SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Sept. 23—Ashburton R.C. Spring. Sept. 23. 25—Avondale J.C. Spring. Sept. 23, 25—Otaki Maori R.C. Spring Sept. 28, 29—Geraldine R.C. Spring. Sept. 30—Napier Park R.C. Spring. RACES IN HEATS. IS THE rP.ACTICE LEGAL? IMPORTANT TEST CASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. A case of considerable interest to racing clubs and racegoers was heard at the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Reed. The action was taken by the Wellington Racing Club, J. B. Harcourt (president) appearing as plaintiff. and the Attorney-General being defendant. Mr. Skerrett represented plaintiff, and Mr. MacGregor (Solicitor-General) the defendant. The club sought a decision of the Court whether the running of a race in two heats was a breach of the Gaming Act. The reason for the action was that New Zealand racing clubs found that where a great number of horses started in a race there was a danger of serious accident. To avoid danger the club desired authority to divide a race into two heats, but the totalisator was open only as one event, all horses to be placed and started at the same time and a second dividend not to be applicable. The Solicitor-General contended that horseracing was gaming within the Acts which had been law for 150 years. For clubs to carry out the scheme suggested, however praiseworthy, to avoid accidents, was opposed to the meaning of the Gaming Act. If a course was not sufficiently wide to cope with a large number of horses. It should be made adequate. According to the law in New Zealand. there could not be more than eight races in a day. His opinion was that the object of the scheme was to get round the provisions of section 7 of the Gaming Act. Decision was reserved.

TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) Races at Avondale, Otaki and Ashburton to-day. • Cup and Stakes at Avondale to-day; Guineas on Monday. A McCormack will ride Royal Present in the Avondale Cup—good chance, too I The long straight at Avondale should suit Clvllform, and he will let ’em know that he is In the Flying. Royal Star Is reported to be well, and if saddled up in the ten furlongs race at Ashburton to-day will give us some idea as to his New Zealand Cup prospects. Down at Awapuni on Wednesday the writer asked a well known trainer to have a taste. "No fear,” he replied, ‘‘they’re got jokers watching us everywhere, and I don’t want to 'do' my brief!” The dogs are barking Queen’s March for the Avondale Stakes, but on Wanganui form Ballymena has only to leave the mark on even terms to finish in front of her. Ballymena was left from here to Newton King’s at Wanganui. and then finished right up third. Last year Solfanello won the Otaki Flying in a jog with 9.8, but to-day he has 10.5. On his ’Stralian form he hasn't a ghost of a chance of beating Passionless and Probate at the weights. It looks as if Messrs. Gleeson and Byrne will never get their thousand guineas back with Pente. While being worked at Ellerslie on Monday the Demosthenes mare broke down, and it is feared that her shoulder is broken. In Wanganui you hear nothing but 'Dime Fox for the Avondale Cup. The Imported horse finished right up fourth each day at Wanganui, and if Fred Tilley thinks he is worth taking to Avondale you may depend he is worth having on your side. The Parliamentary Handicap winner Is very fit. The jumpers engaged at Avondale to-day are not a very flash lot, and Volo and Alteration may show up best in the Grey Lynn Hurdles. Thiganthu. who won the Autumn Steeples (3 miles) with 9st. at the Great Northern meeting, and beat a big field, should go well in the Hack Steeples at Avondale. Old Mattock is a lazy customer, and A. McDonald’s easy going style of riding docs not. suit him. as was proved once more at Awapuni this week, when the horse lost a race by being allowed to drop too far astern in the early stages. With a vigorous horseman aboard to-day Mattock should be heard of at Otaki. On Wanganui form Pillage appears to hold a mortgage over the Maiden Plate at Otaki, and Mark Time will be another hot order in the Otaki Hack Handicap. Vindictive should carry big money In the Welter Hack Handicap. Tick off Mongokino (All Black—Mongonul) and Lady Rene (Treadmill —Rene) to also run well at the meeting. Admiral Codrington, having gone to Auckland. may be expected to show up in the Avondale Cup, but whether he will have better luck than he did last year, when he finished third with 7.11 to Molyneaux (7.13) and Mangamahoe (7.3) remains to be seen. While granting that the Admiral Is a better horse this season than last, it unust be remembered that he has a good horse’s weight, 8.6, and that his past performances are not a patch on those of Tame Fox, who has the same impost, Apart from the big guns, whose doings have already been published In the cables, quite a number of other New Zealand-bred horses have been winning races in ’Stralia recently. Hurry Up (Advance —Monette) won two races at Belmont Park; Merry Knight (Mountain Knight— Merry Gain) scored at a pony meeting; and Broken Melody (Clarenceux—Carol Singer) won at Kensington on August 30. This week’s Sydney papers are plastered all over with “I-told-you-so” references to Beauford’s defeat of Gloaming in the Chelmsford Stakes. Beauford being hailed as "a king,” and "the greatest Australian racehorse,” etc., ad nauseuin. One paper came out with a series- of caricatures entitled, "Beauford’s ; Moods,” the last of the series representing the Newcastle horse with a sly grin on his face, and below was the query, "What did I do to Gloaming?” Possibly, after the result of the Hill Stakes, in which Gloaming made Beauford look like a hearse-tugger, the picture will be revised!

