SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 11

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. New Zealand. July 12—Wellington Racing Club. July 17—Waimate District Hunt Club. July 28 —Christcburch Hunt Club. July 30—Manawatu Hunt Club. August 12, 14, 10—Canterbury Jockey Club. Australia. July 12—Victoria Racing Club. TOTALISATOR BETTING. Tliose who argue that the totalisator has been responsible for the great ineiease in betting in New Zealand will do well to read an Australian opinion on the much-vexed question. A Sydney writer states: "The contention of some of the anti-totalisator division that it tends to excessive gambling certainly does not hold good in New Zealand. It is mentioned that the official estimate of the attendance at Ellerslie (Auckland) on Great Northern Steeplechase Day was 23,000, and yet with the totalisator the Bole medium of speculation the betting turnover was only £70,968. There were also about 23,000 people present at Randwick last Sydney Cup Day, and though only £25,083 went through the tote, it must not be overlooked that, even allowing for absentees, fully 370 bookmakers were operating in the various enclosures. Their joint turnover, at a low compulation, would be five times as great as that of the tote, fcnd it therefore seems fair to dediice that Aucklanders do not 'bet nearly as he'aVily 4s Sydneyites.

GREAT JUMPS. 11l a recent instalment of "Old-time Racing Memories" in the Melbourne Leader Mr. T. Du Forcq, a well-known Victorian sportsman, mentioned that a horse he once rode in a hurdle Tace stood off 15ft from a 4ft hurdle and cleared it ty 20ft. Chatting about this and other tig jumps (writes Beacon) some hunting men.the Other day recalled a great effort made in the Yan Yean country, about 20 years ago, by that grand hunter Rufus, who at the time had his owner, Mr. S. E. Bloomfield, in the saddle. Coming upon a "big IJvo-wired fence with a top rail, Kufus stood off 19ft, got safely over, nnd landed 9ft on the other side. As Rufus carried over 17 stone and the fence was fully 4ft 6in high, this was a great feat. People who talk glibly of horses covering 30ft as a rule have little idea of distance, i remember seeing Mr. Humphrey Oxennam's old gelding Pilot Boy, with J. E. Brewer in the saddle, make a tremendous leap one tnornifig at Caulfleld while schooling over hurdle 3. Sevefal of us measured Pilot Boy's tracks, and made the distance he covered from take-off to landing about 34ft. Years before—in 1687—1 saw on the same course what I believe is still the record jump for Australia. It was made by Lizette, ridden "by Bob Batty. She stood away so far from a post-and-rail "schooler," which at that time was near the mile post—closer to the course proper than the present fence —that some of the spectators involuntarily 'losed their oyes in the expectation that the mare would crash right intd the fence. But with a slight rap with her hind feet she cleared it 4nd landed a long way on the other side. As flo other horse had jumped that mornihg, Lizette's foot marks stood out unmistakably. The then V.A.T.C. ranger, the late Mr. W. 0. Broadbridge, straightWay brought a chain, and with the assistance of several pressmen measured the distance, and made it 36ft Bin. Until one measures off this distance no adequate conception can be formed of what a jump of this kind really means. The world's record credited to a horse named Chnadler, who covered 37ft over water in England as far back as 1847. As Lizette went over a stiff fence at least 4ft high, "Beacon" estimates the Victorian mare's exploit was a more meritoripus performance than Chandler's. UNDESIRABLES.

Fortunately tlig above objectionable element, thanks to the vigilence of our racecourse detectives, is almost eliminated from our courses, but the following, from the Winnipeg Post, indicates that the undesirable element is much in evidence on English racecourses at the present time: —"We have more than once lately pointed out in this fcolumn the serious menace to racing which is threatened by the depredations of that gang of ruffians, know|t as 'the boys,' and we are glad to see that the matter is being Vigorously taken up by some of the daily papers. Although we do not desire to unduly advertise such an unsavory subject, some of the things we have seen lately have firmly cnovinced us that either the Jockey Club or the other 'powers that be' will have to get a move on is order to deal with these pests of the racecourse before the evil grows worte." INCREASED STAKES. The greatly increased totalisator turnovers recorded siuce the termination of the war will force racing clubs to offer bigger prizes than ever next season, but even Where the machine does not flourish the clubs are awake to the necessity of making the inducement to race horses i-eally worth while. The Victoria Racing Club committee decided last week that from August '1 , the total stakes of all meetings in the metropolitan area of Melbourne should not be legs than £IOOO on Saturdays and holidays, and on other days not less than £BOO. This wil give Melbourne owners cause for rejoicing, but while the non-proprietary clubs in the southern capital are unlikely to take exception to this latest move, the proprietary clubs Will not appreciate it. Recently a couple of Melbourne proprietary clubs were disputing the profits alleged to be made by them, and were emphatic on the point that they were not nearly as great as supposed. One thing in favor of Melbourne meetings is that they have practically nothing in the way of unregistered opposition. In similar circumstances it is improbable any Sydney club would have much objection to distributing £IOOO on a Saturday, but with unregistered club 3 clashing with them most of the time, they are not so favorably placed as the Melbourne horse clubs.

A WELL BRED 'UN. By Jingo, the latest winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, ia another descendant of Galopin—through St. Simon on his sire's side, and through Donovan on his dam's. The success of this blood has been so frequenter-written up that there is little left unsaid of it; but besides Galopin, who von the English Derby in 1875, there are other Derby winners among the gireain By Jingo's lineage—namely, Beadsman(lßsß), Macaroni (1863), Blair Athol (1864), and Donovan (1889). Besides winning the Derby, Macaroni won the tyo Thousand Guineas and Dancautej* Cup; Blair Athol tlie St. Leger; and' Donovan the St. Leger. Vedette, the aire I «(Gtlejla, did set via tt>« Strfyifr&ir

year, but lie took the Two Thousand and the Doncaater Cup twice. In siie lines, therefore, By Jingo's pedigree is composed of England's greatest performers; while ia winning brood mares there are such as Mendicant (One Thousand and Oaks), Caller Ou (St. Leger), Elizabeth (One Thousand), and Plaisantorie (Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire).

HORSEMANSHIP, The Tod Sloan style of race riding, particularly of the. exaggerated, "monkey-lip-a-pole" order, has been roundly condemned by many good judges in different countries, and yet another condemnation was poured on the Sloan style by a West Australian expert. A Sydney paper reports: "A feature of the W.A. Turf Club annual meeting was the statement by the chairman (Mr. C. B. Cox), in reply to a question that at the last interstate conference of controlling racing clubs held in Melbourne, he had brought forward the question of the Tod Sloan style of riding compared with the old style, and that the matter was now receiving attention in the other States, and would, he hoped, be finally dealt with at the next conference. Mr. Cox spoke strongly against the Tod Sloan style, which, he said, deprived riders of the control of their mounts, and was the cause of much interference. He had, lie said, consulted the trainers in West Australia, who were almost unanimously in favor of the old style of riding." STRAY ITEMS. Lady Jane Douglas, who, last year, was the first lady to own and breed a Derby winner (Gainsborough), has made a good start again this season by taking the Oaks with Bayuda, a daughter of Bayardo, who was also the sire of Gainsborough. As a two-year-old, Bayuda Won the Chevcrley Park Stakes in a canter, and was second to The Panther in the Autumn Stakes, so that she was well accredited for this important classic. On the dam's side, Bayuda is related to Rangag, who is at the stud in this State. Rangag is by Eager from St. Silave, and Jessica, dam of Bayuda, is by Eager—Barcarole. St. Silave is a descendant of Doncaster through her dam, Golden Iris, by Bend Or—Gardenia, and Barcarole is also a descendant of Doncaster through her sire, Saraband, by Mancaster—Highland Fling. Bayardo, sire of Bayuda, died suddenly on June 4, 1917, at the Manton Stud, near Marlborough, England. The cause of his death was thombrosis, a disease which causes an artery ,t» become clogged by clots of blood. Those who saw Bayardo two or three weeks before he died, were impressed by the fact that he had never looked better. In his case the disease caused paralysis of the hindquarters, and all was over in a day or two. A handsome bay horse, Bayardo was by Bay Ronald from Galicia, by Galopin—lso'letta,- by Isonomy—Lady Muncaster. He was a high-class two-year-old, and won seven races in as many "starts at that age; and was, naturally, the Winter favorite for the Derby. But in the Two Thousand Guineas, With odds of 13 to 8 laid on him, the best he could do was finish fourth to Minoru, Phaleron and Louviers. In the Dwby lie did even worse, for he was a. poor fifth to Minoru, Louviers, AVilliam the Fourth and Valens. His rider, Malioii, thought Bdyardo would have won the Derby had it not been for another competitor, Sir Martin, stumbling, which caused Bayardo to lose many lengths at a critical part of the race. Subsequently Bayardo gave proof that Minora was a very lucky horse to win the Two Thousand and Derby, for after those two defeats Bayardo carried'all before him as a three-year-oM, and wound up the season with 11 wins, which included the Eclipse Stakes and St. Leger. At four years, Bayardo ran five times for four wins and one'second, which brought his career oil the racecourse'to a close for 22 wins, a second, a fturth, and a fifth, for stakes worth £44,534. An idea of the exceptional quality of Bayardo may be gathered from the fact that Mr "Fame," the exBroken Hill mining speculator, was offered, and refused, £50,000 for the son of Bay Ronald and Galicia. The loss of such a valuable stallion, therefore, at the comparativly early age of 11 years, was a national calamity. It is to be hoped that his two great sons, Gay Crusader and Gainsborough, will carry on the sire line in the illustrious manner of Bayardo in his all too short career at the stud. At the Curragh (Ireland) recently staJble-liands went on strike for 453 weekly for outdoor hands, and 20s for indoor hands. The employers at first offered 40s weekly to the former and 17s to the latter, but subsequently came to terms.

The Woodville racing tracks are becoming popular with trainers. Alfonso Atwood, of Feilding, is taking his team there shortly, while it is rumored Dick Johnston, the New Plymouth trainer, intends doing likewise. It is to be wondered more trainers do not follow their calling in Palmerston, for besides being central, the tracks and conveniences at Awapuni are all that could be desired. A three-year-old brown mare, by Aberbrothock—Ori (The Officer —Oriflammel), and a yearling filly, by Sarto—Oraletie (by De Wi.tte—-Ori), owned by Mr C. Keeble, are located at Mr E. D- Browne's Opera House stables, where they are being looked after by Mr Alex Browne. The Abrbrothock mare is a commanding looking animal, standing over 18 hands. She will be exercised on the roads preparatory to entering T. George's stables. Arthur Oliver, who came out from the Old Country in the Prinzessin, whidi was berthed at the Wellington wharf 011 Tuesday, arrived at Palmerston the same day. The Highden mentor, Geo. Price, saw to it that there would be nothing left wanting in ltis effort-; to give him a hearty welcome back to his old quarters. There was a liberal display of flags and bunting, and all members of the staff foregathered ,to give the popular horseman a .fitting mention home, after an absence of nearly three years on active service. Tn the evening a social was given in his honor the programme consisting of musical and vocal items.