RACING AND TROTTING

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20904, 11 July 1933, Page 12

RACING AND TROTTING

LATEST NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR

RACING FIXTURES. .liilv 11, l.'l, 15—Wellington R.C. July 20—Waimate District Hunt. Julv 22—Hawke's Bay Hunt. July 22—Auckland R.C. July 22- South Canterbury Hunt. July 26—Rangitikci Hunt. July 27, 29—Poverty Bay Turf. July 29—Christchurch Hunt. August s—Povertys—Poverty Bay Hunt. August 8. 10. 12—Canterbury J.C. August 16—Ecfmont-Wanganui Hunt. August 19—Pakuranga Hunt. August 26—Tanmaki Hunt. TROTTING FIXTURES. July 20—Waimate District Hunt (one event). July 22- South Canterbury Hunt (one event >. Aucust 5. !'). 11—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C August 25—Auckland T.C. TURF GOSSIP. St'll Goim*. The veteran sprinter Paganelli, who has been spelling for nearly three months, has rejoined M. J. Carroll's team at Te Rapa. Although Paganelli will be nine years old in August, he is said to be wearing remarkably well and can still muster up a brilliant turn of speed, proof of this being that he has been returned a winner on six occasions during the present season. He is still perfectly sound, and when Carroll gets him right again further victories should go his way. Arrival from Sydney. Mr W. T. Hazlett arrived in Wellington yesterday from Sydney, in order to attend the New Zealand Racing Conference. He intends to return to Australia later. Wellington Weather. Rain continued in Wellington throughout Sunday night; but the weather cleared yesterday, and last night there was every indication of tine overhead conditions for to-day's races at Trentham. The track was in a sodden state yesterday morning, and the going to-day is certain to be | very heavy. Withdrawals. There have not been many withdrawals. Yesterday's defections include Neil and Dick Whittington, while All Humbug has been taken out of the sprint, and will start in the Whyte Handicap. Other scratchings are Speedmint, Morena, and Knollmere. - Disqualification Removed. ' The executive committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference yesterday removed the balance of the two years' disqualification, expiring in Octobei next, imposed on Mr J. J. Corry and the racehorse Croupier. This action was taken following an application by Mr Corry, and the ban was lifted as from yesterday. Croupier, who was purchased for 751 guineas about six mpnths ago by Mr R. J. Murphy, of Wellington, has since been under the charge of T. R. George, at Ble-heim; but he rill now probably join Mr Murphy's other horses in C. Emerson's stable at Riccarton. He has been kept in easy exercise, and is stated to be in advanced order to enter upon a serious preparation. A short while back Mr Murphy made application to the conference for the removal of the ban on the horse, to enable him to be nominated for the Australian spring events, but the application was refused. It is likely, therefore, that Croupier will do his spring racing in New Zealand, and possibly may be ready to reappear at the Grand National meeting. Office of President. Mr J. S. McLeod, the well-known Hawke's Bay breeder and owner, and one of the leading racing authorities in that district, was approached a few weeks ago in regard to the presidency of the New Zealand Racing Conference, but he replied that he would not be able to devote the time required to carry out the work. In the last few days, however, he has been asked to reconsider his decision, and it is understood that he has agreed to accept the office, and that the majority of the members of the executive committee of the conference have expressed their approval of the appointment. The matter will be finally dealt with at the conference meeting tomorrow. Similarly, it is understood that the committee yesterday favoured the appointment of Mr G. N. McLean as stipendiary steward for the South Island. Racing on Saturday. Tavern Knight has been nominated lor the Novice Stakes, to be run on the concluding day of the Wellington meeting, the only event in which he is eligible at the fixture. The Gay Shield gelding's progress since resuming work, after a spell during which he was added to the list, has been very pleasing (says an Auckland writer), and he will be in good order lor the trip south. He was started only twice this season, these occasions being when he won at Takapuna, and when he ran unplaced in the juvenile event on the third day of the Ellerslie summer meeting. Altnough he has not raced for more than six months, he is expected to make a good showing at Trentham. Recovery from Accident. In referring to the Lady Desmond colt and the Star Lady filly, the property of Mr John Porter, in a paragraph which appeared in "The Press' a few days ago, it was mentioned that the destruction of these youngsters was once contemplated. Advice has since been received from Mr Porter to the effect that both foals have improved and within a few weeks should be fully recovered from the accident which befell them. Peter Pan's Cup Weight. The Victorian Racing Club handicapper has not sacrificed the good horses for those of inferior quality in the Melbourne Cup, and for that he is to be commended. When a horse has more than 9st in a Melbourne Cup every pound tells, but two or three pounds do not—or should not —make much difference to horses weighted below 7st. When Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup at four years he had 151b over weight-for-age, and if, as some of his admirers believe, Peter Pan is the equal of that horse, he has been given an excellent chance of another Melbourne Cup win. He has 71b in excess of weight-for-age against exactly weight-for-age when he won last year, and, at that, must be regarded as very fairly treated. Veilmond a five-year-old, had 9st 101b m the last Melbourne Cup. That was 51b over the scale, and Peter Pan must, on form, be regarded as more than 21b superior to Veilmond when the latter

