RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21714, 8 May 1934, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RAGING. May 10, 12.—Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12.—Southland R.C. May 19.—Rangitikei R.C. May 19.—Ashburton C.E.C. March 19. 21.—Te Euili R.C. May 26.—South Canterbury J.C. June 2. 4.—Otaki Maori R.C. June 2,4, s.—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland R.C. June 9.—Foxton R.C. June 14, 16.—Hawke's Bay J.C. June 16.—South Canterbury J.C,

CENTRALISATION OF RACING. Persistent advocacy in these columns of the centralisation of racing has made it a live subject, and the time is ripe to pass from the general to the particular in advancing the argument for the consolidation of the sport (says the ‘Sim’). That this would not be achieved without tears is only natural, and evident, when the very strong country representation on the Racing Conference is noted. The problem is not at all simple, and special circumstances, unknown to outsiders, may have an important bearing on decisions made. Some eighty clubs; exclusive of bunt clubs, are provided for in the racing calendar. Under the purge indicated below, this number could be brought down to about thirty-live.

It is not suggested that the 240 days of racing available each season should be curtailed, but the redistribution of fixtures would entail a very close scrutiny of the best dates, with a view to clubs securing the maxirinim benefit from their use.

It may be laid down that clubs catering for the largest sporting centres — as distinct from the mere counting of heads—are entitled to most consideration, because; (a.) Almost all are foundation clubs of the sport and therefore hare an historical claim; (b)' they are well-equipped and so able to take most ready advantage of any move for the betterment of the sport. Referring to the four racing districts in the South Island, this writer says;—Not much difficulty should he encountered over Canterbm’.v district. Biccarton, Ashburton, and Washdyke could serve all the. needs of this shallow front, but it would be advisable to have a sentinel in the northern sector, either at Amberley or at Rangiora. This would entail the departure of one, as well as the dropping-out of the Motukarara and Hororata courses. In the same way. the Geraldine Racing Club, with two days in spring, has no special claims, lying between Timaru and Ashburton. The Waimate Club, equidistant from Oamaru and Timaru. could be spared for the same reason. The West Coast (Greymouth District) supports fewer courses than formerly, hut still sufficient. The Greymouth Club stands the acid test, and it dominates this field. The Westland Club is the only one in the province of that name; Reefton and Nelson are 100 miles apart, and Westport caters for the Duller district. Kumara could be cut out, and Reefton is the most likely to.be taken in a more severe combing out. That would leave four clubs on the Coast.

Otago has Wingatui and Oamaru as its chief racecourses. Waikouaiti owes its existence to the New Year date, and Kurow is inaccessible. A continued combination of the Tuapeka and Beaumont Clubs, on the course selected would cater for. Central Otago’s racing requirements, and Waikouaiti, Vincent, Tapanui, Cromwell, and Kurow clubs could be disbanded.

The Southland area is well supplied with good racecourses, at Invercargill, Riverton, and Gore particularly. The Clifden, Otautau, Wairio, Winton. and Wyndham grounds are all within easy distance of one or more of these, and as they together handle less than onethird of the investments of the “ big three,” they are superfluous from the point of view of the performer and of the punter. • Of course, it is not argued that the carrying out of the whole of the suggestions put forward is vital to the principle of centralisation, nor is it desirable that they should be carried out simultaneously. As a basis of racing policy, however, the plan proposed has a value that will be recognised by thinking persons.

WHAT SOUTHLAND HAS PRODUCED.

