RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22638, 3 May 1937, Page 14

RACING NOTES

RACING. May 8. —Amberley R.C. May 8, 12.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 12, 13. —Kgmont E.C. May 12.—Ashburton R.C. May 12. —Southland R.O May 12.—Bay of Islands R.C. May 12, 15. —Otaki-Maori R.C. May 15.—Birchwood Hunt Club. May 15. —Waipa R.C. May 20, 22.—South Canterbury R.C. May 22. —Carterton R.O. May 22, 24.—Waikato R.C. May 29.—Ofautau R.C. (at Invercargill)

WIN AND PLACE BETTING Win and place versus single pool betting was quite a common argument to be neard at Oamaru on Thursday and Saturday, and those in favour of the 75-25 per cent, system were greatly in the majority. The racing showed that in five of the races the favourite or second favourite finished second. Under the win and place system it was impossible to back these horses both ways to a profit, but if the system in vogue had been the single pool their backers would have shown a small profit in four races and nearly got back their original investment in the other race. From the club’s point of view the win and place system is the most profitable just now, but the public, sooner or later, will wake up to the fact that under this system too much is being taken out of each £1 invested. In the March issue of the 1 Abstract of Statistics,’ the amount of unpaid fractions retained by the clubs during February is stated to have been £3,556. The total investments for that month were £590,786, and the amount paid out in dividends £487 ; 545, or £113,241 less than the amount invested. This means that slightly over threetenths was. taken out of each £1 invested. . • ~ „ This rate of taxation is exceptionally high, and unquestionably the system of wagering that should be adopted is the one that takes the least out of the punters’ investments. _ They and the owners jointly keep racing and trotting going, and the executives of racing and trotting clubs, who after all are only trustees of the funds they handle, should consider what is best for those who keep the game alive, and not for the coffers of the clubs they represent. BARRIER POSITIONS The action of the Oamaru stewards in reprimanding the starter for allowing horses to take up wrong positions at the barrier was timely, as a lot of this has occurred at meetings in Otago, and Southland this season, but they might have gone a little further with advantage to the sporty Riders are frequently offenders in this respect, and a warning to all riders that offenders in this respect would he fined would have had a beneficial effect. Rule 280, Rules of Racing,_ under which the stewards took action on Saturday, states: — The horses shall, as far as practicable, be drawn ’ up before the start, in the proper order of positions, but the starter shall—(a) Place in any position he may think proper in the rear of the field any horse which, in his opinion, is likely, through misbehaviour or fractiousness, to prevent a fair start, and any horse which, by its behaviour after the horses are drawn up, unduly delays the start; or , (b) In lieu of so placing any such horse, order it’ to he drawn up on the outside of hurdles placed on the outside of the field. The stewards may provide a man mounted on a quiet hack to stand in first position on the rail to assist the starter in lining up the horses. Rule 281 gives the starter power to fine any rider up to a sum of £5 who disobeys his orders or attempts to take an unfair advantage in the start of any race, and there is no. appeal against such a fine. JOTTINGS Acceptances for the Oamaru Trotting OluFs Meeting, to be held next Saturday, close this evening at 8 o’.clock. Acceptances for the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Meeting next week close on Thursday at 5 p.m. Cyrillian is at present under treatment at the Eklerslie Stud, and is likely to remain there for a good while before it will be possible to send her home. The 1936 Timaru Futurity Stakes winner, Southern Chief, is again in work under the charge of J. J. Kennerley. Southland, the two-year-old brother to Southern Chief, is in tho same stable. Santoft, winner of the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton at his first start over country, is reported as training on satisfactorily under F. Trilford at Washdyke. He is expected to do well as a steeplechaser. Frances Worthy, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Timaru last month, is to bo tried at the pacing fait. She is a three-year-old filly by rank Worthy from Queen Ida, and is trained by R. W. Franks. The following rehandicaps have been made for the first day of the Forhnry Park Trotting Club’s Meeting next Wednesday Week: —Great Don is penalised 48yds in the Domain Handicap and Worthy Deed 24yds in the Renown Handicap. The recent meeting of the Oamaru Jockey Club was easily the most successful the club has held for many years. Both gate and totaJlisator receipts were greatly in excess of last years’ takings, and the good response from owners showed that they appreciate a two-day fixture.

[By St. Clair.]

