TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 36, 10 February 1917, Page 17

TURF NOTES.

«Bj WHALEBONE.) One of the best of the King's two-year-olds, Llewellyn (a colt by Sunstar out of Princesse de Galles), died at Xewmarket recently. Percy Woodland, one of the world's greatest steeplechase riders, was killed in Egypt a few weeks ago. He was attached to the Flying Corps there. It is reported from Newmarket that His Majesty's colt Lucknow is doing remarkably well, and Marsh has hopes of winning the Derby with him. He is by Minoru out of Amphora. At the last December sales of blood ftock in England 523 lots averaged I73gns. The previous year's figures were 497 lota, and the average lLSOgns. In 1913 an average of 433gns was secured for 713 lots. KuEsmn buyers appear to have been rather busy at the blood stock sales, which were held at Newmarket, England, in De.cember last, an evidence that the , breeding industry is not to be neglected during-the stress of war. Mr. Zveguintzoff made many purchases, and among them was Farilady, by Fariman from Lady Help, for which he paid lOoOgns. As moefc well-informed racing folk knew, cays a Sydney writer, the New South Wales Treasury will not benetit by the installation of the totalisator at | Kandwick until the spring. The work of erecting buildings and installing machines is no small affair, and it was patent to ail, except the, veriest tyro at the game, that it would be impossible to run the machine at headquarters by autumn. The A.J.C. has, however, taken the important step of selecting the "Bremier" totaHsator for Randwiok Racecourse, and announce that the contract for its installation will provide for ite completion in time for Tattersall's Olufb meeting on September 8 next. This ie the same machine as is in use at EHerslie and in West Australia. Under the heading of 'Qfeed for Racing Reform" a correspondent writes to the "Melbourne Age," and among other things says: "If an independent owner -wishes to back his horse nowadays, especially os suburban courses, he has to give his commission to a certain well-known person. This procedure reduces competition, prevents interference, and ensures collection of the bets made on behalf oT the owner. Woe betide the owner who fails to adopt this procedure. The chances are that his horse ■will be 'corralled,' and well looked after during the race, and probably appear on the scene when Eome other horse commissioned by the gang has caught the judge's eye." An interacting item of news from Holland, which ia worthy of the attention of anti-gamblers, is that the law which was . passed five years ago forbidding book-! making and the use of the totalisator on Dutch racecourses is to be rescinded. The reason for the removal of the prohibition is that it has caused great injury to horsebreeding in Holland. That racing cannot flourish unless accompanied by some form of speculation everyone possessing practical acquaintance -with the subject U well aware. Similarly it has been made plain since the beginning of the war how grievously the horse-breed-ing industry has been affected by the closing of many of our racecourses, and in the circumstances the lesson from Holland is one that should not lightly be passed by. Girls employed as stable helps in England have given so much satisfaction that their number is rapidly increasing. I Driver Sydney F. Ferguson, who prior to joining the colours was a member or the "Sydney Evening Ne-W6" literary staff, writing on this subject from London, says: "Girls are working in the racing etfhlee. They do the same work as the boye, and at several big racing stablea which I visited they were exercising their horses in a really fine style. As a matter of fact, one girl said that the saw no reason why the clubs should not allow them to appear in races. They do the grooming work, etc., just like the boys do in Sydney, and t6 hear them say, 'Steady, there!' "Get over!' 'Hold up!' etc., caused mc no little amusement. The girls are very keen on their work. One stable which sheltered some hurdlersand steeplechasers, -being prepared for the winter meetings, employed several girls, who schooled them." Driver Ferguson enclosed a clipping from the "Daily Express," in which a trainer advertised for six girls, "weight not to exceed 8.7, for general work in a lqrge racing stable; furnished cottage close to work; 22/ a week." I do not know whether the Anserous One in "Truth" is "guessing," as lie has done before, or whether he really "knows something," but I incline to the former idea (says "Vigilant""). He says it is quite certain tbat there will be no racing nest year undef Jockey Clrib Bailee except at Newmarket. It is also suggested that other cross-coun-try fixtures besides Colwall and Lingfield will be prohibited, which is a direct contradiction of statements made by members of the N.H. Committee, and bo not likely to be generally accepted. If, however, "Truth" is right, those who take the view that the war is being used as a pretext to interfere with racing will have more circumstantial evidence to support their contention, and I for one shall be strongly inclined to accept their opinion as correct, unless indeed a full and definite statement is forthcoming from the Government itself. It is a difficult matter to provide for the future, and although statesmen are not prophets, it i≤ surely their duty and work to look ahead in the interest of the people they govern. Let us have a ruling, I say—Racing or No Racing— bo that men with commitments may put their finances in order, and if necessary cut their losses. To drag along in the present indefinite fashion is satisfactory to no one, and I know that many men would have "chut up" altogether in August, 1914, if they had had any idea of how they and the whole horse industry were going to be played with, lliousands of pounds have been thrown away in this manner, and in no attempt to make profits for employers, simply earned on in the interests of their employees and the country. I fear that ja too many cases the result will be bankruptcy. If the complete stoppage of racing and sports will win the war, «•>• all means let the ban go forth, but n tins v decided on the country.must m ake pood the losses entailed, and find for those who are thrown out of •^loyment.

