RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22869, 29 January 1938, Page 10

RACING NOTES

[Bt St. Cunt.]

RACING. January 31.—Takapuna J.C. February 3, 5. —Taranaki J.C. February 3, s.—Wairoa R.C. February s.—Canterbury J.C. February s.—Tapanui B.C. February s.—Matamata R.C. February 10, 12.—Dunedin J.C. February 10, 12.—Egmont R.C. February 10, 12.—Poverty Bay T.C, February 12. 14. —Rotorua R.C. February 18, 19.—Winton J.C. February 19.—Tologa Bay J.C. February 19, 21. —Waikato B.C. February 19, 21. —Woodville D.R.C.

A DREAM TIPSTER A' remarkable story regarding a dream-tipster is being told in Auckland just now (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’). It has the merit of being true, and can be checked by reference to the files of the now defunct ‘ Christchurch Times.’ On Saturday morning last an Auckland journalist told his editor and colleagues that during the night he had been visited in his dreams by a man who, in a dream four years earlier, had given the names of two racehorses which paid long prices at their next starts. In his dream last Friday night the journalist saw his phantom tipster enter the bedroom, stand by the bed, and say in an emphatic tone “ Rongomai.” Now, as everyone who reads the racing news page knows, Rongomai won the two miles handicap at Timaru on Saturday afternoon at long oddsl The dreamer does not, of course, make any claim td clairvoyant powers, and is content to let the two dreams be attributed to coincidence, despite the fact that the odds against three such predictions coming true assume astronomical proportions. The original dream took place on Christmas night,' 1932. The dreamer had not performed any extraordinary gastronomical feats. Christmas dinner was eaten at midday, and the afternoon was spent at the beach, swimming and sun-bathing. The evening meal was of .the picnic; variety, and the dreamer was abed early, without alcoholic excesses. True, before switching off the light he perused with some care the acceptances for the 88 races set down for decision on Boxing Day, there being 11 meetings in New Zealand on that particular day. Nothing appealed to him as a punting proposition. In the wee small hours the dreamtipster entered the bedroom. He didn’t walk in. He floated. Standing erect a moment,. he smiled at the sleeper, and then without so _much as a “by your leave ” seated himself on the foot on the bed. Raising an admonishing forefinger, the phantom solemnly uttered the names of two horses.

The dreamer spoke to his visitor, telling him that he was familiar with the name of the first horse, and inquiring whether the second horse—William Tell —was a galloper or a trotter. But the phantom was not communicative. “Oh, you should knowl” was his laconic reply. Straightway he got up from his seat on the bed and floated out of the bedroom. So vivid was the dream that .the journalist awoke and switched on the light. He made a rapid survey of the racing page. There, sure enough, was the first-mentioned horse (its name now forgotten), starting at Ashburton on Boxing Day. But of William Tell never a mention. Before he dozed again the dreamer remarked to himself that he could not recollect ever having heard of William Tell.

On Boxing Day the journalist was engrossed in the routine tasks of newspaper production, and it was not till he the city edition that he noticed, with some surprise, that the first horse mentioned by the dreamtipster had, according to the published order of favouritism, returned his backers a good price. Loudly deploring the fact that he had not backed the phantom’s tip, he went off in quest of information about William Tell. He discovered that it was to start at Invercargill on January 3. The story of his dream began to gain some currency, especially among the punters of the superstitious type. One woman, who knew the dreamer, hearing the story from a neighbour, invested £1 on William Tell. To her delight the horse led all the way and won easily. Sixth favourite, it paid a handsome dividend. But the dreamer had not profited by the experience. He had to confess to all his friends that he had not had a penny on either horse.

However, the double-headed tip was not only a good story in the telling. It made a readable “news of the day ” column paragraph; Sceptics may turn it up in the files of the Christchurch ‘ Times,’ probably in the issue of January 4, 1933.

Now comes the remarkable point of the story. After five years the same dream-tipster returned and gave out the name of another long-odds winner, in Rongomai. Apparently it mattered not that, in the interval between the two dreams, the dreamer had moved from Christchurch to Auckland. His friendly phantom found him out. Again he floated into the bedroom, but this time he did not sit on the bed. He remained standing by the bedside. Again, with his characteristic gesture, he raised his forefinger. “ Rongomai!” Instinctively the sleeper knew it was the name of a trotting horse. Never for a moment was he silly

February 24, 26. —Wanganui J.C. February 2b, 26.—Westland R.C. February 25, 26. —Gore R.C February 26, 28. —Te Aroha R.C. TROTTING. January 31. —Nelson T.C. February 3, s.—Wellington T.C. February 12.—Canterbury Park T.C, February 12, 16.—Auckland T.C. February 19.—New Brighton T.C. February 26.—-Kaikoura T.C. February 26.—Wairarapa T.C. March s.—lnvercargill T.C. March s.—Wellington T.C.

