TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 1 July 1916, Page 16

TURF NOTES.

CBj" WHALEBONE.I It is elated that the imported Amen- ' can horse Hal Zolock is to be raced at ' Addington in August next in an endeavour to qualify fcrr the New Zealand Trotting Cup. In winning at. Addington over two mi'.es at Easter time the American noise went to a mark oi 4.36 2.5, ■but as the Cup conditions liave been tightened up from 4.37 to 4.36. he will have to cut off the fractions to have a ' chance to compete in November. According to the little -wagering t&at ihas taken place. Lord Grey is the most I ■fancied candidate for V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. He is the only horse that anything approaching a commission ' lias been worked for. Yet Sir Prim c and Van Homeleigh are nominally on the same mark as Lord Grey, and therefore are expected to come into favour, i In the quotation on the Grand National • Steeplechase the favourite's place is held < by Ballista. A petition is to be presented to the stewards of the English Jockey Club for Heave to introduce the totalisator on English racecourses. The petitioners base their appeal on following '■ grounds:—(l) The revenue derived from I the Pari-Mtrtuel would enable stakes to] be increased and provide prizes for | breeders. (2) The State participating: could ioster 'light-horse breeding. (3) j Toe machine would have a healthy and moral effect ojj. irorseracing. There tree only one ticket on the trotting horse Brownie, who returned a price of over a score at the Bnrnie T.C. (Hohart) Meeting recently. It was held by a boy 14 years old. but payment was deferred, as the Act does not permit issuing a ticket to any person under 16. Cost of the ticket was made up by two or three, who did not want to see Brownie etart friendless. The boy, who if- 'a nephew to a member of the ■"poo!." •?-a9 dispatched to obtain it, but one of tie oifnere went to collect. It was rcs'used, as the Government supervisor ■took notice of the boy when the ticket was handed to him.

According to the last issue to hand of tie official organ of the Argentine Jockey Club, imported stallions continue to -vrin the majority of races there, the only native-bred stallion who has made much, of a show against such as Diamond Jubilee (head of the list of winning stallions in 1914 and 1915) being Old Man, a son of the imported English .stallion Orbit (by Bend On. One of the first oi the numerous "classic" races run in the South American Republic, the Pj-emio Casares (five fnrlongs, SOOO dollars), was won by Dona Alta, a filly by •Mr. J. B. Joel's St. Leger winner, Your Majesty. This was the filing second success in ten days. Another "classic" of similar value (one mile) fell to one of the all-conquering stock of Diamond Jubilee.

The stable presided over by J. Bryce has been the centre of interest during the past week by reason of the reports that have been circulated regarding the transfer of Admiral Wood and Mintson from his care, and at least two trainers •were mentioned as likely to take over these two well known pacers, says the "Chnseliurch Pisss.' , Taefa- owner, Mr. T. Sheen, arrived from Auckland this ■week, and gave instructions for the removal of the horses from Bryee's stables. Hatters were becoming complicated when the whole drama came to a sudden climax by Mr. Sheen disposing of his interest in the two horses mentioned, ■which are to remain w:th their present trainer. The new owner is Mrs. A. M. Seymour, of Auckland. Admiral Wood is in the pink of condition, and will be given a special preparation for the nest >"ew Zealand Trotting Cup.

