SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1921, Page 11

SPORTING.

NEWS AND NOTES. In a forecast relative to racing in New Zealand during the current season, the Sporting and Dramatic Review says: “We hope we shall not be accused of pessimistic prophecies when we suggest the strong probability of at least a majority of clubs having less revenue to deal with during the season than came their way last year. That seems to us inevitable as the result of the continued low prices of wool and meat and the scarcity of money. Clubs are not going to put such large sums of money through the totalisators as they did. The fractions are not to go into their coffers, or, at least, this seems a practically settled thing. Some are doing the right thing by owners in lessening the cost to race by reducing the acceptances and forfeits, and one club, at least, has provided that the sweep money ’in one of its races is to be added to the advertised value of the stake.... Lucky owners will receive more money in stakes this season than last. Though it will cost more in the aggregate to secure it, the cost in proportion to receipts will not be quite so heavy. There will be a little more racing no doubt, and that is likely to cause a slight diminution in the average size of the fields ii there are fewer horses in training.” Mr. E. W. Alison, jun., has reached England, and in a letter to the Star’s sporting scribe dated August 24 stated that he w< , thoroughly enjoying his trip, and intended visiting France and Italy. Mr. Alison saw some of the racing, but was not very much impressed with the management, and considers we in Australasia are a long way ahead of them in every way. They seemed to the Aucklander to cling to the old conservative idea that a race meeting was a picnic in some Lord’s park, and that men put up so much money to race for—the ordinary public did not count- New Zealand, in the opinion of Mr. Alison, was very hard to beat for good, clean, wholesome sport, in which the public get every consideration. Spain has taken kindly to horseracing, and, according to an exchange, the richest prize in the world will be competed for at the Saint Sebastian J.C. meeting in September of next year. The name of the race is the Grand prize of King .Alfonso XIII., and its value is 500,000 pesetas (approximately £20,000). The first horse is to receive 400,000 pesetas and a cup, second 50,000 pesetas, third 30,000 pesetas, and fourth 20,000 pesetas. Australian jockeys and trainers have given many countries a trial, and it now behoves them to polish up their Spanish. A writer in the Sydney Daily Telegraph comments on the bandage question, which recently cropped, up in Sydney, ’ as a result of which Duo and his stable campanions were withdrawn from all their Australian engagements and brought back to New Zealand. He says when the New Zealand trainer, Mr. WJ. Donovan, withdrew Duo, Kick-Off, Big Chief, and Athens from their Victorian engagements, and let them remain in those made for them at the A.J.C. Spring meeting, it was hoped that he would keep the lot in Sydney long enough to show off their form in some of, the rich events at Randwick. This was not to be, however, and the collection named, as well as Hula Girl, were retired, and the entire team returned to New Zealand. Most persons will regret this, because if what can be learned is the true reason, the unpleasant incident is due to a misunderstanding. It is understood that the trainer of Duo took objection to a statement by one of the stipendiary stewards to the effect that ir he used bandages on his horses here they must be adjusted in a manner to be approved by the stewards. It was explained that there is no rule or regulation barring horses from wearing bandages in races, but the stewards are charged with the proper conduct of racing, and if they are of opinion that bandages are arranged in such a way as might cause some trouble by coming loose it is their duty to adopt a course that is calculated to prevent any such happening. On them the responsibility rests. Mr. Donovan, however, desired to bandage his horses as is permitted in New Zealand, and this, it seems, will not be allowed. It is rather strange that though all trainers who run horses at Randwick or at any other course in the metropolitan area here conform to the same law as Mr. Donovan was asked to observe, he is the only one to raise an .objection. As Kick-Off was engaged in the Derby and The Metropolitan, Duo in the Epaoni Handicap, The Metropolitan, and weight for age races, and various engagements had been made for the other members of the team, they would have contributed largely to the interest in the A.J.C. meeting. Duo, all racing men were anxious to see at his best. He had won the Wanganui Guineas, New Zealand Derby, Canterbury Cup, Great Northern St. Lcger, New Zealand St. !>eger, and Trentham Gold Cup, and was regarded as a horse that would have put our finest stayers on their best behavior. With Gloaming out of the way, Duo was expected to be equal to unholding the reputation of the New Zealand turf. Owners of horses who send their horses so many thousands of miles to run for such rich stakes as those of the A.J.C., and can then afford to ignore them, are to be envied.

It is understood the Aucklander who was anxious to secure Mermin was prepared to go to 2500 guineas for the son of Absurd, but the lowest Mr. Stead was prepared to consider was 3000 guineas. Word from Napier states that the famous mare Desert Gold has foaled a filly to Finland, and it is understood will be mated with the imported horse King John this season. The career of the first of Desert Gold’s progeny will be followed with considerable interest, and probably by none more than a writer who a few years ago published the statement that Mr. T. H. Lowry’s champion would not breed.