THE TURF

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 121, 23 May 1914, Page 14

THE TURF

FIXTURES. June 3 and 4.— Otaki Maori R.C. Winter. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Sir Bedivere.") During the past few months much has been stfid and written in England in regard to the questionable practice followed by some owners of running horses that aro only half fit. The stewards of the Jockey Club have themselves taken part in the discussion, and, strange as it may seem, at least one of them, whilst discountenancing the' starting of impro-perly-prepared older horses, stated that he saw no great objection to racing a maiden two-year-old once, or oven twice, ere it was thoroughly wound up. The point is a most debatable one, but 'there has, been ample evidence, both this and in previous seasons,, to ' make it clear that more than one owner in this country, who would never dream of sending out a horse with other intention than that it should do its best, sees nothing wrong in starting an unfit maiden performer which, he believes has very little, if any, chance of success. Circumstances tna-y arise in which an owner, perhaps with the laudable desire of assisting his local club, or in the necessity of giving an untried one- a lesson in public, may feel almost compelled to race a horse before it is really ready. But out here, as apparently in England, the practice has been carried on far beyond such, reasonable limits, and it is time the authorities gave the hint that the presence of fat three-year-olds and upwards and double-died green juveniles upon our racecourses is undesirable. Nor is such a hint needed upon the grounds of Turf morality alone. Two-year-olds have been seen out this season which were not .only quite unfit to race, but quite raw and untrained. Whilst come could scarcely be induced to do a preliminary ■ at all, others almost took charge of their youthful riders and ran out dangerously wide on the turn. Could anything be better calculated to spoil their tempers? Think of it! Before they know half of what is wanted of them they are brought into the middle of a dense crowd of people, a brass band is blazing away close handy, boys Wearing flaming colours are chucked upon their backs, and away they go, to be confronted, after, an anxious interval of perhaps half an hour, with a strain upon their wind and muscular systems for which they have never been seriously prepared. Such methods are on all fours with^ that occasionally adopted by some idiotic person at a swimming bath, who, being aware that a young boy is unable to swim, seizes the chance to throw him into deep water. 'A funk has so been established in many lads which, even though they may subsequently learn to swim, they never entirely overcome. So with a two-year-old thoroughbred. Firsit impressions are^ apfc to be lasting ones. With the idea of bridging over the big interval without a trotting meeting experienced during the winter months in Auckland, the Otahuhu Trotting Club, of which the Hon. W. F. Massey is president, issued a programme some weeks ago for a non-totalisator meeting, proposed to be held on 13th June. The programme 'was approved by the Trotting Association, circulated in the various trotting centres, and entries invited. Now comes word, writes Templar, that the Minister of Internal Affairs has put his foot down and refused permission for the proposed non-totali-sator meeting to be held. R. J. Mason will, as anticipated, again visit Australia this season. He has arranged to leave for Sydney early next month, and his team will probably consist, of Cherubini, Valhalla, Camulus, Bimeter (Maltster— Comedy), and Memo (Achilles— Rumour). Cherubini will doubtless contest some of tho w.f.a. events, whilst Valhalla may be started for the Epuni Handicap. The latter's form has been of but a very moderate description so far, but when last seen out, at Hastings, he was racing in* deep ground, and it is possible therefore he was not seen at his best. G. Price intends to take a short holiday in Sydney next month, and on his return in