NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 7, 9 January 1930, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(B7 "VEDETIE.")

KACINO FIXTURES, Jan. 11.—Thames J.C. Jan. 11, 13.—Vincent J.C. Jan. .18.—Bay of Islands li.C. i Jan. 18, 20, 22.—Wellington R.C. Jan. 22.—Ashhurst-Pobancina B.C. Reminders. Acceptances for the 'Fox toil Meeting are due to-night at S o'clock. Nominations for the Pahiatua Meeting close to-morrow at 0 p.m. Something Interesting. It is said that arising out of the running of a certain race at the Auckland Meeting there is a possibility, of litigation. 'If matters go so far as this, the disclosures should be most interesting, to put it mildly. However, probably the party who would figure as the plaintiff will consider this aspect of the proceedings and the public will be deprived of a spicy story. The severe limitations imposed on the Press have prevented readers of" "The Post" from hearing the mere looker-on's version of 'the race and the aftermath. Reviving an Old Idea. Arising out of the hubbub caused by the running of Lucky Light at lnvcrcargill, the Dunedin writer, "Sentinel, reopens the old question of the admission of a representative of the Press to racing inquiries. It is extremely doubtful if this will ever bo achieved, but the Dunedin writer again urges the point. He states: '-'The prolonged and noisy demonstration made after the Final Handicap at Invercargill should thoroughly convince any club that the sporting public stands entitled to more information after an inquiry or protest than merely 'explanation accepted' or a brevity that travels very little beyond that bare intimation. It seems to be completely overlooked at times that the success of racing is totally dependent on the patronage of the public, and hence every consideration should be extended to those whose support stands absolutely necessary to the success of the game. The writer has been almost alone in claiming that the Press should be admitted into the hearing of inquiries or other official investigations into matters in connection with racing. A steward of a club may be instrumental in bringing about a disqualification that might have a very serious effect on his business. A steward has a duty to fulhl, but it must be remembered that the result of official work in connection with racing does not start and end on the racecourse. It should do so, because a capable and conscientious official should not suffer in a private and personal manner through a •whole-hearted work towards elevating racing on the highest possible plane. . Une fact remains that affairs in connection with racing are too frequently made personal, and will continue to do so unless the public is supplied with the information to which it is fully entitled, not only from a point of satisfaction^but also, in the real,interests of the sport."

The Wanflanul Cup Meeting. The Wanganui Jockey Club has issued the nrbcranirne of its Cup Meeting, to be held on 13lh and 15th February, and it is out to make the fixture a success. The Waiigaliui Cup carries a stake o£ £1000, including a gold cup valued at £100. The Wanganui Cup, forming the principal event on the programme for the opening day, claims attention on several grounds. It is the only mile and three-quarter handicap event on the programme- of any racing club in New Zealand. This makes the Wanganui Cup rather unique" so far as distance is .concerned, and it is pleasin&f to note that, when a suggestion was made to the committo that the event be reduced to a mile and a half handicap, members expressed the opinion that such a step would be' a retrogade one. It was felt that there were all too few long-distance handicap races in New Zealand, for with the exception of tlie New Zealand Cup. and the Auckland Cup, the Wanganui Cup is the only one the distance of which exceeds a mile and a half. The president of the New Zealand Racing Conference has always been an advocate of encouraging the long : distance performer, and the Wanganui Chib, in face of a certain amount of opposition, endeavoured to support him in that respect. It was in 18S8, just over forty years ago, that the distance of the Wauganui Cup was reduced to a mile and three-quarters, it having been run over two and a quarter miles from 1875 to 1885, while in 1880 and 18S7 the distance was two miles. For its attitude the club deserves some commendation. The Jackson Stakes is always an interesting classic event decided at this meeting. Ihe Juvenile Handicap on the opening day is now epeu to three-year-olds as well as two-year-olds, otherwise the card docs not differ from that of last year. jNominatioiis close on Friday, 24th January, when forfeits arc due for the Jackson Stakes.

