RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20472, 1 May 1930, Page 7

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING CLUBS May 3. —Ambciicy R.C. May 8, 10.—Egmont R.C. Ma'v 9. 10. -Nelson J.C. May 14. 15.—Southland R.C. May 15,‘ 17.—Wanganui J.C. .May 16, 17.— Marlborough R.C. May 24. - Ashburton County R.C. May 24.—Taumarunui R.C. May 31, June 3, 4.—Dunedin J.C. June 3, 4. —Otaki-Maori R.C. June 3,5, 7.—Auckland R.C. June 13, 14.—Napier Park R.C. Juno 14.—Oamaru J.C. June 19, 21. -Smith Canterbury J.C. June 20, 21.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 25.—Egmont-Waiiganui Hunt Club, June 28, —Ashburton County R.C.

HIGHTMARCH AND AHOUHIS Amount's and Nightmarch are all square; Niglimarcli won the Autumn Stakes on Saturday and Amounis the All-aged Stakes yesterday, but whereas Night march had a short head to spare on Saturday, Amounis won more decisively over the mile (says the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ of Thursday last). .In each case J. Pike was seen to advantage, and he did not allow Amounis to cover an inch more ground than was necessary. Nightmarch’s task was not made me.) easy by being kept from the rails. Coming round the turn into the straight he lost ground by running very wide in a field of four. Not the least interesting part of the race was the wagering. At first sight, and as matters turned out, it seemed a match between Amounis and Nightmarch, but the spirited support for Grecnlino and Cimabue invested the event with unexpected enthusiasm. Cimabue was hacked from .‘l3 to 1 to 14 to 1, and Grecnlino held his position as third favourite, some bookmakers being unable to offer better than 6to 1 about him. Amounis and Nightmarch wore each supported early at even money, and plenty of 11 to 3 the field was available as the horses went to the post, the demand for the other pair being responsible. It was practically _ . walk-up start, and Cimabue immediately shot to Jl ie front, and when two furlongs had been covered ho was about a length and a-half in front of Grcenlinc, with Nightmarch half a length away and Amounis a similar distance off. The pace was o , and at the half-mile Cimabuo had a, two-lengths’ advantage of Greonlinc, with Nightmarch, about one horse from the rails, a length behind Greenline, and Amounis threequarters of a length further away. There were quick changes about the three furlongs. Amounis was allowed to improve his position near the rails, and Greenline rushed to the front. Rounding the turn Nightmarch covered much more ground than any of the others, and when the horses were straightened for the run to the | t Greenlino was clear fror tiring Cimabue, Amounis, and Nightmarch, who was almost in the centre of the course. Having ridden Grecnlino in several of his races, Pike evidently did not care to lot him get too far ahead,*and he set to work on Amounis before reaching the furlong post. His quick summing up of the position won him the race, for Amounis was at his top when Reed began to ride Nightmarch vigorously. Nightmarch responded well, but in the meantime Amounis had the race within his keeping, and he passed the post accompanied by loud cheering a length in front of Nightmarch, with Greenline three-quarters of a length off, and Cimabue about three lengths further back. The mile was run in Inrn 37scc, a marter of a second outside Glare’s record for the race. The victory brings Amounis’s earnings to greatest stake-winner in Australasia, earned £43,100. PHAR LAP There arc- three interesting features of Phar Lap’s great form at Randwick (says “ Vedette,” in the ‘ Post ’) . The first is the question, “ How did Nightmarch come to beat him in the Melbourne Cup?” It is granted that a thrce-ycar-old is always accepted to be better in the autumn, the theory the wcigiit-for-ago scale, hut from all accounts ho made a sorry exhibition of Nightmarch on Saturday, when the latter had 91b the best of the weights compared with the Melbourne Cup adjustments. Certainly Phar Lap was reported to be under suspicion for a slight cold in Melbourne in the spring, and ho fought with R Lewis all through the race for the Cup. Now it looks that if ho had been allowed to run along ho would have distanced the field. His recent record-breaking performances certainly stamp him as the freak galloper of his time. The second point is: “What will he the explanations ol the thick-and-thin admirers of Nightmarch in Australia?” Some of the critics have been conducting heated controversies as to the actual class of Nightmarch. Their further contributions will be awaited with interest. There is also one remaining question: “ How did Paquito, in the light of his subsequent form, beat Phar Lap also at Flemington?” Another writer says; ‘ lliose who contended that Nightmarch was a lucky winner of the Melbourne Cup and that Phar Lap should never have been beaten now have much the better of the argument. Of course, improve ment with the advancement of tho season must bo taken into account, par ticularly with a thrco-yoar-old, hut at the same time Phar Lap’s decisive defeat of the Melbourne Cup winner on Saturday in tho A.J.C. Plato makes ope ponder over tho spring Cup result in Melbourne. There can bo no argument now. Phar Lap stands alone, and there is no knowing how good ho is To bo a furlong in front of Nightmarch and then win bv ten lengths in record time is tho hall mark of an absolute champion. What he could do if really extended must border upon thp best the world has over seen. His lime lor tho two miles and a-quartor, 3.49 J, is 1-3 see better than Spcariclt’s 3.51’,- previous record, established in tho Australian Cup of 1927. In the same race Pilhcwinkio ran 3.51'1, and Now Zealand s host is tho 3.52 of Gasbag and Gold Light in the Canterbury Cup. The ILmdwiek track on Saturday was last, as other times show.” JOTTINGS Acceptances for the first day of the Porbury Park Trotting Club’s Meeting will close at-5 p.m. to-morrow. According to Australian reports, the lease of Phar Lap to H. R. Tel lord expires next February. Tho only mooting in tho South Island on Saturday will he at Amberley. Brigadier Bill, winner of the last two Wanganui Steeplechases, is to attempt tho hat trick this year. Nightmarch won £2,815 at flic A.J.C. Meeting—£l,Bls for first in tho Autumn Stakes, £6OO for second in the AH-

