Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 557, 9 January 1929, Page 6

Turf Notes

Winsome Boy's New Trainer It is now stated that the new trainer of Winsome Boy at Riccarton is to be R. W. King, who owned and trained that fine galloper Pilliewinkie, and more recently the promising’ jumper Aberfeldy. Wellington Handicaps The weights for the first day of the Wellington summer meeting are due to make their appearance to-morrow. Mr. H. Coyle is responsible for the framing of these adjustments. The acceptances, close on Monday night next. Two Starts Two Wins The stock of Acre raced exceptionally well during the holidays and Star Area made his first winning representative on the flat at a mile and a-half. One of the. most promising sort's by this sire is the three-year-old Grand Acre, whose record is two wins, two starts. For Winning Jockey Mr. J. Jackman, of Feilding, has notified the Marton Jockey Club that he proposes again to present a gold mounted whip to the jockey who rides the winner of the Marton Cup next year. Last week K. A. Keesing won the trophy. Fog Clogs Barrier According to a London writer there were many funny incidents at the Liverpool meeting last month, which closed Lngland’s flat racing season, one of the funny things that happened ;tt Liverpool was that the starting gate on the first day twice would not work and recourse hud to be made to starting by the flag. Mr. L. L. Firth, who was officiating, thinks the fog must have got at. the electrical working. Won Three On End One of the consistent performers during the holidays was Epistle, who recently went cheaply at the sale of the late 11. Hickey's horses. When she won at Awupuni it looked as if it were largely on account of a weak field, Out she scoired twice at Hastings and it transpires that she did an excellent gallop prior to the holidays, indicating that she had again struck form. Two seasons ago, in a dozen starts, Epistle won eight and was three times third, only being out of a place once during that season. Portable Totalisator A resident of Adelaide named Cruickshank has invented a portable automatic totaiisator which is 36in long, Din deep and sin high, claimed to be 100 l proof,” and is easily carried by one man. The public can back any horse at any window, no matter how large the held. The machine also gives the grand total at each window, so that the investors can see at a glance what price a horse is showing. It is claimed that any possibility of fraud is eliminated, and no ticket can be issued without tlie extra amount showing in ilu; grand total. The totalisator is automatically closed as soon as a race has started, and it is impossible to take cut a ticket afterwards. National Winner Fails

Readers will recall that only one horse out of nearly forty starters jumped the Grand National course last March and so came in alone. Then did one named Tipperary Tim enjoy unlimited glory. It is the sort of glory that lias a way of rapidly waning, and some folk who were at Liverpool may have forgotten all about the erstwhile hero's existence until he bobbed up again as one of the starters for the Grand Sefton Steeplechase last month, which 1 suppose is the second most important 'chase decided during the 12 months at Liverpool, comments a London writer. To have been consistent “Tim*' should at least have shown the others how to jump the course, but it may be asking too much to expect consistency of one that comes m alone for a Grand National. It, therefore, should not surprise you to know that his latest exploit there came to a very full stop when he and his rider just took a quiet dive into the face of the new fence at the Canal Turn and let that be the finish for them of the "Grand Sefton.” Again it was funny that he alone, so far as I could tell, was the one to be checked at the place which Faster Hero had selected last March for his wholesale slaughter manoeuvre. That was when he straddled the fence and stopped a whole crowd of them (a dozen) from proceeding further. SSince then the open ditch character of the fence has been changed to an ordinary plain fence. It was far too simple for

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Thames Meeting The annual meeting of the Thames Jockey Club is to be held at Thames on Saturday and Monday. Excellent acceptances have been received for the first day, and the sport should be highly entertaining. A special steamer service has been arranged, the Rangitoto leaving Auckland at 6.45 a.m. and returning at 6.30 p.m. each day. Special train arrangements have also been advertised. Te Aroha Fixture A re-survey in regard to the distances of several races set down for decision at the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s meeting, fixed for February 16 and 18, has necessitated several alterations in those previously published. The notification issued in connection therewith states that the distances of the Juvenile and Electric Handicaps for two-year-olds, shown in pocket programme as rive furlongs and 43 yards, should read five furlongs and 29 yards. Also, that the distance of the Shaftesbury Hack, Waihou, Elstow and Farewell Handicaps, shown in pocket programme as six furlongs and 52 yards, should read six furlongs and 38 yards. Auckland Racing Club At a meeting of the Auckland Racing Club committee yesterday, Mr. H. O. Nolan being in the chair, accounts totalling £4,171 were passed for payment. The usual charitable donations, amounting to over £l6O, were again voted to local institutions. It was resolved: “That in view of the depleted condition of the district trust funds it is desirable this fund be assisted by a levy of not exceeding 10s per centum on stakes paid by this club.” It was decided to have a rule drafted to that effect and submitted to the next meeting of the committee for consideration. The district trust fund is used for purposes of alleviating any cases of distress among trainers and jockeys and their dependents. The usual officials were again appointed for tiie autumn meeting. A transfer of Sunward from W. G. Stead to D. !P. Wilson was approved. Our Riders For some reason the Southern horsemen who go to Ellerslie do not ride so well as they are capable of doing. Possibly the reverse way round and the undulations of the Northern course are partly the reason, for at the meeting just over there were some lamentable exhibitions by horsemen who have to be considered in the present day first flight. In point of fact, writes “Vedette,” A. Tinker and H. Goldfinch came out easily superior in every way. there is a decided rise from the sixfurlong post at Ellerslie, and a horseman who rode not so many years ago and ono who could ride winners and losers alike with equal ability, used to state that any horse not wanted only had to bo sprinted up tlie hill to be beaten. It wanted little or no “stopping ’ after that. Yet more than one horse lost his chance at the recent meeting by being rushed at the hill. It is easy to rid© horses from the grandstand. but there is no doubt that the horsemanship displayed at Ellerslie was considerably below par even in these times. Objection Limit In England, the Rules of Racing are being altered, so as to facilitate the working of the totalisator on racecourses. It is proposed by Tattersail’s Club committee to bring its rules in line with those governing totalisator betting. With the totalisator there is to be a five minutes’ limit for objections, and. if none should be made during that time, dividends will be paid, and no subsequent objections will disturb such payment. The bookmakers welcome the proposed change, for. as matters at present stand, there is always a chance of having to pay out over two horses. In the past, they have more than once paid cash bets to backers of the original winner, and then, owing to an objection being lodged some time after the decision of the race, have been forced to pay credit bets to supporters of the second horse. With a five minutes’ limit for objections, they will be much safer.