TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE How They Beat the Bookmaker AMERICAN PUNTERS FOUND RADIO CAME IN HANDY « MINIATURE RECEIVING SET CONCEALED ON PERSON

(BY

“CARBINE.”)

If ever bookmakers and betting shops should be licensed in New Zealand, all sorts, of schemes for winning would, no doubt, be evolved by not over-particular punters. Radio communication would, of course, play a big part, especially in connection with meetings held any distance away from where the bookie and his shop were operating. However, it is hoped that if ever bookmakers are licensed in the Dominion, they will be able to look after themselves better than the St Louis (American) layer who is referred to in the following statement from a recent American exchange:—

“One really can beat the races, but it requires a little equipment.' “Four persons, one a- woman, were under arrest because of their shining success in winning bets from Irving Lee, described as a bookmaker. “Their equipment, according to Lee, was a short-wave receiving and sending set installed in an automobile parked outside his establishment. • “On this set, one of the men would get the winner of a race a minute or two before Lee got it by telephone. Then, according to the bookmaker, the man would rebroadcast it to the woman inside the ‘bookie’s’ place. She then would place a bet of £5 to £lO on the winning horse, “Lee could not be sure, because he was a gentleman and that forbade a personal search, but he was strongly suspicious that the woman had concealed under her bonnet, which she always wore slanted over one ear, a miniature receiving set with an earphone fastened to her’ hidden ear. “Either that, he said, or the set was concealed elsewhere on her person. “Why, they’ve taken me down for five or six thousand dollars in the last two months,” he declared. “One of the men, said to be the father of the woman, was beaten by Lee I

and his brother, police said, when they found him in an automobile with the short wave receiving and sending set. They chased the woman from their place. “All four denied they would impose in this manner on a hard-working bookie.” ABOUT HORSES SILVER QUEX WILL SOON BE READY. Although Silver Quex has only been recommissioned for a brief period, she has come on fast and will soon be ready to race. This sister to Round Up shaped well in a work-out over half a mile recently, and it is quite evident that she has lost none of her speed. As Silver Quex has shown winning form up to a mile she should not be hard to place when properly seasoned.

Mr J. Clothier, Matamata, owner of Royal Dance and Te Haka, recently purchased a yearling chestnut colt by Hunting Song—Billikins. He is a wellgrown youngster and it is intended to race him as a two-year-old. The same

owner’s brood mare by Cape Horn from Lilock produced a colt foal to Siegfried recently. This is a particularly well-bred youngster, as his dam. Lilock. is by Lirnond from Lovelock. One of Lilock’s sons realised 1400gns at the national yearling sales last January. SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. A recommendation that win-and-.place totalisators, with a unit of 5s or less, should be installed on all racecourses is included in the report of the committee established by the New South Wales Government to consider., the conversion of proprietarj' racing clubs to non-proprietary. The Act under which the committee functions provides that the clubs shall convert to non-proprietary by 1943, but the committee has recommended that the change over should be completed by the close of 1940. The report of the committee on the forfeiture of the Saturday meetings by the Roseberry and Victoria Park clubs recommends that those clubs should be allotted the Wed - nesday meetings of the Ascot and Kensington Clubs in exchange, which would give each club 17 or 18 meetings each year, instead of 12 as at present.

The victory of Tohunga,by Posterity, from Impetuous, in the Durban Gold Cup last month marked the most important success achieved in South Africa by a New Zealand-bred horse, where many have proved consistently good performers. Tohunga was purchased by Sir J. B. Robinson at the national sale of thoroughbred yearlings at Trentham in 1936, and last season won several races, the most important being the Umgeni Handicap at Durban. He attracted special attention in the Berea Handicap, when, after being badly checked at a critical stage, he was narrowly beaten by Brainstorm. The Durban Gold Cup, run over two miles, is the most valuable event in the Union, and carried a stake 11 ' of £2,300, and gold cup valued at £200.| Tohunga raced in the interest of his j trainer, R. Whiteford, who came into possession of the horse when Sir J. B. Robinson presented his horses to the various trainers in charge of them before he left ’last year on an extended overseas tour. RACimFIXTURES 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. -wrr.fjty I