RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 6

RACING NOTES

[By St. Claix.]

RACING, December 23.—Dunedin Jockey Club. December 28.—'Taranaki Jockey Club. December 28, 29.—Mart aw at u Racing Club. December 29; January 1, 2.—Auckland jartuaiy' U l."—^VVatikou *iti Racing. Club. January I.—Wyndhata Racing: Cub. Jamiarr 1, 2.—Greymouth Jockey ClubJanuary 1 2i—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. January- 1, 2.—Stratford Racing Club. January 1, 2.—Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 2—Wairarapa. Racing Club. January 2.—Oamaru Jockey Club. January 2, 4.—Southland Racing Club.

A CHRISTMAS MEETING MIX-UP. ’According to reports on the second clay’s racing at a ihsetitig or tlie Manawatu Racing Club's Christmas fixture' many ago, the club s official starter. (Mr.E. Wood) was veiy unfortunate in his handling of the fields, and 5 A crisis was- Reached aftei the Back Flying Handicap.the second race of the day, wheha hostile demonstration decideti Mr Wood to hand in his resignation. Mr J. R. Gorngan was appointed in bis place, and he managed to send the next four fields away in jrood style. But- matters were again complicated whed the seventh race came on for decision,, as ,a horse trained in Air Corrigan’s stable was in the field, so the flag was passed on' to a third starter, Air 1 J. Maher, who despatched the last-two-fields “ in excellent style. ’ The race that led to Mr Wood s resignation was a veritable chapter ot misfortunes. There were eight starters, and the race was twice contested 1 without satisfactory results. It was set down to be run again after the day s programme was completed, but none or the = horses arrived at the post. At the first start the field 1 , with the exception of Beau Ideal, went away after the fashion of Brown u cows, the •riders believing that the word go had been given. The public . hooted furiously as Mr J. Avnsley s Himalaya came home at the nea-d or the held, after having led all the way. Mr Wood declared that he had said no, - not “ go,” so it was decided to run the race over again. ■ T From the second start Mr d. 31‘Kelvie’s Beau Ideal, who had taken no part in the 1 first race, immediately iumped away clear' and was never headed, cantering home thirty lengths in front Of his' tired opponents, the nearest of whom were Mr F. Tilley s Brilliantine and Mr R. Te Hianga s Lady’s Link. This tune Mr Wood declared that again it was no race, as the 1 horses had started, from in front ot the- post. Once more there was a demonstration of .disapproval by the public. , „ , ~ The club thereupon 1 called a meeting of its stewards, who decided that the race was "no race,” and impounded the totalisator investments, which amounted to £1,559. They also decided to have the race run again at o o’clock, but when the time came there .were no starters, so the race Was declared void and the investments were •returned to ticket-holders in full (not less tax, as would now have-to be done in such a case). The legal proceedings, that subsequently arose out of the incident would show that the club had acted not only within the Rules of Racing, but also within the law of the land. The stewards were in a special quandary as to what they should dP with; the money on the* Eotalisator, .but as it was then the accepted principle that dividends should follow the stakes they had really no alternative except to return investors their money. The dividend posted on Beau Ideal had been £9 18s, by which it might be gleaned that the horse’s original chance was not much fancied., THE BREEDING OF TRION, The outstanding juvenile that has figured on the English turf this season ism-ion, and the unbroken chorus with .which he is acclaimed makes his position as the winter favourite for the Derby quite secure. The leading events which fell to Trion were the Champagne Stakes, the National Breeders’ Plate, the Imperial Produce Stakes, and the Middle Park Plate. When offered as a yearling Trion gave rise to spirited bidding, and he was bought by the Anglo-American sportsman Mr Mortimer G. Singer for 3,000g5. The pedigree of Trion is one of great interest to students of breeding, for double strains of St. Simon, Musket, and Hampton respectively stand out as the feature. Trion is by Gainsborough, son of Bayardo and grandson of Bay Ronald, from Golden Hair, a daughter of Golden Sun, the latter being by Stmdridge (son of Amphion). from Tandril. The latter is a full sister to Sweetwater (Hampton—Muscatch) the grand dam of Last March, who was recently purchased by Mr w. E. Hazlett of Mossburn. Gainsborough, sire of Trion, is included among the list of triple crown heroes, and it will be interesting to see .whether his son Trion achieves similar distinction when he comes to fulfil ’classic face engagements at three years old.. JOTTINGS,