enough to think that it might be a prophecy of tragedy at the airport of that name. “ Rongomai I’’ “ Thank you very much,” murmured the dreamer, recognising his visitor. “ And thank you for the two winners you gave me a while back. “Oh, don’t mention itl” retorted the visitor from dreamland. And then, in the tone of voice of one who might say, “ Plenty more where that one came from,” he remarked. “ That’s nothing at all.” A man of few words, he then withdrew. In the morning, the journalist recalled the dream. Not having looked at the acceptances on Friday—after all, Timaru is a long way from Auckland!—he made haste to scan the racing page. There, sure enough, was Rongomai. Down at the office he told his colleagues of his two dreams. Moreover, he told them early in the day, and he promised the sub-editor a story, in the event of the dream-tip coming to pass. And here’s the story I

What is ho like, this dream-tipster? Like all dream people he has no face—or, ifnas one, it is mt conspicuous! He wears a baggy old havy blue suit, much too large for him. No collar or tie, and the shirt is open at the neck. Sandshoes on his feet. Peculiarly shabby for one who can “ pick ’em ” so accurately. The dreamer can only conclude that his phantom is unable himself to 'make investments, but, _in the generosity of his heart—supposing he has one—is ready at long internals to tip winners at long odds. The journalist, his chief, and his pals talk of buying money-boxes against the dav when the phantom shall reanncnr, and some hare been greedy enough to pray for a " double.”

RESENTS CRITICISM Out of recent Sydney newspaper criticism of the Australian Jockey 'Club—controlling body of New South Wales racing-—has emerged a newspaperA.J.C. quarrel that promises to he carried to a bitter finish. The A.J.C. is now waving the big stick of censorship over Sydney dailies, and in the case of a weekly tipping sheet —which describes the A.J,C. action as “ Fascist brigandage it has gone to the extent of excluding; it from Press privileges of publishing ; weights and lists of acceptances, -yvhich are copyright. f One of Sydney’s morning newspapers received by letter a threat/of similar treatment if it did not despst from a campaign upon which it embarked, against present A.J.C. racing control. Now the whole affair has been referred by the newspapers concerned to the Australian Newspapers’ Conference, which represents the dallies of the States. The A.J.C.’s objection to what is considered fair newspaper comment will not he tolerated in the; opinion of daily and weekly newspaper representatives in Sydney. “ Governments have quailed at the idea of stifling the Press, and the committee of the A.J.<X has not the right to take a power thajt was never vested in it,” was the opifcion offered by one newspaper executive. ” It must always; be remembered that Randwick and Warwick Farm are the property of the pjublic, and the A.J.C. Committee members are merely trustees,” he said. Impartial neivspaper observers in Sydney have considered it strange, at least, that the A.J.C. should not have selected a powerful daily newspaper upon which to try its strength. Instead, a comparatively small weekly tipping sheet, struck the full fury of the storm. This weekly had been a critic of the A.J.C., and it received a letter in the following terms from the secretary, Mr G. T. Rowe:— “ Dear Sir, —Please take notice that it has been decided by the committee of this chib that copyright matter, such as lists of entries and weights and lists of acceptances, will not be available for publication in your paper, and you are hereby ; requested not to publish same in future. —(Signed) George T. Rowe.” The/ terms of the big daily’s letter have “not been disclosed. It has been passed on to the Australian Newspaper Conference for action. But this more powerful newspaper has not been disqualified. Interviewed by * Smith’s Weekly ’ in MaJbourne, Mr A. C. C. Holtz, chairmain of the A.N.C., was evasive as to wttat action would be taken. He said he had not heard of the prohibition placed on the weekly newspaper, but the A.N.C. had received a letter from a Sydney daily which conveyed a threat, in the same terms, from •the A.J.C. “ The matter is still under consideration,” he said. “We have not had time to deal with it.” JOTTINGS

Reminders. Nominations for the Gore Summer Meeting, to be held on February 25 and 26, close on Monday at 5 p.m. Nominations for the Winton Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting, to be held on February 18 and 19, close on Monday at 7 p.m. Increasing Stakes. The Oamaru Jockey Club has decided to increase its stakes by about £3OO for its Autumn Meeting in March. A Good Stake. _ The committee of the Timaru Trotting Club has increased the stake for the principal race to be run at its meeting on March 12 to £SOO. VV. Jenkins at Riccarton. The ex-Wingatui horseman, W. Jenkins, has decided to make Uiccarton his headquarters. Jenkins rode Willie Win into second place in the last Melbourne Cup, and as he can go to the scale under 7st 71b, null be assured of plenty] of riding.

