RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RACING. August 12, 14, 16.—Grand National Meeting. August 23.—Pakurangi Hunt Club. August 23.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club, August 27.—Dannevirke Hunt Club. August 28.—Dannevirke Racing Club. August 30.—Taranaki Hunt Club. September 6.—Marton Jockey Club. September 11, ' 13.—Wanganui Jockey Club. ■ • . . September 13.—Otago Hunt Club. September 20.—Ashburton C. Racing Club. September 25, - 27.—Geraldine Racing Club, ‘

NO DISCRIMINATION . When Stanley William Findlay appeared before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) for sentence at Wellington after having been found guilty by a jury of carrying on the business of bookmaking, his counsel (Mr W. E.. Leicester) made some strong statements regarding the failure of the authorities to catch the big men in the game, that His Honour would not accept. Mr Leicester said that a number of reasons might be advanced for breaking the law, but one of the greatest reasons was that a particular law had been allowed to fall into a state of disuse. - It might be wrong, but, at least, it Was, human if a man thought he was justified in bookmaking. He could see the offices of the big bookmakers on the main streets, and he know that they carried on their business with the knowledge of the authorities, • and very often with tho assistance of the authorities. His Honour; I cannot accept that statement. I do not know that that is the case. I should b© very sorry to know .that .tlurb is so. Counsel: It was not,denied at a recent case that an official of a Government Department, uuder instructions from his head, had conferred with a bookmaker in Auckland about the telephone arrangements. For tip authorities to say that they cannot catch the big bookmakers is to talk nonsense that ‘ would not deceive a child. , His Honour : Well, you are making a statement I should think it would be difficult to prove. I should bo exceedingly sorry to learn, that such a state of affairs exists.

“L can say, speaking under inductions, that that is not so,” said the Crown Prosecutor (Mr P S. K. Macassey). , Mr Leicester: Well, I havo spoken strongly because I feel strongly. His Honour remarked that there had been a great number of prosecutions against bookmakers. The big men might bo very careful and. hard to Counsel: My point is that there has not' been any concerted effort to catch them. He suggested that tho prosecution against Findlay was a sort of sop to tho public, and it was a question whether a continuance of such an attitude would not lead the. public to think that there was one law for the rich, and another for tho poor. “ You and the public may rest assured]’’.said His Honour, ‘‘that so far as this court is concerned, there is no discrimination between rich and poor. Mr Macassey: 1, think it is only fair to the .police when a charge of this kiiid is made that it should bo contradicted. I am informed that attempts have been made to catch the big men, but they are too shrewd. They will not bet with anyone they do not know. Recently there have been a. number of prosecutions in the Police Court against bookmakers. His Honour; I havo never bad any reason to think that there has Keen any such attitude on the part of the as has been suggested. Tn passing a sentence of nine months imprisonment on Findlay,, who had been found guilty of carrying on tho business of a bookmaker, His Honour said that Findlay had been fined £SQ in 1927 for a similar offence. It you were a first offender and came before this court as such, I would have seriously considered whether the case could not have been met by a substantial fine,” remarked His Honour. “ You are not a first offender. The Gaming Amendment Act of 1920 makes the business or occupation of a bookmaker illegal, and declares that every person carrying on such business or occupation commits an offence. At last you have been caught. Tho law is made to be observed, and not to be deliberately broken, and if people deliberately break it they have no right to complain if, when they are caught, they are punished, severely. ' His Honour said that he was. not to impose the maximum penalty, or anything approaching it. However, it must be made clear that the ] aw could not be flouted, defied, and broken with impunity. JOTTINBB The first race on each day of the National Carnival, both racing and trotting, has been set down to start at 11.30 a.m. It is now definitely stated from Wellington that H. N. Wiggans will ride Havering in the Winter Cup. Silver Paper has been again eased up, and will not bo produced at tuo Grand National Meeting. _ , The Metropolitan Trotting Club has received excellent acceptances for the first day of their National Meeting, which commences on Saturday. Arrow Lad, although not yet ready, is reported to have stood out in the open sprint company at tho Manawatu Meeting. , , . . Flying Swif t shaped so poorly in the Steeplechase at Awapuni last Thursday that his chance of negotiating tho Riccarton country is considered remote. R. Symo has arrived at Riccarton from the north. He will ride Matu’in the Grand National Steeplechase and King’s Jest in the Grand National Hurdles. Snowfall was on the course at Riccarton on Monday doing light exercise. Ho showed slight evidence of lameness in front, but it is said that he frequently moves scratchily in his slow paces. The probable withdrawal of Lancer from the Grand National Hurdle Race field will rob that race of a good deal of interest, 'and leave Carinthia as the best of-the South Island horses in the field. In the Advance Handicap, a race for four-year-olds at Addington this month, Erin’s Pointer should see a short price. This filly has a record of 2.45 3-5, and is now handicapped on 2.55. Mangani, Carinthia, and King’s Jest appear to have the best chances in the Grand National Hurdles, and it is reported from tho North Island that King’s Jest will be a much improved horse when be strips for this race. It is fairly certain that H. Gray will ride Best Friend in tho Winter Cup. This will bo Gray’s first at Riccarton since the memorable New Zealand Cup fixture in 1924, when events, occurred which resulted in his Subsequent life- disqualification.-:

