RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RACING. M»J 30.—Foxton R.C. Mxy 30, Ju«» 3, 6.—Auckland R.C. Ju«« 4, 6.—Otaki Maori R.C. Jum* S.—Askburton County R.C. Ju«a 11, 13.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 20, 23.—Wanganui J.C. June 20, 23.—Napier Park R.C. Jua* 20, 23, 2+.—Dunedin J.C. Ju«» 23.—Opotiki J.C. Juaa 27.—Qamaru J.C. July I.—Dannerirke Hunt C. July 7,9, 11.—Wellington R.C.

THE “ ELECTRIC EYE.” The New York ‘ Herald-Tribune,’ in an article under the heading ‘ Judging Camera to See Service on All New York Bace Tracks,’ says; “Herbert ; Bayard Swope, chairman of the New York State Bacing Commission, is authority for the statement that the 1 judging camera, called by some the ‘ electric eye,’ will be used on all tracks in the metropolitan, district this year. This device, which has proved of high value at Santa Anita (Los Angeles) and Miami (Florida) this winter, will serve as a check on the placing judges following all close finishes. Science has established the fact that the human eye has its ■ limitations .when viewing moving objects at close- range. Numberless tests have • proved _ that two horses, one close to the rails and another '3sft out from the rail, are not scant heads apart as the human eye sees them, but actually ,4ft apart in favour of the outside horse. On the New York tracks this summer pictures of close finishes wjll be posted ; in various places at the track, so that the backers can' see for themselves what the camera discloses. This will serve to establish confidence and to* avoid protests and. criticism.” “ The judging camera,” said Jim Fitzsimmons, one of America’s greatest trainers, “ is a great advance in racing. It settles all controversies over close finishes and serves to protect those who wager on horses. It makes for greater confidence, and that means much.” JOTTINGS, Mr “ Bob ” Mee, of Becks, lias purchased Silver Jest from Dr M. G. Loukson. Although Kinnoull did not fulfil engagements last week, there is nothing amiss with him, and he will probably be nominated for spring handicaps in Australia.. , . To the end of last season (July 31, 1935) . the progeny of Limond won £130,215 in Australia and £95,572 in the Dominion, a total of £225,787. « The ‘ New Zealand Eeferee ’ selects Jolly Beggar, Scotch Nation, and Master Musk as the most likely‘to fill the place* in the Great. Northern Hurdles to-morrow. H.,N. Wiggins’s period of suspension has now expired, and he will be riding at Ellerslie to-morrow, when two of Lis /mounts will be Knight of Australia and Tradesman. It is computed by the ‘ New Zealand Beferee ’ that during the past six seasons Mr G. J. Barton has won £30,280 10s in stakes. The next most sac- i cessful winner is Mr C. P. Cameron, with £11,768 10s during the same period. I The Timaru Trotting Club has applied for an extra day this season, to hold a meeting in connection with the Winter Show. It is not known whether there are any vacant permits for this season. The Hororata Racing Club made a loss of £9O on the season’s working. The race meeting showed a profit of approximately £SO and the deficit in the general accounts is due to the amount written off for depreciation. . A return published in London recently shows that during the past season £700,263 was given in stakes in England and Scotland. There were 1935 races, an average of slightly over £352 per race More than half, £361,132, was given for classic and weight-for-age races. According to reports of Jolly Beggar’s running at Te Bapa on Saturday, he has not lost that habit of screwing at his fences. He did this when he non the Grand National last year, and apparently it is a natural habit, which, however, does not prevent him from being a successful jumper. According to advices from Australia, Evicus is likely to be brought to New Zealand early in the new season. Her mission is the New Zealand Cup. On her last trip to New Zealand Evicus ran several very good races._ but was unlucky enough to miss victory by narrow margins. With only two months of the present season to go, L. J. Ellis, who has now ridden 66 winners, appears assured of again heading the winning jockey’s list. S. Wilson 48 and B. H. Morris 18 are the next on the list. Last season L. J. Ellis headed l the list with 93 winners. W. H. Broughton So, and P. Atkins 78 being next. Eighteen Carat, who heads the list of winning horses in the light harness sport in Southland this year with £470 to his credit, has been a very consistent performer, and his record reads 3. 3, 1, t, 0. 2,3, 1. 0,0, 1. 3. 0. 3. 3, 1. 4. He is owned by Mr .1. Prcndevifle, of Nightcaps, who only came into the game last season. Eighteen Carat is hy Snngod 12.12) from an unraced mare named Pure Gold. Modern Maid 1 , the winner of the hurdles at Te Rapa, is not in the Great Northern field. She does not do much racing, and so far as can be gathered from the records is still a maiden on the flat, but she is bred for jumping, being a six-3 - ear-old by Little England from Glenopal. Last month at Avondale she ran second in the hurdle race the first day to King Mestor. She is a half-sister to Qninopal and Star Stranger 11. Their dam is by Glengowrio from Opal. On his running at the Waikato meeting last week-end, there should he good support forthcoming for Toolcy Street in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie to-morrow. Korero and Crooning may prove to ho the hardest he has to beat. At last evening’s meeting of the Committee of the Forbury Park jotting Club an application was received from the Dunedin Coursing Club for tho use of tho grounds on May 30, June 23 and 24, July 11, August 8, September 5, and October 3. The application was granted excepting for September 5, which is the date of the Otago Hunt races at Wingatni, and the Coursing Club was asked to select another date for its September meeting.

