STIPENDIARY STEWARDS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 23

STIPENDIARY STEWARDS

WAS A GO-SLOW POLICY

INDICATED?

The present stipendiary steward system in Xew Zealand costs annually something in ..ie region of £4000. The paid officials unaor the scheme in the past have been subjected to much criticism, which may or may not have been deserved, but it has been recognised that their failure to get things done has been due largely to the lack of support accorded them. What was regarded as a test case was staged in Auckland comparatively recently, the result of which seemed to indicate that stipendiary, stewards are expected to be passive rather than active. The officials concerned have not been slow to take this conclusion, for the chief, Mr. J. ■■ M'Mahon, has already gone to Australia —and it is understood by those in a position to know that his visit to Sydney is not altogether a disinterested one—and it is obvious that the others do not intend to mar the enjoyment of racing by judicial committees in asking them to hold inquiries, and abstain from "betting and the entertainment of their friends. It would bo an insult to the intelligence and experience of the stipendiary steward in attendance at the Dannevirke Meeting to suggest that he was not cognisant of several incidents asking for investigation. .However, nothing was done. The sympathies of the racing public should be with the stipendiary stewards. The system ■was introduced to protect the public. The public in reality provide the £4000 a year.

.Racing fixtures next week are all on baturday—Avondale at Ellerslie, Napier Park,, and Ashburton. The two firstnamed fixtures will be concluded on the following Monday. The starting at the Dannevirke Meeting was some of the worst seen for a long time... Fields straggled away from the barrier ,m race after race, and the things said Jjy racegoers about the efforts of the gentieman at the starting-lever would not pass:the Censor.

H. Wiggins has been engaged to ride Alloway in the Avoudale Cup. He will be on King Val in the two-year-old event. A. E. Ellis left for a trip home yesterday, and returns North next week to ride at the Avondale Meeting, where one of his mounts will bo To Monamii in the C. UP-' Ellis has had a good run in the isorth Island, having ridden six winners la three weeks.

Mr. W. G. Stead was booked to leave Auckland yesterday for Sydney. Cosmetic was handed over to W. J. Donovan at Dannevirke, and will remain in his. charge for the Napier Park and Hawkes Bay Meetings, S. J. Reid will be at EUerslie with Chit.

A prominent hunting man, discussing race meetings held by hunt clubs and the iriction they are causing in Borne instances, ventured an opinion at Dannovirke that holding a race meeting was outside the proTinco of a hunt club. He admitted that racing owed Something to the hunt-jng-kolk, but there should be some other way of providing financial assistance Instead of a number, of small hunt club race, meetings, he suggested that a number of totahsator permits bo planted to metropolitan .racing clubs, and a share o£ the prolits from these race meetings be passed on to the hunt clubs. This suggestion being a step towards the centralisation oi racing will have the support of all except the parochially-inclined. F. Davis stated at Dannevirke that he was,undecided as yet as to what horses he would take to Auckland. Great Char, ter and the two-year-olds Second Wind nnd Marion's Birthday are more or less certainties, while Gascony may complete the team. It is possible that Doree will be left at home; to go to Hastings later to contest the Hawkes Bay Guineas. The field m this race does not look like being « very strong one. ■f" Keesing goes to Napier Park to f .¥?• J- A> Tavlol''s horses Tresham and Chips. In addition he has been encaged to ride W. Donovan's pair, Teri and (Tca.Misß. Broad Acre is the latest addition to G. KewV team, having been purchased during S° SSFSI. 0* the Dannevirke Meeting by Mr. W. White, the owner of Crown Area. Broad Acre is a five-year-old gelding by Acre from Peggy Paul, and shows a fair amount of promise. By his double victory at Dannevirke this week, Cerf placed himself out of hack class. He is a solid-galloper, and likely to improve yet, so that he should hold bib own in open company. There were three hurdle races run over a mile and a half at Dannevirko this week, and in each instance the timekeeper hoister the time as 2min 40sec. _ Excess, the winner of the Takapau Novice Stakes at Dannevirke on Thursday, was reported to have run a great trial at uNapier Park. On the strength of this he was backed down to a short price on the first day. Badly served in a. straggling start, he finished a long way back m sixth place. Much better placed in every way on Thursday, he had nothing to spare from Kindle. Excess, who is a three-year-old gelding by Kilbroncy from ■fculsomo (Absurd—Eulogy), may develop into a useful galloper, as be stuck on very well when L. G. Morris applied the pressure on the second day. R. S. Bagby made one of his few appearances in the saddle at Dannevirke on Wednesday. On Grey Mist he was first out, and not at any stage in danger of defeat. He had a good deal in his favour, but backers of Grey Mist also lost nothing by having Bagby up on their fancy. ■

