RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21503, 30 August 1933, Page 4

RACING NOTES

[By St. Claik.]

RACING. September 2,—Otago Hunt Club. September 2.-Manawatu Racing Club. September 13. -Marton Jockey <’lub. September 16. —Ashburton C. Racing Club. September 21. 23. Wanganui Jockey Club. September 21, 23. -Geraldine Racing Club. September 30 Kurow Jockey Club. September 30. -Napier Park Racing Club. October 5, 7.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 6, 7. Otaki-Maori Racing Club. October 14.— Mastcrton Racing Club. October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey Club.

October 14, 16.—Avondale Jockey Club. October 21, 23.—Wellington Racing Club, October 21, 23.- Gore Racing Club.

CALCULATING A GALLOP. Arguments frequently occur concerning the value of a gallop when the poles are of varying feet out from the rails. The following, which is published in race cards in Australia, may be of value to trainers and others;—ln dqing working gallops it is often necessary to run horses outside the poles at a considerable distance from the rails, and trainers are at a loss to know the extra distance they have covered. By measuring the distance the horse was out from the rail, and deducting Iyd and multiplying the balance by six, it will he as nearly as possible—that is, for a full round of the course. Example; If a horse runs 12yds out from the rail, he will cover 66yds more than the measured distance of a course—that is. 12yd? less 1, or 11 multiplied by 6, which is equal to 66yds. For half a round of a course, deduct Iyd from the distance out from the rail and multiply the balance by three. Example: 12yds less 1, or 11 multiplied by 3, would be 33yds over and above half the distance of the course. This calculation is based on the fact that the circumference is three and one-seyenth times that of the diameter of the circle, but as racecourses are surveyed 3ft from the railj and most are oval in shape, the absolute rule does not apply. However, as before stated, the distance out from the rail (less Iyd) multiplied by six, will be found sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes. LEADING AUSTRALIAN FIGURES. Prize money having decreased during the past two years, the three-year-old record established by Phar Lap in the 1929-30 season seems likely to stand for a considerable time. Peter Pan, the outstanding three-year-old of last season, whose winnings in stakes amounted to £14,463, was not nominated for the Caulfield Guineas, V.R.C. Derby, or V.R.C. St. Leger, and that circumstance affected his total. The list of three-year-old winners in Australia is as follows:

*Bred in New Zealand. The fact that Heroic, Windbag, and Manfred were relegated to the stud in the same season has caused exceptionally keen interest to be taken in their positions on the winning sires’ list. Heroic established a strong lead from the outset, and this year his progeny placed him at the head of the list. Windbag is second; hut Manfred’s name is once again well down. The following is a statement of the prize money won by the progeny of the three Aus-tralian-bred sires during the past three seasons:—

In considering this list it has to be recognised that Heroic has been more strongly represented than . his two rivals.—Auckland ‘ Herald.’ A DIVIDEND CALCULATOR. An interesting experiment was witnessed at a Sydney course recently, when a totahsator indicator was tried out in the presence of Government department and racing officials, and provided a satisfactory test. This indicator enables punters to arrive at the prices of all horses in a race, and it is possible to calculate what the dividend will be when a hacker has added his own investment to what is already in the machine. This type of indicator .employs two t graduated scales —one, stationary, bearing numerals representing the number of investments made on the totalisator; the other, a money scale, bearing money values. Dividends are read by the public by noting the number of tickets on any particular horse and referring to that number on the stationary numeral scale and reading the money value on the adjacent dividend scale. The machine may be set to show dividends on a first, second, and third basis, on first and second only, or on first only. The adjustment for altering the required percentages in The event of a race paying only two dividends or one is simply made and requires only a second’s operation, ine machine makes allowances for the percentage reductions required for taxes, etc., and may be used for a straightout win machine or a place only machine. Approximate dividends may be read from the indicator at any time during the process of betting, and fluctuations of dividends are readily noted. A noted attraction is that any prospective totalisator investor may determine the amount by which any b* r S° wager would reduce the dividend value of any particular horse before ho actually places that wager on the machine. JOTTINGS.

