RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21216, 24 September 1932, Page 9

RACING NOTES

[By St. Cniix.}

RACING. October 1. —Napitr Park Racing Club. October I.—Kurow Jockey Club. October 6, B.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7, B.—Otaki Maori Racing Club. October 15.—South Canterbury Jockey Pub. October 15.—Masterton Racing Club. October 15, 17.—Avondale Jockey Club. October 22, 24.—Wellington Racing Club. .October 22, 24. —Gore Racing Club.

A GELDING MAY LEAD THEM. • Referring to Bronze Hawk’s successes Jn the first three-year-oid classics in Sydney, the Sydney ‘ Referee ’ says: If Bronze Hawk should prove superior to the others of his age this season there .will be little demand for any of the colts for stud purposes, and it was to help in that respect that the classic races were closed to geldjngs. It is all very well to follow English example, but that country has a world’s market for bloodstock. Moderate horses can be sold in England to go to other countries for stud purposes—wo have many here—but no matter how good an Aus-tralian-bred stallion may be, it would be difficult to find a buyer for him outside his own country. Breeders and trainers are strongly opposed to the debarment of geldings from classics, and it seems as if one result of the new order of things will he to greatly increase the number of undesirable stallions. JOTTINGS. Handicaps for the first day of the local Spring Meeting, due on Monday, will stimulate interest in that fixture. Racing at Ashburton last week, Geraldine this week, and at Kurow next week will give the public an excellent idea of early spring form. The recent epell of good weather has helped the local tracks to return to normal, and some interesting work should be done during the next two weeks. Mr H. A. Knight, the well-known owner and breeder, underwent a serious operation in a private hospital in Christchurch this week.

Nea Lap, who was recently _ sold to go to - the stud in America, is to be shipped on the Canadian Cruiser from Lyttelton this week. Rosenor, who is now located at R. R. M'Donald’s stables, received a good advertisement at Geraldine on Thursday when two of his sons in Royal Sceptre and Red Royal finished first and second in the open six furlong races.

Gallant Fox did not look as if he had done a great deal of work when he paraded for the Squatters’ Handicap at Geraldine, but he was always with the leaders for half a mile, and is evidently much fitter than he looks. It should not be long before ho reaches .the winning list. Mr E. Sandilands was the stipendiary steward in attendance at the Geraldine Meeting, and he will also be in charge at the Dunedin spring fixture._ Having to attend the Napier Meeting next Saturday, he will not be in_ attendance at the Kurow fixture, which will be controlled by Mr L. G. Hill. Owing to an oversight on the part of Mr J. E. Henrys, handicapper for the Kurow Meeting, in making the minimum Bst in the High-weight Handicap, instead of 9st, as provided for in the programme, the mistake has been remedied by all the acceptors being raised 141 b. The. highest price paid for a yearling on the first two days of the sales in Dublin in August was 1,500 gs for a colt by Spion Kop (grandson of Carbine) from Najmi, ,dam of a good performer in Solar Boy. At the Ashburton Meeting several horses started at almost forlorn odds, but the record in the way of odds this season must surely go to a trotter named Tui Carbine at Geraldine on Thursday. In a pool of £977 there was a solitary 10s ticket taken on his chance. Odds of £1,216 16s to a pound 1 Alpha Wrack carried Mr J. M. Samson’s colours in the Orari Harness Trot on Thursday, and was well up in the front division until the last quarter of a mile was entered on, then she faded out. Alpha Wrack is only a four-year-old mare, and as the winner won comfortably in 12see better than he was handicapped to go she was not disgraced. The crack American filly Top Flight did not run in the Arlington Matron Handicap for three-year-old fillies at Arlington Park (Chicago), and that race was easily won by Tred Avon (by Sir Greysteel, a son of Roi Herode), who is reckoned one of the best of her sex in America. She carried 8.10, and ran the mile in 1.37 2-5. It costs £IOO to start a horse for the English St. Leger, run at Doncaster, and in addition to what it cost him for forfeits for others, the Aga Khan contributed £4OO for runners. He was rewarded, as Firdaussi won, Dastur ran second, Udaipur fourth, and Taj Kasra fifth, which constituted a record for any owner in an English classic. The added money for the race was £4,000, but last year first place carried £12,339. The New Zealand Cup candidates engaged in the Kurow Cup, to be run at Oamaru next Saturday, are Shatter, Ramo, Merry Peel, Colonel Cvgnus, Mount Boa, Water Power, Red Racer, and Don Jose. With five others also in the race it is easily the best field that has ever contested the race, and this most interesting event should be a big draw to the meeting. Of last year’s starters for the Epsom this year’s first acceptors are Autopay .(first), Pentheus (third), Sir Dunmald (fourth), Denis Boy (sixth), Waugoola (seventh), Trenette (eighth), Legislator, Stately, Burracootboo, and King’s Arms. Autopay is up 141 b, Pentheus lib, Sir Duninald 21lb, Denis Boy 161 b, and Legislator 121 b. Trenette and King’s Arms are again weighted the same.

