TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Practice of Rigging Races

(BY

“THE GRAFTER”)

The practice of rigging races appears to be common in Brisbane, according to a statement made by the chairman of the Queensland Turf Club (Mr P. J. O’Shea) to members of the club at the annual meeting. It is causing worry to the executives of each race club. It was found that one of the best outsiders had been backed by agents on the morning of the race at long prices, and the “riggers" then secured the scratching of better-fancied candidates. The result was a race which had nine or ten acceptors dwindled to five or six starters. The practice, however, is by no means restricted to Queensland, as it is common in some of the other States. In Victoria it is done through the four placed horses cards. Inducements are held out to unscrupulous owners to scratch horses which figure conspicuously in the cards and are likely to cause loss to the sponsors of the cards.

In. one of the other States owners who scratch favoured horses after the acceptances for races have been declared are asked by the stewards to explain their reason for withdrawing their horses. The racing clubs have the power to withdraw the licence of trainers implicated in these matters, and they also have the power to exclude from raccourses persons whose presence is believed by them to be undesirable. The position of clubs in that respect was established by a decision given by the Privy Council in an action in which the Australian Jockey Club was concerned a year or so ago. Some of the racing clubs seem reluctant to use their power, but it would be in the interests of racing if they made freer use of it. Dividend. Dividend has been given a fairly easy time by T. H. Gillett. He raced well at Riccarton, winning the Jumpers’ Flat and being the runner-up to Esperance Bay in the Sydenham Hurdles. Dividend will probably be given a run at Rangiora or Motukarara to fit him for the hurdle races at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Last season he won the Rangiora Handicap. Times Have Changed. A dip into the records of 40 years ago reveals that owners at that time raced for stakes that would be given a cold reception today. In the spring and summer of the 1900-1901 season, the totals for a full day’s programme at different South Island meetings were as follows:—Kurow £lBB, Geraldine £2OO, Gore £205, Oamaru £205, Riverton £225, Ashburton £265, Invercargill £295, Dunedin £305, . and Washdyke £370.. Not even the most insignificant club in the Dominion today offers programmes of that kind. Divisions and Brackets. Divisions for the Maiden Handicap at the Ohinemuri meeting are: — First Division. —Radiant Vaals, Kingcraft, Kaloola, Dorset, Acute, Marie’s Choice, Miss Ridicule, Laughing Fox. Lady Pay, Acre’s Beauty, Hine-iti, Bournemouth, Te Monoplane, Aetolia, Tea Blossom. Second Division. —Royal Musk, Radiant Bay, Durvach, Lady Thea, Royal Pilot, Auburn Lu, Miss Eureka, Bamboo, Flying Jay, Mia Regina, Aberdovey, Nan Vaals, Forest Bridge, Empire Rose. Brackets: Royal Musk and Kingcraft Marie's Choice and Royal Pilot. Tea Blossom and Empire Rose, Aetolia and Forest Bridge, Te Monoplane and Nan Vaals.