May be Seen at Wingatui. Kinnoull is among the nominations for the Dunedin Summer Meeting, and the fact suggests that he may be seen out at the Cup Meeting. Defaulter. After his good form at Trentham, the Middle Park Plate, to be run next Saturday, looks good for Defaulter, who is reported to have dono well since the Wellington Meeting. Palmyra Lame. H. Nurse has had bad luck with Palmyra this season, as it was necessary to spell her in the sj>ring owing to a trouble in a stifle, and, after galloping on Thursday morning there was a recurrence of the trouble, and she will have to be eased up in her work again.

For the Sydney ,Cup. Mrs J. Campbell hopes to have Willie Win ready for a trip to Sydney at Easter time, the Sydney Cup being his special mission. So far he has done little more than light exercise during the past three months, but is to be put into serious training from now on.

A Fitting Tribute. The racing clubs in Southland reccently paid a fitting tribute to the late Mr Alex. Macaulay who, for many years, acted as honorary judge at practically all the meetings in Southland, by erecting a headstone over his grave in the Eastern cemetery in Invercargill. Te Hero. -

It is reported that Te Hero will not be raced again this season. No permanent harm is expected to result from the misluip he met with at Trentham, and he is developing well. Several offers to purchase this good two-year-old have been received from Australia, but the colt is not for sale.

Extra Day for Waverley. As the Waipukurau Jockey Club has abandoned the extra permit it acquired to race on one of the days held by the Dannevirke Racing Club, this privilege has now been granted to the Waverley Racing Club, which will hold a meeting on Saturday, April 23,

Last Year’s Winner. Wild Chase has been given a spell siaice racing at Trentham, but it is expected he will be on hand to contest this Janies Hazlett Gold Cup next month, the only race he has been nominated for at the Cup .Meeting. Wild Chase won this race Inst year, and a few sharp sprints should freshen him up to make him again the most dangerous candidate. The Dunedin Cup Meeting.

The publication of handicaps for the opening day of the Dunedin Cup Meeting on Monday will stimulate interest in the fixture _ The quality of the horses engaged is a very even lot, and Mr Russell nas plenty of recent form to guide him in framing good handicaps.

Interdominion Championships. The first payment, £ls, for the Interdominion Championships, to be decided at Addington next Easter, are due on Monday, at 5 p.m. When the lists of those horses on which this payment is made are published interest in the races will commence to be taken.

West Australia to be Represented. Koleet, winner of the West Australian ,• Trotting Cup at Perth, is booked to take part at the Interdominion Championships at Addington next Easter, Koleet is the first West Australian-bred horse to win this race in 24 years. He is a small, compact horse by Viri Direct from Kola Girl, and from the rear of the field, which prevented him getting a good run, he reduced the mile rate record to 2min llisec.

Wyndham Trotting Meeting. For its annual race meeting, to he held on March 19, the Wyndham Trotting Club will give £1,230 in stakes, and no event on the programme will be worth less than £IOO to the winner. Following the example set by the Forbury Park Trotting Club, the betting will he on the single pool system. Placed horses at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s Meeting nominated for the Wyndham Meeting may be renominated for higher class events at the latter fixture not later than 5.30 p.m. on the day of the Invercargill trots. A Good Record. When Fremont, who is owned by Mr Fred. Wallis, jun., of Gore, won the Southland Handicap on Thursday afternoon he made his record two wins, two seconds, and a third out of five starts. Fremont is a beautifully-gaited horse and likely to climb into tight-class races before the present season concludes.

Appreciation. Owners and trainers racing horses at the Trentham Meeting this month showed their appreciation of the club’s action in watering the course for some time previous to the meeting by sending the club a letter thanking it for this good work. It is estimated that it cost the club about £250 for water and labour to carry out this work.

Mares for Italy. Italian buyers were very much in the limelight at the Newmarket December sales, paying particular attention to brood mares. Captain Tesio’s purchases included Lord Aster’s seven-year-old mare Gerrond’s Cross, at 3,500 guineas, and Milldora, at 2,300 guineas.

Combatting S.P. Betting. The latest move by the A.J.C. to combat starting-price betting is to close the telegraph offices at Randwick and Warwick Farm. ■ By taking this step the governing body has fallen into line with other suburban clubs which cut out the telegraph some time ago. Hector Gray Becomes an Owner. Once a famous jockey and now a successful trainer, H. Gray will figure in a new role shortly as an owner. This weeks Calendar notified the lease by Gray of a six-year-old Spearmint gelding, Hill Billy, from the Auckland owner, Mr R. M. Taylor._ Hill Billy is an upstanding bay gelding destined for steeplechasing.

Meetings Abandoned. In England at the commencement of last month two jumping meetings had to be abandoned. Before abandoning their meeting the Haydock Park stewards ordered a horse to be galloped over the length of the straight. When the horse had completed the gallop its hoofs were filled with snow. The bends in the racecourse were also found to be treacherous and the stewards decided they could not do otherwise than abandon the meeting.

