NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 10, 12 July 1922, Page 12

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(»_ "Slit LAMCILOT.")

At Tlrenfcham on Saturday I was asked how old Master ...Strowan will be on Ist August. He first raced in the season 1913-M as a three-year-old, and will therefore be twelve years old next month. Tlie first meeting he raced at was Otaki, where he is now trained, and he ran second in his first two starts. He was tho best known competitor in Saturday's race that lie won. As a six-year-old in 1917, Master Strowan was successful, in th« Brooklyn and July Steeplechases. The following season he won the Wellington Steeplechase, on his only appearance, carrying 12.5. Coalition, who finished second four lengths away, was in receipt of 221b. The following1 season he failed with 12.2. Last year, when Coalition won with 12.11, Master Stro%van failed with 11.13. The success of Master Strowan in such an important race will again bring his sire into the limelight. Th_ son of Lochiel and Marian was the best two-year-old of his year, at which age he won seven races in the colours of the late Mr. George G. Stead. He was then sold, and took up stud duty in Gisborne. There he sired some good horses, the best of whom was Pmk 'Un, a weight-for-age winner in Victoria. The writer purchased his full brother (Tynedale) for D. J. Price, but he turned out a regular duffer. Another good horse Master Strowan's giro got was Baisano, who carried a stone penalty when he won the Grand National Hurdles. Manutaki and Booby, dams of Pink 'Un arad Paisano, were both daughters of Castor. Later on Strowan was fox several seasons in the Manawatu district, where he did not get many opportunities. It was there the Wellington Steeplechase winner was sired. His dam_ was an unnamed daughter of The Artist, by Somnus—-Lady Artist, by The Painter, and it is probably from his dam or granddam that he gets the jumping ability. The Artist was a pretty good performer, and was ridden by'C. Jenkins and trained by W. Holmes when the latter was carrying all before him with Ngateure, Ebor H., Lorelei, and other useful ones. The Artist won a double at Wanganui in the spring just prior to the New Zealand Cup, and" put up a penalty in the big race at Eiccarton, but was not seen. Next day he came out and won the Metropolitan. The Artist used to run in the nomination of a lady, and there was some objection about _nformpJity of nomination or ownership, but he got the stake all right. 'Oldtime racegoers will support my statement that The Painter laid the foundation of the steeplechasers in the Dominion. Lady Artist (The Painter— Policy) was a successful performer in the Rangitikei and : Foxton districts, and cajne the same season as Alma, (The Painter—Cornelia), who was a great all-round performer. He won tho Maiden Plate and Ladies' Bracelet the same day at, Wanganui, and at Manawatu won the Hurdles and big handicap j the same day. Mr. Duncan Hutlier= ford bought him to win the Grand National Steeplechase, and aftei', several attempts succeeded. Ahua sired it winner o£ the Grand National Hurdles in Social Post. Chemist (a gelding) was another gfeat peifofmdi? byer hurdles and across country under big weight.: He was racing about the sanie tiirte a_ Germaino, who was a fehampiori hack up and down the Coast; and won ho end of races. She was during part B: her career- Owned by the late Mr: Samuel Powell) the well=kriowri starter: At one meeting at Egnioiit ebe was barred on the machine, -Which paid out oii the second horse. The progeny of The Painter were very solid=co_stitutioned horses. At one meteitlg at Porirua, Germaihe won a two miles hurdle race) also tho Porirua Cup, two miles, the no_fc race-on the card. She is the dam of Globo, wiiinet* of the Grand National Steeplechase, in which Chemist carried 12.7 to victory. Denbigh, who raced against the above-named pair, never won a National, but the writer saw her win at Hastings and the old Hutt course. She learnt the business early, and won over hurdles as a four-year-old. Denbigh is the dam of Ruby and Moifaa, winners of the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase: The latter must _aye Been, a high-class performer: He won. the Hawkes Bay Hurdles .carrying 1210 and the, .Hawkes Bay Steeplechase -carrying 13.0: He •was then purchased by Mr. Spencer Gollan to win the Liverpool National; and succeeded: There -are other good performers sired by The Painter that have probably escaped my memory. .. Fame (The Painter—Maid of tlie Mist), is the- dam of Captain, Webb (by Natator), who ran third in the Grand National Hurdles, as a four-year-old and.sired.a Grand National,. Steeplechase winner in Captain Jingle: Geo (The Painter—MSß); who dead-heated with Whalebone in. the Wellington .Steeplechase; was a. full:brother to Artist; who won a .lot of hurdle races - and steeplechases, in.,the. Auckland district .for the late Mr: _:. B: Williamson:. He had the habit of winning .twi.ee a; dayj At.one meeting at Elierslie he won the Maiden Steeplechase., two. miles.and a:half;. and later.in.the day the Selling' Steeplechase; about three, inilos:. ■

