TURF TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 54, 25 August 1939, Page 2

TURF TOPICS

NOT FOR AUSTRALIA Mr T. H. Lowry's Lieaupartir, I nominated for the Caulficlri and Mel bourne Cups ? is not l.kely to make the trip, but will be raced in New Zealand spring events. It is more than likely he will be in the Auckland Cup field on Boxing Day. I A DERBY COLT In Sid Re id s stable at Hasfngs there is a three year old that is eon. fidently expected to rank this sea. son as' a Derby contender. This Kobi. by Bulandshar— Lucinette, who has furnished into a splendkl typo of a staying thoroughbred. As a two year old he was only lightly raced so this season may be all the better in consequence of this fact. AT LONG LAST The Auckland Racing Club is "including in its scheme of improvements the erection, of a new judge'": box which is to be placed a considerable distance further back from the lawn fence than hitliei to, thus I enabling the judge to get a better view right reross the course than 1 has previously pertained. The club has also under consideration the subject of the finishes being photographed . .1 A RACING INCIDENT On the concluding day of the Grand I National meeting the acceptances for the Heathcotc Handicap were one above the number allowed to start and two divisions were practically uncertain until Waitaka was I withdrawn at the last moment. In the meantime, Mrt Duncan Ruther. I ford owner of Wagner, was approach ed with the suggestion that his horse might be withdrawn. "Oh no'' said Mr Rutherford, ''Wagner has just as good a chance as the others. pick on mie to ,take such action.'* The sequel was an easy victory by Wagner, followed by the 1 resultant dividend of over half a I century. THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB Distributing the larger sum in prize money in the Dominion, providing sport of the, highest standard J for many thousands of the patrons J of the Sport of Kings generally un-1 j der holiday "conditions - , on a course I 1 becoming nearer to perfection every . yea,r and with appointments worthy I of the Metropolitan institution, thv 1 Auckland Racing Club registered a decidedly successful 1938.39 year ? 1 with a profit of over £115,000. No. | thing succeeds like success —and this profit will be reflected in the stakes I for the 1939-40 season, especially for the Auckland Cup and other summer meeting events. IMPORTED FROM ENGLAND Apparently the New Zealand im- 1 port restrictions do not yet apply to thoroughbred stock from the Old Country t for Mr T. Coltman, of Wellington, has just imported from |

England a colt by Papyrus—Tan Belle that has already joined 11. Telford'b team at Trentham. It is hoped that tins importation may not take long to become acclimatised r and it should not be many months before he is able to show galloping ability worthy of his breeding. A few years ago Telford came into the limelight by reason of being (on behalf of his brother in Sydney) the highest bidder for the Night Raid — Entreaty colt afterwards known as Phar Lap. Who knows that Telford may not "come again'' as the trainer of the Papyrus representative. THE WALK-UP START At the annual meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club reference was made to delays in starting races consequent upon the rule making flat.footcd starts imperative. | The chairman said: 4 The club had to abide by what the Racing Conference decides but there seemed to be a reaction setting in in the conference, and probably it would be altered." As stated in these columns recently the despatches at New Zea_ land race meetings even constitute the weakest point in the conduct of the gatherings. That flat.footcd starts are not successful was amply proved last season by the fact that on many occasions starters flaw the barrier tapes a moment before the horses could attempt the farce of endeavouring to toe the line. Only by this means could good starts, without undue.- delay ( be affected. However, it would now appear that at the next New Zealand Racing Conference more will be heard of this much debated subject.