was nominated last year. It is probable that, as a whole, the entrants are of better quality than i\ year ago, and that is one reason why the handicapper has commenced a little lower than generally anticipated. Anyhow, very lew will find fault with him lor that. Leading English Rider. The crack English jockey, Gordon Riciiards, is riding so well this year that if his v/ins continue at the same rate as for the first two months, he will improve upon his last season's record of 190 wins. In the first 43 racing days of this season Richards was on 50 winners, a feat English papers say has not been accomplished since Archer's time. Richards, who has been riding 12 seasons, had more than 1200 wins to his credit up to the 25th of last month, against the 1648 of Steve Donoghue over a period of 25 years. Archer's total was 2746. It has not been, unusual for Richards to ride three winners in one day this season, though, of course, he missed altogether on some days. On being congratulated on reaching his 50 wins, Richards said: "It was at York two or three years ago that I reached my hundred for the season, and now at the York spring meeting I have had the good fortune to get my half century, which I have never done so early before. I hope now to score the 200 I fell short of last year." Richards's figures for the years he headed the winning jockeys' list are as follows:—l92s. 118; 1927, 164; 1928. 148; 1929, 135; 1931, 145; and 1932, 190. A Tempting Price. To receive on offer of 3000 guineas for a horse these days is an experience many an owner of racehorses is only allowed to dream of, to awaken to the hard, cold fact that buyers with such generous offers are not in evidence. But if such an offer were made to the owner of most horses in training in New Zealand he would lose no time in clinching the deal. Indeed, not many would expect above a three figure sum for their best (says the "Wanganui Chronicle"). Yet here is a lady owner who bravely refuses to consider a bona fide offer of 3000 guineas for a rising four-year-old gelding. To many it might seem like the offer of a reckless buyer; to others it might seem like the refusal of a very ambitious owner. But many there are who will realise that it takes a good deal of courage to turn down such a tempting figure and will applaud the motives that prompt this lady owner to retain possession of a favourite of whom the best has not yet been seen. The horse for which the offer is reported to have been made is Jonathan, a three-year-old gelding by Thespian, from the Juggernaut mare Joanfax, and the lady owner is Mrs S. L. Parsons, of Wanganui, whose colours have been carried on the New Zealand turf by several good performers, included in the number being that honest little mare Limeen and the brilliant but illfated Aspian. Last Easter Jonathan was produced at Ellerslie in a twohorse field for the Great Northern St. Leger, Mrs Parsons deciding to prove that this three-year-old could make the flying filly Silver Scorn do her best in the mile and three-quarter classic. That he was able to run his more seasoned opponent to a neck was proof enough that the ThesDian gelding was worthy of consideration for inclusion among the season's best. At any rate it settled any doubts that might have been held as to his gameness. TROTTING NOTES. Reminders. Acceptances for the trotting event at the Waimate District Hunt Club's meeting will now close at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Monday next is the day of forfeit in the New Zealand Champion Stakes (Ashburton Trotting Club) and the Derby Trial (Oamaru Trotting Club). Nomination Date Extended. In order that owners and trainers will have the opportunity of consulting the new season's assessments before nominating for the August meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, the time of nomination has been extended to noon on Saturday. The first publication of the assessment will appear on Thursday in the "New Zealand Referee." For Perth. The dual Auckland Trotting Cup winner, Gold Jacket, who has been purchased by E. Kennerley on behalf of a Western Australian sportsman, will be shipped at an early date to his new quarters. It is possible that another recent purchase, Carnui, will also find a new owner in Perth. Waimate Entries. A nomination of 10 was received for the trotting event to be decided in saddle at the Waimate District Hunt Club's meeting. Sunbrown, who scored at the recent Oamaru meeting, ?nd Captain Bingen are previous winners, while the majority of the remainder have little public form. Mabel Chimes, who was well backed at Ashburton last month, but fell early in the race, will represent local stables. Trotting Association Meeting. This month's meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association will be held in Wellington tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. The annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Trotting Conference will also be held in Wellington- to-morrow. Proceedings will commence at 10 a.m. A Good Suggestion. A remit to be tabled by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at the conference to be held in Wellington to-morrow, that a universal system of signalling the closing of the totalisator, and the notice of totalisator cleared for start should be adopted, is one which should receive the strongest support. Several clubs I have quite sound systems for the carrying out of the suggestion, but many small cjubs have not paid close a.fteoticrri to details, with the result that it is possible that a field may be dispatched before all officials are prepared. The. method generally in use is that the secretary or an authority in charge of that particular departI ment is notified that the totalisator has been closed, and a flag is hoisted. On the hoisting of that flag the starter lines the field up, and on receipt of another signal, a balloon in most cases takes the place of the flag, and the starter may then send the field away. The trouble is likely to arise in the event of the starter taking his signal from the totalisator when cleared and ready for the race, a method of signalling that is used by some clubs, but there is always the possibility of a temporary delay in the secretarial department or there may be a meeting of the judicial committee still in progress, and consequently, failing notification of the all-clear signal from the totalisator to an official of the club, those sitting on the case may be in ignorance that a race is being run. At a southern meeting some seasons ago, a similar case happened. A reinsman who had been engaged in that particular race was still being questioned by the judicial committee —his horse was in the birdcage—when the field was dispatched, and so the race was started with the field incomplete. This would certainly have been avoided had the all-clear signal from the totalisator been given first to an official and then passed on to the starter, instead of the direct communication from a member of the totalisator staff to the starter. The proposal of the Metropolitan Trotting Club has much to commend i*