, Among the Visitors .at Trentham ,en Sattit-day, who pccupied a, place, bri the stewards' .stand .were bid ,members of the executive ni Messrs;. &;, W:,t_tiilmari; Harold Johiistciii; fc): W: Tringliaiii; and Vv.:.__ 'filriibull: . MSiiiitaiii ,_r'dd has now won ,the Victci'iah. GSralid National Stesplecllase, two years iii.sttficessibh: Oh boil) beeafiiohs h_ was fiSciefi by tlie New Zealand. librse: i_S,n Stsinlfey Reiti. Last year li_ billy bftvrisd. li; 5; biit ori Saturday iiS mi tbji weight witli J_.7. . Biacfemail arid Suiiiiy Gorner failed tb _hew riliy form bii Saturday; aiicl, fcliey were hb. paid Up for _. dsyY . Stiiiiiy _BH_6r has beeri i>. failure..since .h£ camto Treilbliaiii) and she wilt prbbaMy __ returned to liot' owner afc ah early date: The forty-second annual report of _ the committee of tho M_Jtß.wa.tii Sabiiis? Gkiij presented to the aimual eeneval me.tihg of the members makes interesting _s_d= ing. It mentions that ..ftel' allowing forthe necessary depreciation laid dowi'i by the Commissioner of Taxes, amnm.tittg to £1687 14s 6d, the clnb shows _ debit balance of £998 l&s 4d. The taxation had materially increased during tho year through the new dividend tax. . The total taxes collected and paid amounted ■to £17,156 7s 3d, an increase of £260. 6s 6d. Of this amount, the club contributed £5924 18s 3d. In conjunction with the totalisator decrease, the club's entry Ices ateo decreased by £600, gates £700, and cards £137. As indicated in the report to the last annual meeting the club proceeded with the new buildin.E. scheme. The new large lawn totalisator house for the electric machine bad been completed. ktia machinery Installed, . and worked satisfactorily "fit tire last two meetings, AnefcW ktM. s \tm ..»__l,e»J _y ill. 9Ut£ido tgtaiiaatjW, _ud .*aa on

conjunction with the new electric machine. Two new large conveniences, the engine house, ambulance room, outside public bar, lawn horse stalls, new motor lawn paddock, new lawn and concrete wall for the outside stand, extension of the bird cage and inside lawn, 30 scraping shed stalls,'etc., had been completed, which, with a further expenditure on tho electric machine and other minor items,, cost a total sum of £14,647 4s 7d. The club's stakes were reduced by £1000 compared with* tho previous year, and the president of the conference permitted, a reduction of £2000 from the stakes for which the club was liable. The committee desired to thank Mr. J. Goring Johnston for the very valuable and handsome cup brought out from England by him and presented to tho winner of the Manawatu Cup at the Christmas meeting. The grounds, lawns, tracks, and appointments at Awapuni were well maintained by the caretaker and his staff. The committee desired to thank the honorary officials and permanent staff for the satisfactory manner in which their duties had been carried out.