THE TURF

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 11

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fBT "SIR liANCEIiOTi")

Stan Donoghue, who is most popular •with English racegoers, has headed the list of successful riders in the Old Country for the past' six seasons.

The decision, of Cabinet to defer consideration of the report of the Racing' Commission until Parliament meets will be well received by the clubs- adversely affected. It means that the Avondale Spring Meeting will take place next month, also Napier Park in October. Other North Island spring fixtures in Taratahi-Carterton, Waipawa, Horowhenua, and Ashlmrst wi.ll also be held on the dates passed by the Conference.

In the Sydney Referee, "Pilot" writes .'—Gloaming is already galloping faster thafi anything else at Kandwick. It is difficult to surmise what he .will do in the way of time-making a month hence. . As Gloaming; promises to be better, than at any of his previous/visits 10 Sydney, Eurythmic will be thoroughly tested up to a mile and a-half if he competes at Itandwick next spring. If Eurythmic doe's not come over, New Zealauders will be difficult to convince that hia owner was not unwilling to side-step Gloaming. However, if Eurythmic is in' absentee, it will not be due to anything of that kind, but to the difficulty J. Holt will experience in leaving a big team behind in ovder to get to Sydney towards the end of September/--,

The Mnsterton Racing Club's stakes for its Spring Meeting in October total £3350, an increase, of £105 over last year. "The Masterton Cup is worth 600 soys.

"Roy Reed, who has been on a holiday trip to Australia, returned by the Manuka yesterday. He went on.South to fulfil engagements at the Grand National Meeting.

Ait tUe Warwick Farm Meeting on ZOth Jiily, the four-year-old' gelding TCildennis (Kilbroney — Eouge) beat twelve ethers in tho second -division of the Mairleu Handicap.' Kildennis is owned by Mr. John Wren, tho wellknown Victorian sportsman. Mr. K. D. Duncan was the most successful Wellington winner during tho past season, horses carrying his colours having won 4765 .soys. Mr. Eric Riddiford., since he raced on has own, won 3360 soys, and, during the earlier part of the season, in partnership with Mr. Vivian llid'.liford, now in England, 1920 soys—a total of 5280 soys. Mr. H. P. F. .BUmdell cornea next with 1445 soys, and Mr. J. Fuller (another patron of.C. Pritchard'e) 1355 soys. Messrs. W. Higgins and G. A. Palmer each won 1240 soys, Mr. J. Hai'le 930 soys, Mr. A. K. Newmar, 905, soys, and Messrs. Dwan Bros. 865 soys. ■ " . .

''■ One of the most remarkable ■ betting disputes heard for sometime engaged the attention of the V.R.C. "Committoe last month. A backer claimed that a provincial bookmaker was indebted to hirH for a snecessiou of winning' wagers amounting to something in the neighbourhood of £-920&. Considerable evi--denoe was taken, and a number of documents bearing on the case weie submitted. It is understood that several of the wageia were on the "all up" principle. Among the winners mentioned were Taagn-looma and Sir Mnemon. The committee, after going very thoroughly into the matter, decided against, the bookmaker, who, it is understood, is the ownor of a well-known steeplechaser. Th? wagering is stated to have originally commenced with, a stake of £10. Tho backer* judgment in picking winners was remarkably good, and many of his winners scored at good prices. Included in, the programme of the Masterton Racing Club's Spring Meeting, are.the Macara Handicap and Cave Plate, named after two old officials of the club, both of whom, bred and raced horses in the district. Tho Cave Plajto Is ■ for two-year-olds, value 350 soys, weight 8.0, fillies and geldings allowed 51b ; distance five furlongs. The winner of the Hastings Stakes has t* put up. a penalty of ?lb.

Man d' War's three-year-old brother, Playfellow,,- who was sold for 1800 dollars as a yearling and was a rank failure as a two-year-old, suddenly sprang into prominence in June. He won a small race at Belmont Pa-rk on Ist June, and, though little importance attached to that performance, there was a different tale to tell when he easily won a mile race in 1.36 4-5 three days later. His owner, J. Fitz-simmons was t-hsn asked to put a price oh him, and he qxwted 125,000 dollars, finally coming down to 115.000 dollars (£23,000), at which figure Playfellow was boustht foT S. C. Hildreth on behalf of the Eancocas stable. ' Playfellow has a number of valuable engagements this season, these including . the Latonia Champion Stakes of 50,000 dollars. Shortly after Playfellow changed hands his new owners could have obtained.. 125,000 •dollars for him. The sale created quite a sensation in America, owing to Playfellow's advance from obscurity to fame in a few days. Uj) to the time of his first win ho was generally regarded as a'rank duffer.

Demades (Demosthenes —Gold Powder); owned by Mr. Harold Brown, ifi now trained by A. Jackson at Wanganui. ' . ' , -