[By St. Cmxk.]

TROTTING. August 9, 13, 15.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. September 6.—New Brighton T.C. October 4.—Mathven T.C. October 11.—Waikato T.C. October 18.—New Brighton T.C. October 25, 27.—Greymouth T.C. October 25, 27.—Auckland T.C. October 27.—Northland T.C. October 27.—Oamaru T.C. November I.—Wellington T.C. November 11, 13, 14.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.

Country King is said to be shaping in improved style at Addington. Now that W. G. Tomkinson has got him right he should not be long in doing his connections a good turn early in the coming season. . Teri was neglected by backers m the open sprint at tho Manawatu ; Meeting last Thursday, but he went so well for half a mile that he is being picked out to show improved form very soon. He is engaged in the Winter Cup and other events at Riccarton.

Adventus, who claims engagements at Riccarton next week ; has some smart hack form to his credit in the North Island. He was twice second at Hastings to Best Friend, whose subsequent form made Adventus look good. A win'at Awapuni last week showed him to be at his best. ~ Royal Game was in front early in the Clifford Handicap at tho Manawatu Meeting on Thursday, and it looks as though he may win a race before long. Last season he ran well at tho Grand National Meeting, winning the Islington Handicap. Black Mint, who is a stable companion, was also prominent all the way, eventually finishing fourth. , The present break in the weather is particularly unfortunate for those trainers who wanted firm tracks to top off their charges for their National engagements next week. Those, horses who had a race last Saturday will havo an advantage now that will help them. Some doubt has been expressed concerning Mister Gamp’s immediate engagements, including tho Grand National Hurdles, as bis form' lately has been below expectations, including more than one fall. At Awapuni on Saturday, however, Mr Collins stated that Mister Gamp would run in the National and would havo the services of A. E. Ellis. On Omeo’s form at tho Manawatu Winter Meeting his prospects at Riccarton look, much brighter in the National Hurdles than they do in the Steeplechase, says a North Island writer. It would occasion no surprise if this is tho view taken by his connections next week. At any rate, Mr Lisle was much more satisfied with tho showing of his horse on .Saturday than he was tho first day, when ho fell in the steeplechase. Mangani was out on Monday, says the Christchurch 1 Times,’ doing useful pace work, looking none the worse for his effort in the Longbeach Hurdles. There is an opinion abroad that Mangani will be allowed to drop out of the Grand National Steeplechase with a view to concentrating on tho Grand National Hurdles, in which he appears to havo an excellent prospect of repeating last year’s success. Tho condition of Lord Ranald has not changed in any way. One of his legs has been causing trouble for some time, but while the big Masterpiece gelding is no worse, there is no sign of improvement, says tho Christchurch ‘ Times.’ T. H. Gillett will keep him in steady work in the meantime, to see how ho progresses, but the horso must be regarded as a doubtful starter at next week’s meeting. Marjoram’s form at the Manawatu Meeting will probably convince his connections that he has a chance of picking up a stake at the Grand National Meeting. If he goes south ho will not havo the services of A. Tinker, who rode him at Wellington and Awapuni. Tinker has a big team of young horses in work at Te llapa, and cannot afford the time to take a trip to Riccarton. Omco failed badly in' the steeplechase at Awapuni last Thursday, making one or two indifferent jumps before he fell, but ho shaped much bettor as a hurdler on Saturday, when he finished second. Ho has not arrived at Riccarton yet, and his programme for next week seems uncertain, as ho is engaged in both the big jumping events. •