Tickets for the club’s Summer Meeting on January 2 and 4 are acknowledged from the secretary of the Southland Racing Club, H. Gray has four good rides at Auckland to-day.. They are Gay Crest, Karapoti, Inflation, and Pegaway. ■ F. G. Holmes Will be at Ashburton to-day, and will go north to-night to drive Muriel d’Oro and Edna Worthy at the Auckland Meeting. The Adelaide owner, Mr E. E. Jolly, has sent, his New Zealand-bred three-year-old Fulmond, by Limond from Full Swing, to Perth, where ho will contest the Western Australian Derby on Saturday. T. H. Gillett has returned home from the North Island with Gustavo. Tlie unlucky Solferino horse has not got over his lameness, and it is probable that lie will require a spell before he resumes training. The death of Air J. R. Smith removes one of the oldest racing men in the province. He did much for the sport in the Alaniptoto district in the very, early days, and to the younger generation ho will be remembered as the owner of that good horse Kostroma. Advice received from Oamaru this morning is to the effect that an excellent rain has fallen throughout that dis-. trict. Unfortunately it may have been too late to save some of the crops, but it has put the Oamaru course in excellent condition. Aleteor has done a lot of useful, solid work at Addington, and he may effect a surprise in the Auckland Cup. . The Southland-owned pacer races well in the north, and was unlucky.to be beaten in the Adams Cup last June, won by Ngingongingo, Aleteor finished, third after having a very bad passage in the contest.

TROTTING. December 28.—Westport Trotting Club. December 28.—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. December 30.—Win ton Trotting Club. December 50.—Reeftbn Trotting Club, January 1, 2.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

January 4.—Weatland Trotting Club. January 5, 6.—Greymouth Trotting. Club. January 18. —Wellington, Trotting Club. January 23.—Tifflaru Trotting Club. January 28, 30. Forbury Perk Trotting Club.

