TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Issue 123, 24 May 1919, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

■>By WHALEBONE.)

Arthur Oliver, ft Xorth Island, jockey, who went away with the forces some time ago, hae received his discharge at Home, and there is a likelihood that he will accept a retainer to ride for the Duke of Portland.

Mr. George Marlow, weH known in theatrical circles, has issued a Supreme Court writ against the Camden JParfc Co., Ltd., Sydney, claiming £500 damages in respect of the care and attention of the race mare Trinobantee.

H. Gray received over £80 for hB half-dozen wins at the Manawatu Meeting as riding fees, says a Wellington scribe. Although that appears to be a lot of money for two days' work, it is really well earned. Mr. Lowry did not forget to reward Gray for his win on Desert Gold in the Stakes.

The breeding of the Berragon—Lady Rufus colt, which realised 725 guineas, the highest price of the Sydney eales, ia of interest to Xew Zealanders, for Lady Rufus was bred in Xew Zealand at the Koatanui Stud, being by King Rufus from Keepsake, and was sold by Mr. Currie a≤ a yearling.

A trotting club has been formed at New Plymouth, and the opening membership is stated to be two hundred and fifty. If there is any delay in obtaining a permit, it is proposed to ask. the Tax»naki Jockey Club to put a couple ot trotting events on ite programme at the ■Christmas and February meetings.

Concluding a description of Ben Jorden's stablos (near Christchurch), » Southern serine vouchsafes the information that the inmates of Irvington Lodge have done well at the racing game during the current season, the cracks in their respective lines having scored to the following extent as regards stakes: Author Dillon, £2210; Whispering "Willie, £754.

Australian papers now to hand show that the Auckland-bred gelding Tararu Jack figured among the starters for the Grr-at Eastern Steeplechase, run at Onkaparir.ga (S.A.), on April 21. The son of Spalpeen, who was called upon to carry the severe impost of 13.0, jumped badly, and was never in a position to flatter the hopes of lib owner that he would claim the attention of the judge.

Desert Gold has now won £22,205 in stakes, and cups valued at £800. She holds a record which will be hard to equal by any horse, here, there, or anywhere. She has started in fifty-five races, and has been unplaced on two occasions only. Sasanof, who was her victor at Palmerston has started fortyfour times and hae won £17,240. He has been out of a place twelve times.

At the yearling sales held in Sydney last month some 670 youngsters were catalogued, but only eight of them brought over 500gs. The Finland-War-scare colt, bred by Mr. T. H. Lowry, topped the list with HOOgs. He is a fullbrother to Finmark and Estland, but is reported to be bigger than either of the horses named. Some of the critics took exception to one of his knees, but hie buyer, the Rosehill trainer W. Booth, did not think there was anything wrong with the youngster.

Mr. R. S. Sievier is evidently once again in favour with Dame Fortune, for a recent London cablegram to haffa states that he has furnished the winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap and City and Surburban Handicap with a horse named Royal Bucks. Mr. Sievier has the record of having paid the highest price recorded for a yearling when he pluckily beat all opponents for the possession of the Persimmon—Ornament filly, for whom he bid 10,000 guineas. Under the nanie of Sceptre the filly won for her owner over £38,000 in stakes.

Mr. W. Reid and the secretaries of a couple of the Melbourne proprietary clubs have been indulging in a tilt regarding the profit alleged to be made by the latter bodies, gays the "Referee." The secretaries state that Mr. Reid's ideas on the subject are exaggerated, and point out -that he selected particular days. In his reply to Mr. J. R. Crooke, of Aspendale Park, Mr. Reid remarks: "I can assure Mr. Crooke my grievance is not that proprietary concerns exist, but with the grasping, niggardly treatment of man and horse which they entail. At the same time I would certainly not like to see Flemington a proprietary 'concern,' with a Melbourne Cup of £1000, run over five furlongs, as would most likely be the case ;J it took its cue from down the line." MrReid wishes to know why the big Melbourne clubs and the country clube ■publish balance-sheets and the proprietary clubs carefully refrain from adopting a similar course. It may be added that it is not only in Melbourne considerable curiosity exists concerning proprietary clubs' balance-sheets. Tn Sydney supporters of racing would like to know, but there is not the least possibility of their curiosity being gratified.

Following up a number of articles on the totalisator, Mr. Edward Moorhouse, of the "Observer," interviewed Mr. R. H. Nolan, C.B.E. (Hawera), in London, on the operation of the machine in New Zealand. Mr. Nolan, who has been connected with the New Zealand turf for more than thirty years, said that "when first he became acquainted with the 'tote' he ranged himself with its opponents because he believed it would convert the majority of owners art t> liars. Uo assumed that a man who fffrpected his h,orse to win would do hid utmost to prevent other people backing it, ko as to increase the odds returned by the 'tote.'" As a matter of fact, the result hud been quite the opposite. Owners did not require to mak? their racing "ends" meet by betting. Owing to the income from the "tote" etakes had so increased in value, and entrance fees and forfeits had been go much reduced, that an owner could well afford to let his horse run for the stake alone. As soon as he realised that must be the elfect produced by the totalieator Mr. Nolan became one of its enthusiastic converts, and thirty years ago exerted all his influence to secure the a.bolition of the bookmaker. Discussing racing in England compared with New Zealand, Mr. Nolan said, what many others have said before, that thj arrangements at many of the courses in Greal Britain are faY below the standard re quired in New Zealand before a permit if cranted. '"But, of course," he addod, "at the money wo make out of racing ii spent for the benefit of the sport and othe public.OO r race tracks are like beautiful lawns, and are attended with infinite care." The totalisator has improved racing in New Zealand and everything connected with it out of all knowledge.