In discussing the defeat of Gloaming only one Sydney paper that the writer has perused gives our champion even ordinary credit for his performance at Randwick. The Bulletin points out that Gleaming had all the worst of tne deal, having to beat horse after horse in turn, galloping, in the cut-up going (it had been raining and the course was heavy) next to the rails, while Beauford bowled along easily on the better going further out. The writer finishes up by expressing his Intention of being on Gloaming in the Hill Stakes, and, as the cables have since informed us, his judgment proved correct. It happened at Awapuni on Wednesday, just as the jockeys were being hoisted for the principal steeplechase. "Who is this Mason on Projector? I don't know him,” said one sport. Up spoke the cynic, "Nol And I’ll bet a dollar Mason doesn’t know Projector either I” Those who were aware that the Bulls horse had never yet completed the course In a jumping event, and had nearly annihilated A. McDonald and E. Copestake in his recent efforts, could appreciate the cynic’s remarks. Royal Present, who is one of the most discussed horses in Auckland, is an Australianhred four-year-old gelding by Beragoon— Royal Pet, and was presented by Mr. E. W. Alison tc Mr. W. Wilson when a yearling. Royal Present raced in the Dominion last season on nine occasions, winning three times and being third twice. His last two efforts were winning ones, and were as follows: Won Nelson Handicap, one mile, at the A.R.C. autumn meeting, with 8.9, beating 29 Won by three and a half lengths In Imin. 45 4-ssec. Won Auckland Welter Handicap, one mile, at autumn meeting, with 8.3, beating 20 others. Won by four lengths in imin. 43 2-ssec. Royal Present is reported to have wintered well, and is going well at Ellerslie. Possibly we will know how good he Is after to-day’s racing at Avondale. Sydney papers to hand this week give particulars of the phenomenal prices secured by Messrs. W. G. Stead, J. H. Jefferd. and J. .1. Corry for their horses submitted to auction RandwUk carl/ last w«sk< truthful (De-

mosthenes—-Lily White) started at 500gns. and quickly rose to ISOOgns.. at which sho was knocked down to Mr. C. Meyers, owner of the flying Caserta. Absurdum (Absurd—Holyrood) who had won so easily at Moorefield the previous week, started at 300gns. and quickly ran up to IpOOgns., eventually being secured by Mr. Jock Mackenzie for 1075gns. Ridiculous, the three-year-old daughter of Absurd and Ursula, fell to the bid of Mr. P. Cornwall, owner of Earl Palm, at 450gns. Radiant Lignt (Demosthenes—Sunlight) was then submitted, and starting at, 500gns., quickly rose to 1900 gns., but Mr. Stead would not accept the price offered, his reserve being 2500gns. It was announced by the auctioneer that prior to leaving for ’Stralia Mr. A. B. Williams and Mr. W. R. Kemball both offered 2000gns. for the daughter of Demosthenes. It was subsequently given out that Radiant Light was disposed of privately. There was not much demand for the two-year-old Embla (King Mark —Freya), but she brought her full value, 225 gns., being purchased by Mr. C. Kelson. The gelding Tommy Rot (Absurd—Lysistrata), who was sold for lOOgns. In Palmerston last season, fetched 375gn5., and Is now the property of Mr. R. Skelton. The lessons to be deducted from the above figures are that Demosthenes mares hre worth their weight in gold, and that anything by Absurd will fetch big money—in New Zealand or in 'Stralia.

The Absurd filly Mockery is stated to have gone wrong. Mr. Card has decided to retire her to the stud.