Twin a high authority it is learned that the hard case of the French breeders is not to be entirely passed over even if it is found impossible to race during the war on an%- of tie course; that hare been spoken of as availabk for the holding of private meetings. ■£ meeting was recently held by the com mittee of the Societe at which it was unanimously decided tc come to the assistance of the breeder; i>v allotting, under certain conditions various premiums of the value of 3(M francs to the owners of thoroughbred brood mares, for which naturally on]; Trench subjects will be eligible. Th< substantial sum of 350.000 francs ha been set aside for the purpose by th Societe d'Eocouragement, and th Steeplechase Society has come forwan with an additional 100,000 franc: Should it be fonnd possible to organis a sufficient programme of race meeting during 1916. the money so voted Tα not be distributed, and having this po; sibilitv in view the committee has d< eJued "not to commence the allotting c the premiums until December Ist. Tb: reservation suggests one of two thing either the end of the war or the drivin of the eaemv from French territory. Though the greatest Tace of the ye could not be decided at Epsom in 191 and the substituted race this season, last, was again run at Newmarket, is the hope of all sportsmen that t Derby -of If 17 will once more form t heading attraction of another Epsc Summer Meeting, and the broken cc tinuity of fbe historic rven- be tak up again on the donvns with which ith been associated for such an extend period. The Derby for next year <: tamed 275 entries, and the declaraii of iorfeit, made on tie last Tuesday March, has resulted in fhe retirement 117. Of the four Worses originally c tered by H.M. the King only one h gone out (vhe colt by St. Amant out Glad Tidings), leaving in vtell-bred co in Llewellyn (by Sunstar out of Pγ: cesse de Galles), Alexander (by Lembe out of Persepolis, and Luckaow ( "Minora out of Amphora). It wffl noticed that the three are sired by Dewinners, and the bope -will be gene that among them may be ferand one least that will give a prospect, by ■ iuveniie performances, oi tie great r; fallins to a bearer of fte Royal colon Practlca-Ily all the owners -who ra«e the highest plane are repressed in list of the left in. a they are.as "familiar as hooseh words" to racing people. It is not; able that the American owne.. Mr. p Whitney, has withaxawn all tne teen vith which he had subscribed, J the international character of the cv is supported by tie nominations of well-known French sportsmen. M. Bla "M. M Caillault, M. EpirussL and iia: Edouard de Rothschild, of whom first-named has made so many pluc thoueh unsuccessful, attempts to ts ±h e ra.ee across the Channei-

Daring tiis career as a. jockey in England. D. Maher oniy once rode over hurdles, and -was successfu-L S. Dongkue. wio i≤ now England's best rider, has a similar record. He won on Lady Diane in 1912, the mare being a hot favourite in a field of IC.

Sir Abe Bailey was the leading winnerowner in South Africa during the period of eight months from August 1 last year to March 31, ha-ving won m stakes £3S9(>. Mr. H. C. <3e Meillon oame second with £2577. and Mr. F. \Y. Murray third with £2415. The last named used to race in England, as Sir A. Baileynow does. Mr. G. i>. Weale stands fourth, and the Hon. H. Wyndham fifth, with £ 2100. of which amount Bis Johannesburg Handicap winner, Winnipeg, contributed more than hah.

Verdun (save the "Daily 'Mail") does not appear To be engaging all of the Crown Prince's attention. The latent German papers announce that he H '■constantly 5 ' adding to the racing stable which he owns in partnership witn an army crony named Baron yon Zobeltitz. who"accompanied him to India in 1310. They have just acquired another wellknown horse named Black Swan, which, ! under the auspices oi the Berlin Tolice [Commission for thp ".strafing"' of '"enemy j words." will no doubt presently enter j commission "Schwarzer Scliwan." Before August, 1014. it was considered ali tosether unsportsmanlike lor any really I "classy" German racehorse to have any- | thing except an English cr French name.

The Hungarian owner, Herr X. yon >zemere. whose colours axe not unfamiliar in Britain, won three races in sul cession at Vienna on April 15 with Magnus (by Grey Leg out of Magnify), Earangod (by LJangibby out of Emily Melton I. and" Pique A&siette (by Cicero out of Perfidy). The first two were flat races, and the winners were steered by Snruthy. while Szente rode the hurd'e race winner, Pique Aesieite. On the fol- , low-ing day Herr A. Dreher, the Viennese -"Beer King," did even better, four of his horses winning their races. They were Criitoph (by Sac-a-I'apic-r out of Child's Dance). Arosa (by Koyal Lancer lout o: Acnes Forra*). Wingolf (by Conversant out of Witness), and Saperlott (by Pardon out of Sandwich). Three of them were steered by Csiszar. and the other 6v Hauser. Herr yon Szemere won 'his fourth race of tbe meeting with, i Uarangod, thus equalising matters.