July he will consult " Mr. ; Highden " in reference to sending Pariform over for the Derby. At the moment Don Salvo (Earlston— • Solution) appears to be about the toughest proposition Pctriform would be called upon to meet in the mile and a-half event at Randwick. He evidently can go fast, and all the Earlstons stay. The following ip the full text of the judgment delivered by the Wanganui District Committee in connection with the Classis case: "Haying heard the appellants and the evidence of their witnesses, R. M'Kenzie'and D. H. Rait, and having read the case on appeal and the evidence thereon of Mr. M'Mahon, stipendiary steward, this District Committee decides that the stewards of the Manawatu Racing Club were not justified upon the evidence given before them in tho finding which they arrivetd at, such finding being, in this committee's opinion, founded upon suspicion only and not upon facts proved by the evidence. This committee further decides that if the finding of the stewards was correct, then the appellants were only guilty of a breach of rule 6 on page 47 of the Rules of Racing. There being no penalty provided by a breach of this rule, recourse must be had to rule 12, page 14, of the Rules of Racing, and the breach could only be met with a fine not exceeding £20 or disqualification for the race. Such a breach does not constitute a corrupt practice within part XXXIII. of the Rules of Racing. Moreover, the appellants were not charged with committing a corrupt practice, and the Manawatu Racing Club did not attend to the provisions of rule 8, page 54, of the Rules of Racing. For these reasons this committee decides that the appeal must be allowed in both cases, and orders that tho deposit be refunded." From this it is clear that nearly everybody has been labouring under an ' entirely wrong impression. T. George was not actually charged with having committed any corrupt practice; he was dealt with merely on tho ground that he had not, in accordance with tho rules, ridden his mount out. Tho announcement that one of Austr.vlia's best racehorses, Trafalgar, is to be put into training again at Flemington has, says an Australian writer, created' widespread interest in sporting circles. The question has been generally discussnd whether the great son of Wallace and Grand Canary will return to the fine form he displayed prior to his temporary retirement from the Turf. Trafalgar since leaving Flemington has been well looked after at tho establisliment of his owners, Messrs. P. and W. Mitchell, Bringenbrong, near Corryong, and it is quite possible tliat the Careena Lodge trainer, W. S. Hickenbotlmm, may be equal winning further important events with one of the greatest racehorses over all distances that Australia has 'ever produced. The silvery-maned grandson of Carbine, though naturally very big, looks in splendid heart to renew his acquaintance with the racecourse. With the present dearth of weight-for-age ho'ises of any class, Trafalgar _ would not need to be at his best to win any nuJnber of such events, and it was mo-

bably this fact that influenced Messrs. Mitchell in. their decision to again placethe "public idol" in tho hands of Hickenbotham for another preparation. There have not been many instances where horses returned from stud duties havo come back to their old form, but such a short period of retirement may not have seriously interfered with the son of Wallace, who is a great stayer. Duke Foote was recently taken up at Randwick by Jas. Barden, and were the pair to meet again at either Flemington or Randwick great enthusiasm would prevail amongst the sporting public, which always admires a good horse. Trafalgar's service fee at Bringenbrong Was 100 guineas. Trafalgar stands second on tho list of winning racehorses, his record being t— 59 starts, 24 wins, 11 seconds, 6 thirds, the total stakes amounting to 22,111 soys. Carbine's record was: — 43 Btarts, 33 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, and Btakea amounting to 29,476 soys. Mr. C. Kerr, a- well-known , trotting horse owner, who was injured in a trap accident last Saturday night, died at the Christchurcli Hospital last night. "Well done, Flashlight !"