RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22620, 12 April 1937, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RACING. April 15, 17.—Whangarei R.C. April 17.—Waimato R.C. April 17, 19. —Nelson J.C. April 24.—South Canterbury J.C. April 24. 26. —Marlborough R.C. April 30, May I.—Dannevirke R.C, April 29, May 3.—Oamaru J.C. May 8. —Amberley R.C. May 8, 12. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 12. 13. —Egraont R.C. May 12. —Ashburton R.C. May 12.—Southland R.C.

SINGLE POOL FAVOURED BETTING SYSTEMS DISCUSSED The system of betting on trotting races—whether it should be win and place or the single pool system—was the principal topic of discussion at a meeting of the Canterbury Owners and Breeders’ Association. Eventually it was decided to write to the different trotting clubs asking for a change to the single pool system of wagering. Mr T. G. Fox presided over a big attendance.

Mr Fox said the object of the meeting was to start some definite move in an effort to persuade clubs to revert to the single pool system of betting in place of the win and place, which had been in operation tor some time. In his interviews with very many owners, trainers, and general racegoers be bad met with a few' rebuffs in bis advocacy of the stystem, but generally the opinion in favour of the single pool was overwhelming. He was confident that the association in i.ny attempt it would make would have the wholehearted support of the trotting community. Times had improved, and while the extra money derived from win and place betting might have suited some clubs in less prosperous years there was a feeling that a general change would he for the benefit of all. During the day he had interviewed a number of men, and the impression given to him w'as that as soon as the clubs come back to the single pool system they would again attend race meetings. The present meeting had been called to give members a chance to express their views, and although he did not expect all to agree with his opinions, he trusted that the association would have the loyal support of every member in what he regarded as a fight tor the betterment of the sport. The owner, as well as the betting public, supplied the sinew’s of war, and was entitled to consideration. He produced figures showing that many clubs had shown big increases in totalisator investments under the single pool system, the increases ranging up to 100 per cent. Some persons fondly imagined that the big increases in investments were wholly atributable to the win and place system of betting, but a close study of the position had disproved this. Mr Fox moved that the meeting place its views before the different trotting clubs, w'ith a view to having the single pool system adopted. Approaching the Clubs.

Mr C M. Archer said the association should marshal its facts and through its appointed delegates, put the whole position before the different clubs. It the clubs were dogmatic and refused to listen to the views of the Owners and Breeders’ Association, then there were other methods of procedure. However, club officials were always willing to listen to the views of representatives of responsible bodies, and he thought no difficulties would arise. ... Mr A. S. Gurney did not think it would be altogether wise for the association to approach clubs in the meantime. He thought it would be advisable to call a meeting of officials of vai'ious clubs and get the views of all. When these views were known it would be possible to proceed further. Mr A. L. Matson said he was in favour of the 75-25 per cent, system of betting, and he cordially supported Mr Gurney’s views on calling a meeting of representatives of different clubs. New Zealand’s population was not big enough to stand the win and place system of betting. He thought in time the present system would “ blow itself out,” but in the meantime it seemed that the suggestion of Mr Gurney was the right one. Mr R. Hampton said the idea was good, but it should be remembered that there were persons with different views from those expressed during the discussion. Ha knew of numbers who went to the races because of the win and place system of betting. The pros and cons must be discussed and the consensus of opinion must rule. He had no very pronounced views on the subject, but he knew that all racegoers were not in favour of the single pool. Clubs did not always view matters from the owners’ and trainers’ ideas, but from the view of the racegoer. He must be considered, and was being considered by the different clubs. Mr E. C. M’Dermott said the win and place system was not satisfactory from a bettor’s viewpoint. It meant that the public had to bet both ways, which was more expensive, and trotting had come to the peak under the single pool system. An Owner’s View. Mr 6. J, Barton (Dunedin) said in a wide experience he had found very few people in favour of win and place. The few exceptions were officials of clubs, who considered the financial aspect and did not consider the wishes of the public. The win and place was more expensive to run, although the extra totalisator fractions were helpful to clubs. There were men without any interest in horses or horse racing who became officials of clubs and helped to vote in a system that did not meet with general approval. Owners and trainers paid for the sport. “ Who is paying for the sport, I ask you? You are,” continued Mr Barton, “ and I think we are all mugs.”