Braeoura's owner is keeping ha torse soing, picking up nice stakes without o\erdoing it, ;{.i saving the animal's legs, which are not absolutely right, says a Southern writer. At Gsbornc lie collected the stake on the Bret day. but di>!j not accept on rhe second, and a* Kapier the same methods were adopted, and no doubt "he son of ?ir appreciated the little spells. In this country there: is a decided tendency to run a good l .horse, or a bad one ior that matter, off 'his lego with disastrous effects, although, on the other hand some argue that when; in form b.orsis should be allowed tfl p>\ for the stakes. There can be no doubt! that a great deal more can bo got out of a horse -with accomplishments by judicious treatment than there can be letting him run for everything going. Brae-j burrn's record is an example. He has picked up three very nice stakes (Waoganui, Gisborne, and Kapier), and, though not too sound, is vet in sufficiently good nick to make the big event 3t Eiccarton in August a possibility for him. He has been nominated for th-e cross-country events at the Wellington Meeting, and will, no dnnbt. be seen ojt heTe at least on one of the days. The stipendiary steward system is making steady progress in various parts of the world, and it is now to be given a trial in South Africa. That it is considered necessary seems evident from th? comment evolved by the appointment of a stipendiary steward at Durban. On this subject a South African writer had the following:—"The appointment of a stipendiary steward at Durban is a move in the right direction. A Found judge of racing who knows when horses are handicapped with a chance, and are in racing fettle, can tell by the way the oat jumps when the market talks, those that are trying or are out ior an airing. Mr. G. M. McDonald, who. as an oorne." supervised the training of his owe horses, prior to taking on that unpopular appointment, the post of band, capper, has had such a long experience o: racin-c that he is the right man for thf duties. As a handicapper he natural!} made many enemies, or at least fe* friends, among those omieTS who makt i a point of crying down the official esti mates, but he never curried favour, aw was a strong man. who stood no non . sense. If be carries out the same polie; i in hie new position, it will be all for th' I benefit of racing, not only in Natal, bu in other parts, of South Africa, wher. the experiment, if encresMul at Durban f may le-ad to a much-needed general adop . tion of a policy that has made racing ii Australia much better than it was unde J the antiquated ey~tem, which declined t : recognise the necessity ior etipendiar stewards." 5 After the capitulation of Paris i J 1871, with the enemy still on French soi it I the French Jockey Club recognised th ie importance of encouraging the breede ie by the organisation of racing. Prudenc 3J had cancelled the classic events, bu a . Vicomte Daru, more liberal and ci . n lightened than those who have eucceede ls him in the direction of the Society fc the Encouragement of the Thoroughbre t). in France. pe>rceived the danger likely t , n ! arise from long cessation of racing , . H m j showed it affection for the cause i>7 if i prompt resumption, and meeting wer a . soon organised. Germany has carried 01 although breeders are not as numeroc jf or as important a body as in Frano t s Perhaps it is part of a gigantic game ( „. "bluff' on the part of the Kaiser, -vh, ■a counting his chickens before they wei ,y batched, fixed the date of bis dinner i 3 " c Faris and the programme of his triini )v J phant descent of the Ohamps-Elysee a] i Ratikg , ims not ceased in itaJy. Mcc it ' ings 'have been held in Rome, in Florenc a= and in Milan, where the Grand Prize 1 cq ' Commerce was decided on May 2 'S, j Later there will be the inlernation ,n ' gathering on the Franco-Spanish fro heltlej- under the patronage of the King nd Spain. Looking at the pedigrees of ti ,]d horses miming in those coontrie- whe ;e- sport is stfll carried on, one sees th; H. i English and FTeneh sires and dams pi : dominate, and yet In the firsl>nain' ut i iarjd. famous as the home of the the nt i ough'bred at his best, proper importan D e J has not been given to racing as t n c. I foundation of a valuable national i on! dustry. It has been treated as of liti je' moment in France, though there a j-y, racehoises available far behind the w: t e oi iron and cannon which hold the enei in check.