THE TURF. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1911, Page 2

THE TURF. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Sir Bedivere.) One of the most noticeable features of the racing at Trentham was the persistency with which the sprint events were annexed by the horse whose rider had been lucky enough to draw an inside position. There was nothing new about this, nor was it strange to tho experience in connection with, short distance racing on other courses, hence it came about that one of the very first things the hard-headed punter took the precaution to discover during the meeting referred to was, to quote his own words, "who had got the fence." The advantage a horse so placed held over those that comprised the outside division was so enormous that all attempts on the part of the handicapper to bring the field together were largely nullified. Races were won — and lost — before they had actually commenced, and instead of affording a true indication as lo the relative merits, of the various competitors, the results were, in some instances at least, wholly unreliable. Now, a dip in a bran tub is all very well in .'ts way, a-nd there are those who find pleasure in placing the names of horses in a hat, sKaking them up and determining, by the simple process of picking one 1 out, which candidate they will support. This', however, is not sport; j). is gambling purely and simply. Those who take any real interest in racing prefer rather to use a certain amount of judgment, and whether their forecasts may prove accurate or otherwise, they like to see the victory gained strictly in accordance with merit. The defect referred to in connection with short-dis-tance events in this country has long been recognised, and attempts, in tho way of providing special courses for such races, have already been made to j obviate it. At~Ellerslie the start for j the five-furlong events now takes place in a cutting under the hill. At Riccarton there is a five-furlong course with only the slightest bend in it, and the C.J.C. is now laying out a six-furlong track, the start for which will abut the corner of the Yaldhurst and Horn-by-roads. Not to be behindhand in , this respect, the Wellington Racing Club is considering a scheme for the provision of a fairer testing ground of sprinters' abilities, which will branch off from the round course somewhere .near the home turn. At Awa-puni horses engaged in a trial over six furlongs get a straight run out of over two furlongs from the barrier, and as time goes on more clubs will go in for similar improvements. It is all very well for a section of the public to complain that, when racing over the first portion of a more or less straight course, the horses are too far away from them. The track required is that which permits of every contestant having an equal chance of success, and the sooner such are provided the better it will be for the turf. j\lr. H. Hume has sold a yearling colt by Achilles from Volley to Mr. J. F. Fonwiok, of Featherston. The youngster, who is spoken of as a particularly fino specimen of the young thorough,bred, will bo prepared for future engagements by J. Cress. Trentham is now fast becoming deserted, and by to-morrow it will be back -again to -its normal condition. ' Once 'everything' hWbeeri tidied up,' arid' the course has been topdrcssod and put straight, the work of forming the new sand and plough gallop will be proceeded with. " When those aro complete^ the club-will foe in possession of a trainingground which will compare favourably with any in the Dominion. Bronze is to be shipped South tonight, in charge of hor trainer, J. Pine, with the object of contesting the Filly Stakes and Middle ,Park Plate at Riccarton." In the latter event she is entitled to a 51b allowance, her dam at the time of entry not having produced a winner. The bay colt by Soult from Margnretta, for whom Mr. J. Buckley paid 75gns at the Auckland sales, is now the property of Mr. H. Friedlander, Mr. Buckley having resold him to the Ashburton sportsman. The field for the Jackson Stakes is still of most satisfactory proportions, and a meeting between Lady Medallist, Peirene, and Madam Madcap would be well worth witnessing. Lord Kelvin has uo doubt been left in in error.