0£ the maiden platers Been out at Daniievirke, apart from Excess and Grey Mist, the winners each day, Kindle, Borselene, Ring Boy, , and Abisogne, should all bo worth remembering. There is' no reason why Red Fuchsia should not develon into a good class jumper. By. All lied, a prolific sire of jumpers, from Nedra, who carried Mr. C. F. Vallance's colours in many a steeplechase^ he is bred the right way. Red Fuchsia tan two very useful races at Dannevirke, and although he did not have a great deal to beat each day, his efforts were impressive. Royal Damon'is a moss.of condition at present, and should show up in any company. He beat his field pointless at Dannevirke on Thursday, and there was only one chance of his being defeated, ,but it did not come to pass. Red Fuchsia, Imitation, and Cerf were all double winners at Dannevirke, but in Cerf s case he had to share the honours at the end of his second race with Watchman.

Bachelor was Bhipped to Australia yesterday by the Maheno. The Absurd gelding has shown great speed at times, but has proved s very difficult to traiu. The Australian climate may suit him better Ho is to go to R. O'Donnell's stable. Agrion and Phillipie were to be shipped from Sydney yesterday, but R, J. Mason will remain in Australia to view the big meeting afc Randwick. It is understood that Agrion's disability is not. considered at all serious, but he was sufficiently lame after working a fortnight ago to warrant his trainer easing him up and not risking racing him on the trip. The Limoud colt 5s included in the list for the Dunedin Guineas, to be run in.a month's time, but jfc will not be known until his return to Iticcarton whether his engagement will lie continued.

Archibald is coming along nicely and

should strip in good order for his coming engagements, although he would probably be all the better for a race. It is probable that he will do some racing on the fiat at the spring meetings, and he might bo equal to decent efforts, as he does not appear to have lost any of his pace. Archibald T>eat a useful field over seven furlongs last spring. Without being extended in his work, The Fox has been accomplishing useful tasks, and recently went nicely over four furlongs without looking for time. The Romeo gelding is one of the most promising three-year-olds at Ellerslie, and even though he may not be up to classic standard he should hav.e distinct possibilities among the hack class. J. Lowe left Wanganui on Thursday for Auckland with Catkin and Flying Binge.

Civility is galloping as freely as ever at Wanganui. She slipped over half a mile comfortably on Thursday in 51see. There is said to be some chance of her racing at Hastings and not -at the Auckland Meeting, but probably the Auckland trip will be decided upon. F. Tilley will leave on Monday for Auckland. In addition to Laughing Prince and Freehold he will take Ruanui north. The last-named is engaged on the second day of the Avondale fixture, and he also figures in the Great Northern Guineas. •On Thursday morning W. Rayner's team were given half and three-quarter pace work at Wanganui, all of them moving, in fine style. Daman's, in particular, appears to have greatly improved, while Mask is doing as well as his Avondalo Cup supporters could wish.'

The three-year-old Don Jose (Archery —Michaela) is going particularly well in his work at Riccarton. He is being spoken of as a likely Dunedin Guineas candidate. . ■■