THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1909, Page 2

THE TURF.

Wellington sportsmen who attended the A.R..C. winter meeting do not regard with a ' favourable eye the treatment meted out to bookmakers by the wealthy Northern club. In the course of a chat this week with a race-goer, whose experience is cosmopolitan, he very frankly expressed himself on the point, and considered the bookmakers foolish to contribute such huge sums to the A.R.C. exchequer when they have to herd together like a mob of cattle or sheep. A lawn punter, if he wishes to back his fancy early in order to get the best of the odds from the fielders, is compelled to do business with them through the itersticee of an. iron railing 6ft or so high. In comparison with Ellerslie methods, the treatment accorded bookmakers at Trentham is as mild as the other is rigorous. Several Of tho local fielders who took on the Auckland meeting, do not intend to repeat the experiment. There was comparatively little money to be held at Ellerslie. and the competition for what bit of business was offering, was too keen to be profitable. Nor was the Wellington man disposed to be enthusiastic abour, the Ellerslie course itself, even from a spectator's point of view. The startingpost of the mile track is, so he* says, concealed behind houses and trees, and the horses have been travelling some little distance before they come into view. People are permitted to crowd around two of the most important jumps in the steeplechase, which have to be negotiated as the horses finish the descent of the hill. From the stand no one can see these jumps, and there isalways the risk of the -crowd frightening a nervous horse. In any comparison between Ellerslie and Trentham, says the> Wellington visitor, the latter has the better of matters. In his opinion, the Trentham track is infinitely superior io Ellerslie as an ideal racing track, as its curves aro beautifully laid out, and the track is so absolutely true and level ; •whereas on the Auckland\ course there are na'Cliral disadvantages which tend to give it a somewhat switchback appearance. For example, the turn out of the straight is slightly on the collar, whilst the reverse is the case when the horses pass somewhere near the five furlong post going down the back. After<"seeing Ellerslie, he begins to realise why the maxim "horses for courses" is so often exemplified there. The fielding game has been so disastrous lately that several of the local starting-price operators are seriously thinking of retiring from the game, or taking on punting. One hears of isolate I instances, where the s.p. man has quitted the game for his own financial health's sake — the blow being one of the solar plexus variety which causes the recipient to go to dreamland for more than the customary ten seconds ; what time he has visions of the money he would have made had he refrained from takino- a liberty with, for example, Michaeloff. A well-posted little coterie in town have had scarcely a losing day for the last six months, so it is said'; whereas the ordinary punter and the bookie are not doing much, if any, good for themselves. The palmy days of the s.p. game have gone, never to return; and it is to a prompt realisation -of this truth that has led a member of the biggest firm of layers in toe South Island to retire from the "profession" in order to embark on , the — to him — smoother waters of sporting journalism. Australia, in the winter, is a very attractive proposition from a racing point of view. With a couple of useful stakeearners an owner or trainer can indulge his bent to the full and without greafe expense. Suppose he makes Caultield hie headquarters, he is within decent walking distance of such o£her courses as Sandown, Mentone, Epsom, and Motdialloc, with a meeting every week. If he desires to race at Moonee Valley — which is situated on the other side of the town — his horses are railed there free, the club paying tho cost of carriage. By the way something might be done by the conference- to wrest s"light concessions from the Railway Department here in the direction of cheaper rates for horseboxes. Also lamps should be always provided fh. the compartments for ths boys — it Is scarcely part of the "bill of lading" to compel the youngsters to travel considerable distances, as is now and then ,the case, without oven the "candle's spluttering flame." But this has momentarily side-tracked my theme. I hear that J. 'M'Laughlin is bound Melbournewards with <Maiora and Rock Ferry — both of whom should pay their way at the suburban meetings. ' If ho continues to thrive in his work it is the intention of C. Lagor to take [ California across the other side. The chestnut son of San Fran would in that case essay tho task of capturing one of the rich spring long-distance handi caps. . THE BLADE.