New Zealand Horses. The success of New .Zealand horses in Australia is still being keenly discussed in -■ the Commonwealth, and dealing with the subject editorially the "Australasian explains it away because New Zealand studmasters breed only from the best marcs and cull relentlessly. It adds: ;"Most Nw Zealand studs arc comparatively small, arid for that reason arc of very high standard. . . . New Zealand breeders are breeding from good-class marcs. Some Australian breeders have paid high prices for stallions in England for their studs, but have ben content to mat© them with poor mares." This may be true in parts, but it cannot be accepted as a complete ' explanation. The "Australasian fails to mention what is generally regarded as the real cause of the effect: the superiority of the New Zealand climate and the limestone country. In New Zealand foals in their early days have to suffer nothing from heat and insect pests as compared ■with foals in Australia, thus giving them. a much better chance to develop at a critical age. Add to this the benefits ot the limestone country for the building ot bone and strengthening of constitution. For the Australians who are still puzzled this is the real kernel of the matter. If •any visiting Australian wandered over Mr. I. G. Duncan's property at Eldcrslie in North Otago to name only one, but one well-known, homo of the thoroughbred, he would appreciate the true state ol affairs. Jbo Wootton Brothers. It has been persistently rumoured of late that Stanley Wootton was about to retire and that the famous racing cstab- ■ lishment, Treadwell House, at Epsom, would in future be taken over by b-de Mestre. I now learu from Wobtton himseK that he is not retiring, states an English writer, 'but merely going on an extended holiday, and that his stable will be-taken over temporarily by his brother Frank. The famous ex-jockey will be m charge for some months if present arrangements are carried out. Stanley Woottou left for Singapore and Australia on Inn December. • ara!»il National History. The death in England reccutjy of Lady Sarah Wi«Voc at the age of 64 years brings to mind Hie success of an Australian owner in the Grand National Steeplechase at Liverpool and the brilliant riding feats of a soidiir, Captain Roddy Owen, wbo forsook his ' racing activities immediately alter his Grand National Steeplechase success and devoted himself to his military career. His early death in Egypt from cholera in IS9G was much regretted in maay circles. Lady Sarah Wilson was the widow of Mr. Gordon C. Wilson, whom she mcrried m 1891. Mr. Wilson was the eldest son of Sir Samuel Wilson, one time owner of the Ercildoune estate, near Ballarat, Victoria. Known to all his intimate friends as "Erasmus," Gordon Wilson won the Liverpool Grand National in March, ISO 2, with Father O'Flynn, a fine slayer nnd great jumper. Ridden by Roddy Owen, and in receipt of 2GIb from the presumed certainty, Cloister, Father O'Flynn defeated Cloister by 20 lengths. So strongly did he finish that it seemed he would not have minded galloping around the trying course for a third time. Gordon Wilson was then a lieutenant- in the Blues. When colonel of the regiment he was killed in France hi -November, ]914.

Judging at Hawkes Bey. The work of the judge at the MawUes Bay Meeting last week was severely criticised by one of the local newspaper representatives. A new official was tried in the box for that meeting. About Nightmarch. Since, his retui'U to Kiccarton Nightmarch has been restricted to very easy exercises, but the Night liaid colt -looks in . exceptionally good order and may not require much last work to bring him to his top. No definite arrangements have been made so far as to the colt's future programme, but one of the races selected for him at Randwick in the autumn may be the Sydney Cup, in which he probably will measure strides with Chide, who is already at Randwick. The weigh t-for-age races also will see him in action, and he should do well in those events. Projection Sold. Mr. W. E. Bidwill has sold Projection to Mr. J. J. Corry, of Blenheim, who took possession after the recent Wairarapa Meeting. Famous Jacket and Cap. Yellow, black cap, is a livery that has been borne by great racehorses in Great Britain, Australia, a,nd New Zealand. I'or at least 150 years it has been the livery carried in England by horses owned by the Dukes of Westminster. Long before 1780 Sir Kichard Grosveuor, owner ot the celebrated Pot-8-os, bred and raced horses. He won the Derby three times—with i\hadamanthus in 1790, John Bull in 1792, and Daedalus in 1704. As Lord Grosvenor ho died in 1802. His son, the first Marquis of Westminster, bred and raced the celebrated Touchstone. A later member of the line raced Bend Or, Ormonde, Flying Fox, and other famous bearers of the yellow jacket, black cap. The lato Mr. G. I*. Stead, the most successful breeder anil owner the New Zealand Turf has known, adopted these colours, and many_ were their victories in the Dominion arid m Australia, The last important success of the Stead colours in Australia was when Mr W. G. Stead's Father's Voice won the Futurity at Caulfield in 1925. Sasanof carried them in the 1916 Melbourne Cup, and Gay Ballerina last season in New Zealand prior to her sale. The livery was in evidence at Moonce Valley recently, when W. fa. Hickenbotham jun.'s ' Graculus nlly Uracwin won the Kpombahla Maiden Plate. Gracwin, by the way, is a lineal descendant of Touchstone and Pot-S-os. Hickenbotham's father has used the colours for many years. He took them over when Mr. Robert Barr Smith dropped out of racing.