Trainers, jockeys, and apprentice jockeys are reminded that applications figi jjag renewal of licenses for; the sea-

[By St. Claib.]

TROTTING. May 30. —Canterbury Park T.G, June 13.—Ashburten T.C. June 20, 23. —Auckland T.C.

July 18. —Hawke’s Bay Hunt C. July 18.—VVaimaU Hunt C. July 22.—Rangitikei Hu*t C. July 23, 25.—Poverty Bay Hunt C. July 25.—South Canterbury Hunt C. July 25.—Manawatu R.C. August 11, 12, 15. —Grand National Meeting.

son 1936-37 must be in the hands of the secretary of the district committee on or before May 31. Any person who lodges application after this date will render himself liable to a fine of £5. Applications for gentlemen riders’ licenses will also be duo on the same date.

Seven horses remain in both the Great Northerns, and it is probable that most of them will tackle the double. The seven are Valpeen, Royal Limond, Thespis, Wee Pat, Master Musk, Scotch Nation, and Woodfull. There is not a great variation in their weights in the two races, except in the case of Valpeen and Royal Limond, who have 12.3 and 10.10 respectively in the Steeplechase, and only 10.2 and 9.13 in the Hurdles.

The Great Northern Hurdles will be decided to-morrow afternoon, and additional interest will be taken m the race this year on account of the inclusion ot The Smuggler in the field. He has done everything asked of him since he has been hurdle racing, and should race well. His pace on the flat and staying ability should help him, and as he is a game jumper will lose little erround at nis fences. The Smuggler will carry 9.13, and must be given a good chance.. His most dangerous opponents appear to be Jolly Beggar and Scotch Nation.

’An appeal to the Government to refrain from doing anything drastic to spoil the future of racing m New Zealand was made by Mr D. W. Westenra at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club. He said it was pleasing to all members of the club to see the stakes rising, and it was felt that raiding generally was on the “ up-grade. Before any legislation relating to racing was promulgated, however, lie hoped the Government would weigh the pros and cons very carefully and consult the men who knew something abmit racing and had gone through the mill. Members realised that if the stakes were not kept up the best horses would go to Australia, and clubs should be in a position to maintain their stakes at a reasonable level.

