TURF NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3100, 25 January 1909, Page 5

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.") The warnings sounded by the Press throughout the Dominion from week to week anent the "stiff" riding indulged in by many ridars apparently go by unheeded. Previous to the Wellington meeting, sporting writers wrote suggesting that the Club should take effective steps relative to any inconsistent running that might take place at the fixture, and it would now appear that a sharper look-out than usual for delinquents was instituted. Everything appeared to go smoothly during the first two days, but on Saturday it was evident that something was wrong with the running in» the first event, the Wallaceville Welter. An inquiry was at once commenced by the Stewards, and the well-known rider, Syd. Reid, rider of Mr W. E. Bidwill's Consolation, was disqualified for twelve months for interference with Tauira, and for not trying to win on his mount. Only a fortnight ago Reid was appointed private trainer to Mr David Buick, of Palmerston North, and his prospects in the racing world were consequently very bright. The sentence imposed will be a very serious matter to one who ranked among the leading horsemen of the country. It is to be hoped that the Wellington Racing Club will yet go further into the inquiry, with a view to finding out the instigators of the inconsistent running and interference in the race. The evidence to be adduced might prove very interesting reading. In racing circles generally it is considered that the time for the appointment of Stipendiary Stewards is not far distant. Nearly every race meeting held goes to show the advisability of the institution of experts to take a hand in the racing, in order to clear the ground of a deal of what is known as inconsistent running. From week to week instances are brought to light of horses running practically last at one fixture, and at the next meeting winning comfortably in perhaps better company. It is certain that stipendiary Stewards would act much more keenly in the direction of detecting wrong doing that the majority of stewards can be expected to do, and in fact it is consequent on so many Club's officials being only too anxious that the rac ing shculd pass off smoothly, that inquiries are looked upon as inimical to the success of meetings. A certain class of owners, trainers and riders knowing this, lay out their plans accordingly, and only occasionally are

they brought to book for their misdemeanours. From time to time it is made more apparent that stipendiary, or advisory, stewards must be appointed before the necessary improvement in racing is effected, and it will redound to the credit of those Clubs who lay themselves out in earnest at the next Conference in order to aid in the work of much-needed reform. Mr C. O'Connor, of Auckland, is considered in many quarters to be the best starter in the Dominion. Personally, I think he is, and the remarks herein written are not made in a spirit of undue criticism, but more in the direction of assisting to solve a somewhat difficult problem. It is a well-known fact that many of our race-meetings are conducted in a manner that leaves little to be desired. The weak however, is that of the startpoitu, vgn at Trentham last week ing, aria * cag j ons when the biff there were i.* were kept several . of „ Mng posts. Apmmutes at the atar. brought into parently the barrier ha*> : start o vogue the system of stano». In my opinion the day has arrived when it is possible to geu large number of highly-trained, horses to literally toe the mark, and on the release of the tapes jump off in even line. When racing clubs arrive at a similar conclusion they will doubtless look for a more efficient means of despatching fields than the present style affords. A very great improvement in starting could be effected by the appointment of an assiptant starter. Such officials could be mounted, fields of horses lined up, walked down towards the starting barrier, and when in a satisfactory line within a few yards or feet of the post could be despatched by the starter at the barrier lever. Mr O'Connor's present mode of getting down from his lever post in order to straighten up unruly starters leaves much to be desired, because invariably by the time he regains his position the fields are again most uneven. By despatching fields from walking starts one very desirables improvement would be effected, that of preventing horses chances being, spoiled by the now every-day carrying awiy of the tapes. At Trentham last week good performers like Alt Red, Blue Ribbon, Merrie Zealand, and others became tangled up in the barrier tapes, and their chances of victory were consequently very prejudicially affected. In the meantime fhe least the clubs can do is'to allow a starter an assistant, who can do any necessary straightening up of horses required, and thus do away with the necessity of the official starter leaving bis post. ,