TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Millions Invested in Racing

(BY

“THE GRAFTER.")

The immense volumne of business done by the totalisators at racing meetings in the Dominion is shown in the statistics of the New Zealand Racing Conference for the 1939-40 season. The totalisators at galloping meetings handled £5,193,496 at 153 meetings covering 239 days. Of that sum £169,068 10s was invested on the trotting races which are common to many country meetings in the South Island. The figures are not complete, as twenty meetings had not been held when the statistics were compiled.

The total number of races run was 1668 for £381,678 5s in stakes. There were 124 trotting races for £13,695 in stakes. The 124 trotting races represent 151 days’ racing, 34 being run in the Canterbury district, 28 each in Dunedin and Greymouth, 30 in Southland, and 4 in the Wellington district.

The Auckland district is the bigges in the Dominion and 403 races wer< held on 54 days for £134,930 in stakes Wellington had 210 races on 27 day: for £59,910; Canterbury, 190 races oi 29 days for £51.649: Wanganui. 21! races on 30 days for £42.065; Dunedir 89 races on 15 days for £25,247; while Greymouth is the smallest racing district. holding 89 races on 15 days foi £8069. Trophies valued at £3069 15s were given in addition to the usual stakes while £52 15s was spent for the trotting races. Wellington leads in trophic: with £Bl6 15s. Auckland following with £720. Dunedin £459 10s. Wanganui £390, Hawkes Bay £379 ss. Taranaki £2BO, and Canterbury £278 ss. The Auckland Racing Club is the leading racing chib in the Dominion, its six meetings, spread over fifteen days, for £62,20u in stakes, resulting in £834.060 being put through the totalisator. Wellington comes next with four meetings on eleven days for £44,100, and £632 463 10s in totalisator returns. The Wellington figures are not yet complete, as the winter meeting has

yet to be held. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s figures are four meetings on ten days for £36,485 and £509,52'3 in totalisator returns. Success of N.Z. Sires. Prince Pointer, one of the very few sires by Logan Pointer, was represented by three wins at the South Tasmanian Trotting Club's meeting on June 8, and a few days earlier, at the Hobart meeting, Great Hope had three winners. Successful candidates by Prince Pointer were Betty Huon. who scored twice, and Duke Pointer. Braeside Lad, Great Chimes and Master Hope were Great Hope’s representatives. Master iff ope beat Ahuriri Rose, by Ahuriri, -jtyho in New Zealand was in the same (Stables as Great Hope, both winning 'the Trotting Cup for J. Bryce.

At Strathelbyn, South Australia, this month, Peterwah, one of the best trotters to race in New Zealand, was represented in the list of winners by Peterwah Direct, who won the Trotters’ Handicap, two miles. Concliff, who won races in the Dominion for the late W. J. Tomkinson, including the Dunedin Trotting Cup, sired two winners at the same meeting, Betty Cardiff and Franz Finale. Real Guy, sire of many winners in New Zealand, was represented at Harold Park. Sydney, by Biddy Guy. who won the Giobe Trotters’ Handicap.

Old Debt Paid. About five years ago a speculator in Melbourne ran up liabilities amounting to £IOOO. and as he did not attend the subsequent settling the bookmakers concerned wiped ofi' the transactions as bad debts. There was a pleasant surprise for them at the settling on a recent Monday, as .the backer attended and paid off every penny of his liabilities. As debts of honour are not recoverable at law, the speculator easily could have evaded payment, but he preferred to do the honourable thing and meet his obligations as soon as cir-; cumstances permitted him to do so.

Mainlaw's “Comeback.” The ten-year-old Mainlaw. who had not won a race for over four years, and who has staged a “comeback” in Australia, was purchased by Miss K. Ryan for seven guineas. It was intended to use him as a hack, but trainer G. D. Rolls thought that he could win races with him and he was given salt water treatment. Two wins at Menangle and the fact that he ran sixth to Marabou, in the Melbourne Cup. of 1935, have prompted Miss Ryan to enter him for this year's Melbourne Cup. Mainlaw previously was trained by W. Gregan, G. Price and K. Duggan. For Gregan he won the November Handicap at Warwick Farm, as a five-year-old. George Price had no luck with him. the horse breaking down on two occasions, while Duggan also found him difficult to prepare. His present trainer. G. D. Rolls, was at one time a champion buckjumping rider. While Mainlaw has burst into the limelight as the result of his amazing comeback, the 13-year-old Quanavon, who was also purchased to do duty as a hack in the Newcastle district, is still winning races. He recently won four in succession, and is reported to be sound in wind and limb. Owned by Mr 11. Graham, of Maitland. Quanavon has been racing since he was a two-year-old. and while he retains his speed I he will be kept racing.