America has had its unbeaten horses, and one of particular note was Colin {Commando Pastorella), who died a few weeks ago. He was the winner of fifteen races, and on being taken to England, where he went into S. Darling’s stable, he showed some remarkable trials, but unluckily went amiss without racing in that country. At the stud ho was not a success. The Dunedin-owned Titri has been costly to his followers during the last week. At Ashburton last Saturday ho had £l27} invested on his chance, and at Geraldine on Thursday in his two starts he carried £4lo}. He was going like a winner in the mile and a-half race when he met with interference just over half a mile from home, but in the mile and a-quarter race he lost his chance by going to a break in the first furlong. Reports from Trentham are to the effect that Red Sun is doing a very thorough and, so far, satisfactory preparation for the New Zealand Cup. Red Sun is not unknown to southern race-goers, as he won the Southern Champion Hack Handicap, one mile, at Riverton last Easter. Ho is now a four-year-old. and is owned and trained

TROTTING. October I.—Methroa Trotting Club. October B.—Waikato Trotting Club. October B.—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 22, 24.—Greymouth Trotting Club, October 22, 24.—Auckland Trotting Club. October 24.—Oamaru Trotting Club. October 29.—Wellington Tretting Club.

by the veteran J. W. Lowe. Ho is bred to stay on both sides of his pedigree, and will be one of the lightweights that are fancied. The record number of runners for an A.J.C. Epsom was when Aleconner won in 1913. Starting from the outside, or very near it, he beat thirty-seven others. Nearest to Aleconner’s year is the thirty-three when Ampier and Portrush won in 1900 and 1914 respectively. Portrush was the first to do better than 1.38 J in an Epsom, his time being 1.372. The record is now Amounis’s 1.36 J. The largest field for the A.J.C. Metropolitan was thirty-five when Quinologist won in 1916, the distance then being a mile and a-half. Since the race was made a, mile and five furlongs the greatest number was twenty-four, when Sir Andrew won in 1923. His time rciprd of 2.43£ stood until two years ago, when Cragford reduced it a half-second. Six of the last nine Metropolitans have been won by four-year-olds, and the last three Epsoms by horses of that age. Arrowsmith, when racing, was a brilliant performer up to a mile, and so far his progeny nave shown decided preferences for short-distance races. Minerval, who has now won at his last three starts, is the one exception, and he stayed out the ten furlongs at Geraldine on Thursday well. No doubt he gets a good deal of this stamina from his dam’s side, as Lady Minerva was from Lady Lillian (a Great Easter and Autumn double winner), who, in turn, was from Lady Zetland, who won the New Zealand and Canterbury Cup double. Minerval is now a five-year-old, and probably one of the best seasoned of the New Zealand Cup candidates now racing in the dominion. He won under Bst 51b on Thursday, and will probably have round about a stone less to carry in the big two-mile handicap. The only matter in doubt will be his ability to see out the long journey. “ Pilot,” writing in the Sydney ‘ Referee ’ of September 14, said: “ Peter Pan is not in the Rosehill Guineas, and F. M'Grath is trusting to the Hill Stakes to give him an idea of whether he is up < to Derby standard. The chestnut is no't exactly an impres-sive-looking colt, but he gives the idea ho will stay. He is the second foal thrown by Alwina, who is by St, Alwyne from Formaliter, by Boniform from Waitemata, by Eiridspord. Alwina has had no foals since Peter Pan, and her only other, Rosabel (by Rosewing), is also a winner.” As Peter Pan won the Hill Stakes, beating Nightmarch and Johnnie Jason, the trial would no doubt be considered quite satisfactory. In order to meet the times, American trainers are reducing their charges. Hitherto they must have been particularly well paid in that country, as 1 saw it stated that in New York Stale daily rates had been reduced from 7dol to sdol, and that the cost of educating yearlings had been cut down to 4dol a day. In Kentucky rates were lower. At the charges mentioned the ownership of racehouses must certainly be a luxury in New York. New Zealand’s best-known trainers would like a full stable at 6dol a day. When the French-bred mare Brulette (Bruleur-Seaweed) won the Goodwood Cup at the end of July she was at a slightly longer price than Brown Jack and Ut Majeur. They were at 9 to 4, and she was at 5 to 2. There were five runners, and the race proved easy for Brulette (9.4), as she beat Brown Jack (9.11) by four lengths, with Ut Majeur ten further back. The going was so heavy that the two miles five furlongs took smin 16 3-ssec. When Lord Woolavington bought Brul-. ette a few months ago he was reported to have paid a little over £5,000 for her.