He was not altogether in favour of the 75-25 per cent, allocation if_ clubs could think of a better proportion in allotting the dividends. Those cluhs would have his whole-hearted support. In his travels he had not met 2 per cent, of the people who were in favour of the win-flnd-place system of betting. It might even be advisable to adopt a three-dividend system, first, second, and third. A few more pounds might have been gained by clubs, but it was almost impossible for an owner to keep going on the system at present in operation. Mr I). Spence said he had done a little hit of racing and a little bit of betting, and personally he had no time for the win and place system. He said there was a lot to be said in favour of a wider distribution than provided in the 75-25 per cent, allocation, and he would be in favour of the proportion of GO-25-15 per cent. Mr C. S. Donald said he was in favour of three dividends being allotted, and i" fields above 10 or 12 he said clubs could well afford to pay three dividends. There had been some ..talk

May 12.—Bay of Islands R.C, May 12, 15.—Otaki-Maofi R.C,

TROTTING. April 17.—Manawatu Trotting Club. April 24.—Auckland Trotting Club. April 27.—Marlborough Trotting Club. May I.—Kaikoura Trotting Club. May 8. —Waikato Trotting Club. May B.—Oamaru Trotting Club. May 12, 15.—Forbury Park Trotting Club. May 29.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

of owners and trainers boycotting the Forbury Park Trotting Club, but these opinions, he thought, were not those of the average member of the association.

Mr Gurney asked whether clubs were going to lose money through reverting to the single pool system. It was all very w'ell saying the owners kept the sport going, hut in the long run the public paid the piper. It would he necessary to convince clubs that they would not Jose through again adopting the single pool system.

Drastic Change Needed. Mr Barton said the owners and trainers w r ere not asking for increased stakes as suggested by some speakers. He would sooner race for smaller stakes and a different system of betting. He did not agree w’ith the idea of calling officials of clubs together. He thought the association should place its view’s before the clubs and leave it at that in the meantime. He was not a revolutionary, but a drastic change was needed. , Mr Hampton suggested that the matter should come up before the annual Trotting Conference, and the system of betting should then he finally decided upon. Th© system should be universal, and should b© decided by club delegates. ~ , , , ~ , Mr E. J. Smith said clubs should be approached with a concrete proposal, and if clubs would not listen then the association would he able to act later. He was a strong, supporter of Mr Barton’s views. On the motion oi Mr Matson it was decided to write to the different clubs suggesting that the single pool system be adopted, and asking the club s views on the subject. ■ , This was seconded by Mr Barton and carried unanimously.

JOTTINGS A Driving Record The Gore driver, J. Walsh, won five of the seven races at the Roxburgh non-totalisator meeting. He was second in one of the other two races. Ims must be a driving record. Stayed On. Smoke Screen won the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes' by staying on. He beat Francis Drake iYi the Champagne Stakes at Bllerslie at even weights, and had a 4lb advantage in Saturday’s classic. Smoke Screen is by Limon —Curtain, A Winner First Start. To be sent out favourite at the first start in a field of unhoppled trotters is a rare distinction enjoyed by Native Huon, who duly won at Ashburton. She is by Native King from Olive Huon. Still Not Settled. Had Royal Chief been in the Sires’ Produce Stakes field at Awapum on Saturday, the two-year-old argument might have been definitely settled. The All-aged Winner. Frisco Boy, the All-age Stakes winner, is a full sister to Frisco Lady, last year’s favourite, and is trained by M. B. Edwards. Promising Trotter. Pilot Peter is a promising trotter. After losing 100yds at the start he finished close tip to the placed division at Ashburton.

A Man o’ War Mare, Morewa, who won the Autumn Handicap at Ashburton, impressed those who saw her having her first outing at Waikouaiti on New Year’s Day. Turf Reminders. Acceptances close to-day for the Waimate Meeting, while nominations for Oamaru and Timaru are due tomorrow. Becoming Acclimatised. Bill 8., who is owned by Mr J. R. Brown, of Dunedin, went his best race to date in running second to Cheliden at Ashburton. The American colt is apparetly becoming acclimatised. Coherto For Canterbury. The Southland pacer, Coherto, is reported to have been purchased by Mr G. 'J. Barton. He was prominent in the- All-age Stakes at Ashburton, but failed in the run home. Can Travel Fast. Reporter is a brilliant pacer, and his win from the back mark in a field of 12 at Ashburton was exceptionally good. He goes on winning at a fine price for his supporters. To Race in America. A Melbourne report states that advice from America is to the aeffect that Mr A, J. Matthews, who raced Winooka in the United States, will next year ship to California several brood mares, bred to American time. He wants these mares to foal in California, so that he will have something to race in events restricted to Cali-fornian-bred horses at Tanforan, Bay Meadows, and Santa Anita.

