TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Ballybrit ana Trisox (BY “THE GRAFTER.")

Both Ballybrit and Trtsox will meet in the Grand National Steeplechase again, this being the first occasion that they have clashed since Ballybrit beat Trisox by three-quarters of a length in the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton at Easter. On that occasion Trisox looked to have the race won three furlongs from home, but he appeared to break down, and Ballybrit, who had to be hard ridden all the way, caught him in the last 100 yards. In the Western Trisox conceded Ballybrit 121 b, whereas in the Grand National Steeplechase Ballybrit has to give Trisox 111 b. Thus on Riverton running Trisox comes in on 231 b better terms; but, in spite of this difference, Ballybrit's chance will be much more highly rated than Trisox’s. Both are fine jumpers, but Ballybrit, who is in his prime, is doubtless the much better stayer. Gay Boa, who fell in the Great Western, now meets Ballybrit on 141 b better terms and Trisox on 91b better terms in the National.

Colonel Bogey. Colonel Bogey's winter form was scarcely up to expectations, but he was backed with confidence when he won at the Manawatu Hunt meeting. Ho is being treated to a short spell and may race.at the spring meetings.

Long Odds. One of the few systems which endures is that of backing a jockey irrespective of his mount. It has a lot to commend it, too. but followers of Victoria’s leading rider for the season. Harold Badger, have had little the best of it. They have won. certainly, but they laid long odds on themselves which just goes to show that there is no royal road to fortune, even if you do back some of the best horses in the land. During the season Badger has had 2G6 rides in the metropolitan area. He has won 47 races outright, and twice dead-heated for first. One of these showed backers a loss, as Manrico was at odds-on. Thus backers who invested a pound on each of Badger's mounts at starting price, would have received back £266 10s for an outlay of £266. In other words, they

laid 532/1 on themselves, showing a profit for the season. It was just ns well for his backers that Badger scraped home at Ascot on Snow White. This 33/1 winner made all the difference to the final total;. Incidentally, says a Melbourne paper, this was the crack rider's longest-priced winner, while Ajax at 12/1 on was the shortest price about any of his winners. Stormtost. The trotter Stormtost is in good condition for a serious campaign. In six starts during the past 12 months he has recorded five firsts, and looks capable of adding io his list of winnings over any distance. Stormtost is by Wrack from Dame Winnie. . Broadcasting of Races. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club, Mr F. Tyson asked if the Racing Conference had taken any steps to restrict the broadcasting of races, which seriously affected the attendances and totalisator investments at race meetings. Mr A. C. Hanlon, president of the club and a member of the executive of

the Racing Conference, stated that the matter had been fully considered by the conference, but the Broadcasting Board had insisted that it must continue. and now paid the Racing Conference £9OO and the Trotting Conference £6OO a year for the rights. Mr B. S. Irwin, a member of the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, added the information that these two sport-controlling bodies had no option but to accept the Broadcasting Board's offer, as the Government threatened to put through an Order in Council, legalising broadcasting from all courses if the offer were not accepted. New South Wales Statistics. Although the jockeys’ premiership for the 1939-40 racing season in New South Wales did not have as exciting a finish as in the pi’evious year, when the issue was decided only on the last day’s racing, the contest was remarkable for the fact that the four leading horsemen between them rode more than 400 winners, these figures being for metropolitan and provincial courses in the State only. W. Cook compiled 124 J points, including three dead-heats; E. McMenamin, 116 points, including two dead-heats; J. Duncan, 821 points, including three dead-heats; and D. Munro, 821 points, including three dead-heats. In addition, all these jockeys had winners on country courses and in.other States. The six horsemen who followed these in order were:—J. Coutts, 47; A. Knox, 43; M. McCarten, 42; R. James. 401; J. Thompson, the leading apprentice rider, 39; and A. Harvey, 331. The Rosehill trainer, A. G. Papworth, for the first time, headed the Sydney trainers’ list last season, his stable having accounted foir 341 wins, two of these having been secured on the last day of the season at Ascot. Papworth just headed F. T. Cush and J. W. McCurley, who had amassed 34 points. The value of stakes won by Papworth’s charges was £6168. F. T. Cush won £5483 and McCarley £4411. All these, however, were well below others in value of stakes won. The largest amount was won by B. R. Payten, whose 301 winners annexed £14.410. J. H. Abbs, with 13 winners, accounted for £9338, placing him a little ahead of G. Price, whose aggregate from 281 winners was £9116. Riccarton Candidates. Catalogue and Lactose left. Palmerston North en route to Riccarton yesterday. The former had gene through the daily routine in such determined fashion as to indicate that there is nothing amiss regarding his condition. Notwithstanding the poundage (10.11) he has to carry in the Winter Cup, many keen judges are of the opinion that he will take a lot of settling'. Should be in the Money. Another whose Riccarton prospects are discussed in a favourable light, is Sleeveless. Her work has convinced track habitues that she will bo hard to keep out of the money at the meeting. At Awapuni yesterday, in company with Anita Foe and Royal Hunting, she traversed seven furlongs, on the plough, in 1.31 3-5, Sleeveless showing to advantage. Nevertheless. Royal Hunting and Anita Foe can be ticked off to race prominently at the meeting.

RACING FIXTURES

August 13, 15, 17—C.J.C. Grand National. August 24.—Pakuranga Hunt. August 29—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. August 31—Taranaki Hunt. August 31.—Otago Hunt. September 5. 7. —Wanganui. September 14.—Ashburton County. September 14, 16. —Avondale. September 19, 21. —Geraldine. September 21. —Marton. September 28. —Ku row. September 28. —Foxton. September 28. 30.—Ohinemuri.