RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20686, 8 January 1931, Page 5

RACING NOTES

IBy St, Clair.]

RACING. January 10.—Thames Jockey Club. January 10, 12.—Vincent Jockey Club. January 14, 15.—Foston Racing Club. January 17.—Bay of Islands Racing Club. January 20, 22.—Wairoa Racing Club. January 20, .22, 24.—Wellington 'Racing C j'anuary 22.— Ashhurst-Poliangina Racing - Wairio Racing Club. January 24.—Waipapakauri Racing Club. January 28, 29. Pahiatua Racing Club. January 29, 31. -Takapuna Racing Club. February . 4.—Tapanui Racing Club. February 5, 7. —Fgmont Racing Club. February 5, 7.—Gisborne Racing Club.

HOLiDAY TOTALISATOR REVENUE Throughout tho dominion during tho and trotting clubs iwvo been meed with declining totalisator turnovers, and in only two instances have increases heeii registered, these being by the Reefton Trotting Club, whose meeting this season was hold on a more favourable date than last season, and by the Westport Trotting Club. In most cases the decrease has been substantial, two clubs —the Marton and Hawke’s Bay—putting through very little more than half their last season’s totals, and in no .instance could bad weather be blamed, lor the weather throughout nus .men more conducive to good attendances and turnovers than, it has neon tor some years. As a result of these drops m the amounts invested on the totalisator the Government is not garnering the rich harvest, it anticiptaed. When the totalisator duty was doubled last session it was estimated that tho revenue would <rain some hundreds of thousands of pounds, but instead, witji all its additional taxation, the Government ha:, increased its collection only by a mite. Over the holidays, even with the Westland Racing Club’s having an extra day to its meeting this season, tho Government has actually gathered into its cotters only £1,200 more than it did last season! ’ he totalisator investments at race and trotting meetings from Boxing Bay to- last Saturday were as follow:

Totals ... £885,637 £658,908) TROTTING MEETINGS. Auckland ... £166,555 £129,875 Canterbury Park 71,060) 01,940 Gore 17,513 13,310 Ashburton ... 24,331 20,38 o) South Wairarapa 18,326) Westport ... 17,447; .19,482) Wintori ... .... 12,573 10,0^7^ Kecftoa. Totals ... £333,505) £264,16*2 Grand totals £1,219,042) £923,070) Decrease ... £295,972 * Westland had a two-day meeting this year, but only a one-day meeting last year. The amount Of taxation collected by the Government for tho holiday period last season and this season respectively has been as follows; 1929*30. 1930-31. Totalisator duty ... jC'JM'O *' j* n Dividend duty ... ud.Sbl S 0 -iO.uSI 0 0 Total duty ' ... £85,337 9 0 £80,537 10 0 Increased collection. £l,-00 7s. It is no easy matter to estimate how adverse might have been tlic effect of tho tendency towards diminishing investments had the weather been generally wet (says tho Wellington ‘Post’). It is also not possible to hazard what amount of money has passed through illegitimate channels and thereby escaped taxation. The figures available show that racecourse betting is diminishing alarmingly, and ;f there is no rapid cessation to the rate of decline many clubs will shortly bo left with no option except to surrender their permits. The depression hanging over the dominion is without doubt the main cause of the serious position into which the racing and trotting sport has lapsed, but increased taxatioii is a considerable factor as well, and it would now seem that tho imposition of the double totalisator duty, while keeping the Government rake off up to its last year level, is seriously affecting the smaller dubs and so reducing their profits that unless the current changes they will eventually cease to he contributing agents. JOTTINGS The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Cup Meeting will be held on January 29 and 31. Nominations for all handicaps were duo this afternoon, at. 5 o’clock. I have to acknowledge complimentary tickets for tho Vincent Jockey Club’s meeting, which commences on Saturday. The first race at Omakau is timed to start at 32.30 p.m. each day. Handicaps for the first day of the Wellington meeting are duo to-mor-row.

