CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Uniform Type of Barrier Needed

LESS CONSIDERATION FOR BAD STARTERS

(BY “THE GRAFTER.”)

There may be pros and cons in favour or against the different types of barrier in use. but common sense strongly suggests that the Racing Conference should select a barrier for general use and insist on all clubs using it. It should also be enforced on starters that horses noted for misbehaviour at the post should be granted far less consideration than what has been the case up to the present. Those holding up a start receive more consideration than the well-hehaved lot, and

hence we have the ridiculous state of affairs that the bad horses really get more consideration than the good ones.

Bookmakers’ Guarantee Fund

In the past when bookmakers have been licensed by the various clubs they have been required to provide a bond, or a guarantee by another bookmaker. With the object of relieving individual bookmakers of providing this guarantee a scheme has been devised whereby all guarantees in future will be undertaken by the Victorian Bookmakers’ Council. A similar scheme has been in operation in Western Australia for six years, and there has been only a very small default in that period by a bookmaker in the Lcger.

A Splendid Achievement. What must be regarded as an achievement in turf annals in Australia is that of Mr R. J. Chandler, of Bellerive, a Hobart suburb. Mr Chandler. who owns and trains a string of horses, has had the pleasure of winning the Longford Cup in four successive years. It was won this year by Old Days, who scored her second successive win, and on the two previous occasions his grey gelding, Fern Gully, was the winner. Not only did Old Days repeat her success of last year, but she clipped 3-ssec off the race record established by her on that occasion. When Mr Chandler received the trophy on New Years' Day, he gave it back to the club for a future race—a practice he has invariably adopted.

Only Once. As far as search can find, Mr W. E. Hazlett is the only amateur trainer who has ever saddled'up a winner of the Dunedin Cup.

Cup and Publicans.

When Sir Modred won the Dunedin Cup, two miles and a distance, as a three-year-old with 7.10. after an interval of one race, he was saddled up again for the Publicans' Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. and ran third to Milarious and Natator.

Bridging 66 Years. One of the visitors to Wingatui on Thursday, to witness the race for the Dunedin Cup. saw Lurline in 1874 win the first Dunedin Cup that was run on the Forbury course. This was Mr T. M. B. Muir, of Broad Bay.

A Great Horse. Although the angle at which pictures are taken often makes them deceptive. there is no doubting the paralysing run that High Caste must have unwound to get up in time to snatch victory on the post. In reference to the performance, the starter, Mr Jack Henry, said. “The Orr Stakes was in doubt right up to the last 50 yards. What a great horse High Caste must be to do what ho did."

“Hoodoo Spot.” It is estimated that had apprentice jockey Bill Lappin lived he would have been worth £lO,OOO on his 21st birthday, May 3, 1942. The spot where his mount. Passport, fell at Randwick is known as the “Hoodoo Spot," for it was there that Ballymena and Homer broke their legs and were destroyed. It was also near the same spot that Max Papworth met with fatal injuries.