TROTTING GLUES May 3.—Cambridge T.C. Annual. May s—Amberley R.G. Annual (two events). , May 8, 10.—Forbury Park T.C. Winter. May & 10.-Kelson J.C. Annual (two events c:nb day). May 14, 15. - Southland R.C. Winter (one event first day, two second day). ' May 16, 17.—Marlborough R.C. Autumn (two events each day). May 17. Oamaru T,C. Winter. May 24.—Ashburton Counly Racing Club Autumn (two events). May 31, Juno 3.—Canterbury Park T.C. Winter.

aged Stakes, and £4OO for second in the A.J.C. Plato, His stake record is now £25,148. __ Odds of 20 to 1 on were demanded by Randwick bookmakers about Pliar Lap. in the St. Legcr on Easter Saturday. Practically they only wagering on the race, and that was limited, was for first ai*d second. The Australian jockey, J. Muuro, has advised his family by a cable message that lie won three races at Jus first day’s riding in Germany. At a meeting of the committee of the Oamaru Jockey Club on Tuesday afternoon, the president, Mr William Gardiner voiced a strong protest against Mr W. J. Poison’s proposal to increase the totalisator tax by 2 per cent. Dominant, who cost 6,750 gs as a yearling, is reported to be working regularly' at Caulfield, and is furnishing into a very' idee horse. He promises to be at his best shortly. Ho has already scored two seconds from four starts, and the enterprise of Ids owners looks like being rewarded. Prior to the A.J.C. Plate on Saturday' Pliar Lap had won £24,431. There were twenty entrants and apparently seventeen of them paid the £1 forfeit, though it is possible some of them paid £5. At any rate three of thorn paid the lOsovs to start, so that the race would bo worth approximately £1,450 to the winner. This brings Pliar Lap’s total to £25,881, which will ho correct within a pound or two. To a London ‘ Sporting Life ’ representative, Mr Sol. Green, who later decided to scratch Strephon 11. for the Kempton Park Jubilee Handicap on May 17, said: “When Strephon H. gets the sun on his hack ho should do all right. If Strephon 11. strikes Ids gait he will do well when acclimatised. I should not have sent him here if I had not thought him a ‘ topper.’ My' real object is the Ascot Gold Cup. I am not afraid of the French horses.” Though the nominations for the Southland Steeplechase, to be run on May 14, only’ number six, the meeting of Kapuna and Maungamoe again will make an interesting race. At Riverton on the last day Kapuna gave Maungamoe 31b and a head beating. Both horses should have improved by the racing at that meeting, and the inclusion of Overhaul in the field will add to the interest taken in the race. The Invercargill . course is a good schooling one, and if Overhaul qualifies over it, he can be safely looked on to jump any of the North Island courses. , Among tho horses disposed of by Mr C. G. Dalgety at Christchurch was Warstep, with a bay filly by Weathervane and in foal to Weathcrvane. Warstep, one of the greatest mares ever raced in- New Zealand, is now twenty years old. Her victories include the Auckland Cup, C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap, Stead Gold Cup, Canterbury Cup, Great Autumn Handicap, and Dunedin Cup, besides dead-heating in the New Zealand Cup lor first place. Warstep was acquired by Mr G. D. Jobson, of Gisborne, for loOgns The conditions of tho Trial Handicap, six furlongs, to bo run on the first day of the Southland Racing Club’s Meeting, are for horses that have never won a race at a totalisator meeting, and yet, at tho end of tho season, twenty horses have been nominated It would bo quite safe to estimate at this period of the racing season that at least fifteen of these horses will still be maidens at the end of July. Presuming that it only costs £4 per week to tram and race these horses—a very’ low estimate—and that they have been in training for six months, this represents an expenditure of nearly £1,600 on horses who have returned nothing to their owners. Racing unquestionably puts a lot of money into circulation, and that is what is required in tho present state of tho country finances. Star God, who started a hot favourite in the Sydney Cup. will not race for some time mving to a leg being injured during the race. This was an unfortunate occurrence for tho connections of the gelding, particularly Trainer C. O’Rourke, who was confident of victory - However, O’Rourke’s bad luck on one day turned into good fortune tlie next At the V.P. Pony Meeting he scored a double with Ramondale and Little Pa cole t, and everyone was pleased to see him experience this change of luck. If Star God had not been hurt in the Sydney Cup lie would have been sent to Adelaide to compete in the King’s Cup. Mr W. B. Pnrefoy, the well-known racehorse owne>, has died in London. Mr Purofoy was the master mind of the famous' Droid’s Lodge stable, from which horses were sent out to bring off some of tho greatest coups in the history of tho turf. This establishment twice won tho Cambridgeshire in successive years with Hackler’s Pride in 1903 and 1904, and with Christmas Day in 1909 and 1910. With Ypsilanti they also won the Kempton Park Great ‘‘Jubilee” twice. Other notable handicap successes with which Mr Pnrefoy was associated were those of Dark Ronald and Rally, in the Royal Hunt Cup, and Uninsured in the Lincolnshire Handicap. When the money was down rarely a mistake was made, and all those horses were backed to win fortunes. Few horses have done more racing than tlic ton-year-old gelding Logan Chief, and he showed by his running at the Easter Meeting at Addington that ho is far from dicing a spent light. All going well lie will be taken to tho Forbnry Park Mooting next week, and as lie is at home in any kind of going lie may' have to be reckoned with even though he is handicapped to do 4.26 for two miles (says the ‘Press’). Ho has retained his form remarkably Well, for lie ■ farted racing as a two-year-old in 1922, and has been going consistently ever since. It is estimated that Logan Chief has started 149 times for twenty-ono wins, besides innumerable minor plncings, and ho has won £11,213. Logan Chief did the greater part of his racing odor J. J. Keimorloy’s charge, lint for some time past ho has been trained by F. Holmes. Tho Cromwell district lias sulfored big loss by tho death of Dr Thomas Harrison, and sp< tsmon, and those who visit that district will miss him. In His younger days Dr Harrison was a good all-round sportsman, excelling in athletics, swimming, ami Rugby.