Acceptances for the first day of the Vincent meeting close to-night, at Omakau, at 7 o’clock. A catalogue of the Flaxmorc stud dispersal sale of thoroughbred horses is acknowledged. It is excellently compiled and printed, and illustrated with a number of interesting photographs. It has now been arranged that Mr W. G. Stead’s yearlings will bo sold at the national yearling sales on January 21, instead of at his private sale of stallions and brood marcs, which; takes place on the afternoon of January 19. Taxation paid to the Government by the Auckland Trotting Club on the recent meeting amounted to £12,966. made up as follows:—Totalisator tax, £6,494; dividend duty, £5,682; stakes tax, £547 ; amusements tax, £243. During the four days at Ellerslio the sum of £24,210 was distributed in stake money, and the principal winning owners were:—Messrs M. H. Tims £2,200, 11. 11. Pharazyu and M. Greenwood £2,100, Dr M. G. Louisson £1,900, E. If. 11. Milsorn £1,460, T. Eraser, jun., £l.llO, John Williamson £1,050. Don Jose, who was credited with a sensational gallop at RieeavUm prior to the holidays, did not perform up to expectations during his recent North Island trip. He was a victim of bad hick more than once, and he may do better at Trentbam. Since lie returned homo ho has had an easy time, but lie will be, in strong work again next week.

February 7.—Matamata Racing Club. February 12, 14.—Dunedin J.C. (Cup Meeting). February 12, 14.—Taranaki Jockey Club. February 12, 14.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. TROTTING. January 10.—Timaru T.C. Summer. January i7.—Wellington T.C. Gold Cup January 29, 31. -Forbmy Park T.C. February 7.--N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. February 21.—Kaikoura T.C. February 21, 25.—Otahubu T.C. February 26, 28.—New Brighton T.C. ■ March 4, 5. —Invercargill T.C.,

King Broney, who contested the Fcathcrstou Hack .Handicap at Taulicrenikau on Thursday, had not had a race since the Otaki Winter Meeting in the 1025-26 season. Ho is now ten years old, hut Lis owner-trainer (L. A. Crawford) has hopes of his returning to the form that enabled him to account for some fair fields a few seasons back.

After the holiday racing, H. Gray’, with live successes, has strengthened his position at tho head of tho jockeys’ list, his tally now being forty-eight wins. Next following him arc H. N. Wiggins, 23 wins; A. E. Ellis, 21 wins; K. Yoitrc, 20 wins; T. Grtjeii, 36 wins; and H. Goldfinch and B. H. Morris, 14 wins each. While the apprentice T. Webster was tho most successful horseman at tho Ellerslio Meeting with five wins, H. Gray, who rode throe winners, earned tho largest cheque. Following is a list of tho principal earnings in riding feesH. Gray, £143; T. Webster, £120; It. Horne, £116; H. N. Wiggins, £115; K. Yoitrc, £109; R. Reed, £106; A. Tinker. £94; H. Goldfinch. £92; R. IV. MTavish, £81; A. Eastwood, £BO. For some time past tho Yictoria Racing Club stipendiary’ stewards have kept a watchful eye on certain riders who. have'developed tho habit of riding with their stirrup-leathers too short. A few months ago, when the offence was growing very’ prevalent, especially among the younger boys, the stewards imposed fines in one or two cases and this acted as a warning to others. , Some of the horses who contested the .leading handicap events at the recent Auckland Meeting , disappointed sadly, and several who raced below expectations were Star Stranger, In the Shade, and Count Palatine (says the ‘Herald’). Star Stranger’s efforts lacked dash, and ho was so well beaten in his two outings that it would appear as if he has lost a good deal of his former dash. In tho Shade and Count Palatine both failed where they were expected to shine, at the finish of the long races, and valid excuses cannot bo offered for either, because of the fact that they wore both turned out in excellent condition. As ho is only u four-year-old. Count Palatine has y’et time to make good, _ although it would seem that the opinion formed of him in the spring was a shade exalted.