No province in the dominion is more patriotic nor enthusiastic regarding its products than Southland—the last in the island to be taken up by the pakelia, and now the most, productive per head of population in New Zealand. One well-known Dunedin owner, and a member of the executive of the Dunedin Jockey Ghib, once remarked, as he surveyed one of the crowds at Wingatui; “Itis a good thing for the Dunedin Jockey Glub that Southland is south of Dunedin.” That remark could have just as truthfully been made by most of the business men in this city. But Southland has some “ boosters ” of its own, and when the writer was at the Otautau Meeting last month he met one who, in his enthusiasm regarding the productivity of 1 his province, mentioned some facts that in fairness to Southland are worth recording. “ Southland,” he said, ” is the finest province in' New Zealand. Haven’t we bred the best trotters in the country. What ijbout Winsoon, Cathedral Chimes, Match light, Harold Junior. Logan Chief, Native Chief, Donsidc, King Pointer, Krin's Fortune, Satin King, Bine Mountain ? Didn’t Southland produce Gold Light, Razzle Dazzle, Listening Post, Bakloa, Black Duke, Queen Balboa. Songbird. Meadow Lark, Palermo, The Smuggler? Wasn’t Glentrnin reared and owned in Southland P Wasn’t Messrs Wheeler (general manager of the Union Steamship'Company), Wohhnann (head of the Police Department), Mackley (general manager of the railways), Mr Gavock (head of the Forestry Deportment), M‘Namara (head of the Post and Telegraph Department) all Southland boys, and learned their jobs in Invercdrgill offices. And wasn’t Sir Joseph Ward, another Southland boy. twice Premier of New Zealand?” He was well worked up and almost out of breath, and I was taking this chance of getting away irom this loyal sou of Southland when he caught my arm, and fairly shouted: ■' And now Jimmy Fllis is at the top of the list of winning jockeys in the dominion.” JOTTINGS. The first race at Forbury Park tomorrow will start at 11.45, and the Walla Walla-Harold Logan match at 1.20. Acceptances for the Oamaru Trotting Club’s Meeting close to-night at 9. Wingatui-trained horses will lie short of fast work when they parade at Invercargill on Friday and Saturday. Arrow' Lad (Arrowsmifh —Jean Laddo) Has been retired from racing. During his career on the turf he won £6,171 in stakes.

[By St. Ci.aik.]

June 21, 23.—Napier Park R.C, June 23.—Ashburton C.R.C. June 30.—Oamaru J.C.

TROTTING. May 12.—Oamaru T.C. May 12, H.—Waikato T.C. May 19.—Wellington T.C. June 24.—Canterbury Bark T.C. June 24.—Hawkp’s Bay T.C. June 9.—Ashburton T.C. June 20, 23.—Auckland T.C.

It is reported lhat the price paid - for Prairie King was in the vicinity of £SOO, a big figure for a pacer nowadays. i Riotous and Brown Abbey were the two outstanding steeplechasers at the Hawera Meeting last week. Both are young horses for the game, the former being five and Brown Abbey six. The special train for horses returning to Christchurch from the Forbury Meeting will leave Dunedin at 7.40 a.m. on Thursday.

Several of the Canterbury pacers who found themselves all at sea in the mud on Thursday have since shown much improved form in this sort of going during their training operations, N. C. Trillo, who is now with J. M. Cameron, and two or three years ago in Southland, has received his jockey’s license and will be riding at Wanganui. Trillo will be a welcome addition to the ranks of the North Island jumping riders. The Southland mare, Sure, is a particularly good type, and though she has yet to show her form amongst the Canterbury pacers, she looks likely to develop into a good performer. It is said she will shortly join Probationer and Co. in S. A. Edwards’s stable. Riotous, winner of the Egmout Steeplechase last week, is by Birkdale. a son of Birkenhead, who left many good jumpers. Riotous is the first foal from Crossword, a daughter of All Black, another sire of jumpers, from the Carbine horse Camp Fire. Light Brocade, who finished second to Campanula in the One Thousand Guineas last, Saturday, will have, a chance of turning the tables on her conqueror, as both are engaged in the Oaks Stakes, to he decided over a mile and a-half on June 8. Spend a Penny, who ran third in the One Thousand Guineas, is also engaged in the Oaks. The Oamaru-owned Niggerhead has been taken up again by S. Barr, following on a successful course of leg treatment, which has apparently had good results. Don Jose has also been recommissioned by Barr, and will be got ready for hurdling events. Fairway, in the same stable, has had an easy time since racing in _ Southland at Easter. He is not partial to firm tracks, and will not be called upon to race again until the Dunedin Meeting next month.

