TURF NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1923, Page 17

TURF NOTES

Cbv "SIR LANCELOT"]

FIXTURES.

August 14, 16, 18—Canterbury J.C. . August 18—Egmont-Wimganul Hunt Club. August 25—Pakurunga Hunt Club. ' September I—North Taranaki Hunt CluK September s—Marton J.C. September 6—Rangitikei Hunt Club. September B—Otago Hunt Club. September 18, 15—Wansanui JIC. September 21, 22—Ashburton County R.C. September 22, 24—Avondale J.C. September 22, 24.— Otaki-Maori R.C. September 27, 23—Geraldine R.C. September 29—Manawatu Hunt Club. September 29—Napier Park R.C.

Local trainers with their horses sufficiently forward will be able to give them a race early next month. The Marton Jockey Club's Meeting will be held on sth September, and the Rangitikei Hunt Club's Meeting the following day. The open events at the Jockey Club's Meeting are the Marton Handicap, a mile and a quarter, and the Railway Handicap, six furlongs. The latter race should prove a good pipe-opener for Wanganui Guineas candidates. The Heaton Park Handicap, seven furlongs, is the open event at the Hunt Club's Meeting. Both programmes include hack hurdle and steeplechase events. Nominations for both events close on Friday next, at 9 p.m., with Mr. Arthur Way, secretary.

Some of the Sew Zealand contingent in Sydney were seen out, at the Warwick Farm Meeting (postponed from the previous Monday), held at Randwick on Thursday. Golden Tresses (Tressady— Lady Grafton), one of Mr.. D. G. Greenwood's Derby candidates, made his first appearance in the Three-year-old Handicap, a mile race, in which he was weighted at, 7.10, and beat' all his opponents but one. He may now be inquired for as a Derby probability. It will be remembered that neither Gloaming nor Cupidon showed any form before going to Sydney and winning the rich race mentioned. Danger Zone (Martian—Crimson Hose), who scored his only previous win in Sydney in the Flying Handicap at Canterbury Park on 14th July, was successful in the Highweight Handicap, a mile race, in which he carried 10.1. He.i 3in both the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps with 7.7, and his_ name is likely to be freely mentioned in connection with the mile race.

At a committee meeting of the Marton Jockey Club, presided over by Mr. B. E. Beckett, an application was received from the Waimarino Racing Club for the use of the Marton racecourse on ISth and 17th January, 1924, in the event of its being granted a permit. It was unanimously decided that, the club be granted free use of the racecourse on the dates mentioned above, and that the stewards give every assistance. ' Te Kuri and Kilroe, formerly trained at Irentham, were recently shipped from Gisborne to Auckland, and have gone into J. Buchanan's stable at Ellerslie. ( "Touchstone" (Mr. S. Griffiths), of The Australasian," in the issue of the 4th inst., has the following interesting remarks concerning the wonder-filly Mumtaz Mahal:—"l once was shown all over the Aga Khan's great palace at Jftona. which was gradually falling into disrepair through seldom being occupied. During my three years' sojourn in India, ills Highness did not pay the country a visit. However, I got to know his nephew, Aga Shamshidin Shah, quite „., c was a charming gentleman. and, like his uncle, was passionately fond of racing. He had travelled extensively and, was a good judge of racing. Consequently when Shamshidin Shah's finances became rather low. the Western India Turf Club appointed him stipendiary steward, an office he tilled io the time of his death some years ago. We have heard a good deal recently of Mumtaz Mahal, a wonderful two-year-old filly owned by the Aga Khan, who is said to be another Sceptre, but probably few people are aware whence this daughter of The Tetrareh derives her name and it may be of interest to mention the origin of the nomenclature. Mumtaz Mahal was the favourite wife of Shah Jehan, the Tetrareh of the Indian dynasty, who in 1630 built the city of Agra, which contains a beautiful mausoloum—the famous Taj Mahal—which built by Shah Jehan, marks the restingplace of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent and marvellously beautiful mausoleum—one of the wonders of the worldis said to have taken 20.000 men nearly 20 years to build. During my first periodic journey through India—l had a round trip of about 1 30C0 miles every year—l purposed staying over a day at Agra to see the Taj Mahal, but was ao enamoured with the building that it was three days before I could tear myself away, and I am not at all emotional or impressible either in matters of this kind. Fortunately, it was moonlight during my visit to Agra, and the dnv« out to the Taj, and the ethereal appearance of this most beautiful of all buildings in the moonlight, leave ah impression on the most unimpressionable of individuals which can never be effaced. Much more able pens than mine have endeavoured to convey some idea of th» beauty of the Taj Mahal with no very great success, for this is one of the objects that must be seen to be thoroughly understood and appreciated. Some of the much-vaunted temples, mosques, and palaces of India—and the East generally—look much better in pictures than in reality. Not so the Taj Mahal." A. Masters made a successful deal yrhen he purchased Noble for a few pounds a, few months back. The Merry Moment gelding has since three stakes, and he has been passed on to Mr. L. C. Hazlitt at a considerable advance to what his previous owner gave for him. He is top weight in the Enfield Steeplechase on the opening day at Biccarton. '