Nobleman, who led all the way in the Orari Trotting Handicap on Thursday, is one of the most styhsh-actioned young pacers seen out for a long time, and interest was added to his victory, as he claims an engagement in the Trotting Derby ; to be run next month. On breeding Nobleman is fit for any company, for his sire, Native King, is by Nelson Bingen from one of the stud-book gems • in Norice, while his dame is Princess Ann, who cost Messrs I). Young and J. Blake the best part of £I,OOO to import from America. Princess Ann was a. royally-bred mare by Allerworthy (by Allerton) from Myn. by Guy Princeton, and showed herselr possessed of a lot of speed, although as a racing proposition she was very expensive. Since going to the stud she has left three very useful performers in Te Kinga, Royal Chenault, and Nobleman, and may yet prove a bargain for M. B. Edwards, who purchased her with foal at foot in Tattersali’s Horse Bazaar a few years ago. In some interesting notes on racing in England, the Manchester ‘ Sporting Chronicle ’ says that in the early days of the turf in that country it was the custom for a private gentleman to officiate in the capacity of judge, and this led to scandals in connection with the awards of many races. In 1824 the Duke of Richmond ran a mare called Dandizette in the Goodwood Stakes, and it was palpable to all the spectators in the vicinity of the winning post that she was a clear winner at the finish. The amateur judge, however, awarded the race to Lord Verulam’s Vitellina, and his ruling led to a scene of rioting almost without parallel. Lord Verulam, satisfied that Dandizette had wonj offered the stakes to the Duke of Richmond, who, however, declared that the judge’s verdict was irrevocable, and must not he challenged, a sportsmanlike gesture which was much praised. Though the popularity of the 5s totalisator is generally acknowledged, certain officials are against introducing it at their club meetings on the question of the added expenditure that would be incurred in running it. At Wellington one totalisator house is situated between the outside and inside enclosures, and handles only 5s tickets. Prior to the introduction of the 5s ticket, this totalisator shared the business of selling 10s, £l, and £5 tickets, and executing commissions with the totalisator situated between the stewards’ stand and the saddling paddock. Under the new regime the new totalisator specialises in 10s, £l, and £5 tickets, and handles all the scrip, and the old totalisator confines its business to selling 5s tickets only. Hence it is obvious isays an exchange) that the extra cost in giving the public the privilege of purchasing 5s tickets is infinitesimal. There is not a shadow of a doubt but that the 5s totalisator gives impetus to the day’s turnover, and its popularity, where it is installed, cannot bo ignored.