At, 4.30 a.m. on Saturday the railway authorities at Invercargill received advice that the Forbury Trots were postponed. In order to prevent intending patrons from making a fruitless journey on the 7 a.m. express a notice was posted on the platform announcing the postponement, while as an additional precaution a full-throated official proclaimed the news. But many racegoers were in such a hurry to secure seats that both warnings went unheeded. It was only when, the train had gone some distance on its way that the news filtered through; but who would turn back at that late stage? Dunedin holds compensations even for disappointed punters. —‘ Southland Times.’

After the Mokoia Handicap at Hawcra last Thursday the chief stipendiary steward, Mr C. Gomer, instituted an inquiry into the running of Orapai, ridden by R. Reed. Later it was announced that the inquiry was adjourned until a later date. Orapai was favourite for the Mokoia Handicap after his win on the opening day. He carried £206 and £9l on the win and place totalisators respectively, while the second favourite, British Columbia, was supported to the extent of £166 and £B3. In the race itself Orapai was in last position until two furlongs from home, when he moved up on the outside. Orapai only just beat British Columbia for second, while the winner, RovaT Bengal, was three-quarters of a length in front of Orapai. Orapai races in the colours of Mr J. O’Neill, New Plymouth, who -also trains him. It is probable that the inquiry will be resumed at Wanganui during the progress ths winter meeting. hi view of the anouneement that Golden Miller, winner of the Grand National, is to take on Brown Jack in the Alexander Stakes at Ascot, the record of the latter in this event is of special interest. The Alexandra Stakes is run over 2-i[-ni and 85yds, and famous old Brown Jack—he is now ten years old—has won it for the last five years in succession. Here is his record:

Omitting 1930. the year of the deluce, it will be seen that Brown. Jack averages about oniin Usee for the race, which is equivalent to about thirtythree miles per hour. When making his record of thirty miles an hour m a three-mile steeplechase at Lmgncld Golden Miller carried 11.8, exactly two stone more than he and Brown Jack will have to shoulder at Ascot. By the clock, therefore, it looks as if Brown ■Jack will be up against a very stiff proposition in his attempt to retain his own particular championship. Campanula, winner of the One Thousand Guineas Stakes, was adjudged the best of the two-year-old fillies in England, and ranked second with 9.0 to Colombo (9.7) in the Free Handicap. Her best performances were m winning the Windsor Castle Stakes _ at, Ascot and the Moulton Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn. Before Ascot sheJiad run Colombo to a head m the_ first Spring Stakes at Newmarket, in the Moulton Stakes she carried 9.5 and conceded 91b or more to the other six runners. Campanula was bred by her owner. Sir George Bullough. and is trained by Jack Jarvis. She is a bay filly by Blandford out of Vesper Bell, by .Pomniern from St. Catrine. by St. Frusquin from Catrine, h.v Ayi'slme from Mine d’Or, by Goldseeker, Mine d’Or was a daughter of Pope Joan, half-sister to Griselda. the grand-dam of Colin, a great performer on tie American tnrf. This is a line of the No. 10 family that goes back to ISaii Darell (the grand-clam of 'Vedette) through Spinster. Apart from Colin and the French Derby winer Lrniak. it has produced no notable winners. Vesper Bell was bred by Mr James Russell in 1921. the year he disbanded lus stud. St. Catrine was sold for 900 gs. and her foal was secured by Lord Manton with a bid of l.lSOgs. A few years later Lord Man ton died in the hunting field, and when his yearlings were sold the following July Lady Bullough

bought Vesper Bell for l,loogs, and with her, two seasons later, won three races worth £BOS. Before producing Campanula, Vesper Bell bred the winners, Muezzin and Tinkler, by Golden Myth, and Reveillon, by Solario. Campanula was scarcely looked upon last season as having the pedigree (on her dam’s side) of a classic winner, but she has early proved herself as a three-year-old. She is engaged in the Oaks, but is not in the Derby.

Year. Weight. Time. ■ Going 19*29 ... 9.2 5.2 2-5 Good 1930 ... 9.8 5.31 Heavy 1931 ... 9.8 .5.23 3-5 Good 1932 9.8 1 5.1 Good 1933 ... 9.8 5.16 1-5 Good