THE TURF FIXTURES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1914, Page 2

THE TURF FIXTURES.

March 25 and 26,— Rangitikei R.C. Annual. April 2 and 3.— Masterton R.C. Autumn. April 11 and 13.— Auckland \ R.C! Annual. < April 11 and 13.— Wairarapa . R.C. Autumn. April 13 and 14— C.J.C. Autumn. April 13 and 14 — Feildiag J.C. Easter. April 23 and 25.— Wellington R.O. •Autumn. , April 29 and 30.— Manawatu R.C. Autumn. May 6 and 7— Marlborough R.O. Autumn. May 6 and 7.— Hawlwe Bay J.C. Autumn. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By Sir Bedivere.j The Lincolnshire Handicap will be dej cided to-day. Long Set, who won in 1912 and finished ninth last year, under 9.5, is top weight, with 9.5. His owner, Mr. S_. Joel, is also represented by Maiden Erleigh, 8.8, and the only three* j year-old engaged is 1 Mr. J. Joel's Happy Warrior, 6.6. ( The Liverpool Spring Cup will be run to-morrow, and the Grand National Steeplechase on Friday. There will be a good muster at Bulls to-morrow to witness the opening of the Rangitikei Club's meeting, the card for which promises to work out satisfactorily. At the moment there is said to be some doubt about Byron and Leonta. being sent out to contest the Cup, but if they do 'start, the latter will probably be favourite. Manawakaha had none the best of the luck at Wangantti, but he ran well, nevertheless, and, under 7.8, he must not be despised. X£ only Dearest is half the mare she used to be now is her chance, as the opposition in the Scott Memorial Handicap is excep* tionally poor. Mescal should Hold Braeburn safe, as he gave him 41b and a beating over a similar journey on the second day at Dannevirke. A very poor lot are en#gaged in tho Maiden Plate, and if Hoopoe is ever going to be any good she should lie asked to accouht for them. His Emi* nance ran a close third for a Scurry at tfew Plymouth. Bill will most likely be the popular selection for the Hurdles, and Lubi'ihne will not be in want of support for the Carnarvon Handicap. Master Lupin and Firing Line are engaged in the Pukenui Welter, and Guiding Way< is due to contest the Parewanui Welter. The result of the Ngatipu Hack Handicap will depend to spme extent upon the luck of the draw, but probably the pair at the head of the list will be most enquired for.- Watine, who looked backward at New Plymouth, can go fast, but site is very unruly at the post, and it is therefore just a gamble as to how she will get away. HymeMius has better credentials than any other candidate for the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, but his tack may be anything but an easy our all the same. Tete-a-tete will be a very different filly to what she was at Napier Park, and Queenlike gave promise in the spring of turning out useful. With a select company, including Autumnus, Emperador, Cherubim, lliiialdo, Dovvnham, Hyettue, and Parifonn, engaged therein the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes should be aai exceptionally interesting event this season. Downham's staying powers have yet to be tested,' and at the moment it fceems at least doubtful whether we have any two-year-old— unless it may be Balboa, who is not engagedcapable, of_ holding its own against the older division over a seven -furlong course under w.f.a. conditions. The position is, in fact, anything but a satisfactory one, and unless Ringform, Blackall (who will first race at Randwick), and some of the untried Boniforms and All Blacks may turn out right, next season's three-year-olds will probably be a weak lot. The news cabled yesterday to the effect that an Imperial Bill had been introduced in Germany to allow the licensing of bookmakers and the betting with them on the results of horse races will not come as a- surprise to anyone who has been following the course of events in the Fatherland. . It is difficult for us at this distance to gather authentic information with respect to- the feeling in Germany* on the totalisator question, DUt sufficient evidence has been furnished by the foreign correspondents, to reliable Ehglish sporting papers to make it quite certain that not alone in Germany, but in France , and Belgium also, the totalisator has _ many influential opponents. This is, perhaps, not to be wondered at, as afc one 'time —it has, I fancy since been slightly reduced — the percentage, plus fractions deducted in Germany from the totalisator turnover is IK. But the main reason for the proposal to reint.rnd.uce the. bookmaker is doubtless the outcome of the enormous amount of illicit wagering that 'has arisen. In tefetence to this the Doutscher Sport not long »ince announced that the recent gathering of the Budget Committee tentatively touched on the question of granting concessions to bookmakers, included under the heading of "Horse> racing," in the Budgut of Agriculture. The Minister, Baron \on Schorlemec, explained that the ,que«tion, still utider debate in the different Budgetary Committees, hud not reached the deeired point which would wayt'anfc the alteration of existing lo.wa so as to piovide for the- conditions under which these concessions should be granted, and that in the event of a Bill being drawn up with a view of the recognition of betting, proofs would be required that the turnover at the "Totalisator" would not be diminished. The question, ho added, was very complex, as it remained to lie proved that in Austria the lieen* sing ot bookmakers had reduced the number of the clandestine layers of odd.*. Tt may, therefore, be averted that, notwithstanding the' support which ha& been promised by the police and feportameii for the suggested Bill in favour of open Turf speculation, the status quo will not. b«» affected for the year 13H, and that racecourses as well os private person's will have to be subject to all tho restrictions under which they have hitherto laboured. The "Totalisator" has been permitted to' open branch offices in important towns for the convenience of those who are unable or who are not inclined to attend the meetings personally, and with the deduction of over 'l6 per cent. made, for payment of the Government tax there is fjionty of margin, tit present for the bookmaker, whose name is legion. At any rate, the German Government has abstained from interfering with the prosperity of the home sporting papers or with the circulars sent out by pest recommending certain invest* menta on tho Turf, quite aft reliable in the abstract ' iib those for which investments are invited in the columns of financial and other journals. Similar questions linve yet to be decided in Atistiia. The anticipated measures have not been adopted, and the project hue been postponed until tho next" scs^ fion of Parliament. Some very strong meaiuivos are to be proposed with regard to the unlicensed bookmakers, and there is 11 feeling that nothing -can be successfully decided until the Hungarian Government will consent to act in accord with the Austrian legislature. The only Continental racing authority who devote*, attention to the rank and file of Hhe community under its rules is the

Union Club of Berlin, which, by virtue of tho licenses granted to work in Tacing stables, insure all holders of ite licensee ngniii»t accident or death. For men under thirty years of ago £80 is paid for 0. laluJ accident. Jc!180 if totally incapacitated, and Is 8d per diem during partial disablement. Over thirty the awarde are higher, save in the case of fatal accident, when the sum paid remains al £80, while total disablement is increased to £200, and partial disablement to 3b a. day. Emmerson, who is expected back in New Zealand next week, had the mount on North East when he and seven others fell during the race for the Rosehill Cup. He escaped injury. Acceptances for the Masterton meeting are due on Friday. There's no "heavy going" with one of O'Connor and Tydenian's chronographs. Sweet and smooth they run— dead on time to the tick. From 35s at The Jewellers, Palmerston, North.— Advt.