At Leicester snow also disposed of the two days’ meeting. Altogether since the commencement of the National Hunt season in racing have > been lost. Nine were abandoned in September and October because of hard going, and with the later ones it was because of snow;.

To Join J. T. Jamieson’s Stable. It is understood that the filly hy Beau Pere from Phrosa, passed in at the National Sales at 1,000 guineas, will he trained by J. T. Jamieson for her breeder, Mr G. F. Moore. Jamieson made an offer of 1,250 guineas for the filly, but it required more than that to buy her. Phrosa, the dam of the filly, was got by Lirnond from Cowl, and belbngs to the same family as Rational, Mask, Smoke Screen, and Veilmond. Father and Son Ride Winners.

Although not at the same meeting, a father and son both rode winners last Saturday. The successful pair were Tom Chaplin, the veteran Auckland jockey, who won on High Delight at Thames, and his son Jack who scored on Wildflower in the Ashhurst Cup. Jack Chaplin is apprenticed to G. W. New, at Awapuni, and is giving considerable promise.

Not Eligible for Stud Book, But Good. Verdict, who rates ns half-bred m England, and is, therefore, ineligible for the Stud Book, has a splendid stud record. She threw six winners in succession, but the sequence has been broken. A four-year-old son, Arthingworth, is a non-winner up to the present, and her three-year-old son Guilty did not race last year. At the stud Verdict has given Lady Barbara Smith a wonderful return. It has been her custom to lease Verdict’s nines for racing, and. between them, Dictum, Versicle and Quashed won £26.1(2. Verdict’s colts were sold as yearlings, and five realised 20.800 guineas. The last sold was a colt by Cameroman. for whom Lord Glanely gave 4,200 guineas last year. Ver3iot lias thrown 10 foals, being barren only once in 11 years. Unusual Presents to Jockeys. A London writer says presents to jockeys have included some very strange tilings. John Singleton, one of the earliest of successful jockeys in the north, used to get a ewe each time he won for a Yorkshire farmer. George Fordham once rode a brilliant race, whereby the owner netted £IO,OOO. His reward was a pat on the buck, and a packet of Everton toffee. Fred Archer s assortment of presents ranged from a cheque for £SOO from one successful follower to a pair of worn-out boots from another less fortunate lan who had to walk home to London from a northcountry meeting where Archer had failed. One owner had a very bad taste in the matter of “ rewarding jockeys who had ridden unsuccessfully for him. He would offer, in full view of onlookers, his snuffbox to the unfortunate rider, with a loud request that ho would take an extra good_ pinch so as to blow the sleep out of his eyes.

Famous Trainer Dead. The death of Frank Carter in Franco a few weeks ago, at the age of 57 years, from heart disease, has given the racing world, both in France and England, a severe blow. Described as the most famous trainer in France, and one of the leading trainers of the world, his death will leave a gap in the ranks that will be hard to fill. A great sportsman, he was held in the highest esteem, and evidence of this can be obtained from the fact that he was awarded the Legion or Honour two years ago, being the first member of his profession to have this honour conferred upon him. Prank Carter headed the list of winning trainers in France on many occasions, and frequently sent horses across the Channel to race in England. He sent Brulette over to win the Oaks of 1931, Kandy the One Thousand Guineas, and Le Ksnr the Two Thousand Gunieas. He was not well enough to visit England last year to see Le Ksar win. A member of a family which has made racing history in France during the last 100 years, the late Frank Carter will be sadly missed. Complimentary. The following is the report of the Acting Stipendiary Steward submitted in connection with the Wairio Jockey Club’s race meeting last Saturday:— _ “ I was more than pleased with this club’s up-to-date appointments, race track, and running of the meeting. It is the best country club at which I have acted as stipendiary. The buildings and fences are newly painted, kept very clean, and in first-class order.* Owing to a blockage at the gates the starting time for the first race was delayed 15 minutes, which yvas notified on the board to the public, but the last race was run on time. Owing to an unfavourable report I had of the club’s racing track, I wont out on to the course early and walked round the course, making a close, inspection of the track and, steeplechase fences. I am pleased to report that I found this club’s race track one of the best in the Dominion; in fact, a better kept and racing track than Riccarton. Some years ago the course was laid down in Hawke’s Bay ryegrass. From time to time it has been top-dressed with lime, and has been closely cropped by grazing sheep, and to-day it is a close, thick sward of grass. The course is dead level looking across from one end of the straight to the other, and it gives the appearance of a bowling green. The steeplechase course is on the outside of the course proper, with brush, board, and two live gorse fences in and out of an adjoining paddock. Of the eight starters, six fell at the first two fences, and only two weighed in. It was no fault whatever of track or fences. The fault lay with t’ e jockeys, who made the pace too fast.”