SPORT AND PASTIME,

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 138, 7 December 1907, Page 18

SPORT AND PASTIME,

The Turf. 1 RACING FIXTURES. •. 14 and 16 — Chiistcliurcli R.C. Summer. :. 21, 26, and 27— Manawatu R.C.s Summer. 3. 26 and 27.— Lower Valley J.C. Annual. \ 3. 26 and 28.— Dunedin. J.C Summer. c. 26, 28, and Jan. 1 and 2—Auckland R.C. Summer. o' 26 and- 27.— Thames J.C. Summer. c. 26 and 27.— Taranaki J.C. Chrieti -mas. c' 26.— Porangahau R.C. Annual. ic. 28.— Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. Annual. !c. 31 and Jan. I.— GTeymouth J.C. . Summer. n.' l" and 2'.— Havrkes Bay J.C. Summer. tf. I' and 2.— Rangitikei R.C. Summer. n. 1 and 2.— Stratford R.C. Annual. n 1 and 2.— Wairarapa R.C. Summer. <n. 18, 22, and 25.— Wellington R.C. Summer. in 22 and 23.— Foxton R.C. Annual, in. 20 and 30.— Pahiatua R.C. Annual. NOTES AND' COMMENTS. The Gaming Acfc is undergoing a javy fire of criticism from all interest- \ parties. It was not to be expected lat the most drarstic piece of legislaon that has been placed on the .atute-book this session would bring bout a millenium. Bufc it will serve, here is no doubt a tendency to set he law at defiance, but this is only he valour of a, Bob Acres or an Ancinfc Pistol, and will speedily melt away then they myrmidons of the law start heir ponderous machinery. . Meanwhile, racing clubs, bookmakers, nd punters would be well advised if hey observe this Act in its spirit. Give t a fair trial. Should it prove un*rorkablo or cumberous, it is not a law if the Jledes and Persians, and can je amended to meet with what public jpinion insists upon as a fair thing. Everyone in fhe game honestly felt that the starting-price method of bet;Thg was attaining such vast dimensions that sooner or later some' step would be required to minimise an unaealthy state' of affairs. It is not an easy matter for those who like their little "flutter," and who have been in ihe habit of backing their fancy for small amounts to lightly abandon a particularly fascinating form of gamoling, but a sportsman is not unfamiliar with the rough as well as the smooth, and the Act hits him sorely. /"As regards the clubs and the bookmakers there now appears to be a more reasonable spirit shown, and before long some working agreement will be devised. The Manawatu Racing Club has issued common sense conditions under which bookmakers will be allowed ' to ply their calling at the coming Palmsrston meeting. Each bookmaker, in uddition to paying his daily fee of £20, will have to pay £5 for his clerk. The betting ring will be in the saddling paddock, and available to both inside ' and outside spectators, and after the ■advertised time of starting the fielders will be allowed access to any part of the ground. The Wellington Racing Club is another that appears to be desirous to observe the Act, and negotiai tions are now proceeding in a favour* ; able manner with tho bookmakers. _ A Southern paper, in commenting npon the Act, and in remarking on the / roped-in enclosure provided for ihe bookmakers by the Feilding Club, states ' that "on sonio Australian courses book--makers have to transact their business i behind stout iron railings" just as if v ' they were wild animals in a menagerie \and had to\be kept from tearing the * luckless wights of punters "to pieces. = This, is a surprising item of _ informattdn, but, like many other fairy stories of Australian methods, has no solid basis on fact. The Australian bookmakers at Randwick, Flemington, Caulfield, and other big courses have a large space allotted to them, but it is not ~ enclosed by rope, barbed wire, post and rails, or galvanised iron. When the horses go to the post the bookmakers then follow the crowd, and take up positions in front of the grandstand, and keep on doing business until the horses' are well on their journey into j the home turn. This system of betting in running is one of the great advantages an Australian punter has over ! his New Zealand confrere, for in those ! fairly numerous cases where one's fancy gets badly off, or is "not out for keepp," it is possible to snap up a wager in running which will cover the outlay on the "dead *un." The Woodvillo Jockey Club got a very direct benefit from the new Act, inasmuch as the totalisator turnover showed an increase of £4637, and if other clubs can show figures in proportion to this there will soon be a strong reaction in favour of the Bill. The clubs are certain to receive on account of the closing down of town betting much larger revenue from the machine and the bookmakers' licenses. The principal event on the first day was won by the San Fran mare, Tanjimoana, who created a favourable impression when she lan at Carterton. She is a mare of solid conformation, and possesses plenty of size with a game and honest head. The mile and a quarter was covered in the smart timo of 2mm 8 2-ssec, and the pace at which the field travelled found out Moral, who had the substantial load of 9.5. Among tho starters Polyanthus can be noted as a mare that is being rapidly galloped into " form, and at the same time going down to the foot of handicaps. The Summer Handicap saw pretty much the same horses as had contested the big race on tho first day, measuring strides. Tangimoana, raised 101b, just succumbed to Moloch In connection with this race the well-known jockey, A. Oliver, was disqualified during the pleasure o£ the stewards for causing his mount to hang out and so interfere with Moloch. The result of the race, however, was not affected, but this action by the stewards will have a good effect in letting the riders understand that it is their duty to keep their mounts straight. Moloch's .win was not unexpected by those who saw his finish in the Kiwites Welter at Feilding. He is evidently a horse that shows to better advantages over courses longer than a mile, and, like many other hacks, his opportunities have been limited through being kept to short courses. A notable performance was that accomplished by Lord Soulfc in the Electric Haniicap, in which this tremendously brilliant son of Soult carried tho welter weight of 9.11, and carved out the. distance in the slick time of lmin 1 2-ssoc. Lord Soult won this same event last year. The big brown horse, Motoa, confirmed his Feilding form by carrying 9.6, and romping away with the Flying Handicap. Word has been received from Australia that Pink 'Un has become affectad in his wind. This disability, howt/rtj, hao nofc prevented horses in the