Concertpitch’s Half-sister. The two-year old Irish Fiddle had not raced prior to the Canterbury JockeyClub’s Meeting, where she registered two good performances, showing great speed each day. She is to be kept in work and she may win a maiden race before long. This Day Comet filly is likely to develop into a worthy halfsister to Concertpitch when she has had a bit more racing. Flood Tide’s Earnings.

Flood Tide redeemed himself after his Trentham and Te Aroha failures, by scoring well in the President’s Handicap at Kllerslie, while with the solid impost of 9.13 he ran another fine race in the Nolan Handicap for fourth. The Tictol gelding is undoubtedly one of the best handicap horses in the Dominion, and having reached an unfavourable position in the handicaps, it wo.uld occasion. no surprise to find him nominated for Australian spring racing. By his victories in the Mitchelson Cup, A.R.C. Handicap, and' President’s Handicap, all at Kllerslie, Flood Tide earned for his owner, Mr Desmond Davis, £1,1575. Flood Tide is now- on the easy list, and is not to race again this season. Speedy Queenslander.

Another champion sprinter was proclaimed at the Queensland Turf Club s Easter Meeting at Ascot. This was the mare Leo Emblem, who won the Flying Handicap in 1.114, chopping half a second from the previous State record for six furlongs, which had stood since 1935. , . , , „ Leo Emblem, who is owned by Lie trainer W. Tanwan, began racing at three years, and won at Brisbane in her first start. Now a six-year-old, sh© has won 12 races, seven against the best sprinters in Queensland. Apparently she is worthy to rank with Pamdus and Though Neagh, the latter of whom she beat once at Doomben. Her sire is Emblematic and her dam Bachelo. Tooley Street. A very interesting story covering the history of the racehorse Tooley Street, who won the Easter Handicap, the chief event at the Auckland Racing Club’s Meeting on Easter Monday, is told by Mr E. S. Tremaine, a farmer at Ruatangata, and chairman of directors of the’ 'Whangarei Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd. Some five years ago Mr Tremaine was in the office of Messrs Allan and Findlay, dairy produce merchants, Auckland, where he met Major C. Spragg, who then offered to Mr Tremaine, free of cost, a thoroughbred mare named Cantrip, iged 19 years, saying he had no further use for her. Mr Tremaine laughingly replied that he would like to see a horse aged 19 before acceptnig, whereupon Mr Spragg said: “You wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, would you? ” Mr Tremaine, after inspecting the mare, accepted the gift. A visit was then made by Messrs Allan and Tremaine to Mr J. Patterson, another dairy merchant, with a view to stinting the mare to his thoroughbred sire Surveyor. In view of the change in ownership, Mr Patterson sportingly volunteered the free services of the horse, conditional upon the progeny being named Tooley Street, as all the parties concerned with the transaction were associated with the butter industry. Tin's was agred to, and in due course the foal appeared and was named Tooley Street, and was reared on the owner’s farm at Ruatangata, near Whangivei. At three years of age the gelding was leased unbroken to Mr H, Rama, trainer, of Auckland, for a term of four years. In the first year of his racing he earned £759 in stake money in the South Island. He was later shipped back to Auckland, and at the end of 1936 ran second in two races. After a spell of three months he resumed racing .at Pukekohe in March and won the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on Easter Monday. The breeding of Tooley Street is as follows; —Sire. Surveyor; dam, Cantrip, born 1911, by Signor from Carrara, by Cravat, from Mantelpiece, by Manton from Mantle, by Goldsbrough from Milliner, by Millionaire from Caress, by Indian Warrior from Sweetheart (imp.l, by Red Heart —Melesina (imp.), by Harkaway. Cantrip is still hale and hearty and is enjoying her retirement in the Ruatangata district.