CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1940, Page 3

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

A Revolutionary Change Mooted

(BY “THE GRAFTER.’’)

“In the early part of the present century,'’ said one Canterbury racing authority, “the Auckland Trotting Club found it advantageous to include galloping races on its programme, including events for ponies, hurdlers, and steeplechasers. With the arrival of more horses in the district the gallopers were gradually squeezed out. “There- is no gainsaying the fact that the trotting races helped some of the racing clubs to survive during the depression years, but of late there has been a persistent agitation on the part of a number of owners and trainers to have trotting races deleted from the programmes.

“Just in the same way that the trotters have helped the gallopers, some of the weaker trotting clubs, which race in isolated districts and do not have enough horses to ensure the success of their meetings, could be helped if galloping races were provided, but the trotting authorities have maintained that they have not enough permits and it is very doubtful whether they will entertain the idea of the inclusion of galloping races, even for struggling clubs. Rather, they are more likely to advocate the transfer of permits to more deserving clubs.” Trainer’s Bad Luck. The Greenmeadows trainer, Harry Greene, has not enjoyed the best of luck with his charges this season. Ear]j' in the spring his star performer, Gay Son, died. Later, Big Dook was returned to his owner’s property, where the promising hurdler, Peter Beckford, is also spelling, and his ‘'•Safest misfortune is the loss of the serAn'ces of the brilliant hurdler Charade, who is now to be treated to a well earned rest. To replace Charade, Greene has taken in hand her fullbrother. Father's Choice, who is to be prepared for hurdle races. Although built on more generous lines than his relative, he is many removes from her calibre as a hurdler. Charles Edward. Charles Edward, who raced unluckily on a number of occasions this season, has been given a let up and will not appear again until next season, when he should develop into a useful handicap performer. Trainer Swinerd has taken in hand a yearling full-brother to Charles Edward. A fine looking gelding, now much bigger than his brother, he impresses as one likely to develop into a useful sort though he may not be of much account as a two-year-old.

Death of Brood Mare.

Stonyhurst Stud has lost one of its brood mares, as Ball Dress died a few days ago. Ball Dress, who was only 12 years old, was a sister to Cricket Bat, by Winning Hit —Equipment, by Martian —Tomorrow, by Bill of Portland. As a two-year-old she was placed several times and won a number of races at three years, including the Douro Cup, a rich mile hack event at Trentham, followed by a nine-furlong race at Awapuni, in open company. She had several foals, the most successful being Night Dress (by Nightmarch), and she was in foal to Solicitor General when she died.

Trotting races at galloping meetings in country districts of the South Island are common, but galloping races at trotting meetings went out of fashion long ago, though at one time l they figured prominently in the programmes., The Marlborough Racing Club is sponsoring a movement that may eventually bring back the old order and help some of the weaker trotting clubs to run more x successful meetings. '

The Wellington District Clubs, on behalf of Marlborough, will present the following remit to the annual meeting of delegates, to the New Zealand Racing Conference in July:—That the following paragraphs be added to Rule 219: “With the approval of the New Zealand Trotting Conference in writing, first had and obtained, any trotting club may hold not more than two hack races for gallopers on each day of any meeting.. Where hack races are included in the programme’of any trotting meeting, the average'value of the stakes for such races shall not exceed the average value of the stakes for all races on the programme other than such-hack events and each day's principal race, and shall -at least be equal to the average stakes allotted to trotting events to be held at such meeting after excluding the principal event of each day.”