Llewellyn, one of the best bred horses over imported to New Zealand, and a son of tbo world’s greatest sire in Guy Axworthy, got on the winning list ,at Greymouth on Tuesday, .and it seems that ho may go on winning. Mr J. It. M'Kenzie, his owner, had- very definite views on the movements- of Llewellyn, and when his trainer said that he would not start properly tho reply was: “ Take him to the Coast again and make him start properly.” The master of Hoy don Lodge was right in his judgment, and only experience will teach Llewellyn tho niceties of racing. At his best be is a very brilliant horse.

deferring to the recent Auckland Meeting the ‘Herald.’ says:—As far as the actual racing was concerned the meeting was a marked success. Seldom has there been a better array of good horses assembled at Ellerslie, and some notable performances were registered. The dry weather before the meeting rendered the course hard and fast until the rain came on the final day, and, although the firmness of the ground affected the form of some horses, the conditions generally favoured fast times. Several fresh course records were- established, the now figures being Mosque's 2.5 3-5 for a mile and a-quartor, Lady Quex’s 1.12 2-5 for six furlongs, and Tenakoo’.s 1.25 for seven furlongs. . Commendation, who was one of the most successful three-year-olds the dominion has ever had, is dead. An attempt was being made to bring him back into training, but he died at Oringi during Christmas week. Commendation, who was by Limoud from that champimi of brood mares, Eulogy, cost 200 guineas as a yearling, being purchased by Mr W. H. Gaisford, in whose colours be did all bis racing, and for whom be won £9,022 10s. in stake money, £0,187 10s being earned as a three-year old. As a two-ycar-old Commendation won the Wellesley Stakes at Trontbani, and the Welcome Stakes and Champagne Stakes at Hiccarton, besides other events. Ho was beaten by Limerick in the Challenge Stakes at Hiccarton. He was a fine performer as a three-year-old, winning eight races and dead-beating on another occasion out of ton starts. He won both Derbies, and both St. Lcgers, creating an Australian record for a mile and three-quarters when be recounted for the New Zealand St. Loger at Trentliam in 2min 57-isec. His other victories included the Hawke ’s Hay Guineas and Awapnni Gold Cup, and a dead-beat with Lysamler in the Avondale Guineas. Commendation was taken fq Australia, where ho wont amiss, and lie had been move or less unsound since then.

The meeting between Aretliusa aj»d Red Shadow; bad long been looked forward to says the Auckland ‘Star’). Botii bad' proved themselves _ brilliant thrce-ycar-okls. und opinions were divided as to which was tho better of tho pair. They met" on each of the three days, twice at a mile and a-luilf and once at a mile and a-quartor. On the opening day Aretliusa gave Rod Shallow 24yds in n mile ami a-qnarter. and though she did not win she finished third, wTule Red Shadow failed to get a place. Because'of this the Derby was regarded as the best of good tilings for tho filly, but tho uncertainty of flic snort was emphasised when Red Shadow, meeting her on even terms downed her by a narrow margin in the record time for the course of 3.20 2-5 for a mile and a-quartor. Those who watched tho race carefully expressed the opinion that M. Holmes took lied Shadow too cheaply, and it certainly seemed so. The pair met again on the final day, when, owing to an absurd position' created by tlio handicapping system, Arctbnsa, was asked to give Red Shadow 24yds start over tlio same distance as the colt bud beaten Tier tho previous day when they met on oven terms. As was only to be expected. Red Shadow won again, beating tlm filly fairly comfortably, but bo bad to go 3.10 4-5 to win, which is a sensational effort for a Lb roe-yea I'-old. They are a. brilliant pair, and all going well will take tbo highest iiofiours.

HACE MEETINGS. 1929-30. 1930-31. Auckland £352,436 £282,558 Manawatu ,... 119,765 80,265 Wairarapa ... 54.083 39,582 Stratford 52j069 . 36,632-.,-Dunedin 45,553 33,315 Taranaki Soutlilaucl .... 42,317-4 39,487) 30,489 29,274 Mar ton ... ... 49,743 27,332 Hawke’s Bay 41,207 23,316 Greymoutli ... 23,555 17,802„ SVaikouaiti ... 23,1104 18,869 Wyudham ... Westland ‘ ... 16,9864 10,026* 13,175.) 13,110 Waipukurau 15,198 ’ 12,891