fifteen minutes during which the totahsator money is held by the stewards pi lor to paying out. I venture to say that during this coming season numerous backers) will be robbed! of their dividends through the carelessness of ownerb and officials of clubs. Residents of Waikanae are moving m the direction of having a day's racing once a year. A strong club has been formed, and the Waikanae racecourse secured. The annual subscription has been, fixed at one guinea. Amongst the honorary officials I notice: Patron, Mr. W. H. Field, M.H.R. , president, Mr. John. Hadfield , vice-president-, Messrs. J. D Duncan, W. Parata, J. R. McDonald, R. J. Staunsell, O T. Taturu, G. Watson, T. Bevan, iun., and other good sports. The Waikanae Club have secured the sei vices of Messrs. A. G. Williams and A. Leslie as secretary and treasurer. These gentlemen will co-operate with a committee that has been appointed and arrange for a day's racing at an early date. The race meeting will have to be run without the aid of a totahsator, but, as other districts have been able to run race meetings successfully without the totalisator, Waikarnae should find no difficulty in making a day's sport pay handsomely. ♦ ♦ * The Marton meeting was held in very inclement weather. The Hutt-tramed horse, Veneer, was heavily backed by the owners foi the Shorts Handicap, the first race on the second day. but, for some reason or other, let in his backers. They were, apparently, dissatisfied with the way their horse was ridden, as in the Electric Handicap C. Jenkins had the mount, and, although he rode 121b over-weight, he pulled 1 the colt through very easily. Messrs Baxter Brothers, the owners of Veneer (who, by the way, is full brother to Mahutonga), are well-known Greymouth sports, and heavily supported Veneer for the race he lost, but, when Jenkins went out so much over

weight, their investments were of a very moderate nature, and in consequence they ane out ot pocket over the meeting. Delamer, whom I selected to win the Flying Handicap, had no trouble in catching the Dodge's eye. She was feubsequently runnei-up to A eneer, aaid later on won the Railway Handicap with top weight, thus proving that she had a lot in hand when she won on the first day. Sea Lion ia-n last, as might be expected with his weight. The bi other to Achilles suffer* through his relationship to the champion. Mr. Jas. Hoggs pair, Defoie and Delight had an unprofitable tup. Ine heavy going may have interfered with their prospects somewhat. The aaoing will do them good, however, and they may show up better at Rangitikei. Springbok was another horse that was expected to show prominently He is a useful horse, and, notwithstanding jus defeat at Mai ton, is worth keeping in view. , The Ra,ngitikei meeting is the next to eventuate. A number of msaful horses are engaged, and some good racing should take place. The pimcipal event, the Spring Handicap has drawn an entry from Convoy, Halberdier Armistice, and Joe Chamberlain, all New Zealand Cup candidates Inglewood and Waitnoe, a useful pair, aie also engaged. Convoy has been allotted 9st 131b, and will have his work cut out to defeat the light weights Tlie handicappel has been lenient with Halberdier, set to meet Convoy on 131b better terms than he calls upon that horse to meet, him in the New Zealand Cup. The Flying Handicap includes Blazer, Ostiak, Sh.apnel, Full Cry, Roseal and other fast horse* Blazer has only to be a shadow of his former self to make mincemeat of his opponents with Bst 101b. Shrapnel has received 141b more than Mr. Ohadwick awaided 1 him fox the Thompson Handicap. This weight is more in accord with his previous performances. It was hard luck for has owner that Shrapnel got an attack ot influenza just prior to the Thompson Handicap, as, with his flattering impost, he must have been close up witn the winner. The Ponrua stable have not engaged any of their horses at Rangitikei. They will however, send a team to the Wanganui spring meeting. Ghoorka, Valois, Novgorod, Flamen, and Position are entered, and may make the journey. The best of the three-year-olds will represent the stable in the Wanganui Guineas. According to latest accounts the most of Prossetr s large team are doing nicely, and a few races should fall to them this spa ing The Rangitikei Steeplechase has a fair lot of 'chasers engaged. Plaan Bill, although his owner discontinued his Grand National engagements, is apparently still to the fore. Moocasm, the Grand Northern Steeplechase winnei is now the pioperty of a local man, and', all going well, may be .seen out at the meeting. His owner considers ham quite sound, and he hais been doing useful work at the Hutt. Eclair, Hutana, and Rhyl are a useful trio, and the latter mil take a deal of beating should he start. The halfbrother to Moifaa is a fine stamp or a horse, and a capital fencer. It is some time since as good a lot of steeplechase horses were engaged at Rangitikei and all going well, a good race should ensue With a start, I prefer Rhyl to the otheis engaged. • * * The defeat of Giand Rapids m the A.J.C Epsom Handicap, on Saturday last, cost Wellington sports a nice sum. The good reports regarding his gallops at Randwick induced many to have a good bet on the 1 son of Gipsy Grand, but although he got well away, he was seemingly fairly beaten at the business end of the race. He may have got a bump or two, as from the accounts of the race he was running on at the end. The favourites are generally well "shepherded" in races like the Epsom Handicap. Although New Zealand failed to score with Grand Rapids, the result of the weight-for-age race, the Spring Stakes, was a feather in the cap of New Zealand breeders, three New Zealanders. filling the places — Gladsome, Martian, and Cruciform. All started at fan odds. Gladsome was probably the besi^oonditioned of the trio, as she was raced late m the autumn, and a gam at Melbourne a few weeks ago. Martian would have a 71b allowance, and would cany Bst 71b. His performance, even with that impost, was meritorious, as some good perfoimers finished behind the three placed horses. With Saturday's peaformance to his credit it was only to be expected that New Zealand backers would suppoit Martian for the Metropolitan Handicap, the result of which reaches mi© as I write. His defeat by Tartan was to be expected, as the latter is a well-perform-

Ed horse. The winner, Alias, carried 7st, and must be fairly useful to defeat Tartan. Tartan should have a chance m the Melbourne Cup with his weight (7st), as he will have no penalty to carry. Gladsome will now be a strong favourite for the CcMilfiield Cup, and those who are fond of doubles at long odds might do worse than lay out a sovereign on Gladsome and Taatan, the pair having everything to lecommend them.