past from winning great races, and in Pink-'un's caso ho may prove superior to this affliction, as did his paternal greatgrandsire, Prince Charlie. The famous Newmarket Heath comprises course ' that suit all sorts of horses. For example, the two-year-old course is practically flat, while tho lait live furlongs of the Rowley Mile have a steep ascent of quite a furlong to tho winning post, immediately after the runners have come sharply d own hill for an earlier furlong. Then, again, the Abiugton mile actually finishes in the dip, and gives the non-stayers a wonderful chance, and it is much the same on the July course, where one winnning post is at tho foot of the hill, ana the other at the- top of the same hill a furlong away. At the principal Randwick, Caulfield, and Flemington Spring Meetings sixtyseven races were decided, and the favourite got home on thirty-three occasions. Only one odds-on chance went under in the number of races named above. Mr. E. Clcland, owner of Apologue, was interviewed on his return to Auckland. He stated that the son of Phoe-bus-Apollo was knocked about a bit during the running of tho Melbourne Cup, and was, therefore, withdrawn from his engagement in the 'V.R.C. Handicap, where he occupied the post of honour with 9.7, and was regarded as a good thing, backers offering to take 6 to 4 » immediately the weight appeared. Apparently buyers thought that Apologue's withdrawal was owing to his unspundncss, and the comparatively small figure -paid may have been the result of this impression. The most important two-year-old event of tho year of tho English turf was tho Middle-Park Plate, which resulted in tho victory of Sir Daniel Coopers' lovely filly Lesbia, and the way in which this daughter of St. Frusquin smashed up hei field proved her to be a filly of unusual merit. On all public form Lesbia should havo started a strong favourite for the race, but, although well backed, she was in nothing like such good request as Major Loder's Miranda, sister to Pretty Polly. The glamour of the relationship may have been the cause of Miranda's being such a strong favourite ' with the public. Lesbia took the lead at tho start, and making all the running, passed the post a very easy winner. Miranda i*an in dis appointing fashion, being beaten some' distance from home, and her display clearly dispelled all hopes of her emulating the feats of the celebrated sister. Sir Daniel Gooper's filly is now the only unbeaten two-year-old in the front rank. L. H. Hewitt has severed his connection with Mr. J. Buchanan, and will ride nest season fpr Mr. W. Hall Walker, who has occupied one ,^of tho most prominent positions amongst owners on the English turf for the past three or four years. Tho October number of the Badminton magazine contains a sketch of the career of Mr. Gilpin, who since he took to,, the turf in England, a little over seven years ago, has trained the winner of nearly every important raco in the calendar. It was Mr. Gilpin who trained Spearmint when he won the Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. Spearmint was a difficult horse to train, and after his trip to Paris he went amiss, and raced no more. The article contains particulars of certain trials that Spearmint took part in, and as these give a good idea of what sort of horse ho was, apart from his public performances, they cannot fail to interest New Zealanders. Mr. Gilpin rarely tries his horses, that is he seldom has them ridden out, so as to be able to handicap them closely. They arc rather sent for real good rough gallops, which are trials to all intents and purposes, except for the riding out to a strenuous finish. Before Spearmint's Derby, the colt had the first of three of these spins with Pretty Polly and Hanmerkop, a milo and a half, Spearmint going it is noted "wonderfully well." Four days later the same three horses and another were out again, the Derby distance with the following weights up : — Pretty Polly, 4yrs, 8.13; Spearmint, 3yrs, 7.5; Hammerkop, 6yrs, 8.5; Waterchute, aged, 7.12. Waterchute was beaten after going six furlongs, and Hammerkop was done j with three furlongs 'from the end. It | was described as "a clinking gallop," and convinced Mr. "Gilpin that Spearmint would wwi the Derby. Five days before the race ,the last gallop took place with this result : — Spearmint, Syrs, 7.5; Pretty Polly, 4yrs, 8.13; Gaspard, Uyrs, 7.2; Manuka, 3yrs, 5.9. Mr. Gilpin's comment on this trial was — "a real good gallop, Spearmint undoubtedly going best." Pretty Polly won £37,295 in stakes, and it may be doubted if a better mare was over foaled. Some time ago Mr. Ormond sold several young Birkenheads to Mr. Cox, an Australian dealer, and they are now beginning to find their way to ..the winning post. Minos, by Birkenhead from Miro, won the Hopeful Stakes, 500 soys, at the Birthday Meeting of the Queens land Turf Club, and established a new time record of lmin 2 3-ssec. Eo, by Birkenhead — Eon, four-year-old full brother to that smart filly Eona, won the Epsom Welter at the Melbourne suburban course ot that name. These successes will no doubt encourage Mr. Cox to make further shipments of young Birkenheads to Australia.