— " See him swing around the bend?" — "Yes, with these fine field-glasses. Only cost ma 17s 6d from O'Connor and Tydeman, i The Jewellers, Palmerston North." — Advt. OAMARU RACES (BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) OAMARU, 22nd May. The weather was fair for the concluding day of the North Otago Jockey Club races to-day, but the course was heavy and slippery from the overnight's rain. The running was good, and the , fields large. The sum of £9965 went through the totalisator, against £12,235 for the corresponding day of last year, or £19,594 10s for the meeting, against £23,534 last year. Concluding results :—: — Victoria Handicap, of 100 soys; one mile.— 6 Troon, 7.0. 1; 1 The Cornet, 8.2, 2; 3 Glenfinnan, 8.13, 3. Also started : Magdala 8.8, Stevedore B.S, Teviotdale 7.11, Mosgiel -7.1, Peerless 7.0, Wairaki 6.10, Aphaea 6.7. Won by three-parts of a length from The Cornet, Glenfinnan being two lengths away, followed by Wairaki, Teviotdale, and Mosgiel. Time, Imin 49sec. The' Grange Handicap, of 100 soys; six furlongs. — 7 Pretty Jane, 7.8, 1 ; 8 Miss Finland, 7.12, 2; 9 Sartomart/7.5, 3. Also ' started : Firmliold 8.5, John Barleycorn 8.13, Pride o' Clutha 8.8, Vanna 8.3, Trireme 7.12, 'Gregory 7.11, Bridegroom 7.0, Golden Webb 7.0. A good race, Pretty Jane coming fast at the finish. Time, lmm 20 2-ssec. Tepuke Welter Handicap, of lOOsovs; Beven furlongs.— 4 Golden King, 7.7, 1; 3 Hops, 7.7, 2; 6 Glenowl, 9.5, 3. Also started : Buller 9.1, Briar Patch 8.8, Merry Lass 8.2, Parable 8.1, Eaglestone 7.11, Palette 7.7, Steperina 7,7, Pleasure Bent 7.7. Won easily by four lengths. Time, Imin 35 3-ssec. Members' Handicap, of 130 soys ; five furlongs. — 2 Peter, 9.5, 1; 8 Palisade, 9.13, 2; 4 John Barleycorn, 7.3, 3$ Also started : Obsono 9.13, Sea King 8.5, Golden Morn 7.13, Formnal 7.7, Veritas 7.3, Won by two lengths. Time, Imin ssee. DUNEDIN WEIGHTS OAMARU, 22nd May. The following handicaps have been declared by Mr. J. E. Henrys for the Dunedin J.C. Winter Meeting, to be held on 3rd' June- : j — Pacific Hurdles, of 175 soys; one mile and three-quarters Margo 11.5, Kurnalpi 10.9, Merry Valet 10.8, Simon Pure 10.6, Pure, Gold 10.3, Salathiel10.2, Eous 9.8, Kia Ora 9.3, Freak 9.2, Ribston Pippin 9.0, Cocoon 9.0, Lord Frederick 9.0, Royal Medal 9.0, Kirn 9.0, Goldfinch 9.0. Brighton Handicap, of 100 soys 5 seven furlongs.— Slogan 9.8, Clynelish 9.8, Firmhold 9.6, Golden King 9.5, Scotch Melody 9.3, John Barleycorn 9.0, Floraline 8.12, United Service 8.11, Flower o' Clutha 8.10, Bon 8.9, Sir Brigid 8.9, Judith 8.8, Moddite 8.5, Sir Hamilton 8.4, Miss Finland 8.3, Biarritz 8.2, Gregory 8.1, My Glove 8.0, Trireme 8.0, Encore 8.0, IzdSibar 7.13, Lady Daylesford 7.12, Baron Lowburn 7.9, Brucco 7.9, Sartomart 7.7, Mazurka 7 7, Franganui 7.7, Messena 7.7, March King 7.7, Outlook 7.7, Caruso 7.7. Birthday Handicap, of 400 soys ; one mile and a-quarter. — Tannhauser 9.11, Glenfinnan 8.11, Reval 8.8, Rinaldo 8.7, The Cornet 8.4, Gapon 8.4, Magdala 8.3, Stevedore 7.12, Canute 7.10, Gnome 7.8, Troon 7.8, St. Petersburg 7.3, Peg 7.2, Direetoire 6.13, Mosgiel 6.10, Peerless 6.9, .Wairaki 6.8, Parable 6.7, 'Routine 6.7, Moddite 6.7, Merry Lass 6.7, Aphaea 6.7. Tradesmen's Handicap, of 400 soya ; six furlongs.— Palisade 9.13, Peter 9.12, Obsono 9.8, Sveaborg 8.9, Peg 8.5, Robert Bell 8.4, Twelfth Night 8.2, Teviotdale 7.13, Speedometer 7.13, Sea King 7.7, Golden Morn 7.4, Clynelish 7.4, Slogan 7.4, -Briar Patch 6-9, Mosgiel 6.9, Carolus 6.9, John Barleycorn 6.9, Veritas 6.7, Baritone 6.7, Pretty Jane 6.7, Fender 6.7, Vanha 6.7, Bon 6.7. Winter Welter, of 150 soys; one mile. — Magdala 10.3, Gnome 9.11, Taskmaster 9.9, Teviotdale 9.7, Troon 9.6, Glenowl 9.5, Russo 9.5, St. Petersburg 9.5, Buller 9.0, Direetoire 8.13, Peelless 8.9, Obolus 8.5, Firmhold 8.3, Czar Kolohol 8.2, Oarolus 8.2, Cannonade 8.2, Parable 8.0, Wild ' Pilgrim 8.0, Scotch Melody 8.0,- Floraline 8.0, Merry Lass 8.0, Routine 8.0, Mumura 8.0, Biarritz 8.0.