Ajax and High Caste. Although a match between Ajax and High Caste at the Red Cross meeting at Randwick was mooted, and would be an attraction, there is little likelihood of its taking place. Two of Ajax's part-owners are opposed to the idea and it is probable that others interested in, the ownership of the chestnut will not favour it. The Hill Stakes, on Red Cross day. gives Ajax and High Caste the opportunity of a run. if it is considered necessary to help them in their preparation for the A.J.C. spring meeting, though before then a race for both can be had in the Chelmsford Stakes at Tattersall’s meeting. The winner of that incurs 71b. penalty for the Hill Stakes, but that should not stand in the way of either Ajax or High Caste running in the Hill Slakes, less perhaps in the case of the former than of the latter.

Wrecker In Form. The New Zealand-bred pacer Wrecker broke a long run of outs when he won the High-Class Handicap at Gloucester Park. Perth, this month. After winning four races and being placed 11 times for Mr A. McLean, he was purchased by Mr E. E. Watkins and lost all form, being leased to Mr J. E. Hughes, after being 27 times unplaced. When in New Zealand. Wrecker performed well, notching 11 races and 16 minor placings. He won over all distances and took a two-mile record of 4.21. Earnings Of Plutus.

Without gaining a win in 18 races, Plutus earned £BSO in place money this season. In the 1938-39 year he registered three firsts and seven placings, worth £2IOO. in 20 starts. During the 1937-38 season Plutus had 18 races, winning eight and being placed four times for £1135. which makes his earnings for the last, three years £4095. His complete record is 16 wins and 22 places for £4785 10s.

Plutus, who is by Nelson Derby' from Fanny Logan, was foaled in 1931 and was bred by Mr A. R. Gudsell at Ashburton. Early in his career he entered the stable of C. S. Donald at Belfast. A patient policy was adopted with him. it being realised that his physique required time to enable him to strengthen' sufficiently to carry his speed. That the policy was a wise one is shown by his record of successes during the past three years. Winter Hurdles. For the Winter Hurdles, 2.] miles, at the Wellington meeting the followingnominations have been received: — Hessketoon, Aussie Ra, Blue Tiger, Esperance Bay, Limbohm, High Peer. Araboa, Padishah, Curie, Erination. Turaki, Jewelled Girdle, Clarion Call. Student Prince, El Meynell, Kaiwaka, Survalyon, Makoi, Queen’s Dream. Hirangi, King Rey, Old Surrey, Hunting Chorus, Soho, Smoke Screen, Mataroa.

Wellington Steeplechase. The following are the entries for the Wellington Steeplechase, about 3.', miles: Padishah, Brigadore, En Tour. Slayer. Cottingham. Ballybrit, Clarion Call, Gay Boa, Glenvane. Smiling Thru, Makoi, Floodlight, Small Boy. Hirangi, Lactose. Flashlight. Santoft. Nightbound. Chat. Turaki. Biform. Sale of Mr Standfast. The imported horse Mr Standfast, who has served two seasons at the stud in New Zealand, has been sold by Mr Martin Tims, Te Awamutu. to a Queensland Breeder. The price paid is reported to be very substantial, and the deal was made through the agency of Wright, Stephenson and Company. Limited.

Mr Standfast, a bay horse bred in England in 1931, is by Buchan from Cinna, and a half-brother to Beau Pere, Dink and Gay Shield. A fullbrother, Buckler, won the Ascot New Stakes.

RACING FIXTURES

June 29. —Dannevirke Hunt. June 29. —Oamaru. July C —Oamaru. July 6 —Hawke’s Bay Hunt. July 9. 11, 13—Wellington. July 20—Waimate District Hunt. July 20 —Manawatu Hunt. July 27—Rangatikei Hunt. July 27—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt.