SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1919, Page 3

SPORTING.

NEW ZEALAND CUP. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) Chrlstchurch, Yesterday. Menelaus was scratched/for the New Zealand Cor at 9 o'clock this morning.

BACINO COMPABISONS. (By dTh.) My first visit to the Grand National meeting Is my apology to racing readers for impressions and comparisons herein recorded. If one expects much tho result is generally a disappointment. It was so with this visit. I looked forward to the National as a pattern of w,hat a race meeting should be. The stakes for fto majority of the races are no better than many of our North Island hack meetings. At this gathering one should see the best hunters and hacks out for Ihetr last qualification. Having two Toranakl friends with rae, I naturally expected the same liberality regarding tickets as wo extend to visitors, but conservatism is rampant with the C.J.C. "We give no complimentary tickets," was the answer I got. My reply was that giving tickets had built up our North Island clubs. The luncheon for the public, costing throe shillings and sixpence, would not compare with those at clubs like Opunake—■no tea or vegetables. The waitresses Informed me these necessaries have never been put on at the public table, but are on the table in the stewards' room. Truly a classy club I I heard one owner Temark: "How Is it Mr So and So is in the birdcage all tho time! He Is only an owner like 1 ami" Here we have differentiation again. There are a few of our North Island clubs with this streak of Toryism, but the C.T.C.- take 3 the cake. Some day the people will cry a halt, and the State step in and take a hand In the management. To'find out-the positions the riders drew at the post one had to crush into the crowd-to read the same on a blackboard, although there is an elevated place for the riders' names, where everybody can see them. The view of the races is spoilt by a line of high trees all along the back of the course, and the short races can only be seen a few chains off the winning post. From a spectacular point, therefore, most of the races are spoilt. The pay-out windows need little comment as they are too few, and are understaffed and behind the times. A trip or two North would do some of the officials no harm, or else the infusion of new blood to run the meeting on up-to-date lines is wanted. How ill this meeting compared with the trotting meeting! No wonder trotting is taking on so. Everything is run on tip-top lines, and my opinion is that very soon, if racing is run in the same fossilised way, trotting Will oust It, in Chrlstchurch at any rate. Certainly nearly all otir North Island racing clubs have nothing to learn from tho South, If the Chrlstchurch National is a criterion. Of course even In the North it Is noticeable that old ways stick to many of the rdcing clubs, and autocracy Is creeping in here and there. Many of them restrict their membership and blackball many a man of good standing. A pull in this direction is needed, as the whole business and assets of racing belong to tho people, not to the few who are inclined to dominate It.

A good suggestion which Is likely to be taken up by the trotting clubs Is simplification of racing say, for No 1., black for No. 2, and so on. The Hieing clubs should seriously consider it, and do likewise, as it would simplify matters, and also enable wrong doers to be more easily detected. At present we hare an awful coifglSmeratlon of colors. Sentiment for old family traditions ought to go, just as it will in the betterment of social conditions in other walks of life.

The trotting sire, Advance, will stand the season at Stratford, and travel the surrounding district. Advance was bred by Mr. J. C. N. Grlgg, of longbeach. . He put up a record ftr the National Cup, Chrlstchurch, doing tlio two miles in 4min. 46secs. That he Is capable of transmitting his good qualities is shown by the fact that he sired Vice-Admiral, who did a mile and a quarter In 2 49, and two mllosu) 4 36; ISundong, whoso time for one and a quarter mile was 2 40, and Eearguard, who covered a mile in 2.23. Among many prominent trotters he sired are Kiltess and Inrlctus. The owner of Advance Is Sir. W. Uawke, of the Commercial Stables, Stratford.