Lancer is causing H. Nurse a good deal of anxiety, says the Christchurch ‘ Times.’ A splint has inado its appearance,, and_ as there is a good deal of inflammation it has been deemed advisable to easo him up a littlo. It is possible that lie will have to be given a spell. The connections of the Grey-spear gelding are unlucky, us he looked a really good prospect for the Grand National Hurdles, _ White Satin is bound to_ be a good favourite in the Introduction Trot at Addington next Saturday. The Wrack filly won five races during the season just closed, and proved herself the best three-year-old trotter tho dominion has produced. She has gone, a tick better than 3.32, at which she is handicapped now, and off tjie front sho certainly reads well. However, there have been occasions when she has been slow to gather up her speed, and if she is to win next week she cannot afford to bo so leisurely. Ambition also on tho limit, is a fast beginner and will take a deal of heading off. The field for the Grand National Steeplechase does not promise to be a big one, and it is likely that of the fifteen left in after the first acceptance that Lord Ranald, Radiate, Wharncliffo, and Sea Hoy will not bo paid up for to-morrow night, and Hymcstrason, who had to be destroyed after the Manawatu Meeting last week, will also bo missing. This loaves only ten probable starters, and of these Matu and Aurora Borealis appear to have the best chance. The latter is a great stayer, but only a small marc, and tho big fences may trouble her. Matu lias qualified over the country, and that factor and his recent good form at Wellington will probably cause him to be sent out favourite. It is considered very- unlikely that the extra tax on totalisator investments will be levied unrig j<i” National Week or even before November (says the Christchurch' ‘Times’). The measure has yet to find its way through tho House of Representatives. Racing and trotting clubs in Canterbury have received no official intimation of the proposed extra tax. The tax will be an extra 2J per cent, on investments on the totalisator, and will have its reflection in a reduction of 6d in the £ on dividends paid out. The present taxes are 10 per cent. Government and club on investments, and a 5 per cent, dividend tax on the amount of investments aftei tho first imposition has been deducted An indication of what racing may expect nndei present conditions is contained in the announcement made during the Manawatu Winter Meeting last week that the Danneyirke . sportsman, Mr W. H. Gaisford, is retiring from active participation. He has decided to

sell all his horses except the two-year-old Pombal —Eulogy gelding, Esteem. George Jones has received notice of the termination of his engagement as private trainer, to take effect at the end of the month, and Esteem is to bo taken over by F- Davis. Mr Gaisford has not come to this decision without a great deal of earnest thought, and the retirement from the game of such a liberal patron is to bo regretted. Tho report of the Auckland Racing Club, to bo presented ta tho annual meeting on August 11, congratulates members upon another successful year. Tho prize money contributed by the club amounted to £59,000, while in addition £340 was contributed in sweepstakes by owners. The four meetings showed satisfactory results, although the winter meeting was somewhat marred by inclement weather conditions. In accordance with the committee’s intentions expressed last year, the club’s finances bad received close attention, with satisfactory results. The committee hoped that at the end of the ensuing season tho financial position would show still further improvement. A sum of £12,070 had been written off buildings and plant, and a balance of £3,839 had been added to the capital account. In an interesting article on ‘ Luck in Horse Racing,’ “ Phaeton,” in the Auckland ‘Herald,’ says; How luck will operate was well illustrated in tho auction sale of Carbine at Melbourne in the spring of 188 S. It is related that one man, who was convinced that Carbine was a likely champion, was taken care of by friends, who considered it would be wise to keep-him in conversation when the bay colt was in tho ring, with the result that Carbine was knocked down to Mr D. S. Wallace for 3,000 gs while the other man was engaged in talking. Carbine won over £27,000 in stakes for Mr Wallace, and he was eventually sold for 13,000g5. Another incident related with regard to tho sale of Carbine at three years old is that Bruce Lowe, the founder of what is known as the figure system, was consulted as to his opinion of the Musket horse, and the story runs that ho declared against Carbine on the grounds that lie came under the red, which meant that his pedigree showed more sprinters than stayers. Surely the man who consulted Bruce Lowe regarding Carbine experienced bad luck 1