TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 148, 24 June 1922, Page 18

TURF NOTES.

w — i (By "WHALEBONE.") Representatives of the Victoria Racing Club conferred with the Victorian State Treasurer last week relative to the totalisator. A 'bill for its legalisation in the Southern State is to bo introduced early in the coming session, but it will not "be a Government measure. The Government, is divided as to whether the installation of the machine i≤ desirable, and, with the Bill introduced by a private member, its members will be at liberty to vote as they please.

Jockeys sometimes have nerve-racking experiences in racee which go unseen by the majority of racegoers. When Pttropo came round tlie home turn in Uie lead in the Jumpers' Flat Race at Moonee Valley recently the saddle slippod, and Cairns, his rider, went over at a perilous angle. Just then Fiscom came along with his run, and Mooney accidentally bumped Cairns. It was au opportune bump, as it knotjeed Cairns straight again, and he eventually finished second.

The famous English trainer. John Porter, who died a little whije ago, left estate of the gross value of £35.52">. The bequests to his eon. Thomas Bar ron Porter, included the djamond pin presented to Mr. Porter by King Edward VII., the gold watch and chain presented to him by Mr. H. Gretton, the links presented to him by Sir Fredk. Johustone, and the following pictures of famous racehorses: Ormonde (21, Firing Fox (2), Isonomy, Orme, Bend Or, Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur, Common, La Flcche, Rodney, Faradym, and Stoekwell, and of two hunters, a quan tity of jewellery- two gune, his bowiinp ,, green bowls, and all his sticks, top coats and overcoats, and his racing books.

It ie rather strange, says a Sydney writer, that favouritism for the V.RX'. G.X. Hurdles and Steeplechase should be bestowed upon last year's winners, Fiseom and Mountain God, seeing that each race has been won twice in succes sion by only one horse. It was in 1896 and 1897 that Buzz! won the hurdles for Mr. J. Farrell, and in the two previous years that 'Messrs. Gibson Bros.' Daimo placed the steeples to his credit. It might be mentioned that Buzzi carried 9.0 on the occasion of hie first success, and went up only Ulb for the 1807 event; while Fiseom won with 9.3 in 1921, and is asked to carry 11.8 this year. Certainly the latter gelding, b.v tis recent doings, has earned every pound of the weight allotted him. and it is worth remembering that in registering 5.35J for the three miles he clipped sfc off the record for the race since it barbeen run over the distance named, and equalled the best time put up between 1881 and 1886, during which period there were 133 yards less to tTavel.

It wae stated by one of the Melbourne papers, says a Sydney writer, that Eurythmic had rejoined J. Holt's team after hie spell at Bacchus March, but, as an some time tugo, ho is not to run in any handicaps in the Spring. Every curioaity as to how he might be weighted did not tempt Mr. Lee Steere to nominate him for any, nor do T suppose the chestnut will visit Randwiek in the Spring. The Caulfield Stakes and the w.f.a. races at Flemington wfl b« his mission, and it is to be hoped he and Beauford are at their beet when they meet again. If it should be so, I shall be prepared to epe Beaaford beat him in the Melbourne States and Lin.lithgow Stakes, but as Eurythmic, when quite himself, is an exceptionally good horse at a mile and a-half, his turn may come in the G. B. Fisher Plate. Randwick form would point to Beauford being fairly sure to beat him even at the latter distance, but though Eurvthmic looked and worked well v.'hen over here, his Cumberland Stakes showing made it certain he was not himself.

In view of the success of Captain Cuttle in the English Derby, the following by the "Special Commissioner." written after the Two Thousand Guineas, is of interest. He says:—"As they cantered down Baydon went as well as any of them, but in such a bijr field it is difficult to discriminate. The start was a good one, except that Captain Cuttle got badly away, and, instead of relying on the colt'e great speed, and making good gradually, his jockey seemed to be inspired by the 'Hurry On' idea, so that he got there all too soon. The result was that the colt had his race won in the Dip, but nearly stood still up the Hill, leaving St. Louis to go on and win easily from Pondoland, while he finished third without being hard driven. South Crofty was fourth, followed by North End, TVestmead, Sir Greysteel, Tamar, and Weatbervane, but with very few exceptions all the field were beaten after six furlongs. I wae in the box with Captain Cuttle as he was being put to rights after the race, and had a talk with Lord Woolavington and Fred Darling. They were naturally disappointed, but not down-hearted, and hope for better things. The colt blew hard. and sweated profusely. As to hi? blowing however, there was no suspicion of a whisper in it that I could hear, though many people persist in declaring that he has respiratory trouble. My own belief is that he needs, like Sceptre did. to be very clean wound up, and then he won't blow at a'l."

Englisiimea. says a Sydney writer, wonder why there is so much done in the jumping line of racing in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Xew Zealand, and so little in New South Wale* and Queensland. For some reason, until recently jumping races were not popular in Sydney. In fact, in times gone by I have seen the bookmakers stand out when a jumping race was on, because as a rule these races were generally certainties for one or two —particularly visitors trow Victoria or New Zealand, where horse* are so well schooled at the business. The means of schooling horses at were very poor until recently, and there are none on the suburban tracks. But every Melbourne track ha, its hurdle an.l ateeplo course?, and every encouragement is given to southern owners to train'heir horses at the jumping business. The late Mr. Clibborii inadu some effort t<. popalaiise the sport, at the Tun Club's meeting-. but it tailed, mainly because the prizes were tot worth worrying about, and the meetings were only occasional. During the past decade the A.J.C. has made it compulsory upon Sydney proprietary tracks to put a jumping race on every programme during the cool months of the year, and in consequence jumping forces have increased marvellously. Xcnv that the premier club has started seriously in the business by putting on the two biggest prizes in Australia fo r hurdlers and cross-country horses, the probabilities are this slow-going old State will come up level with the southern St:Ue; ia rh« crosscountry business.