TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 16

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

Those -who are likely to oe following £ho fortunes of Redfern at the V.A.T.C. and V.R.C. autumn meetings will ba interested to learn that W. FouMham is 6aid to have been engaged to ride him.

BuHawarra, which is back at Melbourne after an unsuccessful visit to England, is to be trained again. The old 'chaser is undergoing the regulation period of detention jn quarantine, and at the conclusion of that he will go into H. Harrison's ■stable to be put into shape.

An exchange pointe out that during the last 46 years there have been but three permanent handicappers for the iV-R.C The late Mr. E. T. Barnard acted from 18J0 to 1802, the late Mr. F. F, Dakin from 1892 to 1903, and Mr. W. A. Menzies for the remainder of the period.

At a'TBCSit meeting of the members of the Easing Industries Defence Association of Melbourne, the secretary and organiser reported that 17,426 members had been enrolled, including owners, breeders, trainers, laeecouiße attendants, caterers' employees, produce merchants, saddlers, and others interested in horse racing.

The Western Australian Turf Club has decided to curtail expenses for -next eeason, and hae announced that the Western Australian Derby .will be worth. lOOOsovs, instead of 1500sovb, and the Kaxrifcafta Plate will be Tsosovs, a reduction of 250sove on the prize-money distributed for this event last December.

•That fine old performer Trafalgar, «Mch has 'had several seasons at the ~eSad, is to be offered for sale early next month, and that would appear to indicate " that his owners have no further use for lim. During his turf career Trafalgar ran in 59 races, won 24, was second 11 times, and third on six occasions, and won in stakes £22,111.

The Australian Cup market has been somewhat unsettled owing to the adverse~*eports concerning Patrobas, who long occupied the position of a shortpriced favourite. Late last week Patrobas was the subject of hostile reports, but, though these prepared his supporters for disaster in the shape of an early retirement from the race, the "ring" refused to take any liberties with Idmf and Patrobas recovered most of his lost ground. The threatened withdrawal ot Patrobas caused the advance of the second favourite, Grand Fleet, ■white the odds against Carlita, The Christian Brother, and Westcourt, were also shortened, though really without any move in their favour to warrant it. Still, Patrobas and Grand Fleet were some points removed from the nearest of the ofii«rs, _ and the former was most in demand.

The "Sew York Herald" recently had ] a most interesting article relative to ] sl &6rses form oitthetEur? - after meeting wit?* bad accidents. It is mentioned that Vfaterbird broke his ihip-bone near the socket w&en running in a race at Morris- Park, and yet his recovery •was so thorough tliat a season later 'he was America's champion on the Turf. A horse named South Trimble had his skull so badly smashed when he was thrown against the sails in the Saratoga Handicap of 1903 that Mr. Drake wished to have him destroyed, but a veterinary surgeon effected a marvellous "save." When South Trimble re-appeared in public after his mishap; be had a silver-plated frontal-bone, but. that did not prevent him winning many races. Hanover was "nerved," an inch of the metacarpal nerve being removed, and after the operation he was as good, if not better, than prior to the operation.

During the past week tie quotations on the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup have undergone several alterations, in two instances as the Tβenlt of rumour, and in the other because of business that in each case appeared to possess the ring of genuineness, says a Sydney exchange. Woorak's stock suffered a temporary slump because of an adverse report, but, though, that horse "was once knocked hack in the Newmarket list, he recovered his position almost as rapidly as be lost it, ' and now disputes favouritism with Cyk]an, ■who, simultaneously with the ruling out of Syrian, firmed in the quotalions, -urple King, one of the 6.7 division, and a maiden, was the subject of much backing by his owner. He had a place -with the rank outsiders, and "for once in a way it was the owner who got the cream of the market. Purple King nras'ibacked 1 to win a large stake at most extravagant odds, and, therefore, that colt's nest appearance in public will be •watched with much interest. Eedfern has been nibbled at only, but both Maharajah and Red Signal have been liberally supported, the money, in each case being taken by backers, who, it is npt unreasonable to suppose, were /wellarmed. Amata is another, who has come into the market, and her backers •were able to secure a nice stake at an equally nice price, if the takers of the money "k»ew anything."

The rejection by the VJLC. of the «ntry of Sydian for his autumn engagements is very, unpalatable to many backers of horses, and is certain to give the committee of that club"' another betting problem to determine. Since the celebrated Andacity case, fbe Victorian Club is no longer the arbiter in Victoria for the settlement of betting disputes, authority in that respect having passed to the committee of the VJE.C. Sydian was one of the fancies for Newmarket Handicap, and at the time of the rejection of his entry he was at a comparatively short price in the quotations. Members of the ring report that Sydian had been well supported for the race in question, mtiH- hi 3 backeiß are naturally anxious to know -whether they have lost their money -or the case is to be regarded as bang on all fours with that in which Audacity figured so conspicuously. The decision of &c V.E.C. on the point is, therefore, being anxiously awaited. The entry of Sydian is not the first that has been rejected by race clubs. Some years ago racing authorities found themselves b a difficulty when it was proposed to deal with certain horses after they had been entered, and the rules were amended to include one to the effect that the committee or stewards may decline to receive nominations or entries, and may, after receiving, reject them at' any time without giving any reason for so doing. Sydian is among the entrants for Oakleigh Plato, Doncaster Handicap, and Sydney Cup in the name of F. H. Lewis. In England lost year lie 6tartcd on five occasions, and won onee —-Newmarket iUcnnial Stakes, one mile.