Unless Gold Jacket records something out of the ordinary this week in training the Gold Bell gelding is not likely to be fancied to win his third Auckland Cup. L. M‘Mahon has the black pacer looking well, but so far his track work . would not suggest his having a winning : chance from 84yds behind. An unusual feature of the approaching 'holiday racing carnivals is that Trentham stables will not be represented' at the Auckland Meeting. Many years have elapsed since this was the case, and it is particularly surprising, in view of the large number of good horses in training there at present. Alost of the -Trentham trainers Will confine their attention to Manawatu and Wairarapa meetings. ~ , , , The death of Mr Snowball and the serious illness of Mr James Crawford hast quite a gloom over those present at Wingatui to-day. The late Mr Snowball had been associated with the club as veterinary surgeon for many years and visiting and local trainers received many favours from him. Mr Crawford, the club’s very excellent and obliging caretaker, was removed to the hospital yesterday, where a serious operation was carried out, and if good wishes from his employers, trainers, and friends will help him he should make a good recovery. Notwithstanding his great record as a rider H. Gray has never won an Auckland Cup. He was second on Sasanof in 1918; and might have won had he been able to do his mount justice, but he was too weak, after a period in hospital. Two years ago he was to have ridden Concentrate, but he was just recovering from an accident, and could not make the weight. Gay Crest will provide an opportunity to break the spell to-day. The Alan-o’-War gelding; Warspite has joined W. Willetts’s stable, and the Epsom trainer will put the finishing touches to him for the cup meeting. I Judging by the display the gelding gave lon Saturday morning when sent a mile 'and a-half, Willetts has been set a itask, and the outlook is far from good, i Warspite not only paced badly, but he shirked his job, and nothing his driver icould do would persuade the gelding to do his best. ' There will again be no Wanganui Cup contest this season. The race was first cut out last season for financial reasons, and stakes generally were substantially reduced. A further reduction has been made for the autumn .meeting, to be held on lebruafy 18 and 20. Tlie prize-money totals £1,04U. j a gainst £3,030 last year,, and there will ibe only seven races each day instead ot 'eight. The weight-for-age eventtbc Jackson Stakes, will be worth £4OO, instead of £500; and the chief handicap races, the Earle Stakes on the first day and the Autumn Handicap on the second day. will each carry ft stake of £2OO. compared with £320 last year. H. Skidmore, who at the age ot fitteen years, heads the winning jockeys list for the Melbourne metropolitan area, met with an accident at Moonee Valley that will keep him out of tlie saddle for some weeks. He was riding Rollinghorae. of which H. R. Telford 13 part owner, in the Two-year-old Handicap. and when the field-was nearing the post the youngster got on to the heels of another horse, and do ™' Skidmore did not move, and it was feared that he was- gravely injured. However, after his arrival at hospital it (was found that he was- suffering from I concussion only. He is now making a 1 good recovery. Skidmore is regarded as W. Duncan’s greatest rival. Duncan lost three months of the season owing to suspension, and it was not until the Caulfield Charity Meeting last Tuesday that he returned to his best foim. Showing all his old artistry in the saddle, Duncan rode three winners. While Worthy Queen is being regarded by many as something in the nature of a good thing on Monday m the Selby Trot, says the Auckland ‘Star,’ she is not going to have matters all her own way, and if Bessie Parrish leaves the mark as well as she did at her last start she should beat Air Corrigan’s mare. Then there is Carl Mack, certainly well back in the handicap on 72yds, but there aie not many as good as Mr Stormont’s gelding racing in the slow-class trots, there is just a tendency on his part to go to a break occasionally, but if he does his trotting right on Aionday next Worthy Queen will want all her start, and then it might not be enough. In his training work Carl Mack can always sprint his last half-mile in Imm 6sec or better, a speed which would quickly tie up most introductory trotters. Carl Mack is a horse to be on side with each day, and particularly the second and third days. , A. D, Webster apparently supported My Talisman very heavily when he won the Carlington Mile at Roseliill on December 12. The ‘Herald says: ‘The wagering generally was devoid of excitement until within a minute or so of the field being sent away m the Carlington Mile—the concluding event for tlie afternoon. The anxiety ot backers to befriend Snow Sun and My Talisman amounted almost to a stampede, and in the circumstances it was not surprising to find the bookmakers reducing the respective quotations after each inquiry. One commissioner was unable to secure what was regarded as a fair quotation about My Talisman from a number of bookmakers, and it is extremely doubtful if he placed all the money before the barrier was released. Alost of the Aly Talisman money was placed at double figures, and although lie shortened at the finish, he started at a fair average price with some of the bookmakers hedging. Aly Talisman, improving on his Warwick Farm effort, was always within striking distance of the leader. Fifth into the straight, he had sole control at the furlong post, and wont on to win comfortably.” Though the mishap which happened to Convoy on Tuesday was serious, his .case is not regarded as hopeless, and F. Christmas will make an effort to save him (says tho Christchurch ‘Times’). As a rule, a fractured letlock means an end of a horse's usefulness, but cases have been known of a good recovery. A few years ago the trotter, Proud Ata, was injured in that way, but Air J. Deyell’s gelding became quite sound and won races afterwards. His accident occurred , while racing at Greymouth when ho was five years old, The leg was kept in

plaster of Paris for two months, and during the whole of that time tho horse was in a sling. Ho was brought back from the West Coast in that condition by steamer, followed by a train journey from Lyttelton. Eighteen months later ho was given a race, and tho following season ho was as good as ever. Ho continued to race for six full seasons after his recovery, starting fiftysix times, for five wins and ten places, in which he earned nearly £2,000 in stake money. Given the right treatment, therefore, there is no reason why Convoy should not come back to training and the winning of races, after a good spell,