H. Goldfinch leaves for South to-nieht to ride at the C.J.C. Meeting. One of his mounts will be Tenterfield in the Winter Cup. . . ' After fulfilling engagements at Riccarton, C. W. Coieman may take Oakleigh. Peter Amans, and Poanui across to Sydney, provided nothing' unforeseen happens mi the meantime. The jumpinc ™f? v thf A-XC- Meetin Sale not gen erally hard to win. and such a useful team should more than pay expenses. The annual meeting of the Foxton Club, on the motion of Mr. Jewell, seconded by Mr. Jackson, resolved: "That the annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club strongly disapproves of the method proposed by Sir George Clifford for the reduction of .stakes and dividends, since such a source would not relieve the financial position of clubs in any way This meeting is emphatically of the opinion that a reduction should be made in the totahsator and amusement taxes, as these are borne directly by clubs, and ar« directly responsible for the difficult financial position in which many country clubs find themselves. Further, that this club supports the Oamaru Jockey Club in its proposal that, in the event of the Government not being prepared to forego the whole of its totalisator and amusement taxes, a graduated tax be imposed on clubs whereby t\i first £250 invested on tlie tote should be exempt from .'the tax." It was decided that copies of this resolution be sent to members of Parliament.

Carawock's breeding- is given as by Spalpeen from, a Sylvia Park mare, but a Northern writer states that the Sylvia Park mare is absolutely efean bred, b». ing t!*9 1809'feiil 1 from Pitch and Toss, fey MtdaUioH icon .Vtultrew, by Albany

from Miranda, by Traducer. • Carawc \: ' does riot race as if there is a bar sinister in his pedigree, and the above breeding leaves little to cavil at. Pitch and Toss has been missing from the Stud Book for a long time, but it is hoped she will appear in the next volume issued by Mr. W. H. E. Wanklyn for the Racing Conference.

The Christcharch 'Star" states that the Auckland trainer E. C. Rae has had. an unfortunate experience with his two steeplechasers, Glenotus and Vociferate, both of whom have met with mishaps during the last day or two. In neither case is the trouble regarded as serious, but they could not be at their best next week, so Rae has cancelled their engagements at the Grand National Meeting, and will leave for home with his horses on Thursday. It is understood that the prize money attached to the Dunedin Jockey Club's programme for the coming season will Vhow a reduction on the amount attached to that of last season. The substantial loss incurred over last season's operations was partially due to bad weather experienced during the currency of some of the Wingatui meetings, and hence there is no great reason to become despondent over the financial loss, or to seriously curtail the financial attractiveness of the coming season's programme. Whilst on the subject of finance in connection with the Wingatui meetings, writes "Sentinel," it must be said that a curtailment of prize money should be followed by a reduction of the fees necessary to start a horse in a race. At the present time the acceptance fees for events at Wiugatui are rather higher proportionately than those demanded by many. other clubs, and the club would certainly please owners if a reduction was made in the present cost of running at Wingatui. .

As Palencia, Londonderry, and Maghera have been, allowed to forfeit their first day's engagements, it looked as if the Dunedin owner, Mr. L. C. Hazlitt, would have no representatives at the Grand National Meeting next week. Mr. Hazlitt has, however, purchased Noble. After Top Gallant easily won a mile and a. quarter race in 2min in England in May, regret was expressed that he was not in the Derby. However, his subsequent showing in the Coronation Cup, 1£ miles, at Kpsoni, did not suggest he would have had much chance in the Derby. He was backed down to even money in a field of eight, the race being at weight-for-age, with allowances.. Top Gallant, who had 8.0, was wanting as a, staler, as though he went to the front a quarter of a mile from home, he was in trouble commencing the last furlong, and finished fourth. The four-year-old Radium—Moonfleet horse Condover won from Craigangower and Soubriquet, the latter, however, losing at least ten lengths at the start. As she was only three lengths away at the finish she would have won with ordinary luck. In the following race, the Royal Handicap, of £835, the favourite, Crowdennis, was left at the post, taking no part, and, according to all accounts the starting at Epsom was deplorable.