That Meesrs. dark and EoWnson sifil take some interest in the Australian turf, is evidenced by the arrival of Highfield, which they sent out to be trained at Flemington by R. Bradfield. Highfield, which is by William tho Third from Meadow Hue, was only once unplaced in sis starts at two-years-old, his performances including winning Doncaster Kous Plate, but last season his beet essay in three starts was to run third with the top weight, 8.10, in Teversham Three-vear-old Plate, one mile, to Joyous Guard 7.9, and Galtee Caul 7.5.

The death is announced of one of the most noted sportEmen in the world, and one of the main props of the Indian turf, Patiala of TTTT. Raja Sir Ran'bir Singh, ■better known to the sporting world' as H.H. the Koar Sahib of Patiala. The deceased nobleman was generally allowed to be among the biggest-hearted sportsmen that ever figured on the Indian turf, and had a racing career extending over a period of 25 years. Among the horses owned and raced by the deceased was Cherry, which won him the Viceroy's Cup in IS9B, and Wandin, tho winner of 190 S. He also owned other Australians in Saxonite and Jacamar.

An effort was being made in England when the last mail left to keep at their full strength the numerous Hunts and the meetings they led up to. South Berks Hunt is one of the most important of these, and in December last the committee received from the War Office aj communication to the effect "that the Director of Remounts has urged uponi the Director-General of Recruiting that he is seriously concerned in the maintenance of the Hunts, in view of the necessity of continuing the "breeding and raising of light horses suitable for cavalry work. Lord Derby accordingly trusts that every effort be made to carry ou Hunts in the United Kingdom, and he hopes that as far as possible men ineligible for military service will be employed. In cases where men of military age are indispensable for the maintenance of the Hunt, an appeal should be made to the local authority."

"It is eminently satisfactory to note the success of English-bred horses in all parts of the worlds—-Australia, America, South Africa, the Argentine, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Eus3ia" (says "The London Sportman."). ' "It provides matter for the consideration of the Home Government, which for some inscrutable reason is never content unless putting difficulties in the way of racing, ignoring the fact that it is the sole means by which the breed can be tested, and co improved. Blood-stock all over the world owes its origin to the English blood, and it seems incredible that an important and national industry should be systematically discouraged at the instance of a handful of faddists who are admittedly ignorant of the subject and blinded by prejudice. AustriajHgggary does^jadesd.,provide; an objectlesson for there the interests of the turi are paramount, and giant strides in improvement have been made during the past quarter of a century. Herr Mautner, an enthusiast of great wealth, is, the proud possessor of a brace of high-class two-year-olds in Celsius, the champion colt, and Lora, first among the fillies. His classic prospects for next year are exceptionally bright. F. Butters has twenty-eight yearlings with first-class pedigrees with which to face the season of 1916, and the breeding stud is especially fortunate in that, with the I exception of three, all the mares are in I foal."

In the Practice Court, Melbourne, last week, Raynor Calvert, a bookmaker, buocessfolly applied for an injunction to restrain the chairman and members of Bowes , TattcrsalTs Club from declaring him a defaulter, and from posting him as ench, and expelling him from the membership of the club; alao to restrain defendants from excluding plaintiff from the club's premises, and thus preventing Kirn from exercising the Tights and privileges of membership. Subsequent to the issue of the writ, notice was given of an amendment that a resolution was ultra vires of the rules of the club, and that it was improperly arrived at. This resolution, which was adopted on TJecem iber 20, purported to expel plaintiff from the dub. Plaintiff claims that he is entitled to the rights and privileges of the club, and also claims £1000 ac damapes. On behalf of Calvert, the "Argus" says, it was stated that the facts of the case were that James Hayes, the owner and trainer of racehorses, asked plaintiff to put some money on one or two horses in a race. Plaintiff asserted, that Hayes told him to back Lady Trilock in the race, and Hayes eaya that he told Calvert to back Lady Challacombe, which won the race. -Calvert made bets with other bookmakers, and when Hayes demanded payment ho refused. Hayes reported Calvert to the club, and the dirb called upon divert to-pay, but he tcfused to do so, affirming that he had backed the horse Hayes had instructed him to 'baxk. It had-beed agreed between counsel that there should be pleadings, discoveries, ami interrogatories, and that the place of trial should be at Melbourne before a judge without a jury.