H.M. the King was a buyer at Newmarket last month, and paid 1,650 gs for a filly by Friar Marcus Mannamead is still undefeated. It was intended to start him in the Eclipse Stakes last month, but as the ground was hard Lord Astor decided that Mannamead should miss the engagem There are six three-year-olds in the New Zealand Cup. Horses of this age nowadays do not often run in the two miles. It is too severe a test so eaiiy in the season, with so many other stakes offering. Rasouli. who was so d to a south Canterbury owner at the Grand National Meeting, was to have made Im first appearance in his new colours in the hurdle race at the Otago Hunt Club’s Meeting. Unfortunately he is temporarily lame, and he will hate to miss his engagement. , At least nineteen stallions who stood in New Zealand and whose names figured on the winning sires list m the dominion last season are dead, the list including Lucullus. Solfenno Absurd, Archiestown. Catmint. Tlnirnham Some Bov, Tonbridge Polydamon All Red, Quin Abbey. Marble Arch, Eysian, Grand Knight, Psychology, Robzel, Romeo, Hymestra, and Gay Shield,

TROTTING. September 2,—New Brighton T.C. September 9.—Wellington T.C. September 16.—Hawke’s Bay T.C. September 30.—Methven T.C. October 7.—New Brighton T.C. October 14.—Waikato T.C. October 21, 23.—Auckland T.C. October 21, 23,—Greymouth T.C. October 23.—Oaraaru T.C. October 28.—Wellington T.C. November 7,9, 10.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 23, 25. -Forbury Park T.C.

Wiuooka was always a hot favourite in his match at Tauforan this month, and his backers received ten cents on each dollar they invested on his chance. It is reported that S. G. Ware’s flying trip to the North Island was in search of a suitable horse for a local owner, but so far negotiations have not resulted in business, and Ware was due to return last evening. Blue Metal’s schooling with Polling Day yesterday was good, and he looks to be the best of the light weights in Saturday’s hurdle race. It is reported that Master Anomaly will also be put to hurdle racing. When Winooka recorded 60 2-ssec on the Tauforan track his time was 2-ssec outside the record established eleven years ago by Snooksie Bradley, but several experienced trainers made him equal that record. Five furlongs is considered too short a distance for Winooka to be seen at his best.

The field engaged in the President’s Handicap on Saturday promises to be the best of the afternoon. Cherry Queen is likely to start favourite on account of the good form she showed at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting last month. She carried Bst 111 b and beat a big field when she won the Maiden Stakes, and her smartness at the barrier will ensure her a good position early. At the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Meeting on Saturday the “win” and “place” totalisators handled over £1,700 less money than was handled at this fixture a year ago when the old-fashioned system of betting was in vogue. In the minds of many racing men there are doubts regarding whether the “win” and “ place ” machine is responsible for the increased turnovers during the past few months. Lack of schooling was no doubt responsible for the large number of spills at this year’s National Meeting, and for Saturday’s fixture at Wingatui there has not been as much schooling as usual. This should give horses like Willow Glen, Broadfield, Sir llichard, and Diamond Jack, who have been racing most of the winter, a big advantage over the others engaged in the Hunt Cup Steeplechase. After the death of James Stubbs as the result of injuries received in a fall during a steeplechase at Caulfield, a number of suggestions were made and published as to the best means of making steeplechasing safer. The general opinion was that raising the height of and increasing the number of fences, and making tne races over, longer tances, would have the desired effect. Regarding the action of certain clubs in reducing, admission charges, Mr E. Lee Steere, chairman of the W.A.T.C., in-the course of a statement, said : “ 1 do not subscribe to the idea that if we cheapen the sport we attract more people and make friore money. We-may attract more people, but it does not follow we make more money, and it is certain we lower the prestige of the sport. Money must not be the first consideration, rather should it be nearer the last; but you must collect sufficient to keep all appointments up to a high level, and give .attractive stakes.’ ’ The ’late Mr Samuel Bolton had a very long official association with the Woodville District Jockey Club. In February, 1891, he was trustee, and in the following year he became a steward, an office which he occupied either as such or ex officio continuously until his death. In 1898 he was elected vice-president, and m 1900 president. In 1902 he was defeated for the presidency, but was elected again the following year, and was declared re-elected for the thirty-first time in succession on the night of his death at the annual meeting of the club, at which he presided. _ With the object of saving owners the trouble of fire-branding horses which are intended to remain in Australia only for a short period the New Zealand Racing Conference has entered into a new "arrangement with the Australian authorities. Before any horse is shipped to Australia application must be made to the secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference for a number which must be branded on the rear fore hoof. In the event of the horse remaining in Australia more than three months it must be fire branded in accordance with the Australian Rules ot Racing. If it returns within three months of its arrival in the Commonwealth nothing further than the hoof brand is required. Doping of horses on a nation-wide scale was alleged in a charge against seven men at Chicago, United States, towards the end of last month. The accused were horse handlers at Arlington Park, Chicago’s palatial racing track. They pleaded not guilty, and were remanded on bonds of 2,500d0J each to appear before a Federal jury the following week. The arrest ot the seven men was made at the close of a mouth’s racing at the park, during which nearly half a million dollars in purses had been distributed. The prosecution claimed that the Fedeial Government had conclusive proof that at least 200 horses, competing m as many races during the previous eight months, had been doped at various American racecourses.

