Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 425, 6 August 1928, Page 10

Durf Notes

By

EARLY BIRD.

First of the Spring Nominations for the first spring meeting at which the 7.0 minimum will once again be reverted to (the Marton J.C. on September 5), close on Friday of next week, August 17. Wanganui J.C. entries close three days later. Juvenile Parades The Marton Jockey Club is holding a parade of two-year-olds between races at its meeting on September 5, while a similar event will be conducted by the Wanganui J.C. on its first day, with the Debutant Stakes, 4i furlongs, eventuating on the second day. Brilliant Ascot As a race meeting in England Ascot is easily first. At a recent gathering, the added money alone for the four days amounted to £40,000, which is an increase of £3,000 on last year. The trophies were valued at £BSO. The Best Looker A Hastings writer states that Mr. J. J. Gatenby’s Lord Quex —Fair Rosamond two-year-old colt, who many consider the most handsome of this season’s Hawke’s Bay youngsters, will not be raced early—perhaps New Year time at the earliest. Dubious’s Strenuous Task According to a Dunedin report, Dubious was schooled over 14 fences recently, and gave a good display of jumping. His stable companion, Pamplona, has got through a fair amount of useful work since he raced at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting in June. Opinion Not Supported At least one metropolitan body, when recommending the granting of licences for the new season, stated its opinion that dual licences, training and riding, should not be granted, unless under extenuating circumstances. The Licensing Committee of the Racing Conference has evidntly turned down the suggestion, as the lists reveal the fact that practically all i applications for both briefs have been agreed to. Not Done in New Zealand The Australian Jockey Club insists that all trainers licensed by them shall keep their stables and boys’ rooms in proper order and condition. Recently officials inspected many stables, and were dissatisfied with the cleanliness and condition of some. The trainers who had offended had to appear at the A.J.C. office, and, it is believed, were requested to bring their stables up to the required standard. Should they offend again, drastic action will be taken. Set Sail Back It is reported that the well-known Gore-owned performer, Set Sail is back in C. Gieseler’s establishment at Wingatui looking fit and well. She was accompanied back to her training quarters by her younger full-brother, Sailing Home, of whom good things are expected with age and experience. Gieseler, by the way, has 12 horses in commission, and his string may be extended in the near future. It is the same story with several Wingatui trainers, recruited teams and bright prospects for the new season. Gaze is All Right From Takapuna comes the report, well authenticated, that Gaze has quite recovered from the mishap that befell him while winning the Trentham Hurdles last month at Trentham, and that he is going along the right way in his rehearsals, which are not of the orthodox type, as his owner-trainer trains Gaze in his own way, writes “The Squire.” It has to be admitted that he certainly has proved that it is suitable to the gelding, for under his mode of treatment, long, slow work, with an occasional sprint of not over-long measure, and not a great deal of lepping, Gaze has asserted himself at the right end of the arguments. With all going well with him in the interim Gaze will be on hand to compete at the Grand National meeting. Two Days Too Soon

It was rather a stroke of ill-luck for Mr. T. H. Lowry, if, as reported, his fine mare Desert Gold was delivered of a filly foal by Psychology on July 29, a bit sooner than expected. As August 1 is officially the universal thoroughbred birthday for both the Commonwealth and the Dominion, this autocratic young lady, though actually only 48 hours in independent existence, will have to rank as a yearling (says the “Tribune”). This will, of course, preclude her from taking part in any of the “classics” or, for three or four years at any rate, in w.f.a. events. However, on account of her sex, the mishap is perhaps of not so serious moment, as her premature appearance will in no way detract from her value for breeding purposes. Royal Court

A Hastings maiden of promise is Royal Court (Grandcourt Lady Nolan), held on lease by T. F. Quinlivan (records the “Tribune”). This three-year-old, when tried last spring on the track, showed little or no pace, and when started in his only race entered the straight at the tail of his field, which did not surprise; but when his jockey asked him to do, or try to do, a little better, he simply flew, and even then, had he got a clear run, it appeared as if he might have troubled Raasay and Pure Gold. After this he was put aside. Even now, in his gallops, he shows no interest and little speed in his work, but with his one race in mind, and the strong conformation of the son of Grandcourt, the writer cannot help but think that there are big possibilities in Quinlivan’s three-year-old. A Friendly Action

Mr. Edgar Wallace, in effect, did not wish to win his case against the English Jockey Club. What he set out to prove was that the Jockey Club could recover forfeits from either a racing man or his trustees. In England, when an owner dies, all horses in his nomination for future classic events automatically become ineligible. It was to try and right this that Mr. Wallace set about bringing on this test case. Briefly, his remarks were: “I have contended that such forfeits can be recovered, and to prove it I have refused to pay a sum of £ 4 which I incurred as a forfeit over one of my horses. Instead of putting me on the forfeit list, the Jockey Club have issued a writ, Lord Ellesmere v. Edgar Wallace. I am glad and proud to be the victim. I hope that when it is definitely settled, the question of void nominations will no longer arise. If the Jockey Club proved that they can recover forfeits from the living, then they can recover from the executors of the dead, and there will be no longer any necessity to void nominations.” According to this. Mr. Wallace may go further with the matter, and not accept the judgment in his favour of Mr. Justice Clanson.