The South Australian Premier, Mr Butler, evidently received a Hint that some Civil servants were doing a little bookmaking, r presumably in their departments, and notified that dismissal would be the portion of anyone found doing so. Although Mr Butler said investigation failed to support the charge, and heads of departments stated there was really nothing in it, it would bo safe to bet there was some foundation. In nearly every big Government department in any State, as well as most shops and factories, a bit of bookmaking goes on, and taking all circumstances into consideration, it would be strange indeed if Adelaide were an exception.

Roi I’Or, who returned from Australia last week, is' enjoying an easy time at the farm of his owner, Mr P. Brown, ot Waimate. Roi I’Or is in healthy condition, but the owner is quite prepared to take things steadily, and to allow his champion a chance to put on condition that he lost on the trip from Adelaide. “If Roi POr retains his form as I expect him to do," said Mr Brown to a reporter of the ‘ Press,’ “ he will possibly make his first appearance at Oamaru on Labour Day. ]f, on the other hand, he does not satisfy mo that he is as good as ever he was, he may not race again.” Tho broken ribs Roi I’Or received through an accident in Australia have mended well, and he now shows no ill-effects of his injury. The chestnut gelding is getting on in years, and a set-back such as he has received may have far-reaching effects. The Waikato Steeplechase winner Billy Boy is by defunct Archiestown, who was purchased for the Dominion to improve the breed of jumping horses in the Waikato. His dam, Lady Lila, was by the St. Simon horse Phoebus Apollo, who got a Melbourne Cup winner in Apologue, in his earlier triumphs Billy Boy was owned by Mr G J. Quirke, who bought him from his breeder, Mr H. Rothery, after be had been in the paddock three years following an injury received while bunting. His trainer and present owner, R. W. A. Lewis, received a proprietary interest in him shortly after he began his jumping career and he finally bought out Mr Quince's interest about 18 months ago, after he had transferred his training quarters from the north to Trentham. Billy Boy’s record now comprises 10 wins and 15 placings in 69 starts, and in stake money he has earned £4,175. His win at To Rapa was his first in Lewis’s colours.

. So many changes have been made in New Zealand in recent years relating to tho minimum weight to bo carried in flat races during the winter months that the change in the Rules of Racing which was adopted by the delegates to tho Racing Conference last July has passed tho notice of some club executives when framing their programmes for coming meetings. For the two previous winters tho minimum weight was 7st, though many clubs framed their races for Bst. The Bst minimum was reintroduced last July, to operate from tho commencement of this season, but it is subject to a qualification not previously included. Rule 265 (3) now reads: “At any meeting held on any day from June 1 to August 31, the lowest weight to be carried in any ilat race, other than the principal fiat race on each day, shall not be less than Bst.” Under this rule the principal flat race on each day may have a 7st minimum in tho winter months. Both tho Dunedin Jockey Club and the Wellington Racing Club have fixed the minimum at 7st 71b for the three principal flat races at their coming winter fixtures.

Mr Joseph Chadwick, whose death occurred recently at Auckland, raced many good horses on his own account and in partnership with other owners,, and some of the better performers included Satellite, Elsa, May Moon, Mystery, Exchange, Notice of Motion, hair Play, Manaia, Marquis, Topthorn, Whalebone, Larry, and Qnilp. On practically every course, from l>orth Auckland to Riccarton, Mr Chadwick won races, and the nature of the travelling then was different from that of today. In sporting journalism Mr Chadwick set an example to many. Never extravagant in his views, lie was a fair and competent critic, and owners, trainers, and jockeys welcomed the advice he was always able to give on

horses, horsemanship, and training methods. There never was a better judge, and few men have done more for the uplifting of the sport. There was no more popular sporting writer in New Zealand, and he enjoyed the confidence of owners, trainers, and jockeys, as well ns the sporting Press of Now Zealand. One of the greatest honours conferred on a sporting writer was extended to Mr Chadwick last year, when the Auckland Racing Club elected him a life member. Mr Chadwick had an interest in trotting for a longer period than any other man in New Zealand, and was one of the first hadicappers for the Wanganui Trotting Club, the first trotting club formed in New Zealand,