May 29.—Foxton R.C. June 5, 9 12. —Auckland R.C. June 9, 10, 12.—Dunedin J.C. TROTTING. May 8. —Waikato Trotting Club, May B.—Oamaru Trotting Club. May 12, 151—Porbury Park Trotting Club, May 29.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club, June 9.—Ashburton Trotting Club. June 19, 23.—Auckland Trotting Club.

Nominations for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting to be held on May 20 and 22 close on Thursday at 9 p.m.

It is reported that J. A. Rowland does not intend to persevere with Cleaner, which he leased from Mr J. M. Samson some months ago.

The stakes for the South Canterbury Hunt Meeting this season have been raised by £llO, but the nomination and! acceptance fees remained practically unaltered.

Last Refrain, winner of the Gardiner Memorial Handicap on Saturday, opened his winning account at this meeting last season by winning the Novice Stakes, six furlongs, on the second day.

The two-year-old colt Settlement has been purchased by the Christchurch sportsmen, Messrs Barlow, from Mr W. C. Simsen, Nukumaru. It is understood the colt will go into H. B. Lorigan’e stable, Trentham. This colt is a son of Night Raid out of the Paper Money mare Recipt, and was bred by Mr G. A. Kain, at Orari.

F. Shaw provided the runner-up in each of the principal handicaps at Oamaru last week. Viking ran out a very solid mile in the President’ Handicap, only to be beaten in the last few strides by Wino in Imin 38 l-ssec, and on Saturday Araboa attempted to win the Gardiner Memorial Handicap all the way, being beaten over the last half-furlong by Last Refrain.

Leksar, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas last Wednesday, seems to be an obscure colt. He did not race as a two-year-old, and was not accorded an entry in the Free Handicap, for which Goya 11. was second topweight with 9.1. Midday Sun had 7.1 in that race. Goya . 11. tLourbillan —Zariba) and Midday Sun (Solario —Bridge of Allan) finished second and third respectively to Leksar in Wednesday’s race.

The American pacer, Starwyn, is due to make his next appearance in the Papakaio Handicap at Oamaru, and from the limit of a 2min 65sec class he is bound to be a popular fancy. This colt is on the improve, and is expected to develop into a high-grade pacer. He has speed and stays on well, while there is no question about his gameness.

Referring to the handicaps for the President’s Handicap to be run at Oamaru next Saturday, the ‘ Press ’ says: “By his good, consistent racing during the season and an especially fine performance in the All-aged Stakes at Ashburton, Lucky Jack richly deserves the honour of first favourite, and only 36yds behind the limit horses he should be prominent all through the race. Consistent and brilliant, Ludky Jack is an especially tine four-year-old.”

The winter season usually _ finds jumping events furnishing material for discussion. Following is a record of the fastest times registered in hurdle races decided over two miles in Australia and New Zealand :

Smin 34Jsec.- —Blackford, 9.12, Flemington, February, 1936. 3min 35sec.—Eatomvood, 9.12, Randwick, April, 1933. Smin SSJsec. —Pooley Bridge, 11.4, Flemington, January, 1936. Smin 36 4-ssec.—Clarion Call, 10.5, Elerslie, June, 1936.

Miracle, winner of the High-weight Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday, a half-sister to M'Heath, is by the Son-in-Law horse Siegfried—Polly Peachum, the first of the progeny of Aus-tralian-bred Tressida, . who was imported by Mr J. S. M‘Leod, of Hastings. Tressida proved a big success at the stud, her progeny winning over £IO,OOO m stakes. Numbered among them were Runnymede (New Zealand Derby, Stead Gold Cup, and Hawke’s Bay Guineas) and My Own (Great Northern Oaks and C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap). Miracle possesses useful staying blood on both sides of his pedigree.

Last Refrain scored very easily in the Gardiner Memorial. Handicap on Saturday, and) was favourite from the time the totalisator opened. In the Timaru Cup, run the previous Saturday, Last Refrain was taken to the front after five furlongs had been run, and with three furlongs to go was about four lengths clear of the field. Before reaching the distance post ho was beaten, having been ridden into the ground. At Oamaru quite different tactics were adopted, and racing along the back stretch Last Refrain was one of three whipping in the field. Over the last half-mile he -made up ground very gradually, and was third turning for home, fully four lengths behind Araboa. He had no difficulty in cutting down the leaders and had something in reserve at the finish.