AUSTRALIAN RACING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1939, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN RACING

NEW ZEALAND ENTRANTS. DEFAULTER LAME. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 11. New Zealand horses are well represented in the Hill Stakes at the Rosehill meeting next Saturday. The top- ■ weight is Defaulter, 9.7, which includes a 71b. penalty. Gold Rod, St. Constant and Royal Chief are at 9.3, Te Hero and Respirator 9.0, Beaurepaire 7.12, and Pearl of Asia 7.2. Defaulter, however, will miss this event and may even miss other important spring races owing to his off foreleg having filled badly, accompanied by considerable neat. He had a hard race oh Saturday on a hard track due to the recent dry weather. If his preparation is interfered with racing folk will be greatly disappointed as they have a soft spot in their hearts for him. New Zealanders in the Camelia Stakes, in which the topweight is Brazandt, 9.4, are Te Hero, 8.3, and Bonheur and De Pere 7.2. High Caste, Reading, Wilson and Bonny Loch, are entrants for the Rosehill Guineas, which is likely to prove an attractive race. Paddy the Rip, 9.0, and Moorsotis and Glenora Boy 8.9, figure among the weights for the Highweight Handicap, in which Brazandt, 10.13, and Speardale, 10.8, head the list. RACING FIXTURES September 16, —Foxton Racing Club. September 16. —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 16, 18. —Avondale Jockey Club. September 21, 23.-—Geraldine Racing Club. September 23.—Marton Jockey Club. September 30. —Otaki-Maori Racing' Club. September 30, October 2.—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7. —Dunedin Jockey Club. October 5, 7.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. October 9. —Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. October 12, 14—Masterton Racing Club. October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey Club. ILLEGALJETTING DOMINION NOT THE ONLY PLACE. New Zealand is not the only dominion where illegal betting is affecting racing. In its leader columns the “Australasian” says: “Starting-price betting has increased to an alarming extent in Victoria during the last few years. It has been causing the racing clubs much concern, -as while people are able to bet without having to go to a race meeting there will be a steady decline in attendances. The clubs are powerless to check the evil, and although they have made representations to the Government on the subject nothing has been done to curb the activities of the illegal bookmakers. At the annual meeting of the Victoria Racing Club the acting chairman of the club (Mr R. Turnbull) stressed the danger of starting-price betting to racing. There will'be general agreement with his statement that ‘if the public does not continue to take an,interest in racing for its own sake and come to the courses to wateh the races as well as bet, then the sport and bloodstock in this country will become something to be ashamed of or will, cease to be.’ Legislation restricting starting-price betting in Queensland has proved effective, and, since its enactment, racing has become prosperous, and the clubs, instead of struggling for an existence are making large profits and raising stakes to a payable level. “Similar legislation, although not quite so far-reaching as that in Queensland, has been in force in New South Wales, and has brought excellent results. The need for similar restrictions in Victoria has long been apparent, but the Government so far cannot be convinced of its urgency. If the present high standard of Victorian racing is to be maintained illegal betting, which has become almost a social evil must be speedily stamped out.”