POVERTY BAY HUNT

Their Last Race A Melbourne Cup victory ended the winning careers of several horses, and racing men who are superstitious—and many are—are not losing sight of the fact that three of the last four A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes winners went no further in respect of success. They aye wondering whether Mollison will escape similar bad luck. Leslie Wallace, the 1924 Produce Stakes winner, has not since won anything; Los Gatos, who scored the following year, did not afterwards figure in the winning list; and the 1927 winner, Royal Feast, who raced early the following season, died without adding to his credit account. On her way back to Melbourne, after pulling off the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes at Sydney in 1926, Cyden won the Albury Sires’ Produce Stakes. The following season she did not get beyond minor placings, and now she is at the stud. Racing Away from Home Thanks to a very successful meeting at Trentham, the Marlborough Racing Club has had a good year. The following extract from the annual report speaks for itself: The balance sheet disclosed that the expenditure over the summer meeting was £2,873, and the receipts were £2,804 19s. The receipts from the meeting held at Trentham totalled £I,OOO, and the expenditure under this heading was £l2 16s 3d. The profit and loss account disclosed on the one side miscellaneous expenditure totalling £1,922 11s lOd, and loss over the summer meeting £SB 11s lid, while on the other side miscellaneous receipts were £I,OBB 10s, the net profits from the agricultural account £454 15s sd, and the net autumn meeting profit £987 3s 9d, leaving a balance for the year of £549 5s sd. The committee regretted the necessity of racing away from home, and thus depriving many members and the residents of the district of a race n>eeting, but under the circumstances, and taking into consideration the results achieved, the sacrifice was well worth while. When Progress is Impossible At this time of the year the annual meetings of members of the various racing and trotting clubs are held, ai#d it is the most opportune time to make any suggestions in respect to future progress (writes “Sentinel”). The dominant question at every meeting is a lack of funds caused by the exorbitant and crippling tax imposed on both branches of sport. The prospects of redress seem to be exceedingly remote. Protests are made at the various annual meetings, but they are not sufficiently vociferous and continuous to compel the attention of the political ear. Hence the “stand and deliver” demand continues. The reply to a club’s request for a reduction is based on a statement that a club does not pay—the payment is made by the public. The fact remains, however, that the taxation absorbs more than a reasonable share of a club’s revenue, and some of the clubs are forced to carry on at a loss while the Government Treasury Department collects a lot of “easy money.” The clubs are taxed on gross receipts inflated by a turnover of the same money eight times a day. They are, in point of fact, taxed on a turnover which principally exists on paper, and not in the pocket or purse. While that is so, progress is impossible, and in fact necessary improvements are held up by lack of funds. There is not the remotest chance of the totalisator losing its legal life, and while that is so it would be a very short step to recognise sweeps or lotteries on the principal races run in Now Zealand. It might be suggested that if this course was followed, and it wa3 thus found possible to increase the Government’s revenue from racing, it might be reduced a little in the other direction. In the meantime, Tasmania waxes rich at New Zealand’s expense because we have a sense of morality which is prepared to legalise a weakness for a gamble in one way, but not when it is of a comparatively inoffensive nature.

ANNUAL RACE MEETING FAVOURITES DO WELL Press Association GISBORNE, Saurday. The annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Hunt Club was held to-day in good weather before a large attendance. The course was in good order. The totalisator handled £11,842, compared with £9,104 last year, an increase of £2,738. The results were:— Hunters’ Hurdles, 1J miles.—l Ballvfarnon, 12.12. Stratton, 1; 2 Inner Plarbour, 2; 4 Middleman, 3. Also started: 3 Cairo, 5 Denbro. Won by six lengths, third horse three lengths away. Time, 2.59 3-5. Awapuni Hurdles, 12 miles.—2 Comedy Prince, 9.10, N. Troll, 1; 3 Blue Jay, 2; 6 Kingi Pita, 3. Also: 4 Royal Heather, 1 Crishna, 5 Fall of the Year. Won by two lengths, third horse two lengths away. Fall of the Year fell. Time. 3.22 Hexton Handicap, 1$ miles—l Pale Star, 9.0, Mackie, 1; 7 Superb King, 2; 5 Cool Card, 3. Also: 6 Polonett, 3 Princess Ronnie, 4 Othon, 2 Pita, 3 Kongo. Won by half a length, third horse one length away. Time, 2.18 1-5. Ferguson Gold Cup Hunt Steeplechase, 2J miles.—l Master Arch, 11.12, Nixon 1: 2 Highway, 2; 4 Pillar Box, 3. Also: 3 Progressor. Highway and Progressor fell, but Highway was remounted. Won by 20 lengths, one furlong between second and third. Time, 5.55 1-5. Swarthmoor Trial Handicap. 5 furlongs. First Division: 1 Abisogne, 10.5, Stratton, 1; 2 Bold Front, 2; 4 Whakaari, 3. Also: 7 Seamstress. 5 Oddmint, 6 Plane Lass, 9 Out of Sight, 3 Prince Ngahere, 8 Sporty, 10 Cyncoma. Won by two lengths, third horse half a length away. Time. Swarthmoor Trial Handicap.—Second division: 1 Kinsel, 9.8, C. France 1* 2 Otene, 2; 7 Eostra, 3. Also: 5 Norma Wilson, 4 Arori, 9 Master Cynic, 8 Mangaharei 3 Kimbo, 6 Autumn Eve. Won by one length, third horse three-quartexs of a length away. Time, 1.5. Hunters' Bracelet. 1 mile.—l First Prince, ! 2 .! Mr. H. Dods, 1; 3 Chipchase, -» 2 Pita, 3. Also: 4 Middleman. Won by four lengths, same distance between second and third. Time, 1.52. Kapanui Hack Flat Handicap, 7 furlongs.—3 Plimrnerton, 9.0, Hockley, 1; 1 King Willonyx, 2; 7 Taku Tama. 3. Also: 2 Night Witch and Jen (coupled), 6 Bold front, 4 Rapiata, S Nahi, 10 Gaimint, 9 Toka, 5 Cherry Girl. Won by a bare head, third horse half a length awav. Time. 1.32 3-5.