Ho was not so successful as an owner of racehorses, but with Arrowmir he won quite a number of races. Deceased was very highly' respected both in his profession and as a resident in tho Cromwell and surrounding districts. There was no place in Otago Central that was too inacccssable for him to reach if his services were required, and on one occasion when a doctor was urgently required 'at the Nevis ho drove his ear to that locality in the midst of winter, a feat that had not then nor since been attempted. A great warm-hearted man has passed on, who both as friend and physician will be very sadly missed in the Cromwell district.

It was as a racing and hunting man that the late Lord Coventry was best known to the British public. Ho did not give up riding until he was aged neatly’ eighty years, and he claimed to have attended more than seventy Derbies and sixty Ascots. As long ago as 1863 and 1864 ho made turf history by winning tho Grand National two years running with two sisters, Emblem and Emblematic, a thing never done before or since. Seven years ago his horse, Verdict, was entered for the Cambridgeshire, and a few days before tho event he wrote to all his friends to say that his horse had won a good trial, and was likely’ to win tho race. Ho did not put a penny 7 of bis own money 7 on the horse until all his friends had placed their bets. Tho horse won, beating the famous French champion, Epinard. That was typical of tho spirit in which he conducted racing affairs. The late sportsman was the fatlier of the Jockey Club, to which he was elected a member over seventy’ years ago. He was ninety-two years old, and had held his title for eightyseven years. The following circular issued through the post from a tipster’s office in Adclaid, suggests (to the want-to-get-riclv-nuickly punters) that there are such tilings as “ racecourse certainties,” and (to those who know the game) that by illegal methods it is possible to fix races. Apparently’ the authorities in South Australia are indifferent to the cleanness of the sport when they’ allow this sort of thing to pass:— “Kay’s Rress and Telegraph Agency address box, 58 G.P.0., Adelaide, Confidential Wire Section.—Dear sir, —We wish to notify 7 you that arrangements have been made for a special certainty. The horse selected for this special is at the top of his form, and in a recent trial surprised even his connections. He is good enough to win on his merits, but as tho custom of tho agency’ is to give clients periodically 7 a horse that will not he beaten, arrangements have been made to prevent any chance of his being defeated. These arrangements are usually expensive, and to comply with this, our fee for special certainties is £1 per wire. Wo expect this horse to start at exceptionally good odds, and advise clients, if possible, to back this horse with a bookmaker as the less money invested on the course the bigger price it will start at. Clients will remember our recent specials being I’ll Run, £lO 12s; Nadeau, 20 to 1; Green Baize, £lB 15s. We expect this special to bo equally 7 as good, and clients desiring to have a big safe bet are requested to forward their subscription without delay 7, as wo send only’ a limited number of wires for our special certainties. —Kays.”