NOT IMPRESSIVE

TWO-YEAR-OLDS AT AVONDALE

On the whole the two-year-olds who ran at the Avondale Jockey Club’s spring meeting were not impressive. Some were lacking in size, and, although age and further training is likely to do a good deal for most of them, few gave the impression that they possess much merit. As the winner of the Avondale Stakes, Miss Baffles took the principal honours, and she won far more decisively than Cambria, who took the Juvenile Handicap on the second day. Cambria did not run on the first day, and the performances were difficult to compare, especially as the going was different on the two days, being soft on the second. Miss Baffles is a neat filly by imported Baffles, son of Blandford and Waffles, from Tractrix, by Tractor, son of The Tetrarch, and she was assisted to victory by the fact that she began very smartly from No. 2 at the barrier, the inside horses having much the best of it at the half-mile post. Moreover, she was very forward, and in condition might not be as susceptible to improvement as some of those she defeated. She was purchased after the race by Mr E. G. Bridgens for £5OO, so that she was a good investment for Mrs F. J. Farrell, who' bought her for 90gns. at the Trentham yearling sales and received £250 for the win. The family to which Miss Baffles belongs is not in the Stud Book. The dam Tractrix is by Tractor from Guizark, by Nautiform from Petrovna, by Stepiak. Petrovna was a very consistent performer, doing most of her racing in the South Island and winning 36 races. Miss Baffles is the first of the stock of Baffles to race. Owned by Mrs R. Carrington, of Hamilton, Baffles is out of Waffles, dam of five winners of £45,327. including Manna (Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, etc., and £23,354), Sandwich (St. Leger and £17,020), Parwig and Bunwoory. Baffles was sold as a yearling for 6000gns. and was only lightly raced in England before being purchased for New Zealand. The Nursery Handicap winner Cambria is a very nice bay colt by Cambria Park from Recipio, but he was evidently not thought forward enough, and paid the largest dividend of the meeting, over two score. The breeder, Mr E. A. Price, has bred from Recipio only every second year, and Cambria is the third of her progeny, the previous ones being the sprinters Bronwen, who won > the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie, and 1 Verulam, who recently made an au-1 spicious debut by winning a double ati New Plymouth. Recipio is by Lucid-, lus, whose daughters are doing very: well at the stud, from Recoup, by Hierarch from Agatha, by Nelson, dual winner of the Auckland Cup, from Sister Agnes (imp.), from Rosicrucian. It is a branch of the No. 2 family that has produced some good winners, and Cambria will disappoint if he fails to prove a very smart performer. When he did hi? preliminary Cambria appeared green, yet in the race he jumped out very quickly and galloped truly to hold off Panoni, who had had the benefit of public experience on the first day.' He was purchased privately as a yearling by Mr T.-Impey and is being trained by F. Smith, who is about again after an operation. Smith had a great run of success in the first half of last season, and with the team he has under his control it is probable that the stable will be well in the limelight againthis year. Clifford to Return. Private advice has been received that the New Zealand jockey, L. H. Clifford, who has been in South Africa during the last 12 months, is to return to Auckland shortly. Clifford has ridden with a good deal of success in South Africa, and it is not yet known whether he will return there later or remain in New Zealand. However, he will probably apply for a licence as soon as he returns, and do some further riding in the Dominion.

Not Consistent, According to track reports, Kilrobe is one of the most brilliant gallopers in training at Riccarton, but when it comes to racing does , not measure up according to track form. In the majority of cases brilliancy against the watch fails against the test of opposition under colours, as the watch-break-er seldom has anything in reserve. Nightdress. His form has proved that Nightdress can stay a mile and a-quarter, but he has been branded as inconsistent. One reason why that is so may be due to a top-heavy frame that cannot bo carried over a distance. With two or three sweating gallops and racing to reduce his bodily bulk, Nightdress might prove capable of winning any. race on the calendar. So far he has been raced into condition instead of being trained into racing condition. At the Geyaldine meeting on Saturday he ran a poor race. Mitchelson Cup. The following are the entries for the Auckland Racing Club's Mitchelson Cup, IJm: Royal Appellant, Joan Peel, Philemup, Coronation, Erlick, Mintlaw, Esquire, The Cardinal, Kelly, Auto Sweep. Golden Sheila, Royevrus, Our Jean, Beau Repaire, Hunting Bee, Gamos, Te Kawiti, Mazir, The Dozer, Proud Fox, Lady Furst, Sly Fox, Clinch, Milanion, Wildore, Besiege, Floodtide, Winsome Lu, Cheval de Volee. Auckland Classics. Horses left in the Auckland Racing Club’s classic races after the declaration of first forfeit are as follow: — Great Northern Guineas, three-year-olds, lm: Huntola, Lord Mascot, Beau Leon, Sir Cameron, Phaleron, Cillas, Tavern Gay, Merry Meer, br c Lysander —Lady Grant, Lou Rosa, Sir Beau, Paymaster, b f Vaals —Miss Dazzle, Rich Blood, Belle Cane, ch f Defoe — Malmsey, Aberdovey, Marshall Hall, blk f Foxbridge—Prolyxo, Happicoat. Blandisher, Travel Talk, Radiant Vaals, Chain Acre.

Welcome Stakes, two-year-olds, sf: Nettarion, Panoni, Proteus, Minko, Borak, Nuna, Transmitter, Prince Plato, Pay Roll, Purple Vermeer, Bright Lady, Funny Fox, Old Mac. Kawariki, Theatre, Tinketoon, Miss Baffles, River Plate.

Beau Vite’s Win. The additional £5OO donated to the prize of £750 for the Hill Stakes, made a welcome bonus for Mr Ralph Stewart when Beau Vite won■ on Saturday. The winner's share was £1025. With Beaulivre and Beau Vite at present showing the best w.f.a. form in Sydney, from High Caste, and Tidal Wave winning the Rosehill Guineas. New Zealand bloodstock is again getting a wonderful advertisement. All those horses were sold as yearlings at the National Sales.

RACING FIXTURES September 28—Kurow. September 28.—Foxton. September 28, 30. —Ohinemuri.