During the 1930-31 season racing was in a bad way in New South Wales, and tli© Australian Jockey Club incurred a loss of £26,000 on the year s operations. Last year the position was much better, as the deficit was only £6,347. The annual report of the A.J.C. committee, which was submitted to members at the annual meeting during the week, showed that the tide or adversity has turned in Sydney, and that things are steadily returning to normal. The 1932-33 season resulted m a profit of £1,931. During the year stakes were further reduced, but the committee apparently is satisfied that the worst times are behind, because they have made increases amounting to £3,700 in the stakes for races at the spring meeting this year. War Buoy, the champion two-year-old of last season, is the only one of the previous term’s notable youngsters who is down to race at the New Brighton meeting, but at Wellington, the following week, there will bo more of the same age competing. Guy Junior is the best known of the younger division at Wellington, but interesting entries are Blondic, who was the only one of the acceptors for the Sapling Stakes who

did not fill his engagement, and Blandford. The last-named has raced only once, to fill fourth place in the mile and a-quarter event at the Hunt Club’s meeting a few weeks ago. Morello, another of the same age, who resumed work about a month ago, will possibly have his first outing as a three-year-old at the Methven meeting, to be held at the end of September. That always reliable barometer, the tborough-bred sales ring, says “settled weather ” with regard to the future of the best class racing in this country in so far as concerns the patronage of moneyed folk, already either owners of standing or enthusiastic newcomers (says the English correspondent to the * Australasian’). Since the war many people, previously unknown on the turf, have bought yearlings running into four figures, but some have been too expectant, wanting a too quick turnover, and trainers who, in former times took their orders from owners who knew the game A to Z, have been overtaxed in trying to keep these new patrons on their books. Happily, however, time has brought along a different typepeople who are content to wait in hope of good results—and competition for brood mares and foals at this week’s Newmarket dispersal has been quite spirited. Some owners of ripened experience have joined in. “ The Government remission in totalisator tax has been of great assistance v to racing clubs throughout the dominion,” states Mr C. Louisson, president or the Manawatu Racing Club, at) the annual meeting of that body, “ but further concessions are required to enable many of the clubs to carry onlb is the intention of the Racing Conference and the clubs to approach tho Government again with a view to ameliorating the present conditions ot racing, and several matters of great importance will be placed before them for their favourable consideration. It has been a necessity for all clubs to reduce their stakes, and it is considered that the stakes tax should be removed to enable owners to carry on; otherwise, a further decrease may be expected in the totalisator turnover, and in the ranks of owners. It is to the advantage of all racing clubs to work for those who are interested in or obtain their living by racing; by taking a broad view in this respect they will not only be helping others, but will eventually benefit their own institution.”

There now seems to be a strong; possibility that Winooka and Equipoise will meet in a test of speed in America. We would perhaps be more confident of the result if Phar Lap, at his best, was in Winooka’s place, says a Melbourne writer, but the Windbag horse represents the best form of the time up to a mile. As Equipoise has the same rating in America, it will be a battle of giants, that either horse is what may be called abnormal in build. Equipoise is about sixteen hands high, so that he would stand over Winooka, but this is neither here nor there when they are being judged by racing merit. Equipoise is a dark chestnut. To Australians the most interesting point about his breeding is that in the back lines it shows tho name of Darebin, the well-performed Victorian-bred son of The Peer, who was sent to the United States about half a century ago. It seems rather remarkable that Darebin should be in rv measure be responsible _ for the great galloper that wifi, all going well, shortly measure strides with the champion miler from this country. Horse breeding is full of romance. The turf and stud in America have a good deal to thank Darebin for, and evidently the _ blood he introduced into the country is still alive. Equipoise, by Pennant, is a product of America, and is by Peter Pan from the English-bred mare Royal Rose, by Royal Hampton.

*Phar Lap, by Night Raid . .. £26,814 Trivalve, by Cyklon ... . .. £26,320 .. £16,968* ‘Ammon Ra, by Limond Rampion, by Rossendale .. £16,269 Manfred, by Valais ... . .. £15,525 Heroic, by Valais .. £14,975 Peter Pan, by Pantheon . .. £14,463

Heroic. Windbag. Manfred. £ £ £ 1930-31 , ... 7,550 1,726 715 1931-32 ... 14,935 6,255 2,098 1932-33 ... 25,408 24,447 5,046 £47,953 £32,428 £8,459