The King hae given Spey Pearl to the Canadian Government. This is a horse by Spearmint out of Pearl of the Loch, which ought to make a good stallion. Racing in Canada ia on the upward grade, and three new racecourses have recently been opened. The amount given in stakes this year is £181/250. as against £137,730 last year. Guy Axnorthy, who is the eire of the world's champion trotter, Lee Axnorthy, was sold a few weeks ago in America for 20,000 dollars. He wag purchased for the Walnut Hall Farms, of Lexington. It is seldom indeed that a pronounced demonstration is made at Randwiek against the starter. That, however, says a Sydney writer, was Mr. Mackellar'e experience recently. The field in the Phillip Stakes, for maiden two-year-olds, left the barrier practically in Indian file, with Reel On at the head of affairs and Pontorino bringing up the rear. Potaeh took no part at all in the race, and cantered into the birdcage some time after the event was finished. When Mr. Mackellar returned to the members' enclosure die was hooted, not only by a considerable section of the occupants of the ilat, but also by many in the saddling paddock. A number of Mr. Mackellars friends and others who who wpre in the members' stand sympathised with him, and showed it by counter-applause. After Desert Malt ;iad passed the winning post in advance of West Molong and Tatyoon, and the horses had been weighed in, the ■weight sag was not raised until Mr. Mackellar •ad returned to the stand. Mr. Cropper, •he secretary of the club, subsequently stated that the delay in raising the flag was due to the fact that the committee waited until Mr. Mackellar had been asked if the start was a false one or not. He said it was a start, and the flag was thereupon raised. The starter subsequently explained that the reason lor the horsee getting away badly was that one jumped round sideways just as the barrier rose, and running along the line, interfered with almost every horse in the race. It was abo stated that duing the first furlong many of the jockeys did not persevere with their mounts in the mistaken notion that the start ■was a false one. Evidently the sale oi the Duke of Westminster's racing and breeding studs is to be more complete than was antici-, pated, says an English -writer. The twenty-one lots to be offered without reserve at Newmarket not only include! Superior, Ali Bey, Gemsbok and Dismount, but seven youngsters that will be two years oid on January 1, and nine that will become yearlings on that date, while it is stated." that the brood mares and foals will follow some time in July. Thia is a clearance much to be regretted, suggesting, as it doee, a complete retirement from racing, and it may be a long time before the famous yellow and black cap, which was carried ,fry such equine celebrities as Bend Or, Peregrine, Shotover, Ormonde, Flying Fox, Farewell, and finally Troutbeck, all classic winners, will be seen again on the racecourse. | All the above horses were bred at Eaton Park, and two, Ormonde and FJying Fox, were triple-crown heroes. The peerless Sceptre, sired by Persimmon in his first season, was also bred there, but sold at the break-up of the late Duke's stud as a yearling for 10,000gs—a record price in a double sense, for not only was it the largest figure ever realised for a horse of that age, but, if memory does not fail mc, it was a Teady money transaction. Sceptre wa3 a wonderful mare, and by winning the Two and One Thousand. Oa,ks. and St. Leger, just beat the record of Formosa, who only divided the Two Thousand with Moslem. Orme, too, was a great horse from the same paddocks, and will be remembered iv connection with the alleged poisoning before Sir Hugo'e Derby, but he afterwards won the Eclipse Stakes two years in succession, a "double" never achieved before or since. What can one feel other than regret at the disappearance of such a stud? Whilet England ie quiescent, in a racing sense, America is going in for racing ac strong as they can to attract racing men from our own country, and .are buying all the racehorses and valuable brood mares that they can, eaye an English writer. know that racing and racehorses must always abound in rich countries, and that the thoroughbred is a most valuable asset. They know that very few rich men will stay in a country where there is no racing, hunting, or other eport, and they '-now that no country can thrive unless its rich men spend their money there. When racing was stopped in America a few years ago, the racehorses were disposed of, and what was the result? It soon was made clear to the majority that the great industry of breeding half-' bxeds was being destroyed, and in all haste did they set about a renewal of racing and the replenishing of their reduced thoroughbreds from England. . An event having great influence on English racing was the introduction of the monkey seat, eeen to perfection in Tod Sloan, who rqde for the most part for Huggins' stable. It had been discovered in America that horees could carry eight much more easily on their shoulders than in the middle of their backs, whilst an additional advantage was gained by lying as low as possible on the horse's neck, and thereby avoiding the wind pressure, which must be great (indeed when a horse at racing pace is meeting a irigfo wind. For a long time the English ownere and trainers heid out against it, but certain defeat soon made it clear that the advantage of the "monkey" eeat was absolutelyoverwhelming. By those means the foreigners 3iad a great season of moneymaking. They came over to make money, and they made it. It snuet be admitted, too, that they were clever men with horsea, and clever trainers. In spite of the money these foreigners were taking away to America "with them, they were not bad times, and there is room for much anxiety lest America builds Tip the greatest 'horee-breeding industry in the world; and yet almost daily we read about business after the war. After the -war, indeed; it will again be months too late! By a steady and constant drain very many of our surplus liorsee in training ■have been scattered all over the world, and it seems to ma that next year the two-year-olde will greatly outnumber the older thoiees. Perhaps it ie fortunate that it ie co, and certainly at Newmarket we have c. greater number and a much better-looking lot of yearlings than we had last year. Looking at the older horses retained in the various stables we final; not* that no doubtful ones ~—*«,