TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1922, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

(By WHALEBONE.)

■ The committee of the A.J.C. have de* cided that in future the use of the starting gate at Randwick for schooling horses in the centre of the course is not to be allowed on "fast mornings," and" also to prohibit horses from being exercised on the inside tracks in the afternoon after the tracks have been brushed and rolled. His Majesty had the pleasure of having his colours carried successfully in the Ormonde Plate, a three-year-old race of the value of lOOOsovs, at Newbury, a few wereks ago. The performer to earn so much distinction was Will S.tmers, a colt by William Kufus from Avioma, which started at a good price and beat eleven 'others. The favourite-T'etrat-bazior—ran the winner to a neck. The South African jockey, J. Brennan, was fined £5 for taking his wrong position at the starting post, at a recent meeting in the Transvaal. Higher authority, the "Head Executive," increased the penalty to suspension for one month. The South African racing authorities have evidently recognised that fines are not sufficient punishment for the offence. It is evident that the committee of the Queensland Turf Club does not favour night racing, and is whole-heart-edly with the Queensland Government in its decision to suppress it- A.t a recent meeting the committee considered the matter, and unanimously adopted a, resolution to the effect that the action of the Government in preventing horse racing at night is highly commendable. Mr. Stanley Wotton was holding his own when our last batch of files left England. At Leicester he won the November Auction Nursery Handicap, with an un-named filly by Prospector from Vitalba, and the November Sellington Handicap with Tambouretta, a 3-year-old filly by Cylgad from Tour de Nesle. The Vitalba filly was bought in for 369 guineas, but Tambouretta was purchased for 480 guineas by Mr. B. Malik, an extensive stock dealer in Johannesburg. In the past, numbered saddle-clotns have not been permitted on English racecourses. The system, however, appears likely .to be adopted. At a recent meeting of the English Jockey Club the matter was brought up by Lord Hamilton, who suggested that the system should be followed at Newmarket. Lord Lonsdale said the Jockey Club steward* quite approved of the idea, but he could not undertake to arrange for this without first taking the opinion of the clubs. A resolution in favour of the number cloths being introduced was agreed to. A writer in the "Sportsman" says in a review of the Newbury Autumn Handicap, that much curiosity was aroused by the reappearance of the fallen Cesare. witch favourite Tiahy, but she, while not entirely neglected in the market, had no great following on this occasion. That she has been over-rated was plainly shown by her failure to finish nearer than seventh. She ran fast for about a mile, and then was done with so far as any prospect of success was concerned. Thus, although her Cesare witch display was all wrong, her supporters for that event must now reconcile themselves to the view that they would in any event have lost their money. The stipendiary stewards who were acting at the A.J.C. meeting at Randwick on Boxing Day penalised three prominent race riders for a period of two months for alleged crossing. They reported to the following effect: W. H. McLachlan (Galtee Maid), for crossing M Connell, on Ready Aye Ready, too quickly soon after the start of the Flyi ing Handicap, was suspended from riding for two months. J. Munro, who rode Volka, for crossing The Black Watch (C. Leonard), soon after the start of the Flying Handicap, was suspended from riding for two months. W. Smith, rider of Perplexed, for crossing Prince Charles (J. Munro), in the Summer Cui| was suspended from riding for two months. There has been considerable guessing, says a Sydney writer, with regard to the amount of money which Mr. N. Falkiner paid to acquire the racehorse David. This is always the case when a horse of class changes hands without buyer or seller taking the public into his confidence with respect to the amount of the exchange. Some guesses have placed David's figure at £5000, and they may be correct. If they are not, no one who is not interested need worry over it. The matter is one that only concerns the two principals in the deal. If they are satisfied, all other persons should be. Thero is no doubt, however, about this, that David cost his late owner, Mr. R. Bailie, 40 guineas, and won him nearly £8000 in stakes. A Melbourne paper of Saturday last is responsible for saying that Ifr. E. A. Connolly was before the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards yesterday to unswer a> ; charge that "on Oaks Day, November 3, 1921, at Flemington racecourse, he informed R. Inkson, the rider of Coronatus in the November Hurdle Race, then about to be run, that he would put £10 of his own money on Coronatus in the said race for and on behalf of Ink- | son, and that he was thereby guilty of improper practices on the turf." "The stewards found Connolly guilty of the charge, and reprimanded him.. They intimated that hereafter, if any similar case were proved to their satisfaction, severe punishment would be inflicted on the guilty person or persons. A Sydney writer recently asked P. Kelly, recognised as one of the snartest sprint race riders in the Common wealth, his opinion on the difference of inside running in Melbourne and Sydney. He admitted that No. 1 was always" a big advantage at the start for a horse which was a good beginner, but he said it was much more important on Sydney courses than those of Melbourne. "It does not matter how fast a horse is, he cannot lead a big field at Randwick : .f he starts on the outside," said Kelly. "On the other hand, a good horse out of the machine will gain many lengths on his opponents if he starts" from No. 1. I have often led in the race on Melbourne courses after having started from the outside. Why, on old Maltravers, I frequently did it." Asked the reason for the difference in the two States, Kellv made an interesting statement. He said ! it was his belief that it was natural for I a horse to gallop in a left-handed direcI tion, and not in a right-handed manner as they do in New South Wales. On Sydney courses, he said, horses never to be galloping in comfort, and often in a race changed their stride. Then, again, it always took a horss longer to get across toward the rails after he had started from the outside on Sydney courses than was the case in Melbourne. This, he explained, was an argument in favour of his opinion that it was natural for a horse to gallop in a left-handed direction.